Toronto Eaton Centre and Swarovski Canada team with The Canadian Tenors to
unveil 2009 Swarovski Crystal Wish Tree

    
    Toronto landmark to sparkle with a Special Performance by The Canadian
    Tenors
    

TORONTO , Nov. 19 /CNW/ - Toronto Eaton Centre will sparkle with crystals and stars beginning November 19th when Swarovski, The Canadian Tenors and Breakfast Television's Dina Pugliese unveil the breathtaking fifth annual Swarovski Crystal Wish Tree in support of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada .

Beginning at 6:00 p.m. , host Dina Pugliese will kick off the festivities leading to the 2009 reveal of Canada's only Swarovski Crystal Wish Tree - a one-of-a kind, 35' high and 20' wide rotating tree decorated with over 20,000 glistening Swarovski crystals. International music sensation The Canadian Tenors will perform songs from their new holiday album, live as the tree is unveiled.

"Over the past five years, Cadillac Fairview, Toronto Eaton Centre and Swarovski Canada have devoted the holiday season to raising much-needed funds for deserving children and families across Canada ," said Susan Allen , General Manager, Cadillac Fairview. "The annual unveiling of the magnificent Swarovski Wish Tree launches this important initiative to the delight of hundreds of children from the local community, including many children waiting for their turn at a miracle. Their faces light up with joy when the sparkling tree is revealed for the very first time. It is a truly magical moment, and that is why we are delighted to be part of this annual tradition."

As part of the festivities, Toronto Eaton Centre and Swarovski will continue its tradition of charitable donations by presenting the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada with a cheque for $100,000 . Canadians can help to raise additional funds by purchasing one of Swarovski's limited edition Children's Wish crystal ornaments. The ornaments will be available at Swarovski Gallery stores across Canada and retail for $55 , with all proceeds going to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada .

"We're delighted to once again unveil the Swarovski Crystal Wish Tree and introduce our limited edition ornament in support of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada ," said Wayne Page , Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Swarovski Canada . "For the past five years, it has been our goal to assist the foundation to make wishes come true. To date we have successfully helped raise enough money to grant 40 wishes to kids. We look forward to seeing the sparkling smiles on their faces again this year."

In addition to raising money for a great cause, the first 50 people to purchase a Swarovski Limited Edition Children's Wish Ornament will have the chance to participate in an autograph signing with the Canadian Tenors at the Swarovski Gallery Store in Toronto Eaton Centre after the tree has been unveiled.

For the third year in a row, children will be able to create their own Christmas ornaments by participating in the Swarovski Children's Stars for Wishes Workshops. The workshops will begin on Saturday, November 21st , and run in 30-minute sessions from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for four consecutive Saturdays ending December 12th . Each week, a special celebrity guest, including Dora the Explorer, Barbie, Franklin the Turtle and Kai-Lan will join Mrs. Claus to host the workshop and help children design their very own ornament. Ornament kits are sold for $20 with all proceeds going to the Children's Wish Foundation.

You can also have a keepsake of the Swarovski Crystal Wish tree by visiting our Santa Photo Experience booth. For $10.00 , children and their families can be photographed with Santa in front of the Swarovski Crystal Wish tree, at the North Pole, and in Santa's sleigh flying through the famous Galleria from November 20th to December 24th . A portion of the proceeds from each sale go directly to Children's Wish Foundation of Canada .

About Toronto Eaton Centre

Stretching two full city blocks, Toronto Eaton Centre is among Canada's most recognizable landmarks, and one of the country's best-known retail shopping destinations. With over 250 retailers, restaurants and services in the heart of downtown, Toronto Eaton Centre is the city's premier urban destination. Toronto Eaton Centre is owned and managed by The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd, one of North America's largest investors, owners and managers of commercial real estate. For more information about the Toronto Eaton Centre, visit www.torontoeatoncentre.com. For more information on The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd., visit www.cadillacfairview.com.

About Swarovski

113 years ago, in 1895, Daniel Swarovski I, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria , with his newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewellery stones. From these beginnings, which revolutionized the fashion world, Swarovski has grown to be the world's leading producer of precision-cut crystal, for fashion, jewellery and more recently lighting, architecture and interiors. Today, the company, still based in Wattens, family-owned and run by 4th and 5th generation family members, has a global reach, with some 22,000 employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2007 of 2.56 billion Euros . Swarovski's own-brand lines of accessories, jewellery and home décor are sold through more than 1150 Swarovski stores and concessions in all major fashion capitals, while the exclusive Daniel Swarovski accessories collection has become the company's Couture signature. Illuminating Fashion and Culture, Home and Leisure www.swarovski.com.

For further information: Melissa Gambino, MAVERICK (for Toronto Eaton Centre), [phone] ext. 244, [email protected]; Kelly Olive, MAVERICK (for Toronto Eaton Centre), [phone] ext.230, [email protected]; Alicia Storey, Edelman (for Swarovski), [phone] ext.292, [email protected]