You’re Invited: Toronto’s Four Events With Road Closures June 24 – 26

From June 24 to June 26, there will be road closures in Toronto in order to accommodate the upcoming four special events.

The City of Toronto advises you to take public transit as a greener, faster and more affordable way of getting to your destinations.

Also, if you need to drive in these event areas, please be patient and allow extra time to get to and from your destination.

For your summer enjoyment, the following special events await you:

Downtown Jazz Festival

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival

“The TD Toronto Jazz Festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year,
runs from June 24 – July 3, 2011. Get ready to kick off summer as the city’s
largest music festival presents FREE concerts and workshops, late night jam
sessions and some of the biggest names in jazz. It is a musical celebration
like no other!”

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival has become known as one of North America’s premier jazz festivals produced annually by Toronto Downtown Jazz, a Canadian registered charity, with the following highlights:

• attracts in excess of 500,000 loyal patrons annually over 10 days;

• attractions include more than 350 performances with over 1,500 musicians performing at approximately 40 locations around Toronto;

• the heart of the Festival is now located at Metro Square (Metro Square has been renamed to David Pecaut Square);

• in the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District with an impressive 1,200 seat fully-licensed Mainstage Marquee and outdoor stage, and where many extraordinary events are offered FREE to the public;

• the Festival has become a destination event, not just for music lovers but for some of the greatest jazz celebrities in the world;

Try something FREE:
“More than half of the performances on official jazz festival stages are FREE, which means it’s easier than ever to access great music.

Great music, … see your favourites or make a new discovery” at

• Metro Square (aka David Pecaut Square) showcases some of the best local and international jazz artists on stage at noon and 5:30 pm each day for FREE; and

• FREE shows throughout the festival in:

• the Distillery District and at

• the Shops at Don Mills.

Chat with an artist
“Attending a jazz festival concert is a great way to see your favourite artists in action on stage, but sometimes the interactions backstage are just as memorable. Many of the artists performing at the festival are happy to chat with fans (once they’ve had a few minutes after their show) and you might walk away with a great photo, an autograph, or simply a great memory.”

Join the conversation: FREE Ken Page Memorial Trust Workshop Series
“There has been much talk over the past few years about the overall state of jazz, programming at jazz festivals, and more. Come out to the Ken Page Memorial Trust Workshop Series to hear discussions on a whole range of topics – and get engaged. It might be the best way to hear from and chat with established and emerging artists and other stakeholders in the jazz community.”

Support the yutes
“Some of the most enthusiastic and exciting music-making will take place at The Rex Hotel during the Big Band Slam, featuring four local high school big bands, and the Youth Jazz Showcase, featuring Youth Jazz in the City, the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Quartet and the winners of the Sapporo (Japan) Jazz Festival Competition. Come out and hear what the next generation of great jazz musicians is up to. And, if you’d like to support young jazz musicians by becoming a better teacher, check out Jazz for the Teach – a great way to hone your jazz teaching chops.”

Visit the festival hub
‘The best place to get a true sense of the energy and excitement of the festival will be at Metro Square (aka David Pecaut Square). Activity kicks off each day at noon with our Lunchtime Concerts, and continues until 11 pm when our Mainstage Concerts wrap up. You’ll find music (live concerts and the JAZZ.FM91 broadcast centre), food, samples from our sponsors (experience Panasonic’s 3D TV!), a music store (hmv), an artisans’ village, festival merchandise and more.”

Friday and Saturday Road Closure:
King Street from John Street to Simcoe Street will be closed from Friday, June 24 at 8 p.m. to Saturday, June 25 at 1 a.m.

International Indian Film Academy Awards

“Everyone’s buzzing about exciting International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) events across the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)! We got in the Bollywood spirit with two flash mobs celebrating the International Indian Film Academy Awards starting at Bloor & Yonge and finishing at Yonge and Dundas” as shown here:

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. is supported by key members of the Indian film fraternity.

IIFA is the most respected South Asian film academy and its main highlight, the IIFA Awards is one of India’s biggest media events.

With a viewership of over 600 million worldwide, the IIFA Weekend is the largest celebration of Indian cinema and the IIFA Awards is among the most-watched global events, annually.

The IIFA’s have been celebrated in London, Sun City, Johannesburg, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Amsterdam, Yorkshire, Bangkok, Macau and most recently in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This year, IIFA will celebrate its 12th anniversary in Toronto, Canada from June 23 to June 25, 2011. Toronto is the first North American city to host the IIFA awards, which are held in a different international city every year.

Congratulations Toronto!

The IIFA Celebrations in Canada are presented by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and supported by the Government of Ontario.

For the first time ever, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) is bringing the glitz and spectacle of Bollywood to North America.

Tomorrow, June 24 at Toronto City Hall (100 Queen St. W.) 5:45 p.m., Mayor Rob Ford will meet with Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan to present him with a special scroll and Toronto flag on behalf of the City of Toronto.

Mr. Khan is an Indian film actor, prominent Bollywood celebrity, film producer and television host. He has starred in a number of successful Bollywood films and has earned critical acclaim for his performances.

For three days this June, Toronto is hosting IIFA’s 2011 celebrations, including fashion events, a business forum, film festivals, buzz events and of course the Awards Ceremony.

Saturday, June 25, 2011
2pm – 6:30pm  with DJ performances until 8pm

The City of Toronto welcomes IIFA with samsāra, a FREE outdoor event that celebrates the richness of classical and contemporary South Asian music, dance and fashion. This one-day festival embraces the elements of Earth, Fire, Air and Water to transform the space surrounding the Rogers Centre with performances that complement the IIFA Awards Ceremony.

The highlight of the weekend is the IIFA Awards Ceremony that honours the very best of Indian cinematic culture.

Fans from all over the world converge to celebrate Indian cinema, while millions can watch the telecast from the comfort of their home.

Friday, June 24 at 8 a.m. to Saturday, June 25 at 7:59 p.m. and on Sunday, June 26 from 3 a.m. to Noon Road Closures:

• The two westbound lanes of Bremner Boulevard east of Rees Street will be closed from Friday, June 24 at 8 a.m. to Saturday, June 25 at 7:59 p.m. and on Sunday, June 26 from 3 a.m. to noon to accommodate stage setup and dismantling.

• Bremner Boulevard from west of Lower Simcoe Street to the western part of Van de Water Crescent will be closed on Saturday, June 25 from 8 a.m. to Sunday, June 26 at 3 a.m. (Rees Street will be open to local traffic only for businesses in the area until 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.)

• There will be other lane restrictions and smaller road closures taking place to accommodate this event.

Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday

Pedestrian-only streets in Kensington Market, Toronto

Last Sunday of every month from May to October

“Join us in celebrating our 8th season of Pedestrian Sundays in 2011!!”

The streets are yours from 12 Noon – 7 pm

“ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, PERFORMERS wishing to get involved should send a description of what you do, (and a link if you have one) to shamezamlani at yahoo.com & yvonnebambrick at gmail.com or call Yvonne 416.826.2964.

Thanks for helping to bring magic to our streets!

Stay in touch via our Facebook page or by following us on Twitter Join our email list for very occasional email updates about special events of interest.

Pedestrian Sundays don’t permanently change the streets, they forever change the way you perceive them!

Want to see Pedestrian Sundays in your neighbourhood?

Get in touch with Shamez to find out how – 647.444.7426.

See you in the streets!”

Sunday Road Closures:

Parts of the following roads will be closed from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 to accommodate this event:

• Augusta Avenue

• Baldwin Street

• Kensington Avenue

Ontario Walk Now for Autism Speaks

this Sunday June 26, 2011

Nathan Phillips Square

“Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disorder among children in North America. 1 out of every 110 children will be diagnosed with autism. 1 in 70 boys. Rates of diagnosis have increased 57% from 2002 to 2006 and an astounding 600% in the last 20 years.

Join us as we walk to change the future for the Canadian and global autism communities!”

8:30 AM          Toronto Walk Now for Autism Speaks EVENT OPENS

• Registration and T-shirts booth open

• Toys “R” Us Kidzfest Korner

• Spinmaster Fun Zone

• Tennis Canada Progressive Tennis Area

• Landscape Structures Display Sensory Playcentre

• BDO Bowling Challenge

• All inflatables and activities are up and running

• Fire Station – special inflatables including fire truck, slide and Dalmatian bouncy castles

• Photos with Toys “R” Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe, Mr. Kool Aid & The 501st Legion

• The Resource Fair: learn about available services and programs in the area.

9:10 AM Swingset Mamas performs

9:30 AM Maplewood Drum Band performs

9:40 AM Mitchell Daniels, 13 year-old who lives with autism, performs

9:45 AM Opening Ceremonies

Special Salute to Toronto’s remarkable autism researchers and their walk teams: Dr. Stephen Scherer and Dr. Wendy Roberts
Laurel Broten, MPP Etobicoke Lakeshore and Minister of Children and Youth Services

10:00 AM Walk start – 3 KM walk

10:45 AM Swingset Mamas, fun and entertainment continues

11:30 AM Closing Ceremonies

There will be light refreshments and snacks on the Square courtesy of Mr. Case, Starbucks, Puresource and a water station. We encourage you to bring water in refillable bottles for your family.

Don’t forget your sunscreen, water bottles and your cameras!

PARKING is available in the underground parking lot at Nathan Phillips Square and is $7 per day. Enter off of Bay Street – Queen Street parking entrance is closed due to construction.

Nathan Phillips Square is easily accessible via TTC; it is within walking distance of Osgoode and Queen Street subway stops and the Queen Streetcar stops at the Square.

Sunday Road Closure:
• The northbound lanes of University Avenue from Queen Street to College Street will be closed on Sunday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Enjoy!

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

News Release

June 22, 2011

Weekend events with road closures in Toronto

Four special events this weekend involve road closures. Residents and visitors are encouraged to come out and enjoy the events. Festivals and events are important to the city, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars annually into Toronto’s economy, and they are enjoyed each year by local residents. Businesses in the affected areas are open to pedestrian traffic but some roads will be closed to motorists.

In addition to these events, there is a significant amount of road work taking place in the city this summer. People are encouraged to take public transit as a greener, faster and more affordable way of getting to their destinations. If you need to drive in these event areas, please be patient and allow extra time to get to and from your destination.

A more complete list of events and road work is available at http://www.toronto.ca/torontostreets.

Downtown Jazz Festival – Friday and Saturday closure:
• King Street from John Street to Simcoe Street will be closed from Friday, June 24 at 8 p.m. to Saturday, June 25 at 1 a.m.

International Indian Film Academy Awards – weekend closures:
• The two westbound lanes of Bremner Boulevard east of Rees Street will be closed from Friday, June 24 at 8 a.m. to Saturday, June 25 at 7:59 p.m. and on Sunday, June 26 from 3 a.m. to noon to accommodate stage setup and dismantling.
• Bremner Boulevard from west of Lower Simcoe Street to the western part of Van de Water Crescent will be closed on Saturday, June 25 from 8 a.m. to Sunday, June 26 at 3 a.m. (Rees Street will be open to local traffic only for businesses in the area until 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.)
• There will be other lane restrictions and smaller road closures taking place to accommodate this event.

Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday – Sunday closure:
• Parts of Kensington Avenue, Augusta Avenue and Baldwin Street will be closed on Sunday, June 26 from noon to 7 p.m. to accommodate this event.

Ontario Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada – Sunday closure:
• The northbound lanes of University Avenue from Queen Street to College Street will be closed on Sunday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

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.