Hea thy Marrow CANADA WWW.HEALTHYMARROW.ORG Are You a Donor? Are You between 17 to 35? You can participate in one of Shahrzad’s upcoming events & become a stem cell donor by a simple swab test. Donate to Shahrzad’s charity and help us by creating awareness about the importance of being a stem cell donor. Sponsorship & more Info? Tel: 1-800-224-5554 www.healthymarrow.org Email: [email protected] f acebook.com/shahrzadjourney Publisher: Silk Road Publishing Founder: Steve Moghadam General Manager: Elly Achack Issue: 01 || August 2014 Management Team: Bahareh Nouri, Mike Mahmoudian Sheri Chahidi, Parviz Achak, Eva Okati, Nikita Vira Editor: Deleone Downes The North York Festival is an annual celebration. The festival Public Relations: Samantha Gorys has taken place in the heart of North York on the breathtaking grounds of Mel Lastman Square. Phone: 416-500-0007 Our event is the largest and only multicultural event outside of Email: [email protected] downtown Toronto. Web: www.NorthYorkFestival.com The festival includes participation from the European, Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, South Asian, African, and Afro-Carib- bean communities, and many, many more… Contents OUR VISION • Mel Lastman Square ................................................13 Hosted in one of the most multicultural cities in the entire world, the North York Festival aims to promote cultural diversity through • North York Civic Centre .........................................17 cooperation and participation by both local and surrounding com- munities. • North York Centre ......................................................19 OUR VALUES • Allen Road .......................................................................21 We believe in the benefits of diverse communities coming togeth- er to share their cultures and traditions. • Bayview Village ...........................................................23 Our event organizers and participating businesses, governmental offices and organizations, and esteemed guests, also share a com- • Downsview Airport ...................................................26 mon belief: community service. • Empress Walk ..............................................................28 Healthy Marrow Canada is the official charity of the North York Festival. We will renew our support for this very important organi- • Finch Avenue ................................................................30 zation, to help spread awareness about the effects of cancer, and support cancer research. • Government of Canada Building ................... 33 OUR MISSION • Hillcrest Village ........................................................... 33 To provide a platform that is both education- and live entertain- ment-based, allowing guests to explore cultural music, cultural • Jane and Finch ............................................................ 35 dance and cultural food, which have no language and are univer- sal in nature. • Lawrence Heights ......................................................37 Unique • Ledbury Park ................................................................38 The North York Festival is the only and largest multicultural event outside of downtown Toronto. While other cultural events occur • Leslie Street ...................................................................38 individually around the GTA, our event is the only festival, which brings together all of these cultural communities and cultural or- • North York Board of Education .......................39 ganizations under one roof. • Sheppard Avenue ......................................................41 Inclusive Staying true to the meaning of the word, our event aims not only • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre ......... 42 to highlight cultures found in North York, but also the multitude of cultures found across the GTA. • Toronto District School Board .......................... 45 Convenient • Victoria Park Avenue ............................................... 47 Would it not be great to visit 10 different ‘countries’ sampling their culture, their music, their dance and their food, in 10 minutes? • Willowdale .....................................................................48 Visiting 10 countries in the span of 10 minutes is both challenging and can cost a fortune. Our event is free to attend, and an eco- • Yonge Street .................................................................50 nomical choice this summer to experience both new and beauti- • York Mills.......................................................................... 53 ful things. This is what the North York Festival has to offer. We want you to • Ontario Highway 401 ............................................... 55 take a trip around the world without leaving your doorstep. • Ontario Highway 404 ..............................................58 3 wwww.NorthYorkFestival.com North York Festival 2014 I would like to extend my warmest greetings to everyone taking part in the North York Festival at Toronto’s Mel Lastman Square. Canada’s success as a nation is based on the contributions of people from all backgrounds working together. We draw strength from our diversity. This festival gives Canadians of different backgrounds an opportunity to celebrate their roots, to make new friends, and to share their traditions with one another. I would like to commend the organizers, sponsors, and volunteers for putting together this celebration of arts, community, and heritage. Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable festival. The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. OTTAWA 2014 North York Festival 2014 www.facebook.com/northyorkfestival 4 North York Festival 2014 twitter.com/northyorkfestival 5 North York Festival 2014 www.facebook.com/northyorkfestival 6 North York Civic Centre 5100 Yonge Street North York, ON M2N 5V7 416-395-6411 [email protected] August 4, 2014 Organizing Committee, North York Festival: On the occasion of your gathering for the 2014 North York Festival, on behalf of the City of Toronto and the Community of Willowdale, I offer you, your guests and participants my best wishes for a fantastic weekend. Though I regret that I am unable to join you in person, I am thrilled to see many parts of our community coming together in the heart of Willowdale bringing such energy to the area. It is our cultural diversity, and the abilities of organizers such as yourselves, which make the North York Centre area one of the strongest communities in the City. Best wishes, John Filion Toronto City Councillor Ward 23 – Willowdale 7 wwww.NorthYorkFestival.com North York Festival 2014 www.johnfilion.ca Ottawa Office: Constituency Office: Room 700 La Promenade Bldg. 250 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 200 151 Sparks St., Ottawa, ON Toronto, ON K1A 0A6 M2N 6M9 613-992 4964 416-223 2858 Chungsen Leung Member of Parliament Willowdale August 9, 2014 Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism August 9th, 2014 Dear North York Festival Group, I am honoured to extend my warmest greetings to all those taking part in the North York On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my warmest greetings and Festival, presented by the Silk Road Group. congratulations to the North York Festival Group for hosting the North York Festival 2014! North York Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the great summer in Canada, and to The North York Festival has pleased audiences across the community with amazing singing and dancing performances. I commend the North York Festival Group for bringing together family reflect upon the many ways in which Canadians of different heritage have contributed to and friends in the community for the spirit of friendly competition. Canadian society. Canada's diversity and multiculturalism shape our country's unique character. Through this The vibrant festival brings together people in celebration and laughter. It forges friendships and festival, Canadians of all different backgrounds get the opportunity to gather together to connections, sharing in the diverse culture of Canada. Our communities benefit greatly from the celebrate various cultures and traditions. We are proud of all that it has accomplished during the ability to celebrate together in times of joy. past years and its significant contribution to building the foundations of our community. As the Member of Parliament for Willowdale and Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism, I would like to thank all the organizers, participants and sponsors of the North York Festival for I would like to commend you all for your continued dedication to the betterment of our their continued efforts and dedication towards the success of our community. May this event community and our country. continue with its success for countless years. I wish all of you an enjoyable and memorable festival. Sincerely, Sincerely, Hon. Bal Gosal, PC, MP Minister of State (Sport) Chungsen Leung, M.P. Willowdale Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Constituency Office - Marcus Garvey 2201 Finch Ave. West Unit 25 Toronto, Ontario CANADA M9M 2Y9 To My Friends Attending the 2014 North York Festival: 416-744-1882 ph On behalf of the Parliamentary Caucus of the Liberal Party of Canada and 416-952-1696 fx our Leader Justin Trudeau, I am pleased to add my name to the list of those [email protected] extending best wishes as you open the 2014 North York Festival, at Mel Lastman