Pan Fantasy Steel Band celebrates 37th Anniversary Gala with a Night of Fantasy

BY PAUL JUNOR

It was a night filled with many positive memories on Saturday, June 8^th, 2024. The day marked the celebration of the 37^th anniversary gala of the Pan Fantasy Steel Band. It was billed as “A Night of Fantasy,” and it took place at the Tropicana Centre of Excellence in Scarborough, Ontario. The evening brought out: many community supporters, steel band lovers, individuals, politicians and representatives from the Canadian community to celebrate this event.

Pan Fantasy Steel Band was started in 1986 by Wendy Jones who serves as band leader. It was formed when a group of young people wanted to provide an opportunity for youth in the Jane-Finch community in the former city of North York (Toronto). It was created and operated by the North York Inter-Community Youth Group to make a change in the Jane-Finch community. The overall goal is to engage youth, and for the youth to learn leadership skills through the performing arts.

As the largest steel band, Pan Fantasy has performed across” Canada, Caribbean and the United States. The anniversary gala featured special guests: Earl La Pierre Jr, Darryl Williams, John Anderson, and The Rhythm Section. There was a special performance by Dance Caribe Performing Company with its core dancers and youth dancers to a piece titled “Black Woman,” choreographed by Martin Scott Pascal. Wendy Jones expressed gratitude to all those who attended the gala. She was particularly thankful for the support that the steel band has received and the impact and influence it has made not just in Canada, but across the United States and Caribbean. She mentioned the importance of Al “Allos” Foster who has played a pivotal role as arranger of Pan Fantasy over the years. She personally thanked him for his contribution to develop this steel band.

Pan Fantasy has been offering steel pan lessons at two levels: Beginner Level 1 and 2, at its panyard address (40 Carl Hall Road) at Downsview Park on Sundays where they regularly practice.

Pan Fantasy will be defending its crown as the champion of the 2023 Pan Alive (Toronto Panorama). Since the history of the steelpan competition, they have won it eleven times: 2005, 2006, 2012 – 2023. There was no competition from 2020 – 2022. Pan Fantasy has much to celebrate in 2024 as on April 18^th, 2024, it was announced that it had won the Arts for Youth Award from the Toronto Arts Foundation.

Pan Fantasy is looking forward to the following upcoming events:

• June 30^th Open House Blocko
• July 1^st – August 1^st Visit the Panyard Nights
• July 26^th Pan Fantasy Pantastic Friday
• August 2^nd OSA Steelpan Competition Pan Alive at C.N.E
• August 11^th World Steelpan Day
• September 28^th A Fantasy Pantastic Voyage aboard the Enterprise
• October 26^th Pan Fantasy Pannies Appreciation Dinner/Dance

(at Tropicana Community Hall)