Toronto Police Service Caribana Kick-Off
August 1, 2008
Speaking Notes for Chair Alok Mukherjee
Chief Blair, Councillor Stintz, Mr. Joe Halstead, Mr. Rick Gosling, honoured guests, members of the Toronto Police Service, our Youth in Policing Initiative students, and members of the community:
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, it gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you here today. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Councillor Di Giorgio and Hamlin Grange.
Caribana is, first and foremost, a celebration of the cultural heritage of people from the Caribbean. But it is not that alone. I have come to believe that Caribana is a celebration of the vibrancy, richness and colourfulness of the kaleidoscopic culture that characterizes our city and our country today. The powerful spirit of this festival can be felt throughout this city, in all of our neighbourhoods.
Beginning as a Caribbean festival that reflected the African, East Indian and European cultural traditions of the Caribbean, it has, over the years, welcomed the festive traditions of members of many communities that are now present in Toronto.
Now in its 41st year, Caribana is a time for people from all backgrounds and cultures to come together in co-operation. It is a time to sing and dance together. Most of all, it is a time to have fun together.
Caribana is just one of the many times when we, as a Board, celebrate the tremendous partnerships between the public and the police. We celebrate our partnership with Toronto’s dynamic Black community. And we celebrate our partnership with the City’s youth. And what better way to do this than through this festival!
The Toronto Police Service makes every effort to ensure that people can do these in safety and harmony.
As we look forward to another season of cultural sharing, celebration and fun that is Caribana, I want to draw our attention to an issue that should concern all of us deeply. And that is the level of gun violence in this City. We should draw satisfaction from the fact that, as reported by Statistics Canada, Toronto remains the safest city in Canada.
The comprehensive anti-violence strategy of the Toronto Police Service has shown significant results. Nevertheless, there has recently been a spate of gun violence that has cost several lives. As a community, we must declare our collective zero tolerance for gun violence. And as a community, we must support and become full partners in the efforts to deter, as well as to respond strongly to, the violent acts of a handful. They must not be allowed to hold our communities hostage and to jeopardize the right of the vast majority to lead violence-free lives.
I am satisfied that we will have an excellent Caribana parade and festivity. Together, we will make sure that Torontonians and visitors alike enjoy the Caribana they deserve – an event that is joyous and peaceful.
By joining hands and cooperating with each other to ensure such a Caribana season, let us send a powerful message to those who believe that settling disputes or disagreements with guns is okay. It is not okay, and, together, we will do all that it takes to rid our community of these criminals.
So, to end, I wish you all a fun-filled Caribana season, and urge you to be vigilant partners in ensuring that it is also a safe event for one and all.
Once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I wish all of you the best as you join together in celebrating Caribana. Enjoy the music, enjoy the dancing and above all, enjoy the spirit of unity, harmony and festivity that underlies this magical event.
Thank you.
