Toronto Events

• May 1 – October 24
  Free events all summer long at Yonge-Dundas Square: Movies, music and more
  Yonge-Dundas Square has announced a 2010 summer season filled with free events from May 1 to October 24 that reflect and celebrate the cultural diversity of Toronto, offering something special for people of all ages and interests.
• 2010 Inductees for The Canada Honours Announced  Seven deserving recipients to be recognized by Canada's Walk of Fame
  Canada's Walk of Fame, together with Canwest unveiled the names of the 2010 inductees for The Canada Honours. The seven inductees will each receive their tribute on Saturday, October 16 at Toronto's Canon Theatre. The Canada Honours will be broadcast on Global and Slice™ following the gala ceremony (date and time TBA).
• Camp Drake: Come play all summer long
  Summer in the city just got a whole lot better. Camp Drake returns for a second season of easy, breezy, laidback fun, where cabins are Crashpads, counsellors are bartenders and the tuck shop is a bona fide Tiki Bar.
• 2nd Annual Italian Walk of Fame: Unveiling & Awards Gala, September 6th
  Co-founders, Jimi Bertucci and Marisa Beaco-Lang, of the Italian Walk of Fame are delighted to announce the 2^nd Annual Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF) Induction Ceremony which will take place on September 6, 2010 in Toronto, Canada.
• NEW ADVENTURES IN SOUND ART Presents: SOUND TRAVELS FESTIVAL of SOUND ART
  New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) is pleased to present the 12^th edition of the Sound Travels Festival of Sound Art, runs until September 25, 2010. As part of a summer-long celebration of sound art, NAISA presents indoor and outdoor performances, sound installations...
• Hundreds Of Original Handcrafted Items For Holiday Gift Giving at Sherway Gardens' Annual Hometown Fair on October 21-23
  Hundreds of handmade items including woodwork, baby blankets, quilts, ornaments, toys, preserves and baked goods will be featured during Sherway Gardens (Hwy 427 & the QEW) annual Hometown Fair...

Safecracker Cinema presented by Cineplex Entertainment: Assemble your crew for free outdoor heist film screenings!  At this price, it's a steal! From the caper classic Grand Slam to tales of grand schemes and botched plans such as A Fish Called Wanda and The Bank Job, these hilarious and suspenseful films are sure to have hearts pounding. And special back-to-back screenings of both the original and re-make versions of Ocean's Eleven, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Italian Job give film buffs the opportunity to watch one or stay glued to their seats the whole night and compare versions!

All screenings take place on Tuesdays from June 30 - August 31 (except on Wednesday June 30 and Thursday July 15 instead of Tuesday those weeks). The schedule includes:

• Inside Man (2006) - August 17 @ 8:30 pm
• The Bank Job (2008) - August 24 @ 8:30 pm
• The Italian Job (1969) - August 31 @ 6 pm
• The Italian Job (2003) - August 31 @ 9 pm

Serenades in the Square

Lunch-hour Serenades in the Square provide a welcome respite to a busy day as the best of Canada's jazz, roots and folk musicians perform one-hour sets. You will hear a mix of the best from the soulful jazz of Juno-nominated Yvette Tollar to the alt-country harmonies of The Strumbellas.

All performances take place on Wednesdays from May 5 – June 2 and September 22 – October 20 from 12:30 - 1:30 pm. The schedule includes:

• Amanda Mabro - September 22
• Maylee Todd - September 29
• Woodpigeon - October 6
• One Hundred Dollars - October 13
• The Strumbellas - October 20

Global Grooves

Get your groove on with a diverse range of artists representing musical traditions from around the world. Global Grooves is a treat for any hot summer evening. From the mix of flamenco, rock, latin and blues of Del Castillo to the soul, jazz, afro and latin of Souljazz Orchestra, to the Juno-nominated Humble's roots reggae rhythms and more.

All performances take place on Fridays from June 25 – September 3 from 8 – 10 pm. The schedule includes:           

• Les Gitans de Sarajevo - August 13
• Robert Lopez Project - August 20
• Souljazz Orchestra - August 27
• Masia One - September 3

Arts in the Heart

One-of-a-kind gifts and unique handcrafted items will be for sale at Arts in the Heart on Fridays, Saturday, Sunday and holidays from May 1 – October 24. You can receive a free reusable tote designed by Toronto artist Yasmine Louis with a minimum purchase of $10.

The 13^th annual Canada's Walk of Fame will add the following Canadian icons to its current list of 124 inductees:

• David Clayton-Thomas
• Nelly Furtado
• Doug Henning
• Clara Hughes
• Eric McCormack
• Farley Mowat
• Sarah Polley

"Canadians are now at the point where we are comfortable recognizing our achievements and honouring our own without the need of external validation. We have the confidence to stand up and take a bow," said Peter Soumalias, CEO and President of Canada's Walk of Fame. "The Canada Honours allow us to join together in this nationwide celebration."

Joining the 124 existing inductees, the 2010 honourees will be added to Canada's Walk of Fame, which annually recognizes individuals for their achievements in various fields, including music, sport, film and television, science and innovation, in addition to the arts: literary, visual and performing. Commemorating the 2010 inductees, Canada's Walk of Fame's broadcast will feature special guest performances and celebrity presenters.

"Talented Canadians are making their mark on a global scale every day, and Canada's Walk of Fame offers a wonderful tradition paying tribute to these remarkable individuals. Canwest is proud to continue its part in this celebration and showcase these well-deserving inductees to our audiences on Global and Slice™," said Barb Williams, EVP, Content, Canwest Broadcasting.

Once again, one of this year's inductees will be honoured with the Canadian Legends Award, sponsored by Cineplex Entertainment and Universal Studios Canada. This year's recipient is the late Doug Henning. The Legends Award is given posthumously to Canadian pioneers in film and television, music, sport, arts and innovation. Cineplex Entertainment and Universal Studios Canada are proud to sponsor the Legends Award as well as Canada's Walk of Fame. This sponsorship is part of Cineplex Entertainment and Universal Studios Canada continuing recognition of Canadian film.

Potential candidates of Canada's Walk of Fame must have been born in or spent the totality of their creative or formative years in Canada. A minimum of 10 successful years is required to qualify, as well as a recognized body of work that has had a significant influence on our cultural heritage.

The 2010 Inductees

• David Clayton-Thomas
  Hometown: Surrey, England
  Born David Henry Thomsett in Surrey, England, David Clayton-Thomas grew up in Toronto where his hair trigger temper got him in trouble with the law. While doing jailhouse gigs, where David taught himself to play the guitar, legendary Ronnie Hawkins took him under his wing. Soon enough, David was fronting his own bands, first with David Clayton-Thomas and The Fabulous Shays, which appeared on NBCTV's Hullabaloo and then The Bossmen, where he wrote the chart-topping anti-war song, Brainwashed. Returning to New York a few years later, he met folk singer Judy Collins who introduced him to Blood Sweat & Tears (BST), a band he fronted until 2004, resulting in numerous chart toppers and Grammy awards. BST's Greatest Hits album has sold over seven million copies to date. Today, David resides in Toronto and recently formed a 10-piece band under his own name.

• Nelly Furtado
  Hometown: Victoria, BC
  Born in Victoria, Canada, Nelly Furtado started a prosperous musical career when she moved to Toronto after finishing high school. Nelly quickly impressed a lot of people including The Philosopher Kings, who recorded a demo of her songs. That led to her first album, Whoa, Nelly! in 2000, which reached platinum status several times, garnered four Grammy nominations and won Nelly the 2002 Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for I'm Like a Bird. Her second album, Folklore, was released in 2003, two months after Nelly gave birth to her daughter Nevis. That was followed by the release of Loose in 2006, producing the instant hit, Promiscuous, earning her the number one spot at the Billboard Hot 100. Nelly's fourth release, Mi Plan, was sung completely in Spanish. As with all her albums, Nelly wrote and coproduced Mi Plan with the collaboration of great writers and producers that she personally chose, including Alex Cuba and Josh Groban.

• Doug Henning
  Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
  Doug Henning single-handedly resurrected the "magic" of the performing arts, entertaining more people than any other magician in history. His career began in Toronto when he and former classmate, Ivan Reitman staged the box office sensation Spellbound in 1973. The production became The Magic Show, which ran for nearly five years on Broadway, and featured Henning performing classic illusions in a contemporary style that would transform the magic world forever. Henning had eight NBC specials and three shows on Broadway including Merlin, which was nominated for five Tony Awards. Henning was also the first magician to headline his own show in Las Vegas and he performed regularly at Caesar's Palace and the MGM Grand. Sadly, Doug Henning died on February 17, 2000, at the premature age 52.

• Clara Hughes
  Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
  Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Clara began speed skating when she was 16. At 17, she switched gears and took up cycling, earning 18 National Titles before she returned to skating at 28. Her Bronze medal in speed skating at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, after her two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, made her only the second woman ever to have won a medal at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. In 2004, she won Gold at the World Single Distance Championships, and was awarded the title of Canada's Speedskater of the Year (Long Track) and in 2006 she earned a spot on CAAWS' List of Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity. Her most recent achievements include a pair of medals at the 2006 Turin Olympic Winter Games, Silver medals at both the 2008 and 2009 World Single Distance Championships as well as a Bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games – making Clara the most decorated Olympian in Canada with six medals, tied with Cindy Klassen.

• Eric McCormack
  Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
  If you count his first paying job at Toronto's O'Neill's Dinner Theatre (and he does) this is Eric McCormack's 28th year as a professional actor. In the years following graduation from Ryerson he appeared in theatres across this country, including five seasons with the Stratford Festival, and worked extensively in Canadian television, most notably as Mosby in Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years. But it was Eric's performance as Will Truman on the EmmyÆ-winning Will & Grace that changed everything, earning him a Screen Actors' Guild Award, five Golden Globe nominations, and the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. In the four years since that series' final bow, Eric's maintained a busy schedule both on stage and screen, and as a producer. He will be spending this summer in Vancouver with his wife, Janet, and their eight-year-old son, Finnigan, starring in the Arts Club Theatre production of Glengarry Glen Ross.

• Farley Mowat
  Hometown: Belleville, Ontario
  Farley Mowat is one of Canada's most beloved and successful authors and activists. He was born in Ontario between the two world wars and spent his childhood largely in the company of wildlife, an experience he chronicled beautifully in Owls in the Family, The Dog Who Wouldn't Be and Born Naked. Later, his experiences in the Second World War inspired the memoir, And No Birds Sang – one of the most searing anti-war books ever written. His lifelong commitment to the natural world and traditional ways of life spawned a stunning body of work that includes Never Cry Wolf, People of the Deer, The Desperate People, Sea of Slaughter, A Whale for the Killing, Grey Seas Under, Lost in the Barrens, Bay of Spirits and this year's forthcoming Eastern Passage. In all, Mowat has a body of work of over 40 books, encompassing fiction, non-fiction and young adult. These have been translated into over 50 languages and have sold literally millions upon millions of copies worldwide.

• Sarah Polley
  Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
  Sarah Polley began acting at age four, but it was Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter in 1997 that marked her breakthrough into adult roles. Her performance in that movie earned Sarah her first Best Actress Genie Award nomination, as well as Best Supporting Actress awards from the Boston and Chicago Societies of Film Critics. After appearing in numerous film productions, Sarah made her feature film directorial debut with the 2006 drama Away From Her, for which she also wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay. Away From Her was a gala selection at the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals and numerous awards throughout North America. Most recently, Polley starred along side Adrien Brody in the extremely well-received sci-fi film SPLICE, directed by Vincenco Natali. As a filmmaker, Sarah is in pre-production to direct her original screenplay Take This Waltz starring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen, which begins shooting this July in Canada.

• Camp Drake Escape: Available now, until Monday, September 6
  The ultimate green city getaway returns with a summer camp style hotel package. Room rates begin at $239 and include the usage of two cruiser bicycles from Amsterdam, a custom-packed picnic lunch, and a fun guide mapping out a series of bike-able events, galleries and fairs in the city. Call 416.531.5042 ext. 3 for reservations.

• NEW Tiki Bar: Now Open
  Have you tried Drake's lavender lemonade yet? Summer cocktails like the Mai Tai, blackberry mojito, jugs of red sangria with boozy fruit and frozen margarita slushies, not to mention tubs of ice cold beer, are the perfect pairing for hot sun and old friends. Head upstairs to check out Drake's newest addition, an island-inspired Tiki Bar with a drink list to match. Visit www.thedrakehotel.ca/dining/sky-yard for more info.

• NEW Summer Exhibit: To Monday, August 30
  Drake's summer exhibition Earnest Reverie features paintings, installations and mixed media works that embrace the camp theme. Works include Andrew Harwood's iconic compositions in sequins, a floral sculpture made of pills by Lynne Heller, Bonnie Lewis's densely delicate paintings, and an installation by Laura Kikauka that includes a rhinestone encrusted skull and record player. This exhibition was curated by Colleen O'Reilly, Anastasia Hare and Meghan Bissonnette, graduate MFA students from York University.

• Gallery Spin: August 5 and Thursday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m.
  Gallery Spin, a series of bike-led gallery tours, rolls into West Queen West on July 1, riding through the streets, alleys and parks of Toronto's west end. Hosted by bike-riding fashion collective The Deadly Nightshades, each event includes a "hot ride rolling fashion show", exhibitions and an artist talk. Each Gallery Spin begins at the front gates of Trinity Bellwoods Park and ends at Drake for an art-themed after-party featuring a pop-up shop by local designers in the Lounge. Visit thedrakehotel.ca/events for more info.

• Sing-along Sundays: EVERY Sunday at 9 p.m. to September 5
  Based on the summer camp variety show, Camp Drake Sing-Alongs are back for a second summer of live music and laughs. Join local bands, singer-songwriters, comedians, and a slew of other performers each week in celebration of live music and comedy, taking place in Drake's Lounge. The performances are completely free, the beer is cheap and good times await. Visit thedrakehotel.ca/singalong for more info.

• Movies in the Mess Hall: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to August 31
  Celebrate favourite summer flicks with Sloppy Joes, pints of beer and a weekly movie series – all for only $5. The Underground will be transformed into a casual screening space as various film buffs and local celebrity hosts (including Richard Crouse, William Huffman and RM Vaughan) present weekly films like The Goonies, Top Secret and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Admission includes a Sloppy Joe (with vegetarian option), a beer, buckets of popcorn and more. Visit thedrakehotel.ca/movies for the full list of films.

• Garden Dinner: Wednesday, August 25
  The ultimate backyard party returns to Drake's urban garden with a one-time-only soirÈe featuring a pig roast with a pig provided by Eigensinn Farm and other delicacies prepared by Chef Anthony Rose. This foodie event will include homegrown Drake produce like fresh corn and heirloom tomatoes, as well as organic ingredients from local farms for a truly special menu, which will feature pulled-pork barbecue, garden-fresh succotash, summer wines, cocktails and more. Due to the intimate nature of this event, seating is limited. Tickets are $45 per person. Call 416.531.5042 ext.1 for reservations.

The Drake Hotel is located at 1150 Queen Street West (between Dovercourt and Dufferin). Visit http://www.thedrakehotel.ca or call 416.531.5042 for more information.

Located in the heart of Toronto's famous downtown tourist destination known as "Little Italy, the IWOF pays tribute to the extraordinary achievements Italians have had around the world. Stars, honouring deserving individuals of Italian origin, areplaced permanently and prominently in the sidewalk and unveiled annually onsite during a red carpet ceremony which is followed by a lavish gala awards dinner.

The official launch of this historic event took place on September 7th, 2009. "It was inspiring to see so many people unite for this important cause", said co-founder, Jimi Bertucci. First year inductees included international film actor Giancarlo Giannini, famous Italian-American singer Connie Francis, hockey legend, Phil Esposito, Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Julian Fantino, real estate developer Rudy Bratty, also described as "The Man who Built Toronto" and pioneer broadcaster and community leader, Johnny Lombardi, honoured posthumously. "As home to the largest community of Italians outside of Italy, Toronto is the perfect choice for the IWOF", added Bertucci.

"The 1st annual Italian Walk of Fame event received an enthusiastic response from the community. We're looking forward to building on the excitement begun last year." said Co-Founder Marisa Beaco-Lang. Announcements of the Inductees into the 2010 Italian Walk of Fame will be announced in July 2010.

New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) is pleased to present the 12^th edition of the Sound Travels Festival of Sound Art, runs until September 25, 2010. As part of a summer-long celebration of sound art, NAISA presents indoor and outdoor performances, sound installations, an outdoor interactive sound sculpture, SOUNDwalks, a series of workshop intensives and the fourth annual Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium at various venues at the Artscape Wychwood Barns (601 Christie Street) as well as outdoors on Centre Island and around the Barns. In a world that often focuses too much on the visual, Sound Travels brings about a refreshing change as it presents works by sound artists that extract compelling musicality and wordless dramas from everyday sounds often taken for granted. From this lush auditory experience, audiences author their own imaginary world in their mind's eye – Darren Copeland, Artistic Director, New Adventures in Sound Art.

Outdoor opening events celebrate World Listening Day

The summer-long festival will launch on July 18^th at 1PM with two simultaneous SOUNDwalks and the opening of the annual Synthecyletron installation to celebrate the very first World Listening Day. The first SOUNDwalk will meet at the Pavilion (where the ferry to Centre Island disembarks) and end with an artist talk by Toronto artist Barry Prophet about his interactive sound sculpture - Synthecycletron (a favourite amongst cyclists – near the pier on Centre Island) - with a chance to ride the sound sculpture to create your own sound art. The second SOUNDwalk will begin at the NAISA space at the Artscape Wychwood Barns and explore sound environments in and around the area of the Barns and nearby neighbourhood ending back at the NAISA space with a soundscape concert. Participants should be sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for any weather condition.

In a SOUNDwalk, the listening "audience" moves through a place and the environment "performs." In a SOUNDwalk we take the time to hear the environment: we are its true ear witnesses. And like any musician, the environment offers us its sounds for our consideration. The first annual World Listening Day coincides with the birthday of Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, the director of the World Soundscape Project and one of the founders of the acoustic ecology movement. For more information about World Listening Day go to: www.worldlisteningproject.org

The Sound Travels concerts once again create a cinema for the ear entirely through sound. The first set of concerts begins on July 31st during the Saturday morning market at the Artscape Wychwood Barn with Breakfast: a morning Ritual - performances by Rob Piilonen, Matt Miller and Samuel Morgenstein that combines the sounds or breakfast with flute and percussion. Concerts on August 4^th & 5^th open the Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium with works by international participants in the symposium. August 6^th and 7^th includes a retrospective of QuÈbec pioneer Marcelle DeschÍnes, as well as evocative soundscape works by Ned Bouhalassa and David Eagle, the Toronto premiËre of the new T-Stick electronic instrument developed by D. Andrew Stewart and Joseph Malloch and performed by Stewart, alongside works by UK sound artists Natasha Barrett, David Hindmarch and Manuella Blackburn.

Opportunities abound for artists of all ages and backgrounds at this year's Sound Travels Festival. August 4-7 includes the fourth annual Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium – once again co-presented by the Canadian Electroacoustic Community – will include 18 papers and several concert works curated by an international jury and to be presented August 5, 6 and 7. The following week includes the second annual Sound Travels Intensive, this time a 4-day series of workshops for emerging and mid-career artists offering them the opportunity to hone their craft with world renowned artists Marcelle DeschÍnes, Satoshi Morita, David Ogborn, Eldad Tsabary, Darren Copeland, and Rob Cruickshank. The August 13 performances showcase works by the participants in the Sound Travels intensive and invite discussion by both audience and participants. And finally the now annual Making Art With Sound week-long workshops August 16-20 provide opportunities for youth (ages 15 to 18) to create art entirely through sound.

The final weekend of Sound Travels coincides with the New Music Marathon at Yonge-Dundas Square and will include a performance of 3-sided Square from 2 - 9 pm during the marathon. Curated by NAISA artistic director, 3-sided Square includes performers Richard Windeyer, Michelle Irving, Matt Miller, Eric Powell and more TBA.

"Many of our shoppers look forward to our annual Hometown Fair where they can pick up a wide selection of handmade crafts and unique items for the holiday season," states Elena Price, Senior Marketing Director, Sherway Gardens.

This year approximately 30 community groups will participate in Hometown Fair. Some of these groups include the Thistletown Woodchucks, Franklin Horner Community Centre, St. Paul the Apostle Craft Club, Kipling Acres Volunteers and Women of Runnymede Presbyterian Church.

"With over 80 members, we like to say that we recycle seniors," states Ken Gray from the Thistletown Woodchucks. "If you like sawdust and woodworking you can become a member. It is a great way to interact and come together to do some woodworking and restore some wood furniture with a little TLC." For more than 20 years, the Thistletown Woodchucks have been taking part in Hometown Fair by creating cradles, spinning tops, pull toys and rocking chairs that will last for generations.

"For over 10 years the Franklin Horner Community Centre has raised a considerable amount of funds to help operate our non-profit independent community centre through Sherway's Hometown Fair," states Don Law, President. "We are always looking for new members to help keep these traditions alive." This year they will be selling men's woodworking items including small tables, baby cradles, and cedar garden furniture, as well as women's crafts ranging from stuffed animals, baby blankets and quilts.

The St. Paul the Apostle Craft Group and Knit and Sew Groups have a number of loyal customers who come to Sherway Gardens' Hometown Fair to buy their tree ornaments and Christmas decorations every year. You will also find a large section of tea towels, tea cozies, dolls bedding, knit children's sweaters, scarves and hats as well as crocheted baby blankets.

Kipling Acres produces fantastic baby knitwear, Christmas decorations, wreaths, comforters, aprons and baked goods that are always in demand.

If you are looking for the perfect accompaniment to your holiday dishes, visit the Runnymede Presbyterian Church's table where you will find a large selection of homemade jams, jellies, relishes and chili to choose from.

100 percent of the proceeds from Sherway Gardens annual Hometown Fair go directly to the participants to support local church and seniors groups, community centres, and other non-profit organizations in the community.