The Cavalcade of Lights
The festival opened up not with a whimper, but a bang on
Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 7 p.m., for the 43rd
time, with the official tree lighting, fireworks and free live
musical performances. The musicians included Steven Page, Matt
Dusk, Keshia Chante and Fritz Helder & the Phantoms, under the
direction of Adrian Eccleston. Afterwards, there was a
skating party with DJ Tony Sutherland spinning beats. A Fair
Trade Market was also available between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. The
market includes accessories, clothing, Christmas decorations and
crafts from all over the globe.
 Thousands
of visitors had crowded into every possible area of the square
in front of city hall and at times I had the feeling of being a
large sardine in a very small can. Many of the visitors had
brought children along to marvel at this awesome sight of all
the lights going on and the fireworks over city hall. Many of
them were waving long LED light sticks in various colors –
probably the only way for the parents to keep track of them. Not
a bad idea!
 Nathan Phillips Square is named after the former Toronto mayor
and opened in 1865. It hosts concerts, a weekly farmer’s market
and other public events and demonstrations. It is also above one
of the largest underground parking garages in the world, which
can hold up to 2,400 vehicles and houses a car wash. The square
sits in front of city call and the large reflecting pool acts as
a skating rink in the winter months. Visitors can also shop at
numerous concession stands and rent skates.
In 1958, 420 design submissions for Nathan Phillips Square were
considered, but Finnish architect Viljo Revell’s design was
chosen, and work began in 1961. The "Freedom Arches", the three
large arches that stretch over the reflecting pool, were erected
in 1989 and contain an actual peace of the Berlin Wall at the
base of the center arch, where a plaque reads:
"The Citizens of Toronto dedicate these arches to the millions
who struggled including Canadians, to gain and defend freedom
and to the tens of millions who suffered and died for the lack
of it. May all that we do be worthy of them. Only in freedom can
the Human Spirit soar. Against the Human drive for freedom
nothing can long succeed".
Nathan Phillips Square is definitely the heart of Toronto.
The Cavalcade of Lights also offers a magical weekly roster of
concerts, shopping, lighting displays and much more this holiday
season throughout December, like the "Say no to Drugs" Christmas
celebration.
Many neighborhoods will be offering free First Lighting
celebrations featuring activities for families, entertainment
and refreshments. In addition, Toronto Hydro-Electric Systems is
also getting onto the spirit of the season by offering Toronto
residents: One free set of energy-efficient LED
festive lights in exchange for two sets of old incandescent
strings – while quantities last.
Isn’t it wonderful what they can do with these new LED bulbs?
There seems to be no limit to inventors’ ingenuity in finding
new ways to incorporate them into various new designs. "Let
there be light" – but make sure it is not wasting energy!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
As always
Dick Altermann
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