Bringing Epilepsy Awareness & More than 100 Buskers to a Bigger Stage!

TORONTO, April 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Epilepsy Toronto proudly and excitedly announced at a press conference held today that it is moving the location of its signature event, Scotiabank BuskerFest, to downtown Yonge Street for its 2013 edition, August 22 to 25 this year.

Spontaneous, colourful and bursting with the unexpected, the festival is a showcase for over a hundred of the most remarkable street performers on earth. Over four spectacular days and nights, Toronto's international busker festival will entertain audiences in its new location, up and down Yonge Street from Queen St. to Gerrard St. and surrounding areas.

"The downtown Yonge Street corridor is a wonderful new match for Scotiabank BuskerFest," said Geoff Bobb, Executive Director of Epilepsy Toronto. "The longest, most vibrant street in the world is the perfect stage for the largest, most spectacular epilepsy awareness event in the world."

"After 10 successful years in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, which we filled to capacity, we are excited by the potential of our new location. It will allow Epilepsy Toronto to continue to grow the festival as we enter into our 14th year," continued Bobb.

"More than a million people attended Scotiabank BuskerFest last year and we expect this year to be even bigger and better," said John Doig, Scotiabank's Senior Vice President for the Toronto region. "Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest fundraiser for Epilepsy Toronto, a cause that fits so well with our global philanthropic program, Bright Future. The larger capacity on Yonge Street enables Epilepsy Toronto to do even more to support the city's epilepsy community and Scotiabank is proud to help be a part of that."

"We are thrilled to welcome Scotiabank BuskerFest in support of Epilepsy Toronto to the Downtown Yonge neighbourhood," said Downtown Yonge BIA Executive Director and Chief Staff Officer, Mark Garner. "As we grow our event portfolio, Scotiabank BuskerFest is a key component of our vibrant and busy summer schedule. It supports a great charity and encourages people to discover and experience everything Downtown Yonge has to offer."

City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam whose Ward the festival will now be in, adds, ""I welcome the good news of Scotiabank BuskerFest coming to iconic Yonge Street. This is a fantastic festival that brings vibrancy and animation to our streets and community. I look forward to the inaugural event!"

Scotiabank BuskerFest
in support of Epilepsy Toronto
Thursday, August 22 - Sunday, August 25, 2013
throughout the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood:
Yonge Street all the way from Queen to Gerrard and surrounding areas
Thursday noon - 10 pm; Friday noon - 11pm; Saturday 11am - 11pm; Sunday 11am - 8pm
Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto

For information, visit:    www.torontobuskerfest.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. Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest street performers' festival in North America and is the largest Epilepsy awareness-raising event in the world.

Image with caption: "Surrounded by buskers on Yonge Street, Geoff Bobb, Epilepsy Toronto Executive Director, Mark Garner, Downtown Yonge BIA Executive Director and John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice President for Toronto Region, announced at a press conference today that Scotiabank BuskerFest will be moving to downtown Yonge Street for its 2013 edition. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130416_C5750_PHOTO_EN_25580.jpg

SOURCE: Scotiabank