Mapping the Canadian Steelpan Community
Led by artist, educator, and creative consultant Joy Lapps, this national initiative aims to research and digitally map Canada’s vibrant but under-documented steelpan ecosystem. Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, this project addresses a key challenge in the Canadian steelpan community: the absence of a centralized, up-to-date digital platform to discover steelbands, soloists, tuners, educators, composers, arrangers, and service providers.
Though the steelpan is a relatively young instrument—it has become an essential part of Caribbean culture and Canada's multicultural arts landscape. Despite this, many Canadian steelpan practitioners lack the resources or infrastructure to maintain an online presence, leading to missed opportunities and decreased visibility.
Through extensive research and community engagement, the project will culminate in the creation of a searchable website and/or mobile app that showcases Canadian steelpan talent and related businesses. A two-day conference will take place on August 8 and 9, 2025, at the University of Toronto Scarborough, presented in partnership with SoundLife Scarborough and the University of Toronto.
This gathering will offer space for connection, shared learning, and celebration, while also functioning as an interactive component of the research process—further informing the digital map and exploring how it can help address key challenges in the steelpan sector.
This initiative will nurture national and international connections, increase discoverability, and build long-term sustainability for steelpan practitioners and stakeholders. Ultimately, it aims to elevate the presence and impact of Canada’s steelpan community within the broader arts and culture ecosystem.
🎶 FAQ – Canadian Steelpan Industry Conference 2025
📍When & Where
Dates: Friday, August 8 – Saturday, August 9, 2025
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough
Start Time: Friday at 3:30 PM | Ends Saturday around 5:00 PM
🗓️ What’s happening on Friday?
3:30–5:30 PM – Ticketed professional development sessions for educators looking to deepen their steelpan teaching practice.
Evening – Panel, performance, and good vibes.
Free to attend, but RSVP is required
Space is limited, so only register if you know you can come
Can’t make it anymore? Please email info@kgrp.org to free up your spot
Light refreshments will be served
Donations welcome to help keep the conference accessible for all 🙏🏽
🥁 What’s going down on Saturday?
A full day of ticketed conference programming featuring:
Keynote, panels & a performance
Conversations on mapping, making, teaching, and preserving pan
Opportunities to build and strengthen connections across the country
Steelpan players, tuners, builders, arrangers, teachers, students, cultural workers, and lovers of the instrument. If pan is part of your story — or you want it to be — this conference is for you.
👥 Who is this for?
You can purchase them on Eventbrite
Friday Educator Session (3:30–5:30 PM): Ticketed
Friday Evening Events: Free with RSVP
Saturday Conference: Ticketed
💬 Need help covering the cost?
We don’t want money to be a reason you stay home. Reach out to us at info@kgrp.org — we’ll work with you.
🎟️ How do I get tickets?
✊🏾 How can I get involved?
This conference is community-powered. You can:
Volunteer for conference event days
Share your knowledge as a part of our ongoing community consultation or volunteer on our conference planning and mapping team.
Spread the word
Make a donation or become a sponsor
Email info@kgrp.org and let us know how you would like to get involved!
Please contact:
Dayo Media and Communications
📧 dayo@dayo.ca
🗞️ Media inquiries
Reach out anytime at info@kgrp.org!