Item - 2019.EC10.13

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Received the report (November 19, 2019) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture for information.

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the efforts taken by the City of Toronto to promote Scarborough restaurants through Toronto's culinary programs.

Toronto started the successful Winterlicious and Summerlicious programs in 2003 to encourage residents and visitors to experience the city's fine dining restaurants at compelling price points during normally slow business times of the year, and to generate positive economic activity in the industry. In 2014, the City launched the Cultural Hotspot program to shine a spotlight on neighbourhoods beyond the core. One part of the Cultural Hotspot program is HOT Eats, which promotes local food-related businesses. Scarborough was the first Cultural Hotspot in 2014, and the program returned to the area in 2018. Scarborough also has several popular food-related festivals that promote local eating establishments and recently several local Councillors have spearheaded specific projects. This report summarizes all this activity.

Staff from the Economic Development and Culture Division are currently undertaking a review of the City's Winterlicious and Summerlicious programs to identify whether adjustments to design are required in response to changes to the market and industry since the program's inception.