The annual
Wintercity Festival that launched last week with a gala event at Nathan Phillips is by now familiar to most Torontonians. It offers free programming and performances and, perhaps most famously, a chance to eat relatively inexpensive prix fixe meals in some of Toronto's finest restaurants through the Winterlicious program.
But what many may not know is that, according to the City of Toronto, Wintercity is an economic boon during the yearly February business-cycle blahs. Last year, according to city PR representative Giannina Warren, the Winterlicious portion of the festival generated $12 million in direct spending at participating restaurants. And this year's festival will create 265 direct temporary jobs for performers and artists affiliated with the festival -- and on top of that there are jobs for those hired to produce the festival and stage it, she notes in an email.
"
The Winterlicious stats in particular are very important -- as the
festival was created as a way to boost Toronto's restaurant industry
during a typically slow period of business. Many of the participating
restaurants rely on the program to keep them viable throughout the
winter, and it's become a staple of the City's economy," Warren says.
The festival runs through February 11 and involves the participation of 150 restaurants.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Giannina Warren, City of Toronoto