In a warehouse in the middle of Scarborough, Hayden Harbin is hard at work, painstakingly cutting and gluing as he prepares costumes for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Billed as the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America, the carnival is a three-week long extravaganza that features the glittering costumes, sounds and tastes of the Caribbean.
It is also an intense labour of love for those behind the scenes, who put in grueling days and nights to bring the costumes to life on parade day.
That is particularly true for Harbin, who is the vice-president of Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club, the largest mas band at the Carnival with 3,000 members.
“I get no sleep,” said Harbin. “I am always on the go— non-stop.”
As the clock winds down to parade day on July 30, it’s likely not to get better for Harbin.
“We always wish there was more time,” he said.
This year, Harbin will also be producing the costumes for the Umbriel section of Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club. Sponsored in part by UFCW Canada Local 1000A, Umbriel is one of 14 sections within the mas band and, like the others, has incorporated the theme “Secrets of the Outer Limits.”
As he readied the costumes for their big day, Harbin, who is also the section leader for Umbriel, said: “The support from Local 1000A has made a big difference to us.”
