Graffiti and Ford

I support the fight to get rid of graffiti tagging. And posters, those things are stuck everywhere. Mayor Ford tends to get skewered by the graffiti artists for his stance.

Here are some graffiti murals at the Guvernment night club.

Rainbow Flag raised at Toronto City Hall 2011

The LGBTQ community and their many supporters gathered today in Nathan Phillips Square for the official reading of the City of Toronto’s Pride Week Proclamation and the raising of the rainbow flag at City Hall today. Absent was the current Mayor of Toronto and many in the square were booing whenever Rob Ford’s name came up in the speeches. Master of Ceremonies Kristyn Wong-Tam asked for and received calm to allow the ceremony to continue and for Councillor Frances Nunziata to read the proclamation on the Mayor’s behalf.

On hand was one ex-Mayor of Toronto (and current Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission) – Barbara Hall, who was loudly cheered by those in attendance. Pride week began June 24^th and continues until July 3^rd, 2011 with some pretty amazing parties and parades and hopefully they can continue to build on the acceptance and support of the LGBTQ communities within Toronto.

My picture of the City’s Pride proclamation shows that it was indeed signed by Mayor Rob Ford. The flag can be found flying on the outdoor garden level, close to Bay Street. 

See more pictures after the jump.

Barbara Hall

UFC Experience at Y-D Square

The UFC Experience descended on Yonge-Dundas Square on Wednesday, April 28, 2011 and it didn’t take long for fans of the mixed martial arts fighting league to gather, eager to see some of the stars of the sport. Three Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes including Ryan Bader and Jon Fitch greeted the large lunchtime crowd and signed autographs. Fighter Dominick Cruz came by later to sign autographs.

Fighter Ryan Bader (left), Royce Gracie (centre), Jon Fitch (right)

The big rig Octagon Nation was parked and inside you could find the massive silver UFC belt, pictures and memrobelia and actually wear a replica of the championship belt and stand next to the life-sized cardboard picture of Georges St-Pierre (GSP), picture at top.

Later, Octagon Girl Chandella Powell made an appearance along with fighter Josh Koscheck who also helped to receive the City of Toronto Proclamation presented by Mayor Rob Ford. You can also get UFC Fighter Stephan Bonnar’s autograph at Sears Yonge & Dundas today only between 6pm-8pm.

Octagon Ring Girl Chandella

See more photos after the jump (click on read more >>, below).

Mayor Rob Ford arrives

Fighter Josh Koscheck, left, holds the Mayor's Proclamation

XYIENCE was giving out free energy drinks

The Big Rig

102.1 The edge broadcasting from the site

Fighter Josh Koscheck

Mortal Kombat booth

Beach Bunny 2011: Easter Parade

The Beach got all up in my face, kicked some sand at me and held the 44th annual Lions Club Easter Parade which culminated in a fuzzy, white bunny waving to all the happy people (many wearing bunny costumes and bunny ears) along Queen Street on Sunday, April 24, 2011.

Beach Bunny 2011 featured a lot of chocolate, including a golden Lindt car with bunny ears, marching bands, cheerleaders and lots of community groups marching and handing out candy while the weather warmed up as the parade wound along the street full of people. Here is Canadian Olympic Gold Medal winner and parade Grand Marshall

Bobsleader Heather Moyse flashes the golden Olympic Medal and sports bunny ears as Grand Marshall.

Toronto's 64th Mayor, Rob Ford walks in the parade.

This parade rivals the size of the Santa Claus event and has the benefit of being a lot warmer than jolly old St Nick's winter parade. Find a side street for parking and begin your hike to the side of the Queen Street where you can see the magic and your kids can put their baskets - ready for the candy that will soon come.

See plenty of pictures of the parade after the jump (click on Read More >>, below).

There were plenty of beautiful and enchanted princesses.

Miss Teen Canada and Miss Canada

Quite a few marching bands took place, including the Canadian Forces Toronto Signals Marching Band and one of my favourites the green shirted Samba Elegua.

Malvern Band

Magnolia Brass band

Toronto Signals Band

Pipe and Drum Band

Star Wars 501st Legion characters in parade

Parade floats and people fill Queen Street in the Beach.

Kevin Clarke still getting the message out

I passed by Kevin Clarke sitting on a grate on a major city street spreading his word, passed by thousands of people who probably don't realize that the flamboyant homeless gentleman was a past Toronto Mayoral candidate and is looking at running in the next provincial election. Kevin was the master of using invisible paint that, when dried, became highly visible on the streets and sidewalks.

When I asked if he was in the running in the upcoming federal election he said no, that he wanted to run in the next provincial election and was attempting to get a party officially recognized.

Toronto Santa Claus Parade 2010

Update: See more photos of the parade on my blog post here.

The 2010 Toronto Santa Claus Parade is huge, taking several hours to make the journey from Christie Pits down to the St Lawrence Market area. Floats and bands, horses and a lot of clowns moved down the route while onlookers several layers deep watched on both sides of the road.

Mayor elect Rob Ford walked in the parade as did Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair.

Santa came last, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas riding a float with reindeer flying high above the streets.

HO HO HO. See tons more parade pictures after the jump.

I think Santa was pulled over by the police, he might have been texting while driving his sleigh.

Cleaning up after the horses