Community Updates from Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone

From Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone's Newsletter:

Friday, June 13 - Sunday, June 15: The Taste of Little Italy is here again! At 6:00 pm on Friday, June 13, College St from Shaw to Bathurst will be closed to make way for the popular Toronto festival and will run until the evening of Sunday, June 15. All weekend, restaurants and cafes on the boulevard will bring their delicious foods out of the kitchen and onto the streets. There will be entertainment for both adults and children, including local musical artists, and booths with representatives from local community organizations. On Friday, June 13 at 7:00 pm, please join me and the community for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in honour of the late Johnny Lombardi in Johnny Lombardi Piazza.

Saturday, June 21: Bloor Street will be host the first annual BIG Street Festival from 1:00-9:00 pm on Saturday, June 21. (Bloor will be closed from Christie to Lansdowne from 9:00 am to 11:00 p.m.) There will be all kinds of activities for all ages including games, music, dancing, demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, and a great variety of food and drink in one of the most multicultural areas of Toronto. At 6:00 everyone will have the chance to gather in the middle of Bloor St and make a BIG dinner party.

This festival will be the culmination of many community volunteer hours but there's still room for volunteers for all or part of the festival day. For more information about renting a table for dinner or volunteering go to bigonbloor.com/festival, drop by TheStoreFront at 957 Bloor West, or contact Dougal Bichan, Program Coordinator 416.656.4893 dougal@bigonbloor.com or Sid Bruyn, Production Coordinator 416.530.4152, sid@bigonbloor.com.

Also on Saturday, June 21 is the annual Montrose Avenue Street Party. As in previous years, there will be a full and exciting market in the morning and, throughout the day, activities for children and families all along Montrose Avenue, between Bloor Street and Harbord Street. Runs from 9 am - 12 pm.

Sunday, June 22: Please join me and the Liberty Village community as the Liberty Village Market hosts its official opening on June 22 between 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. The ceremony will take place at 11:00 am. I look forward to seeing you there!