May 30, 2012
Toronto Pride Sponsors $20,000 LGBTQ Wedding Sweepstakes
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 3 MIN.
TORONTO/NEW YORK - Tourism Toronto and Pride Toronto are hosting a New York City based contest, marrying one lucky LGBTQ couple during Toronto's 2012 Pride Festival.
Toronto's Pride Festival is among the largest in the world, attracting an estimated one million people with visitors from all over the globe. This year's festival starts on June 22 and concludes with the marquee event, the Toronto Pride Parade, on July 1.
The winning couple will receive an exclusive wedding gift from Tourism Toronto, including two round trip Executive Class airline tickets from New York City to Toronto on Air Canada, wedding attire, hotel accommodations at the luxurious Windsor Arms Hotel, ground transfers, marriage ceremony as part of the Pride Parade, and more, valued at more than $20,000.
"Toronto is the first jurisdiction in North America to conduct same sex marriages and continues to be one of the hottest destinations for gay couples," said David Whitaker, President & CEO of Tourism Toronto. "We are proud of the decade long legacy of gay marriage in Toronto."
Kevin Beaulieu, Executive Director, Pride Toronto said, "Pride Toronto is pleased to once again partner with Tourism Toronto inviting people to join us in Canada's largest celebration of LGBTQ history, courage, and diversity. Our marketing partnership with Tourism Toronto is building momentum in out of town markets as we move towards our World Pride celebrations in 2014."
The New York City contest will include a cake installation where LGBTQ couples can enter for their chance to win by having their photo taken posing with the cake. Photos with the cake can be snapped from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3 at 166 8th Avenue (8th Ave. & W. 18th St), New York, NY, 10011 near Room Service restaurant.
The couples' photos will then be hosted on Tourism Toronto's Facebook page, where participants can tag themselves and share their entry. Tourism Toronto will select the winning couple based on charisma, enthusiasm and a statement submitted on why they'd like to get married during Toronto's Pride Festival.
Pride Week in Toronto, now in its 32nd year, is one of Canada's premier arts and cultural festivals. The festival attracts more than one million people, many of whom march through the heart of Toronto, making it one of the largest Pride celebrations and street festivals in the world. Toronto will host World Pride in the summer of 2014 simultaneously with Toronto Pride Week.
Tourism Toronto, Toronto's Convention and Visitors Association, is an industry association of more than 1,200 members established to sell and market the greater Toronto region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travellers around the globe.
Tourism Toronto operates in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture as Regional Tourism Organization 5, representing the cities of Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.
Air Canada offers the most non-stop service from the New York City metropolitan area to Toronto, It is the only carrier to offer service to Toronto from all three major New York City area airports - LaGuardia, JFK and Newark with up to 38 return flights a day. Earn Aeroplan Miles on every flight. Enjoy a touch-screen TV at your seat, plus power outlets within easy reach. It's all part of Air Canada's award-winning service .
Consecutively voted the #1 hotel in Toronto by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, the Windsor Arms Hotel is nestled on a quiet street ideally located just steps away in Yorkville, the heart of Toronto's most fashionable shopping and entertainment district.
An aura of warmth, discreet luxury, and the latest technology combined with our exceptional level of service makes Windsor Arms Toronto's most luxurious boutique hotel. Behind our century-old portals are 28 newly-appointed luxury suites with 24-hour butler service.
More information about Toronto's Pride Festival, the cake location, and complete rules & regulations is available at: www.OurGayTorontoWedding.com
LINKS:
www.SeeTorontoNow.com
www.aircanada.com
www.windsorarmshotel.com
A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
