TORONTO – The 23^rd annual Taste of the Danforth Festival, held from August 5^th to August 7 along Danforth Avenue in Toronto, exceeded all expectations in terms of attendance, with over 1.6 million people partaking in this annual phenomenon.

Toronto Mayor John Tory attended the opening ceremony, congratulating the Festival’s organizers and praising the city’s Greek community.

The Philhellene Mayor praised the community, calling Greeks one of the most precious stones of Toronto’s mosaic, focusing on their contribution to the city’s economy, education, politics, and culture.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne sent congratulations and best wishes, and Toronto Councillor (councilmember) Mary Fragedakis thanked the organizers and sponsors, of which Krinos Foods is the largest.

After the speeches, the cultural events and food tasting began.

With one of the largest Greek populations of any city in the world, Toronto seeks through the Festival to promote and celebrate Hellenism as well as Canada’s rich cultural diversity.

Active, for instance, in Toronto families sponsoring Syrian refugees has been Fragedakis, preserving the compassionate tradition of her ancestral homeland, Greece, whose inhabitants have been considerably hospitable to the thousands of refugees there.

Over the years, GreekTown has donated more than $2 million to Toronto East General Hospital. In 2012, GreekTown committed to a further $500,000 to enhance pediatric care.

This year, GreekTown made a commitment to a joint hospital project between Sick Kids and a children’s hospital in Greece – Agia Sofia.”

One record The Taste has held for years is being the largest street festival in Canada, consistently drawing over 1.5 million visitors per year, when 23 years ago it began with about 5000 people.