Tickets: $20
This is a third party event organized by SugaCayne, Inc. The content of this screening/event is the sole responsibility of the organizer.
Celebrating the grounding impact of Carnival, SugaCayne presents the Canadian premiere Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy.
Directed and Produced by Ian Mark Kimanje, the documentary captures the evolution of Carnival, tracing its history back to Ghana. From drumming and dancing to the celebration of Emancipation Day. Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy speaks to how diasporans in Canada and around the world cherish the rich traditions of Carnival, as well as the innovations that accompany it.
Featuring perspectives from international voices such as Kees Dieffenthaller of Kes the Band; Fiona Compton, founder of the world’s leading platform for Caribbean history and culture, Know Your Caribbean; Canadian DJ, radio host, record producer and promoter Dr. Jay; and the Toronto Carnival design boutique SugaCayne.
The film showcases SugaCayne’s first-year experience as a band, sharing their challenges, wins, and how they honour the history of Carnival through their trailblazing, tech-infused costumes. Co-founded and designed by Candice Dixon, the designs blend cultural storytelling with technology. The groundbreaking company incorporates elements of wire bending, 3D printing, thermoforming, or laser-cutting methods into all its designs, pioneering sustainability within the Carnival design sector.
These techniques are now being passed down to the next generation through the first Carnival Arts course offered at an accredited university in Canada through Toronto Metropolitan University (Fashion at the Creative School) — a groundbreaking initiative rooted in culture and creativity. Beyond the classroom, they’ve been shared in workshops and masterclasses across Ontario, continuing the legacy and spirit of Carnival through hands-on learning and lived experience.
Blending powerful storytelling with a deep-rooted sense of Caribbean, African, and Canadian cultural pride, Sugacayne and Kimanje bring to life the layered history and global significance of Carnival—offering a vibrant celebration of identity, resilience, and tradition in Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy.