February 28, 2000
To: Scarborough Community Council
From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture & Tourism Dept.
Subject: Events and Festivals Held in Albert Campbell Square
Scarborough City Centre
Purpose:
To respond to the request of the Scarborough Community Council at its meeting of February 15, 2000, to submit a list of
all of the activities held in Albert Campbell Square over the last two years; those planned for this year and to comment on
attendance levels and the success of the events.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
Albert Campbell Square, located directly behind the Scarborough Civic Centre, is an ideal site for hosting community
events and festivals. Since 1972, the Square has hosted a number of outdoor concerts, multi-cultural events, children's
activities, Board of Education events and many community and directly-operated City special events.
Comments:
As per Scarborough Community Council's request, the attached (Attachment 1) illustrates events hosted in Albert
Campbell Square in 1998 and 1999 and those scheduled for 2000.
Listed below are staff's comments on some of the notable events operated and hosted in Albert Campbell Square:
Events Held in Albert Campbell Square in 1998 and 1999
(1) Snofest - In 1998, the Annual Snofest Winter Carnival was hosted in Albert Campbell Square. The event ran
successfully, but an overview of the event noted that the venue lacked an outdoor nature feeling and was subsequently
hosted at Milliken Park in 2000. Staff are currently evaluating this year's event and developing recommendations.
(2) Wednesday Noon Summer Concert Series - The summer noon hour concerts have been a tradition of the Square for the
past 10 years. The concerts have attracted the lunch hour audiences including Scarborough Civic Centre employees and
surrounding businesses in the area. This event has added an entertaining atmosphere to the Square in the summer months.
(3) Farmers Market - The Farmers Market has a tradition of adding unique element to the Square activities. Ontario fresh
produce vendors set-up displays in the Square selling their produce to employees from the Scarborough Civic Centre and
surrounding businesses. Through the recent decline in the number of employees working out of the Scarborough Civic
Centre, the vendors have suffered a decrease in sales. Attempts are being made to cross promote the farmers market with
farmers markets at other Squares in an effort to increase the awareness of the farmers markets to people other than
employees.
(4) Picnic in the Square - This event, hosted and operated by the private day care operators in the East District, has always
been a great success and the 3,000 pre-schoolers have had a fun-filled activity day.
(5) Board of Education - Dance Jamboree - This four-day Public School Dance Jamboree annually fills Albert Campbell
Square with 8,000 students and parents from over 140 schools in the East District.
(6) New Year's Eve Celebrations - The Scarborough Civic Centre and Albert Campbell Square have traditionally hosted a
family oriented event to celebrate New Year's Eve. Activities have included skating, hayrides, live entertainment, feature
films, clowns and more. In 1999, the celebration witnessed a large decrease in numbers from the average of over 8,000 -
10,000 attendance from previous years to 2,000 - 3,000. The concerns over Y2K and heavily promoted larger event at
Toronto Waterfront are possible reasons for the decrease.
Conclusion:
This report is submitted for the information of Scarborough Community Council.
Contact:
Paul McNabney
Supervisor of Recreation & Facilities
Parks and Recreation, East District
Phone: (416) 396-7810
Fax: (416) 396-5399
e-mail: mcnabney@toronto.ca
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development Culture and Tourism
List of Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Albert Campbell Square Events 1998-99 & 2000
Attachment 1
Albert Campbell Square Events 1998-99 & 2000
1998
| Event |
Date |
Estimated Attendance |
| Snofest Winter Carnival |
February 15 |
7,000 |
| Board of Education Dance Jamboree |
May 4 - 7 |
9,000 |
| Wednesday Concert in the Square |
Wednesdays (June-Sept) 14 weekly
concerts |
1,000 |
| Farmers' Market |
Fridays (June-October) 14 Farmer
Markets |
300 - 500 |
| Fly Casting Championships |
June 10 |
200 |
| Multifaith Service |
June 17 |
1,500 |
| Picnic in the Square |
June 17 |
3,000 |
| Tree Lighting Ceremony |
December 2 |
1,000 |
| New Year's Eve Celebrations |
December 31 |
4,000 |
1999
| Event |
Date |
Estimated Attendance |
| Board of Education Dance Jamboree |
May 4 - 7 |
8,000 |
| Scouts Troup Celebration |
May 9 |
1,500 |
| First Nations Awareness Day |
June 10 |
2,000 |
| Wednesday Concert in the Square |
Wednesdays (May-Sept)
15 weekly concerts |
1,000 |
| Farmers' Market |
Fridays (June-October)
16 Farmer Markets |
300 - 500 |
| Fly Casting Championships |
June 12 |
200 |
| Picnic in the Square |
June 16 |
3,000 |
| Gay Pride Day |
June 22 |
250 |
| Tree Lighting Ceremony |
December 9 |
600 |
| New Year's Eve Celebrations |
December 31 |
2,000 |
2000
| Event |
Date |
Estimated Attendance |
| Board of Education Dance Jamboree |
May 1 - 4 |
8,000 |
| 11th Toronto Group Scouts Canada |
May 28 |
1,500 |
| Wednesday Concert in the Square |
Wednesdays (May-Sept)
15 weekly concerts |
800 - 1,000 |
| Farmers' Market |
Fridays (June-October)
16 Farmer Markets |
300 - 500 |
| Picnic in the Square |
June T.B.A. |
3,000 |
| Fly Casting Championships |
June T.B.A. |
|
| First Nations Awareness Day |
June 15 |
2,000 |
| Scarborough Philharmonic Concert in
the Square |
July 8, 9 |
NEW |
| Concert in the Square - Community |
August 8 |
NEW |
| Guyanese Festival |
August 20 |
NEW |
| Tree Lighting Ceremony |
December 11 |
600 |
| New Year's Eve Celebrations |
December 31 |
2,000 - 3,000 |
