Toronto Mayor John Tory Accepts International Festival City of the Year Award at Canadian Music Week

Following John Tory’s opening remarks at this week’s Global Forum: International Networking Breakfast, Canadian Music Week President Neill Dixon presented the Toronto Mayor with the inaugural International Festival City of the Year award.

“I am pleased to be here today to present an inaugural award that is created as a way for the global festival industry to recognize positive local environments for festivals and events worldwide,” said Dixon in his presentation. “Through this special award, Canadian Music Week is pleased to recognize Toronto for its consorted efforts to provide an environment that allows for successful and environmentally conducive events.”

Upon accepting the award, Tory offered congratulations to Canadian Music Week for their long history and continuous efforts to raise the profile of Canadian music. “Toronto might be the single most diverse city in the world,” he offered. “Music is the universal language; what better way to bring all of those people together.”

A panel discussion on the state of the creative class, hosted by Globe and Mail columnist Kate Taylor, followed the presentation.

Canadian Music Week is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries. Combining three information-intensive conferences; a trade exposition; a film festival; a comedy festival; four awards shows and the nation’s largest new music festival, CMW spans a ten-day period from May 1 to May 10, 2015 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel and over 60 downtown Toronto venues, attracting participants from across the globe. For more information, visit here.