NCE10: Gerrard East/Little India
Location
Lakeshore & Leslie. 31k out & 35k back.
Theme
Indian, South Asian
Times runners pass by and entertainment happens
8:35am to 1:45pm
On this page:
Neighbourhood Champion: Mike DeHaan
Bio coming soon.
Please put a pledge on Mike DeHaan, TODAY, to help support the Sri Lanka Day Organizing Committee
Neighbourhood Charity & Sponsoring Group:
Creative8Studio / The Canadian Community Arts Initiative
As runners move to the East end of the marathon course, they run along Leslie, and Lakeshore Boulevard East, just parallel to the excitement of "Little India" as it's known, on Gerrard Street [just north of the course] from Greenwood to Coxwell. With more than 100 shops and restaurants offering a wonderful masala of South Asian products, it is a marvelous, vibrant example of the major South Asian fact in Toronto—its sights, sounds, tastes and aromas. Today, there are more than a quarter of a million South Asians living inside the City of Toronto; of these, over 50,000 are Tamils from Sri Lanka.
For the second year in a row, Canadian Community Arts Initiative and the South Asian community will be presenting what has to be one of the most-colourful and distinctive Neighbourhood Cheering Centres. This year, they are doing it to raise important funds for Sri Lanka Day Organizing Committee.
Objectives of "Sri Lanka Day Organizing Committee":
- To organize the Sri Lanka Day celebration with the assistance of the Consul General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Toronto.
- To develop a Cultural Centre for the Sri Lankan community in Ontario and to support community-based registered charitable organizations.
Join us in supporting the Sri Lanka Day Organizing Committee, and help us raise necessary funds to support the organization of their annual celebration here in the community.
Our site will feature a 'free' continental breakfast courtesy of the Gerard India Bazaar BIA; and free henna tattooing and face painting.
Sponsored by Downtown Subaru and our partners at Gerard India Bazaar BIA. See www.toronto.ca/bia/gerrard_india.htm and www.gerrardindiabazaar.com/contact.php.
Canadian Community Arts Initiative is a non-profit arts organization that aims to support arts and the artists through various projects, festivals and events. CCAI is a proud presenter of MOSAIC South Asian Heritage Festival of Mississauga, Rock the Coliseum, Underground Youth Garage Sale, Artists without Borders and partners for Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. www.cre8iv80studio.com
Entertainment features:
Come discover the passion and culture of Little India, and enjoy some tasty South Asian Cuisine, too! Reverberate to the sounds of Bhangra and Dhol!
Entertainment this year will include Bhangra and Sanskriti dance, and the rhythmic drumming of Dhoolis (South Asian Drummers), guaranteed to get both runners and spectators moving, too! Free face painting, henna tattoing and children's crafts. You won't find an NCE with more action, entertainment and good food!
Access/parking
From the West, take Gardiner Eastbound to the end. Go straight ahead following the signs down onto Lakeshore Blvd East at the end of the Gardiner [DON'T go left up the DVP!], straight ahead to Lakeshore and Leslie where you'll run right into the LITTLE INDIA NCE at that corner. You can still [all day] turn left onto Leslie, then immediately into the Tim Horton's or Loblaw's parking lots. From the North or East, you can travel east-west on Eastern Avenue to access Leslie St. [go south].
NCE10 is supported by Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30)