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SPLASH OF STYLE Toronto Model Casting Call

Casting Call MORE GIRLS PICS Here — MORE BOYS PICS Here

‘A SPLASH OF STYLE’ 2ND CASTING CALL
TIME: 3:00pm – 7:00pm (then after event 7pm-12am)
Location: Lyrics Music Lounge (50 Cumberland Street, Yorkville)

Attention all female/male models, musicians, industry service staff, security personnel, volunteers, and photographers and videographers. On June 20th, producers of the international “A SPLASH OF STYLE” event series (which has taken place in Calgary, Miami, and LA), will be joining forces with LoveThisCityTV and other international and local partners to present the Toronto edition, to a select attendee list of 500 industry influencers.

In preparation for A SPLASH OF STYLE event (which will be taking place at a private house with a pool), we will be holding a 2nd CASTING CALL for all of the following positions:

Models (female/male)
Musicians
Bar service staff
Sponsor Liaisons
Photographers
Videographers
Security
Volunteers

You have been invited to attend as someone on our event committee felt you would be a good fit for this opportunity, or because you have worked with Madflower Creative Group on a project before….or because you are on our current event team.

Our last casting a week brought out 62 models and 10 other candidates, and we are expecting even more this time around, with all the buzz already surrounding our event.

Complimentary beverages will be available during the course of the day.

The casting will take place on Wednesday, May 20th, and run from 3:00pm until 7pm. Afterwards we will be having an after event, featuring some of the top Djs and live acts in our city, as well as some other showcases.

Our confirmed judge for the model casting panel (out of 4) so far is as follows:

CHRISTINE JENNA CILANO – Founder of the “Bella Life” TV Show, and owner of Bella Life Models (Boston)

Additional details on requirements for candidates:

The expected 60+ Model Candidates will have their photo taken for consideration by our fashion designers, and walk for our esteemed judges.

Volunteers/Sponsor Liaisons should be prepared for a short interview.

Musicians should be prepared to meet with our Music Manager and possibly perform a song for event guests.

Service staff will need to have Smart-Serve, and be prepared for an interview.

Security will have to be bonded, and will need to have an interview.

Photographers/Videographers will need to bring their portfolio, or send web links prior, and will also have an interview.

Local/National media, select fashion designers and some sponsors will be present for this casting so bring your A-game!

The event will also be filmed, as part of the new “Bella Life” TV Show, and their search for the “Face of Toronto.”

If interested in attending for consideration, please message us directly on here or email us at splashstyletoronto@gmail.com asap with CASTING in the subject heading. Once we receive your email and you are approved, we will send you the location details.

Thanks so much for your interest, and hope to see you there.

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Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2015 Program

May 12, 2015, TORONTO — The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) unveils its 2015 program today at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Toronto. The annual festival celebrates the best in contemporary Italian cinema from around the world. ICFF runs from June 11-19, 2015 in Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Hamilton, Montreal and Quebec City.

“The ICFF slate is a diverse collection of new and returning voices all linked by Italian culture,” says Artistic Director Cristiano de Florentiis. “This year’s films take a creative and multicultural approach to current events and contemporary issues. We’re also excited to shine a spotlight on features and shorts by Italian Canadian filmmakers.”

The festival opens with a gala at Roy Thomson Hall and closes with a celebration at The Ritz- Carlton hotel. ICFF’s opening film is the international premiere of the drama L’Oriana, starring Vittoria Puccini as famed journalist Oriana Fallaci. At 17, Fallaci risked her life as part of the anti-fascist resistance movement Giosfizia e Liberia and continued to raise controversy by fighting Islamic extremism into her 70s.

The festival closes with the comedy Sei mai stata sulla luna? by Paolo Genovese on June 19 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox at 7:30 p.m. Italy’s Sabrina lmpacciatore (T/›e Passion of the Christ, The Last Miss) will present the film.

ICFF 2015 includes more than 19 premieres, a pre-festival retrospective of Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi, co-presented with TIFF and in collaboration with the U of T, as well as the children’s festival, ICFF Junior, which is presenting the Canadian premiere of the Italian- Canadian co-production (Midnight Sun), starring Dakota Goyo and Bridget Moynahan and directed by Roger Spottiswoode and Brando Quilici. All foreign language films are subtitled.

The second annual ICFF Industry Day, an event organized in collaboration with myETV Media, Pinewood Studios and SIRT Sheridan, facilitates connections between Italian and Canadian film industries. This year the event focuses on animated films.

About ICFF

The 4th annual Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) runs from June 11-19 2015, during Canada’s Italian Heritage Month. The festival presents an international collection of feature films, documentaries and shorts, including premieres, advance screenings and independent films. Screenings are supplemented by guest appearances by filmmakers, actors, authors, academics and other expert speakers who partake in question and answer sessions following most screenings. ICFF is generously supported by leading sponsors; The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Castlepoint and Green for Life Environmental inc. It is also supported by major partners; TIFF, Cineplex, Cinematheque Quebecoise, Cinema Guzzo, Cinema Cartier, Ambasciata d’ltalia, Consolato d’ltalia a Toronto e Montreal, lstituto ltaliano di Cultura, Italian Trade Commission and L’Altra ltalia.

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MORE INFO on film @ movies.reviewed-rated.com

Canadian Urban Music Conference

Journalists, Record Label Executives, Managers, Producers, and Publishers, Booking agent, corporate sponsors, A&R and other members of the community are invited to The Young & Poppin’ Music Showcase and Awards, all which will takes place on Saturday October 11th 2014. The conference is being held at THE BRAM & BLUMA APPEL SALON inside the Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street). The showcase is being held later the same evening at Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide Street West).

About the conference:
The Canadian Urban Music Conference is a celebration of a new generation of Canadian talent and powerful industry leaders on the cutting edge of city-inspired genres of music. Join the Revolution! The annual Canadian Urban Music Conference is Canada’s first city-style music conference with intimate and interactive seminars, A&R feedback sessions, VIP events at Private Members Clubs and live concerts for cutting edge music including Pop, Hip-hop, R&B, Reggae and African popular music. It provides music professionals with the tools to create communicate and participate in this global multi-billion dollar music industry. It consists of a series of intimate and interactive workshops, A&R meetings, live concerts, networking lunches and private VIP cocktail events. CUMC is committed to giving professionals a competitive edge and a truly revolutionary way to Network…Learn…and do Business

CD Duplicaton – Club Music – Get A Debit Machine For $250 – Caribbean Twitter – Reggae Music – Plastic Business Cards –

15th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest Toronto

MORE THAN BUSKERS at Scotiabank BuskerFest!

in support of Epilepsy Toronto

August 21-24, 2014 throughout the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood

(Queen St. to College St. and surrounding areas)

Toronto, August 7, 2014 – Scotiabank BuskerFest in support of Epilepsy Toronto returns to the Downtown Yonge neighbourhood with more than 160 of the world’s top street performers in over 70 acts. North America’s largest street performers festival, and the world’s largest epilepsy event, takes place along Yonge Street from Queen Street to College Street and surrounding areas from August 21-24.

With six Guinness world records, three World Champions and a sky high list of awards, this year’s lineup of performers at Scotiabank BuskerFest are a real bunch of over-achievers. Last year an estimated 1.5 million people attended the festival, and organizers are expecting at least as many this year who will be entertained by world-class street artists from around the globe – from Canada and the U.S., and as far away as Australia, Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom – performing on 16 pitches, noon to night.

Audiences will be dazzled and charmed by acrobatics, balloon twisting, beatboxing, chainsaw juggling, fire-hula hooping, body contortion, belly dancing, tango dancing, sleight of hand, Chinese pole, Russian bar, Hungarian whip-cracking, teeterboard, cyr wheel, straight jacket escapes, skateboard stunts and much more as performers descend on the country’s most populous city for four days and nights of silliness and spectacle in support of a great cause. There is something for all ages from specialty children’s events to late-night fire performances and live music.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS AND INFORMATION

The festival features MORE THAN BUSKERS, with special services and events, including the Scotiabank BuskerBall and Scotiabank BuskerPlay Kids Zone, offering a variety of fun activities for children.

o SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST/EPILEPSY TORONTO OPEN THE TSX
Monday, August 18 – Scotiabank BuskerFest and Epilepsy Toronto representatives open the Toronto Stock Exchange at the TMX Broadcast Centre at 9:30am. It’s far from business-as-usual when buskers are on the scene!

o SIXTH ANNUAL SCOTIABANK BUSKERBALL
Tuesday, August 19 – The sixth annual Scotiabank BuskerBall (6pm-10pm) kicks off Scotiabank BuskerFest with an evening of glamour, giggles and gastronomic delights, along with live and silent auctions and an intimate preview of the world’s most spectacular and unique performers headlining this year’s festival! CTV News anchor Andria Case hosts the event and co-chairs along with John Doig, Scotiabank Chief Marketing Officer. The event aesthetic will be created by interior designers Glen Peloso and Jamie Alexander of “Make Room for Living.” Scotiabank BuskerBall takes places at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens). Tickets for this fundraiser are $150 with all proceeds going to Epilepsy Toronto.

o SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST LAUNCH
Thursday, August 21 – The Festival Media Launch features special performances to delight and astound the crowd, beginning at noon at Yonge-Dundas Square. Look for the high-spirited stilt drummers of Toronto’s afro-Brazilian MaracaTALL, the thrilling acrobats of California’s Flying Tortillas, Quebec’s dazzling acrobatic duo Les Vitamins, zany Australian comic vaudevillian Mr Spin and more!

o    A New Heart of the Festival – EPILEPSY TORONTO BENEFITS
For the first time ever, the Scotiabank Stage in Yonge-Dundas Square will become the charitable epicenter of the festival. All proceeds raised by performers in the square throughout the festival are being generously donated to Epilepsy Toronto. On the opening day, Thursday August 21, Scotiabank will match every dollar collected in the square.
o       METRO PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
The announcement of this year’s audience-selected Metro People’s Choice Award winner will take place on the Scotiabank Stage in Yonge-Dundas Square during the final performance by festival favourite, violinist extraordinaire Dr Draw, who will be premiering the world’s only fully digital violin. The Metro Award gives the winning busker an automatic invite back to next year’s festival. Complete a ballot or vote online to be entered in a draw to win a Beats Pill (wireless speakers) by Dr. Dre. Drop by the Epilepsy Toronto Info Booth in Yonge-Dundas Square
o      ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS
Scotiabank BuskerPlay Kids Zone, located in Trinity Square Park (behind the Eaton Centre – accessible from Bay, Dundas and Albert Streets or through the mall), has wonderful activities for kids: face painting, balloon twisting, music, free workshops for kids in the Scotiabank Tent, free Hoola Hooping and Devil Sticking at the Dispatch Talent Tent and busker acts from an incredible line up of international performers, geared especially to the family audience. Among the fantastic acts are absurdist clown Ale Risorio from Spain and his bag full of strange and wonderful props; Italy’s very charming ‘One-Man Band’ Lorenzo Gianmario Galli; teenage yoyo whiz Kohel Mintz and Californian break-dancers and acrobats the Flying Tortillas.

o SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Epilepsy Toronto is working to ensure all visitors enjoy the festival with ease. At the BuskerAccess Tent, located in Yonge-Dundas Square (near the festival Info Tent), visitors with disabilities are provided with assistance such as an escort to one of the accessible stages by accessibility volunteers, wearing an identifiable accessibility symbol on their shirts. Non-verbal performances happen each day throughout the festival. Ale Risorio, Ikeda Yosuke and CiRcO LoCo perform on the main stage pitches, Bence Sarkadi: The Budapest Marionettes and Woody perform at fly pitches throughout the festival grounds and BLANKO andChasseur de Rêves perform daily in Yonge-Dundas Square. Additionally, on Thursday, Aug 21, from 5pm – 8pm, benefit performances on the Scotiabank Stage in Yonge-Dundas Square will be accompanied by ASL interpretation.

o BIKE VALET
The Downtown Yonge BIA has introduced a free bike valet program for key events – including Scotiabank BuskerFest. Guests can drop off their bike, receive a ticket stub and pick it up when they leave. The valet is located on the south side of Dundas Street West, between Yonge Street and Bay Street. Just look for the Downtown Yonge BIA flag and the Cycle Toronto tent.

15th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest

in support of Epilepsy Toronto

Thursday, August 21 – Sunday, August 24, 2014

throughout the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood:

Yonge Street all the way from Queen to College and surrounding areas

(including Trinity Square Park, Yonge-Dundas Square and Gould St.)

Thursday noon – 11pm; Friday noon – 11pm; Saturday 11am – 11pm; Sunday 11am – 8pm

Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto.

About Scotiabank BuskerFest
Since its inception in 2000, Scotiabank BuskerFest has featured hundreds of the best street performers from around the world, hosted millions of amazed spectators and helped raise much-needed funds for Epilepsy Toronto, a charitable organization that provides services to those living with epilepsy and their families. Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest street performers’ festival in North America and is the largest Epilepsy awareness-raising event in the world.

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Beaches International Jazz Festival Media Launch

MEDIA ALERT

BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
26th ANNUAL PROGRAM

WHAT: The 26th Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival kicks off with a media conference luncheon where organizers will announce this year’s musical program: July 18-20/TD Main Stage Concerts at Woodbine Park; July 21-23/TD Workshops at Mennonite New Life Centre; July 22-23/Taste of Jazz at Woodbine Park; July 24-26/StreetFest on Queen Street East;July 25-27/OLG Main Stage Concerts, Latin Square and Big Band Stages at Woodbine Park and July 26-27/TD Workshops at Latin Square and Big Band Stages.

WHO:Lido Chilelli, founder of the Beaches International Jazz Festival and Bill King, artistic director, will acknowledge this year’s sponsors and discuss how BEACHES JAZZ has become one of Toronto’s most anticipated summer events.

Members of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors will discuss the Festival’s contribution to its fundraising campaign.

Festival sponsors include the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, TD Bank Financial Group, Mill St. Brewery, Dan Aykroyd Wines, Toronto Port Authority, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Canadian Heritage, CTV and Subaru Canada.

Masterful jazz pianist, Quincy Bullen will be performing.

WHERE:BALMY BEACH CLUB

WALK OFF THE EARTH at CANADIAN RADIO MUSIC AWARDS CMW 2014

Walk off the Earth is a Canadian rock band that was formed in 2006 in Burlington, Ontario, and has gained success around the world by making low-budget music videos of covers and originals. The band built its fan base independently with no help from record labels, booking agents, or management. In February 2012, the music industry publication Crazed Hits reported that the band had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.[1] The band is best known for its covers of popular music on YouTube, making use of uncommon instruments such as the ukulele and the theremin, as well as looping samples. The band’s recorded music and videos are produced by member and multi-instrumentalist, Gianni Luminati (Giancarlo Nicassio).

WINTERFOLK BLUES & ROOTS FEST 2014

The Association of Artists for A Better World presents

WINTERFOLK BLUES & ROOTS FEST 2014

LAUNCH: FEBRUARY 13, 2014 – 6:30 p.m.
Winterfolk XII Blues and Roots Festival

WHAT:
Join us for a fun-filled evening to celebrate the launch of the 12th annual festival and our return to the Danforth! Mingle with artists, sponsors, staff, and your favourite politicians, while enjoying complimentary refreshments and entertainment from topnotch artists like the wicked multi-instrumentalist Dinah Thorpe, folk roots duo Sue and Dwight and high-energy Celtic acoustic group Whiskey Epiphany.

WHERE: Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave, 2nd Floor

WHEN: Thursday, February 13, doors @ 6:30 p.m.

Click picture to make it bigger —more pictures on www.imagelibrary.ca

SCHEDULE
7 p.m. Welcome
– MC Laura Fernandez, Winterfolk regular, singer, songwriter and host of Café Latino on Jazz FM
– Craig Scott, Member of Parliament, Toronto-Danforth
– Brian Gladstone, Festival Founder and Creative Director
7:15 p.m. Paula Fletcher, Toronto City Councilor Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth
7:20 p.m. Mary Fragedakis, Toronto City Councilor Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth
7:25 p.m. Antonella Barrasso, Multimedia Consultant, Metroland Media Toronto
7:30 p.m. Dinah Thorpe, performance
8:15 p.m. Sue and Dwight, performance
9 p.m. Whiskey Epiphany, performance

WINTERFOLK BLUES & ROOTS FEST 2014
more pictures on www.imagelibrary.ca

BIG on Bloor Festival 2013

We welcomed 70,000 people last year with visitors saying, “The BIG on Bloor Festival was an exceptional experience with so much to see, do and really be engaged with.” This year we are in full swing to surprise and delight you again with event to enjoy and participate in. July 20/ 21, 2013 car-free Bloor St., Toronto, Dufferin to Lansdowne, celebrates arts, culture, community & small business with a unique community and city-building festival featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions including: Bloordale Market: more than 200 arts, crafts, vendors and information tables! BIG on Bloor 2013 leading events: Celebrate Here: Music, performance and dance! Culture Works: Institutions, collectives, artists creative events… see, touch, learn, participate! Savour Bloor: In the stores, restaurants, patios and the Bloodale Food Court! Big Awards: Community appreciation! Play Fair: Games for children and adults and the Bloordale Market! The BIG On Bloor Festival an initiative of the Bloordale BIA, BIG: Bloor Improvement Group and the Bloordale community.

Bloorcourt Arts and Crafts Street Fair will be cancelled for this year

Bloorcourt Arts and Crafts Street Fair will be cancelled for this year The Bloorcourt BIA will be undergoing street level construction on Bloor Street West from Montrose Avenue to Dufferin Street, commencing June/July 2013 where: *the sidewalks will be re-poured in areas that are damaged *the roadway will be entirely re-surfaced *the above ground planters & trees will be removed and re-planted underground where possible. 2013

No Hot Dog On Bloor St

After a $20 million dollar upgrade, the trendy stretch of Bloor Street between Yonge and University, vendors selling hotdogs and items from carts, who formerly dotted this area, now find themselves evicted and no longer welcome here. The renovations and enhancements sponsored by the local BIA feel that the hotdog vendors no longer fit the feel or look they desire for this elite section of Bloor Street. If you’re walking through this area looking for a hodog vendor, you’ll have to travel down the street to find one. “The bylaw that we go by contains measurements from street planters and trees,” said Bruce Robertson, the director of licensing services. This section of Bloor Street that has recently undergone an extensive remodelling, a $20-million redesign, which was funded by the local business improvement association, widened the sidewalks for the city. With the street planters in place the vendors no longer have “3.66 metres of free space around the cart in all directions to allow for free pedestrian traffic,” Robertson said. When questioned, many of the vendors stated that they had already expected this to occur. In fact, they have not been allowed on the street since 2008. “It was in 2008 that the reconstruction started and they were apprised that it would all be under review when the reconstruction is complete,” Roberston said. But Nagib Amed, who runs a hotdog cart a block away, says the decision is a hard one for the vendors to swallow. “I think it’s not a good idea,” he said. “I feel sorry for them.” Hotdog connoisseurs Mark Walley and Mike Gray agree. “I don’t like the idea, I think they should be allowed,” Walley said. “It’s regrettable for the vendors,” said Gray. “I think having carts adds to the charm — or did add to the charm — of Bloor Street while they were able to sell their hotdogs there.” The city says it’s trying to find new spots — away from that specific section of Bloor Street — for the turfed vendors. Apparently, Bloor Street no longer relishes hotdogs.

Councillor Bailao Answers Bloor News Questions

Councillor Ana Bailaio Ward 18’s City Councillor speaks with Bloor News about the current issues in the city along with What’s happening in Ward 18

Q: Ward 18 has 20 TCHC properties that TCHC wants to sell in the next 3-5 years. What’s your take on this plan and what have the tenants of those buildings ?

1. When I first saw the list of TCHC properties for sale, I immediately recognized a couple of addresses of different community organizations. Two organizations doing great work in my area are Sistershare and St. Vincent de Paul’s, and are organizations running out of TCHC buildings that were on the list. These organizations are providing a valuable community service, and their clients are familiar with that location. I felt strongly that to move these people put the programs at risk and I requested that any building providing community service programming be taken off the list.

Fortunately, we were successful, and TCHC removed all the properties from the sale list that had community organizations working within them. The most important thing to keep in mind, though, is that the houses in Ward 18 are just like the houses across the City, and the only way to get the best result for Torontonians is to develop a comprehensive plan for how to maintain affordable housing levels in good repair. This is why I moved to have the sale of these properties delayed until a Special Working group could consider opportunities for non-profit, private and public sectors to come together and address and improve Toronto’s housing situation.

Q: If TCHC does go through with this sale do you believe in a portable subsidy so Toronto can better diversify neighbourhoods or do you believe in diversification through projects like Regent Park or Lawrence Heights?

2. I think the conversation about what’s the best strategy for Toronto Housing falls apart when you put portable subsidies against City-managed housing – you need a mix. These are complex issues and no one approach helps everyone. Just as the tenants of TCHC housing are diverse, so must the solutions be to assist them. The approaches that are most effective consider the many contributing causes that would result in the need for housing assistance, and take these into account. Toronto must not expand housing in only one way, but provide a more comprehensive multi-approach plan to assisting our residents.

Q: When you see the map showing the 675 units dispersed throughout the city what comes to mind?

3. What is apparent in the location of TCHC units proposed for sale is that we are dealing with a diverse area. What the map doesn’t represent, however, is we are dealing with a very specific type of housing with the TCHC proposed sale. These properties emphasize mixed-income, and family units, which are in the highest demand. Significantly reducing this stock puts a significant stress on Toronto’s current affordable housing units, and an even greater stress on the families that need them.

Q: Mushy or Mighty?

4. Without question, we are dealing with a mighty middle, but it’s not about a new group at Council. These Councillors are very engaged, follow the issues closely and take seriously the thoughts and concerns of their constituents. They have similar ideas, but most importantly are ready and willing to work with anyone interested in building a better City. This is and has always been about collaboration rather than competition, and keeping residents and information central to these conversations is critical. As for our effectiveness on the recent Budget, Transit and Housing votes, I leave that to Torontonians to decide.

Q: Do you feel stubbornness and or partisanship at city hall has tainted possible deals in the past and why is the middle succeeding now?

5. After every election there is always a “cooling-off” period where you learn what people care about and on what they are knowledgeable. It can take some time for these to get out there, but now the skills of different Councillors are coming together. The big change has been the increase in dialogue. People are more comfortable approaching each other, and that has smudged the lines between different camps for the better. The middle Councillors have always been seeking a balance, it was important to get Toronto into a better financial situation and to do so without hurting the social services that make Toronto special. I think we are very close to that now which has free us up to get into the projects we care most about. The advantage of making your own decisions and considering the facts, is that you always know where you stand.

Q: What are your goals for Ward 18 over the next couple years and how will that play out in the current budget? e.g transit, housing, taxation, services, garbage etc…

6. It’s the bigger issues – like Transit and the City’s Budget that get the attention, and for good reason – but there are a lot of very exiting projects happening locally as well. I plan on keeping up the street festivals and community events that make Ward 18 such a great place to live, and continue working on new ways of getting residents engaged in our neighbourhoods. We are managing a lot of exciting new development for the area, planning a new park on Queen Street, and focussing on a project that would expand the Perth/Dupont library. Something that is coming up soon is our first Ward 18 Parks Summit, where we will be able to bring people together to improve the activities and green spaces in our area.

2011 BIG On Bloor Fest. July 23/24, Dufferin – Landowne

Big on Bloor July 23-24 2011

BIG On Bloor Fest. July 23/24, Dufferin – Landowne

Bloordale, from Dufferin to Lansdowne celebrates business, community, arts and culture with a unique community and city-building festival featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions. Three stages will fill with performers, musicians, singers, dancers, theatre, and karate. More than 300 participants feature table exhibitions that line the street and present their projects, products, consumer goods, information or events. Community awards are presented to honour exceptional citizens and there are interactive games

craft tables and attractions for families and children. BAAF: Bloor Alternative Art Fair brings art institutions, collectives, galleries and artists to our street. Crafts, story-telling, face painting, green and social information, dog shows and much more will take place. Strolling buskers and parades weave through the crowds. Our famously diverse restaurants – East African, South Asian, Somali, Vietnamese, Caribbean, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, Mexican, Italian and Canadian host food, music and dance, some with outdoor extended licensed patios. The Responding Festival culminates its month-long activities of art, architecture, poetry and performance at the Kent school-grounds.

The Responding Festival

Kent School playground directly edges Bloor Street but is separated by a 12 foot high chain-link barrier fence. This summer we open the playground area of the school and offer it as a Bloor Street public space. We will transform the empty space into a public art environment, a collision of art and architecture, performance, poetry, landscape, discussions and playgrounds made by artists and architects, cultural collectives and community participants. The intention is to make a non-stop swirl of activity, a site for evolving experimental forms and new ways of creating in a shared place that responds to the city, the community, each other and being here now.

You can download the Big on Bloor guide here!