/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Photo/Interview Opportunity - Open Streets TO and the Invictus Games National Flag Tour Come Together, September 17, 2017/

OPEN STREETS TO (CNW Group/Open Streets TO)

TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Open Streets TO, the country's largest free recreation program, is back this Sunday and is set to be better than ever. Instead of cars, it will be cyclists, runners, strollers, dogs, yogis and Invictus Games Toronto 2017 Flagbearers on Bloor and Yonge Streets this Sunday.

Torontonians of all ages and abilities are invited to come together with their friends, neighbours and community leaders for a wide range of exciting and interactive stations and activities, all while celebrating healthy lifestyles and underpinning the importance of inclusion.

Inspired by a world-class program that improves healthy behaviour, Open Streets TO takes place this Sunday, September 17, 2017. This program repurposes existing public assets – namely our iconic streets – and provides access to free recreation space (on parts of Bloor and Yonge), focusing attention on the importance of physical activity.

New this Sunday is the Invictus Games National Flag Tour – this community event will be taking place on Bloor Street during Open Streets TO. The Invictus Games are an international, adaptive sporting event, established by Prince Harry, in which wounded, injured or ill service members and veterans compete in adaptive sports to help their journey to recovery.  

The full Open Streets TO route runs along Bloor Street (from Christie to Sherbourne), and along Yonge Street (from Bloor to Queen). The program begins at 10:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm.

In 2016, more than 75,000 Torontonians attended Open Streets TO over two days.

Spokespeople will be available for interviews.

When:	SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 AT NOON (12:00 PM) EST
Where:	Intersection of Yonge and Bloor
Who:	Alyssa Bird, Board Member, Open Streets Toronto Kristyn Wong-Tam, Councillor, Ward 27 Steve Wallace, Chief Marketing Officer, Invictus Games Toronto 2017

A hub at Yonge and Bloor will also help celebrate Ontario's 150^th birthday, with a showcase of cultural dance groups highlighting the province's multiculturalism. This intersection, one of the country's most iconic, is an ideal spot for photo ops with Torontonians participating in Open Streets TO.

Additional activities will include, among others:

• Bloor and Sherbourne: Bloor Street Dog Walk by Toronto Animal Services (starting at noon, passing by Yonge & Bloor at approximately 12:15 pm and ending at Bloor and Spadina)
• Bloor and Yonge: Lululemon mass participation yoga class (11:00 am to 12:00 pm) and the Official Bike Ride of Open Streets TO (11:00 am to 11:30 am)
• Bloor and Bay: Live Green Toronto – "Family Fun Green Zone" including real hands on eco-activities such as making pollinator puppets, decorating reusable lunch bags, etc.
• Bloor and Avenue: Royal Conservatory of Music – piano on Bloor Street available for free play
• Bloor and Bathurst: Native Youth Resource Centre – giant dreamcatcher canvas that people can paint, decorate, and other displays of public art, etc.
• Yonge and Wellesley: Street sports, fitness classes, LGBTQ equity education game, etc.
• Yonge and Shuter: Salsa, Bachata classes, bike safety clinic & registry, bike obstacle course, etc.

A full list of activity hub locations along the route can be seen here.

SOURCE Open Streets TO

Media contact: Jamie Deans, [email protected], 647-284-7710