Hallowe'en HauntUP huge success

The Saturday, October 25 event began with the NTCI Marching Band (with thanks to Aidan Monis and Dr. Jane Lee and all the great musicians) leading a parade of costumed revellers and dignitaries north on Yonge street to the St. Clements site, where the event was organized by the UpTown Yonge BIA (Business Improvement Area).

The joyful crowds of kids and adults (and even some pets) soon filled the ENTIRE space –backdropped by spooky music - which offered face painting, all sorts of inflatable games and interactivities, a magic show, guessing games, costume contests for kids/adults/pets and Jack-o’-Lanterns, photo-booths, arts and crafts, popcorn and candy floss and even sky-high stilted characters!

Many local businesses up and down Yonge Street offered treats at their doorsteps.   

The RRA ran two Guessing Game contests, one for kids (How Many Candies?) and adults (How Many Golf Balls?) which garnered almost 700 ballots!  Congratulations to Jennifer MacDocdemid, winner of the Golf Ball Jar and Dafna Sudai, winner of the Candy Jar (who guessed the exact number of candies in the jar: 267!). 

So many excited, happy faces.  The weather mostly held out – except for a brief rainfall which didn’t seem to deter the crowds.

The RRA was proud to help in the planning and execution of this 'spooktacular' day!  Credit to Tasneem Bandukwala and the entire BIA staff and thanks to the RRA Community Engagement Team comprised of Ash Tabak, Vesna Milevska, Raj Chokhawala, Kanella Koromilas, Val Madden, Geri Berholz and Harry Berholz. 

Thanks also to Alina Goldberg Tabak and Anisha Mehta for helping to staff our very busy tent and to Elaine Mintz and Shanna Bourke for dropping by to support our efforts!

Councillor Josh Matlow, MPP Stephanie Smyth, MP Leslie Church and even Mayor Olivia Chow came out in support of us and many of our neighbours dropped by to congratulate us on our work on behalf of the community which was a real boost to all of us. 

The RRA looks forward to continued engagement with the BIA in support of local businesses and to share in our common aim to make this the most vibrant and engaged community in the entire city!

Geri Berholz