The weather was in our favour, as the rain let up just in time for the carvers to transform the neighbourhood into a magical showcase of ice sculptures, at the 12th Annual Bloor-Yorkville Icefest.
The perfect weather attracted an estimated 40,000 visitors to the Village of Yorkville Park, to celebrate Icefest’s Canada’s 150th theme. Carved from an incredible 20,000 lbs. of ice, the crowds came flocking to see and photograph the main focal point, which featured the Parliament Buildings, Centennial Flame, Canadian Mounties, an 1867-2017 sculpture and the iconic Maple Leaf. The Photo Opportunity Area featured a spectacular ice creation of “Niagara Falls and a Barrel” that was shared around on social media, using the hashtag #Icefest17.
Visitors enjoyed watching carving demonstrations, kicking back in the new Icefest Lounge with live DJ’s, and indulging in hot beverages and delicious food provided by several Bloor-Yorkville retailers to include Caplansky’s, Davids Tea, Carol’s Cheesecake, Nespresso, and Whole Foods Yorkville.
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The Maple Syrup Taffy and Ice Kiddie Cubes were, once again, a smash hit, as the Bloor-Yorkville BIA continued to support the Heart & Stroke Foundation. On site donations, toque sales, along with sponsor donations and proceeds from the Ice Kiddie Cubes and Taffy Station, helped to raise approximately $7,000.
As always, the Annual Sassafraz Ice Carving Competition drew appreciative attention, as masterpieces emerged under the hands of ice carvers competing for the “People’s Choice Award.” Congratulations to Fred Marquina (1st place – sponsored by Gum Gone Graffiti Gone Underground Pressure Wash); Nadasiri Polwatta (2nd place – sponsored by Aldershot Landscape Maintenance); and Mike Houle (3rd place – sponsored by Wine Rack).
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We offer a HUGE thank you to our BIA members and many sponsors for their commitment and participation, in this overwhelmingly successful event!
Sponsors: Gold Sponsors: Hudson’s Bay Centre, Holt Renfrew Centre, TD, and Yorkville Village; Silver Sponsors: The Colonnade and Manulife Centre ; and Bronze Sponsors: Toronto Marriott Bloor-Yorkville, Game & Hobby Zone and Sassafraz.
Media Partners: 97.3 Boom Radio and Toronto Star.
Exhibition Sculpture Sponsors: Black Goat Cashmere, 97.3 BOOM Radio, German Consulate Toronto, Harry Rosen, India Tourism, Minto Yorkville Park, MK Illumination, NKPR, Renaissance Court, STK Toronto and Village Orthodontics.
Ice Carving Competition Sponsors: 2 Bloor Street West & Cumberland Terrace, Aldershot Landscape Maintenance Ltd., Davis Orthodontics, Gum Gone Graffiti Gone & Underground Pressure Washing, InsideOut Physiotherapy, Lenick In-House, Sassafraz, Wine Rack and Yorkville Design Centre.
Prizes for our Bloor-Yorkville Prize Package (valued at $3,150) were graciously donated by Nespresso Boutique Bar, Scollard Street Chinese Medicine Clinic, GRATiAE, The Detox Market, Holly Eyewear, Carole’s Cheesecake, Firkin on Bloor, Spirits Bar & Grill, Lucid Health and Fitness, Dr. Judy Sturm Dentistry Professional Corporation, Jeanne Lottie and pōm Health and Wellness. Congratulations to 1st prize winner Beverly Hudson, and 2nd prize winner Mohammad Javad.
Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this event successful – Emergency Patrol Search Rescue and the Heart & Stroke Foundation!
Thank you to all who contributed to this event!