Annual Children's Christmas Party - 85 years!

Posted 
on Dec 01, 2014
 
Toronto’s oldest running Christmas Party for Children celebrates its 85th year of hosting the party!
 
The Rotary Club of Toronto, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, and is now into the next century with its kick off for the holiday season:
The Annual Christmas Party for children with disabilities at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel (where it debuted in 1929, the year of the opening of the Hotel).
 
Over 650 guests, the very special guests being children with physical disabilities and along with their families, will start their holiday season at the Annual Christmas Party hosted by The Rotary Club of Toronto.
 
The Christmas party took place on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, where it has been held since 1929!
 
In celebrating its 85th Party, the Rotary Club will be working with the following groups to make this a truly memorable event: 
 
 
 
Easter Seals Ontario
Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf
Lake Scugog Camp Kids
Gilda’s Club of Greater Toronto
Starlight Foundation of Canada
CNIB
 
 
“The Children’s Christmas party is one of the highlights of the year for many of these kids and
we make sure it is a very special afternoon,” says Steve Smith, President of 
The Rotary Club of Toronto.
 

 
“Each child is made to feel especially welcome at the event and our volunteers and donors from across the city make sure that no one leaves the event without a visit to Santa and an overflowing gift bag.”
 
Members of Toronto’s Police Services including Senior Police Officers joined the party with a strong team of volunteers including their popular in-house band known as The Coppertone’s.  Volunteers from the Toronto Fire Department will be in full force and will bring one of the Pumper Trucks to the Front entrance of the Royal York Hotel so the kids who are able may climb aboard!! 
 

 
Click on the following link to see the Snowball fight with the Toronto Police Services.
 
More Pictures- click on link below!
 
 
Professional storytellers will spin their tales, face-painters will make smiles on all little faces, Arts for Children and Youth will help the kids do an art project, scrap bookers will assist tiny hands to make a special treat, and Rotary Exchange students from around the world, disguised as clowns and elves, will sing, dance and help make this a day to remember for the children and their families. Santa Claus, of course makes his annual visit, to the delight of all the little ones!
 
Volunteers at the event will include some of Toronto’s Finest from the Toronto Police Department, The Toronto Police Auxiliary, Toronto Fire Department, EMS,  The Toronto Rotaract Club, The University of Toronto Rotaract Club and staff of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel along with the hosts of the party -  the members of The Rotary Club of Toronto!
 
 

 
 
The Rotary Club of Toronto, The CNIB, The Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, Gilda's Club of Greater Toronto, The Starlight Foundation of Canada and the Easter Seal Society gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of all our donors and supporters of this event:
 
 
 
 
ARTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
CADILLAC FAIRVIEW CORPORATION
COPPERTONES POLICE BAND
CREATE A TREAT LTD.
FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK HOTEL
FERRARO CHOCOLATES
FIRST STUDENT CANADA
HARVEY KALLES REAL ESTATE LTD.
HELENE LEDUC-BRAZEAU-HARVEY KALLES
HOUSE OF ANANSI BOOKS PRESS
INDIGO BOOKS
LOCKNER WOODS PUBLIC SCHOOL
LOBLAWS AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS
LONGO'S AT THE AIR CANADA CENTRE
MARCIA & CYNTHIA BALL
NESTLE'S CANADA
PRISM ECONOMICS AND ANALYSIS
THE ROTARY CLUB OF TORONTO MEMBERS AND THE ROTARACTORS
THE ROTARY CLUB OF TORONTO
S/M CANDY
SCHOLASTIC BOOKS
SHOPPERS DRUG MART
SMUCKER'S FOODS
STORYTELLERS OF TORONTO
TIM HORTONS
TORONTO FIRE FIGHTERS
TORONTO POLICE AUXILIARY
TORONTO POLICE SERVICES
TORONTO ROTARACT CLUB
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ROTARACT CLUB
WALT DISNEY (CANADA) LIMITED
A little about the Rotary Club of Toronto and the event:
 
In 1922, The Rotary Club of Toronto was one of a group of service clubs that founded The Ontario Society for Crippled Children (now called The Easter Seal Ontario). The Rotary Club of Toronto has kept up this long tradition of working with children with physical disabilities.
 
With close to 220 members, The Rotary Club of Toronto has been serving the Toronto community since 1912 and proudly celebrated its 100th year in 2012, with generous donations of $100,000 to each of 10 agencies in Toronto.   The Club has an enthusiastic leadership and membership that successfully influences improvements in the urban community, endeavouring to provide all people in Toronto with hope and dignity.
 
Excerpt from the Rotary Toronto History Book (1912 to now...):
 
“Every year beginning in 1929, The Club has entertained up to 250 disabled and challenged children at a party at Christmas time.  It is a treat for all concerned, especially the folks who are rewarded for their work in making the day successful.  The high spirits for the guests are always contagious. It truly is a day for everyone to enjoy.”