Complaints led to abrupt cancellation of Caribbean concert

Vaughan says earlier event was too crowded, too late and too loud Machel Montano was scheduled to perform at the cancelled event.

The city of Vaughan has released an updated statement saying it received more than 80 public complaints that led to the controversial cancellation of a sold-out event on Caribbean Carnival weekend.

The statement says city staff revoked the permit for Carnival Kingdom, an event run by Summer of Sound (SOS) Fest Inc., after it was determined “that applicants did not comply with the terms of the permit.”

Carnival Kingdom had been running for seven years and is the company’s biggest concert, said Katherine Andrews, one of the event’s co-ordinators. It was supposed to be held at the Improve Canada complex on Keele St. near Hwy. 407. It was the first time SOS Fest attempt- ed to host the event in Vaughan. Tickets ranged from $35 to $95.

CaribanaToronto.com, which promoted Carnival Kingdom, is not connected to the group that runs the downtown Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade.

Less than two hours before doors were supposed to open, organizers said they were notified by text message that their permit for the Saturday event had been revoked. They were told that it was a result of the concert SOS Fest had hosted the previous night, called ReJouvert-Nate, at the same venue.

In the city of Vaughan’s statement, it outlined three separate reasons for revoking the permit. The city said Friday night’s event was “significantly” over capacity; that it went past 3 a.m., longer than the 2 a.m. cutoff allowed by the permit; and that it was too loud.

The statement said city staff made the decision without input from the mayor or council.

Leslyn Lewis, SOS Fest’s lawyer, told the Star in an interview: “At no time did the city of Vaughan give my clients a warning that something had not been complied with or that there was a breach of any kind.”