Universal Hello!
Gerrard India Bazaar is often referred to as "home away from home" for the thousands of immigrants the City is made of. Toronto welcomes newcomers every year and to those newcomers, having an area that offers dining, shopping, and culture similar to back home offers them a way to stay connected to their cultural roots. When people are away from home, they often write to their loved ones to stay connected. This can be in the form of emails, text messages, letters, or postcards.
Universal Hello!
Imagine you are a Newcomer
You have immigrated to Toronto.
Your friends and family are back home. Everything is new to you in Toronto and you are trying to adjust to living in a new country and new city.
You come across an online post promoting a free outdoor event where you can join the local community to write to your loved ones.
You come down to Gerrard India Bazaar and check out all the various postcards. You learn that the area is home to immigrants from India, Pakistan, Greece, China, Italy, and so forth. While the area may be called 'Gerrard India Bazaar', you realize the area is home to many newcomers from many different countries.
You see a postcard to India and want to write a message to your parents still living there.
You see a postcard for Toronto and want to write a message of gratitude to your new home.
You see a postcard from a country, and although you haven't ever visited, you want to write a message the residents there.
As you check out all the postcards, you read the messages from others and get a sense of how many others are like you, with connections around the world and wanting to send their love and support.
As you walk around the Bazaar, you come across a business that makes your favorite dish back home. You check it out and love the food.
You see a poster mentioning you can win Gift Vouchers*
to the Bazaar by posting your message/favorite card online.
You take a selfie with the postcard to India and tag your friends and family, who are thrilled to see the messages sent from Toronto. You enter the contest and find out you won one of the $100 Gift Vouchers* to the Bazaar.
You now have a new favorite restaurant that you discovered and look forward to returning to try out more dishes.
UNIVERSAL HELLO
Life-size postcards made with wood were set up throughout Gerrard India Bazaar.
Each postcard has a different theme
Local artists were invited to show their creativity on the exterior of each postcard based on the theme
Visitors can write a message of love, hope, and support to any place they feel a connection to.
Cards were displayed on the sidewalk.
Online contest encouraging attendees to post about their message/favorite card online and each post will be an entry to win (5) $100 Gift Vouchers* to be spent in the member businesses of the BIA.
JOIN THE CONTEST: Win and Explore More!
WIN 1-of-5
$100 Gift Vouchers!*
Take a selfie with the postcard, tag your friends and family - they’ll be thrilled to see the messages! Make sure to tag us on Facebook & Insta
You can also send your Universal Hello Message Online HERE and enter the contest!
This project has been funded by the City of Toronto's Main Street Innovation Fund, as part of Government of Canada support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’
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