We celebrated the warmth of Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood this past Saturday, November 30th with our annual tree lighting and cheer event Light Up Riverside! As always it was a fun event full of great moments and it was inspiring to once again see the Mustard Seed Courtyard, Fontbonne Ministries packed with families, smiling faces, and it was lovely meeting and catching up with so many of our neighbours and friends.
BIG THANKS to our 2019 Light Up Riverside co-sponsors: BIA members Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers LP who served up hot drinks and warm smiles and Dianna Kennedy RE/MAX Hallmark for the amazing gift basket prize!
THANK YOU:
*To our hosts, Fontbonne Ministries, for welcoming us again to their courtyard and cozy indoor area. We decked out and lit up their beautiful courtyard landscape with hundreds of lights and decorations, which will grace Riverside and the Mustard Seed Courtyard until January.
*For the generosity of local Riverside businesses: the Opera House Grill for providing their always popular chicken noodle soup, Brickworks Ciderhouse for their delicious apple pies, Tertulia for their liquor-infused coffee samples, newcomer to Riverside Blackbird Baking Co. for providing fresh bread, and to Saulter Street Brewery for welcoming folks after the festivities!
* Toronto Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus, who enlivened and uplifted us with their beautiful voices!
*Our always supportive local politicians, Councillor and Riverside BIA Board member Paula Fletcher, MPP Peter Tabuns and MP Julie Dabrusin who came out to meet & greet the community.
*Our amazing volunteers from the Riverside BIA Marketing Committee and office, from George Brown School of ESL, York University and TDSB – we could not have done it without you!
We were pleased to recognize an outstanding Riverside volunteer Kristin Light of the Jam Factory T.O. for her long-standing contributions to Riverside BIA’s Marketing Committee, public programming and magazine. We awarded Kris with the Jack Korman Memorial Award for 2019, presented by our BIA Board member and event co-sponsor Dianna Kennedy.
THANKS TO EVERYONE in the community who came out to take part, and provide donations to Mustard Seed, Fontbonne Ministries and enjoy the memories! All photos from Giancarlo Pawelec of PAWELECphoto
Special guest Santa at Light Up Riverside, Toronto, 2019
Dianna Kennedy, event co-sponsor and Riverside BIA Board member with Jennifer Lay, Riverside BIA Executive Director, Light Up Riverside 2019
Brickworks Ciderhouse staff serving up famous apple pies, Light Up Riverside, Toronto 2019
George from Tertulia serving up cognac-infused coffee, Light Up Riverside, Toronto 2019
Event sponsors Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers LP serving up hot chocolate, Light Up Riverside, Toronto 2019
Dianna Kennedy, event sponsor and BIA Board Member, welcomes everyone, Light Up Riverside, Toronto 2019
(Left to Right) Elected officials MP Julie Darbusin, MPP Peter Tabuns and Councillor/ Riverside BIA Board Member Paula Fletcher, Light Up Riverside, Toronto, 2019
Dianna Kennedy, sponsor and BIA Board Member, awarding Jack Korman Memorial Award to Kristin Light, Light Up Riverside, Toronto 2019
Families enjoying the light display, Light Up Riverside 2019
Kids enjoying the crafts, Letters to Santa, Light Up Riverside 2019
Toronto Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus, Light Up riverside 2019
Light Up Riverside 2019
Toronto Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus, Light Up Riverside, Toronto, 2019
Family time with Santa, Light Up Riverside 2019
