GALA REPORT
A Fun-filled and Entertaining Evening in Support of Epilepsy Toronto!
The sixth annual Scotiabank BuskerBall gala fundraiser for Epilepsy Toronto kicked off the festivities for North America’s largest street performers festival, Scotiabank BuskerFest at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens).
It was an evening to preview some of the world’s most spectacular performers that headline this year’s festival. Hundreds of attendees participated in a live and silent auction and enjoyed some of Toronto’s most celebrated food and drink from such purveyors as Barberian’s Steakhouse, Salad King, Vagabondo, Mamak Satai and David’s Tea.
Tristan Thompson, professional basketball player and spokesperson for The Amari Thompson Fund announced a new program in support of Epilepsy Toronto.
On hand to officiate the ceremonies were: Andria Case, CTV News anchor, MC & Honourary Co-Chair; John Doig, Senior Vice President & Chief Marking Officer, Scotiabank & Honourary Co-Chair; Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale; Tristan Thompson, professional basketball player; and many other distinguished Scotiabank BuskerBall guests.
FESTIVAL PERFORMERS who showcased their talents to more than 600 guests including:
Billy Kidd (United Kingdom), host of Discovery Channel’s Breaking Magic: the Magic of Science. She reads people’s minds, turns paper to money and produces the most unsuspecting things out of nowhere.
FlameOz (Australia), an incredible fire troupe with a perfectly choreographed, high-impact fire dance, skilful circus artistry and stunning imagery.
Kamikaze Fireflies (United States), a triple Guinness World Record holding, two-person, vaudeville smack-down from Los Angeles that juggles, cracks whips and climbs on people, stacking chairs, German Wheels, and even shopping carts! They received four ‘yeses’ from the judges of America’s Got Talent this season!
Les Frères Taquin (Belgium) this amazing physical comedy duo has spent the last 30 years performing on every continent, in circuses, cabarets, on TV, for celebrities and royalty!
Throughout the night costumed buskers paraded on stilts and wire creations that had to be seen.
15th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest
in support of Epilepsy Toronto
Thursday, August 21 – Sunday, August 24, 2014
throughout the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood:
Yonge Street all the way from Queen to College and surrounding areas
(including Trinity Square Park, Yonge-Dundas Square and Gould St.).
Thursday noon – 11 pm; Friday noon – 11 pm;
Saturday 11 am – 11pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto.
For information, visit: www.scotiabankbuskerfest.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/BuskerFestToronto , Twitter: buskerfestto hashtag: #SBBF
About Scotiabank BuskerFest
Since its inception in 2000, Scotiabank BuskerFest has featured hundreds of the best street performers from around the world, hosted millions of amazed spectators and helped raise much-needed funds for Epilepsy Toronto, a charitable organization that provides services to those living with epilepsy and their families. Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest street performers’ festival in North America and is the largest Epilepsy awareness-raising event in the world.
Approximately one in 100 people live with epilepsy, the world’s most common neurological disorder. Epilepsy Toronto is a non-profit organization that provides support to more than 40,000 people living with epilepsy in this city. The Scotiabank BuskerBall and BuskerFest events raise funds to support Epilepsy Toronto’s programs.
Report and Photographs by Joey Cee
Additional Photographs by Jacqueline Kyrion
