As we progressed through yet another year, we are grateful for the love, patience and support that we receive from you all. We could not have made this 18th year possible without you, our patrons. Like our name “Jamaica Day Celebration” it’s all about Jamaican’s culture, hope, tenacity and drives that pushes us each year to make this event a great celebration for the entire family. As we move this into a weekend celebration, be prepared for more outstanding performance by our leading reggae and cultural performers from Jamaica and Canada.

What to expect: This festival celebrates the 46th year of self-rule in Jamaica. In honor of this celebration, we in Toronto will be jumping up to 2 days of sweet reggae music and cultural activities along with Jamaican food, fun and games.

We are proud to introduce to you all and feature Ms. Deandra Paul, the 2008 proud recipient of the Basil Duncan “Jamaica Day” Memorial Scholarship via the Jamaica Canadian Association (JCA). Mr. Basil Duncan was a true stalwart and founding member of the Jamaica day event. He passed away many, many years but he continues to close to our hearts and the legacy of this event.

Independent Promotions Entertainment Inc. (IPEG), promoters of the annual Jamaica Day celebration in Toronto, is a committee of dedicated community workers who have worked together in numerous charitable projects to benefit Jamaicans at home and overseas over the years. The Scholarship that was awarded by this group is an indication of that commitment. The beautiful island of Jamaica is famous for several things including its music, culture, brilliant scholars and excellent sport personnel. Whereas the organizers of the Jamaica Day event provide access to the cultural heritage, music and arts components I have been doing my share in the area of sports particularly in soccer and track and field.

The scholarship that was awarded to me assisted me as a student at the University of Guelph to overcome some obstacles and barriers that are placed upon people’s. My future career goals would ultimately be becoming a lawyer after attending law school. I am also interested in studying sociology and criminology because with sociology, I would help those who have sociological issues to help them function in society. With criminology, I would be studying why people commit crimes as well as finding a way to correct the issues at hand.

The Jamaica Day organizing Committee’s mission is to promote a positive image for Jamaicans through dramatic arts and music. My ambition is to do the same through sports and scholastic achievements and this was being achieved through financial support from the scholarship awarded to myself in the fall of 2007.

Independent Promotions Entertainment Inc. (IPEG) promoters of the annual Jamaica Day celebration in Toronto is a committee of dedicated community workers who have worked together in numerous charitable projects to benefit Jamaicans at home and overseas over the years. The committee members are dedicated to the perseveration and promotions of Jamaica's cultural heritage particularly the musical and dramatic heritage.

The committee's mission is simply, "to promote a positive image for Jamaicans".

In an effort to achieve this mission the committee's dedication is bent on the following:

• Promote Jamaican culture with a particular emphasis on Jamaican music, dramatic arts and visual arts
• Foster goodwill and encourage participation of from all interested individual and organizations which support IPEG's mission particularly youths and children
• Support the community's senior citizens as a way of preserving and fostering the cultural heritage in Ontario
• Organize and sponsor a variety of cultural educational and recreational events
• Assist and support the disadvantaged through charitable contributions to worthwhile causes in Canada and Jamaica.

There is something for everyone at Jamaica Day:

Craft vendors
The craft vendors' market represents a variety of professional craftspeople that offer fine, jewelry, CDs, photography, magazines, clothing, souvenir items and many more to take home.

Food vendors
Our food vendors offer a wide variety of excellent traditional Jamaican foods ranging from jerk chicken, ital stews, patties, curried goat, oxtail dishes, fish dishes, corn soup, boil and roast corn and lots more. For the sweet tooth lovers, you will be able to pick up ice creams, pies, sweets, vegetables and festival.

Sponsors
We couldn't do it without these fine businesses and organizations! Please patronize our sponsors to thank them for their assistance. The success of the festival is due to their dedication, financial assistance, and efforts. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors.

Children's programs
Dynamic programming designed for children of all ages, youth and the young at heart features artists on stage, field events, poetry and short story reading, demonstrations and displays that encourage audiences to discover the culture of Jamaica presented by Jamaica information service (JIS). Watch videotapes in the JIS booth on the current cultural activities in Jamaica. Mid way rides for the whole family presented by the great Canadian amusement company

Entertainment
And what would Jamaicans do without music!! - the Jamaica Day festival presents live, non-stop, contemporary, traditional, classical and folk music on our stage. Visitors enjoy performance by various Canadian stars as well as internationally. Theatrical performances, dominoes tournament from various dominoes clubs around the cities sponsored by tippers fast food. Soccer fans enjoy soccer games by the first female soccer team to play at Jamaica Day - added to the annual male teams. Enjoy our cultural display of fire dancing, limbo dancing and folksongs as well as spoke words by various artists.

The Team

Cornel A. Davis, President:
An active member of the Black community for many years, Cornell has been past President of community-based organizations such as Help Jamaica Now and People On the Move. With his leadership, these organizations have had tangible results through assisting Jamaicans in need of medical attention. An avid record collector, Cornel is a well known "DJ" and "Musicologist" in the black community known as “DJ Funky” . His dedication to community work as well as his music services to hundreds of parties and company functions makes him a valuable and well-respected person in the community. For the past ten (10) years he has been employed by Alliance Financial Group as Financial advisor, therefore for all your “Insurance and Investment” needs such as RRSPs, Mortgage Insurance, GICs, Critical Illness Insurance, Disability, Group Insurance etc., please contact him at 416-490-1974 ext 1028 or 647-889-6424. Please visit http://www.alliancefinancial.ca/

For all your professional DJ services, weddings, parties, private functions, community events, group/company functions call 647-889-6424

Hewitt Loague, Public Relations:
Currently employed with St. Clair West Services for seniors. Music and helping others are among the most important things in life for Mr. Hewitt "Logie" Loague. He shares his love of music with others as the owner/operator of Logie's International Sound System. His community involvement includes past Vice President of Help Jamaica Now and People on the Move. A member of the board of directors of the BADC organization. An active member of the Toronto Bathurst Lions Club. He is a member of the Toronto Bathurst Lions Club, Lionheart Sports Club and the Commonwealth Sports Club. An avid cricketer with the Maple Leaf Masters Cricket Club. The contribution he has made to the black community is priceless and well rewarding.

For all your professional DJ services, weddings, parties, private functions, community events, group/company functions call 647-833-9079

Karen Smith, Financial Controller:
Karen can be described as a vibrant, classy and energetic black woman. She carefully balances the demands of her sons, full-time employment and various community involvements. Karen's community activities range from past President of Glen Gardens Housing Co-Op, Assistant Director of Miss Lloyd's Photography Pageant and President of the Miss Toronto/Miss Teen Toronto International for Miss Canada. Her dedication to the community and humanitarianism is demonstrated in all the above and her methodical planning of community events. Karen’s contribution to the community is well appreciated.