NCE6: St. Lawrence
Location
Site #1: Queens Quay & Yonge
Site #2: Bay & Harbour
Theme
Latin America—the pulsating beat of Samba Squad and other Latin rhythms
Times runners pass by and entertainment happens
Site #1: 8:30am to 10:30am
Site #2: 9:00am to 1:45pm
On this page:
Neighbourhood Champions:
TBA for 2008
Neighbourhood Charity & Sponsoring Groups:
Out of Africa / Women of Promise
For a fine overview of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood over almost 200 years of development, from the early years when it was THE centre of downtown Toronto, to today's critically acclaimed urban renewal landscape, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Lawrence,_Toronto.
Historically, the area has been a mecca for immigrants, changing from the Irish of the 19th century to Chinese, Philipinos, Vietnamese, Tamils and other South Asians, Jamaicans and other Caribbeans today. It is arguably the area of Toronto that displays the starkest of contrasts from the magnificent, renovated Victorian mansions near Riverdale Park to the "projects" of Regent Park and St. Jamestown and the homeless shelters of Queen St. East. Fully 26% of the neighbourhood families are "single-parent households" according to the 2001 census, compared to a citywide average of less than 20%.
Entertainment features (2007):
Samba Squad rose from a community based drumming group into one of the most dynamic and sought after acts on the Canadian world and Latin music scenes. Samba Squad was awarded the UMAC (Urban Music Assoc. of Canada) Award for Best World Recording of 2001. The thirty-plus member drum group performs a variety of samba-based West African, Caribbean and Afro-Cuban styles of Carnival rhythms and has become one of the most exhilarating live music experiences in Toronto. www.sambasquad.com
More bands TBA…
Access/parking
Travel South on Parliament and park at The Distillery [south of Front Street], or at the "Green P" lot on Berkely, one block west of Parliament, or any of the streets [legal locations only!], and lots in that area. Please note that you won't be able to cross Front Street from 7am to approx 7:30am because of the runners.
NCE6 is supported by Councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28)