BRIAN SMITH REACTION: What needs to happen to bring Montreal’s Carifiesta Festival back?

Montreal – Questions surrounding the future of Carifiesta, the city’s longstanding Caribbean carnival, have resurfaced after the festival’s organizing body, the Caribbean Cultural Festivities Association (CCFA), revealed it was not approved for municipal funding this year.

Speaking during the Happening conference at the DoubleTree Hotel, community advocate Brian Smith shed light on the controversy and urged Montrealers to look beyond accusations of discrimination to address deeper organizational issues.

Last weekend, the CCFA announced on social media that the City of Montreal had declined its funding request. The decision reignited criticism, with some members of the community pointing to systemic racism as the underlying cause.

Smith, however, suggested that governance shortcomings within the CCFA played a more decisive role.

“The CCFA has been lacking in capacity to put on the Carnival,” Smith explained. “When you go to government agencies or private foundations for money, you need governance. You need a functioning board of directors, membership, activity reports, and financial reports. The City of Montreal itself acknowledged issues with the organization’s governance.”

Currently, Carifiesta receives just $30,000 in municipal funding, a figure Smith described as “basically nothing” compared to the hundreds of thousands allocated to other cultural festivals in the city.

According to Smith, without additional support from the provincial and federal governments — as well as private sponsorships — the parade cannot be sustained. He proposed the creation of a new coalition of organizations to take responsibility for the festival.

“The people of Montreal deserve better,” Smith said. “We have so many organizations that would contribute to the Carnival. If a new entity comes together with proper governance, there would be no reason for the City not to increase its funding.”

Smith added that some discussions are already underway to salvage this summer’s edition, possibly by mobilizing alternative groups to ensure that the parade takes place on its traditional date, the first Saturday of July.

Beyond immediate concerns, Smith emphasized the importance of establishing strong, transparent leadership for the festival’s long-term survival.

“If you want funding, you need a solid governance structure. That means a dedicated, unpaid board of directors, proper financial and activity reports, and active membership. With that foundation, it becomes much easier to access support at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels,” he said.

While the fate of this year’s Carifiesta remains uncertain, Smith remains hopeful that a renewed vision can restore the parade to its former glory.

“Montrealers love their Carnival,” he concluded. “If a new organization emerges, I encourage people to join, get involved, and help make it a better day for everyone.”