City's Endorsement of "Taste of the Danforth" as Signature Event
(Ward 25 - Don River and Ward 26 - East Toronto)
The Economic Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following
report (May 18, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and
Tourism:
Purpose:
This report responds to a request from the Special Council Meeting of April 26 and 27, 1999,
dealing with the 1999 Operating Budget, that the Economic Development, Culture and
Tourism Department, Special Events Division, report on the possibility of including "Taste of
the Danforth Festival" as a City of Toronto signature event.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications or funding sources required.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the endorsement of "Taste of the Danforth Festival" as a City of Toronto signature event
be considered in the context of an ongoing initiative to develop an integrated strategy for
supporting, marketing and promoting Toronto's many excellent festivals and events; and
(2)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report on an
integrated "signature event strategy", including consideration of "Taste of the Danforth
Festival", for the Economic Development Committee's meeting on October 4, 1999.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
The "Taste of the Danforth Festival" is an extremely successful event held each August along
Danforth Avenue between Broadview and Jones Avenues. It was started by the Greektown on
the Danforth BIA, and has grown to include many other community and corporate partners
and sponsors. It is becoming one of Toronto's major annual events and has considerable
potential to appeal to the tourist market.
The Special Events Division will work with the "Taste of the Danforth Festival" through its
Festival Liaison Office. The mandate of the Festival Liaison Office is to support new or
established event producers in the city by offering a multitude of essential services as well as
promoting synergies between city produced and externally produced events. The Office offers
a "one-stop shopping" customer service approach. External event producers can access
important city services through the Festival Liaison Office.
To date, the Festival Liaison Office has provided support to over one hundred and seventy
externally produced events and festivals including Caribana, Caravan, and "Taste of the
Danforth Festival". The Office assists event organizers in a variety of ways which includes
road closures, permits, licenses, grants, etc.
The Special Events Division is exploring ways of building and promoting Toronto's many
excellent community-based and externally produced festivals and events. The Division's
established relationship with Tourism Toronto may open possibilities of exposing internally
and externally produced city events to international markets. Identifying key festivals as
"signature events" and developing strategies to support and market them are among the
options being considered.
It is suggested that the endorsement of "Taste of the Danforth Festival" as a signature event be
considered in the broader context of this ongoing initiative. All externally produced festivals
and events that take place in the city are being audited. Criteria will then be developed to
identify "signature events". This work is being undertaken in consultation with the Economic
Development, the Culture, and the Parks and Recreation Divisions of the Department, all of
whom work directly with community-based events and festivals.
Conclusions:
It is concluded that the possible endorsement of the "Taste of the Danforth Festival" as a City
of Toronto Signature Event would best be considered in the context of developing an
integrated strategy for supporting, marketing and promoting Toronto's many excellent
festivals and events. A report on this matter can be brought forward to the Economic
Development Committee for its meeting on October 4, 1999.
Contact Name:
Jaye Robinson
Director, Special Events
395-7310