Live music was a highlight of Rum'n' Rhythm
Island girls: Erica Jackman of Antigua, Anguilla's Dale Pusching and
Karen Stephenson of Grenada
VoX's Susan Webb with Nancy Jackson and Erin Oddleifson of Transat Holidays
Media award winner for 'Best in Show' Sean Mallon
Did you notice a tropical breeze last week? I’m sure it ruffled the leaves on my front lawn, but that may be just because like lots of us I was in the throes of Caribbean week in Canada, courtesy of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
The event kicked off with a successful trade and consumer show in Montreal and moved on to Toronto where there were many elements in the promotion, including book readings and an essay contest for young Canadians (with the prize being a trip to the Caribbean…nice!).
Thursday, 75 of the area’s top producing agents were invited to George Brown College to hone their skills in promoting to niche markets; while Friday saw a media marketplace for journalists, awards luncheon and Rum’n’Rhythm, an evening cocktails of cocktails and munchies.
As Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the CTO, put it, “Canada has been consistent in its love and support of the Caribbean.” Honoured at the luncheon were Hazel Downes of The Professional Travel Place in Toronto, recipient of the Andy Parris Award for being top agent promoting the Caribbean in Canada, as well as several journalists. These included “best in show” winner Sean Mallon, normally Queens Park correspondent for Global TV but a part time travel writer on the side. As he put it, “It’s a whole lot more fun to work with the Caribbean than with politics!” Sean’s award-winning piece appeared in the National Post.
Grenada and Antigua were the clear winners in the media stakes, each picking up several awards for coverage.
When the sun set the action moved from George Brown College campus to the hip and elegant Andrew Richards Designs centre, home of this year’s Rum’n’Rhythm. Caribbean nationals mingled with Torontonians and tourist board reps as we all enjoyed music, dance, and tropical nibbles, surrounded by spectacular costumes and masks of Caribana, Toronto’s annual parade and festival of all things Caribbean.
As winter descends, it was a welcome glimpse of tropical colour and warmth – thanks to all who made it happen!
