photo credit: La Citta Vita
Toronto, Ontario, Canada: News Release
February 10, 2011
Mayor Ford invites residents to join first ever city-wide celebrations of Family Day
Mayor Rob Ford is inviting Toronto residents to celebrate what family means to them at four city-wide events featuring dance, music, crafts, street theatre, storytelling, skating, tasty treats, free hot chocolate and more. The City’s first ever Family Day celebrations will take place on Monday, February 21 from noon to 4 p.m. across Toronto: in the north at Mel Lastman Square, south at Fort York, east at Albert Campbell Square and west at Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.
“Our first ever city-wide Family Day celebrations are a great chance to enjoy all that our city has to offer with our family, friends and neighbours,” said Mayor Rob Ford, who will participate in the festivities. “Family is one of the most important things in life, and I invite everyone to join me in our parks and public squares to celebrate with your community.”
Each event will provide free diverse programming for a wide range of ages and interests:
North York – Mel Lastman Square – 5100 Yonge St.
Bunchland will host a dance party, crafts, games and activities indoors while the party continues on the rink outdoors with Chinese dragon dancers and other performances in the heart of North York. Don’t forget to bring your ice skates.
Downtown – Fort York – 250 Fort York Blvd.
Explore Aboriginal, French Canadian and Métis music, dance and stories at downtown’s oldest venue. Lace up your ice skates and try out the synthetic rink at Fort York.
Scarborough – Albert Campbell Square – 150 Borough Dr.
Celebrate our diverse cultures, through music, dance and art in Scarborough. Bring your ice skates and take a spin with Bollywood dancers on the outdoor rink.
Etobicoke – Colonel Samuel Smith Park – Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive
Enjoy dance, circus acts and contemporary art at Etobicoke’s new skating trail. Be sure to bring your ice skates and warm socks.
In addition, the City is offering free leisure skating at all outdoor rinks on Family Day at select times, as well as indoor skating, shinny hockey and swimming at some locations. Centennial Park and Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centres, Riverdale Farm and High Park Zoo will also be open.
Toronto’s Historic Sites also have plenty of interactive activities planned, including crafts, scavenger hunts, dressing up in historical costumes, decorating cookies, baking treats over the open hearth, and more.
More information, including detailed schedules of the celebratory performances and activities at the four locations above, is available to the public by calling 311 or visiting http://www.toronto.ca/familyday.
A list of many other Family Day events across the city can be found at http://www.toronto.ca/eventcalendar.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.