Important Announcement!

An important announcement from the Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

PRESS RELEASE – DATED OCTOBER 14TH, 2024

Details

The Summarized Version Of The World Junkanoo Festival Foundation’s Press Released- Dated, 14th October, 2024.
It could be remembered that 12th September 2024, when an official interim statement has been issued by the Junkanoo Festival Foundation, regarding the highly anticipated international event, initially programmed to have been duly held in Toronto, Canada, from 4th-8th September 2024.

This event has been postponed twice, mainly due to the interplay of several factors, including the following:

This latest postponement was based on professional advice with highly crucial issues that could not have been ignored in ensuring the successful accomplishments of our mission as event organizers.
Setting up a new date after the postponed dates for September 4th to 8th became a delicate and challenging issue during the entire process of our engagements, involving multiple stakeholders and the relevant Immigration authorities in Canada.
The concerns that were put forward were confirmed to be legitimate. sensible and compelling linked directly to huge budget deficits, attributing to the shifting of event dates for unexplained reasons.
A diplomatic pathway for a positive and meaningful engagement with a painstaking compromise involving multiple stakeholders was finally agreed upon.
With these postponed dates, a new immigration event code is required to proceed with the event and update the portals on every existing visa application of all participants from respective African. Caribbean and Asian countries.
They said, “A New Event Code from Immigration is needed with evidence of new venues and a new application letter to update the portal of each applicant.
Applicants who have their applications still not decided do not need to make any new application or any payment of additional fees for their visa applications to be processed. Those with existing applications in the system can use the Canadian Immigration link to update their portals.
Taking into consideration the situation that had occurred in London with the lessons learnt from the recently concluded NottingHill Carnival, we required the formulation of a very robust strategy to mitigate fatalities during our event. This ultimately means taking on board professionals with event management skills to reduce the risks.
In ensuring the quality delivery of services that will meet the expectations of many, the Global Carnival and World Carnival Commission have now agreed to join forces with the World Junkanoo Festival Foundation to perfect the upcoming International Junkanoo Festival by strictly observing and complying with all the required official protocols.
The chief executive officer of the World Carnival Commission in the person of Pax Nindi, a renowned event expert and strategist, is now actively involved in this management and its execution.
The changes in the Canadian Immigration visa application system also had been a contributing factor for the delay. It’s important to know that right in the middle of our visa process, the Canadian Ministry of Immigration undertook major reforms of additional information or evidence of the burden of proof.
Also, a change in the venue of the event, based on professional advice, has forced us to move the event from Toronto, Ontario, to Montreal. Quebec.
Montreal Quebec, by coincidence, happens to be the headquarters of the World Carnival Commission. In a converted spirit of the unity of purpose, this will make our work easier for the arrangement of the necessary logistics and obtaining various permits needed for making our event more efficient and successful.
We also praised the efforts of MR. MANJANG CHAM, the World Junkanoo Festival Foundation’s Country coordinator for the Gambia, who has recently concluded extensive research on Canada- Gambia relations from 1700 to date. In my opinion, Mr. Cham presented a thoughtful argument with compelling pieces of evidence about the origins of some of those slaves who might have participated in pioneering the Junkanoo Festival celebrations in the 17th century.
From his research, Mr. Cham is said to have found a very strong and compelling evidence linking the World Junkanoo Festival African freed slaves some of whom were repatriated from Nova Scotia in Canada and settled in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia in Bathurst. The Bathurst, now renamed Banjul, is the Capital City of the Republic of the Gambia. By extension, a settlement of repatriated freed slaves was also found in Georgetown, which is commonly known as Mccarthy Island in the Central River Region of the Country.
Subjecting the findings of this research to close scrutiny, there were several indications showing a remarkable demonstration of resilience and tenaciousness by those captured slaves from African and Caribbean countries. In the opinion of Mr. Cham, there was a high chance of probability that some of those slaves who pioneered the Junkanoo Festival celebrations might have been captured from the Gambia.
We can therefore argue very strongly that the International Junkanoo Festival and Exhibition of Culture and Tourism represents a profound historical significance to us as Africans and Caribbeans in our own rights.
Arguably, African and Caribbean cultural diversity must have their success stories deeply rooted in Canadian socio-economic fabrics for centuries.
Finally, after the sequence of consultations and engagements, with multiple stakeholders and also based on professional advice given, we have accepted unanimously to move the long-awaited International Junkanoo event from Toronto, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec from 20th to 27th June. 2025 precisely, at the time when you may already have secured your visas to travel.
This press release has been issued under my hands with legitimate authority conferred on by the Governing body and organizing Secretariat of Junkanoo, in the capacity of The chairman and president.
Signed and Sealed.
Dated 14 day of October. 2024.

The release concluded.

We each and every one of you for exercising the highest degree of respect and patience during this difficult period. Hopefully, you all will certainly enjoy the maximum benefits for this enduring patient.

Thank you all.

Your IRCC Application

For international clients send your application, explanation letter + any supporting documentation through the IRCC webforms. Click the button below to send your application to the IRCC

Click Here for IRCC Application

Who We’re Partnering With