Fifteen years ago, Toronto’s reggae landscape changed forever when Jason Mclean launched Toronto Reggae—a passion project that has since evolved into one of Canada’s leading platforms for promoting and supporting reggae music. What began as a hobby rooted in teenage enthusiasm has grown into a national movement amplifying artists, events, and the rich reggae culture across the country.
For Mclean, the journey started long before the platform existed.
“Getting reggae out to the world has always been a passion of mine since I was a teenager,” he recalls. “Whether it was making cassettes for friends in high school or hosting my reggae program for three years at CJMQ while in university in Quebec.” With a collection of Toronto reggae posters from the 1980s and concert photos from legendary venues like the Concert Hall, Mclean’s love for the genre naturally developed into a desire to connect more people with reggae music.
Over the years, Toronto Reggae has played a pivotal role in helping countless artists and promoters share their music, events, and stories. What started as a local initiative soon became a national hub. “Canada is a big country, and there’s a lot of great talent from coast to coast,” says Mclean. “It’s important their works get out to the world.”
Among the many memorable moments, the platform has helped shape, one stands out vividly: the night Toronto lit up red, gold, and green in honour of Bob Marley Day in 2019. “Getting the iconic Toronto sign at City Hall lit red, gold and green—and the CN Tower matching it—was truly magical,” Mclean says. “Julion King of Canadian Reggae World and I sent a formal request to the city, and they agreed. The turnout that night showed how strong and proud the reggae community is here.” This February marks the eighth anniversary of that historic moment, one Mclean hopes will continue as part of Toronto’s cultural tradition.
The rise of digital media has also reshaped the reggae scene in ways Mclean finds encouraging. “There are artists you would never come across if it weren’t for social media,” he explains. “Hopefully that translates into music sales or bookings for them.” The digital shift has also strengthened Toronto Reggae’s reach, making it an essential promotional resource for many in the industry. Year after year, clients return—confident that Toronto Reggae will shine a spotlight on their releases and events with impact.
As the platform celebrates its 15-year milestone, Mclean is reflective but uncertain about what comes next. “As for the future of Toronto Reggae, I’m not so sure at this point,” he admits. “I’m not quite ready to hang up my hat, but I haven’t had too much chance to think about another 15 years. Time will tell.”
Whether the next chapter is already unfolding or still waiting to be written, one thing is clear: Toronto Reggae has cemented itself as a cornerstone of Canadian reggae culture—rooted in passion, community, and a steadfast commitment to keeping the music alive.
