The first-ever Canadian artisan cheese night market will take place in Toronto in June in conjunction with Canadian Cheese Awards, the biggest independent cheese competition in Canada, with Loblaw Companies as Marquee Sponsor and Dairy Farmers of Canada as Principal Partner, Cow Milk Cheese.
"It will be a celebration of the best of the best in Canadian cheese in a festive market setting complete with eats, drinks, music and entertainment," says Georgs Kolesnikovs, president of Cheese Lover Productions Inc., which owns and operates The Great Canadian Cheese Festival and started the Cheese Awards program four years ago. "We're excited to focus on developing a unique high-visibility way of promoting Canadian cheese with an Awards double-header in Toronto, while taking a year off from producing the Festival in Picton."
Here is the Awards program planned for June 6-7, 2018, in Toronto at historic St. Lawrence Market Complex.
Wednesday, June 6
Cheese Industry Conference with seminars, workshops, business-to-business break-out sessions, addressing the challenges facing Canadian cheesemakers in light of free-trade agreements that mean increased competition.
Canadian Cheese Awards Ceremony with presentation of winners in 17 main categories, nine special categories, five regional division, plus the coveted Cheese of the Year.
Canadian Cheese Awards Tasting Gala for cheese industry, media and special guests.
Thursday, June 7
Canadian Cheese Expo trade show for cheese industry, hospitality industry, chefs, media, food writers and bloggers, etc.
Canadian Cheese Awards Night Market consumer show featuring winners and finalists in the cheese competition, and products such as charcuterie, baked goods, wine, beer and cider, in two three-hour sessions to avoid over-crowding. Consumers can sample and purchase products. 19+.
The first-ever Cheese Night Market will feature:
- The best of the best in Canadian artisan cheese in the temporary North Market structure just south of the Main market building in downtown Toronto
- Food stations all around the North Market exterior
- Wine, beer and cider bars around the North Market exterior
- Music and entertainment
- Cheese experts hosting seminars in the Market Kitchen.
- Added attractions to be announced.
- Permission has been requested to close a portion of Market Street or The Esplanade to expand the space available to the thousands of cheese lovers and foodies expected for the event.
The Great Canadian Cheese Festival will go on hiatus in 2018 to allow all its resources to be devoted to the launch of Canadian Cheese Awards Night Market and related events.
The Cheese Festival, the biggest artisan cheese show in Canada, has been held at Picton Fairgrounds, in Ontario's Prince Edward County, since 2011. The pause will also permit renovations at Prince Edward Curling Club which houses half of the booths at the Cheese Festival.
The Great Canadian Cheese Festival is produced by Cheese Lover Productions with the support of Celebrate Ontario. Funding is also provided by Prince Edward County.
Canadian Cheese Awards is produced by Cheese Lover Productions with the support ofLoblaw Companies as Marquee Sponsor and Dairy Farmers of Canada as Principal Partner, Cow Milk Cheese.
Cheese Awards website: http://cheeseawards.ca
Cheese Lover blog: https://cheeselover.ca
Cheese Festival website: http://cheesefestival.ca
Social media feeds: https://cheesefestival.ca/social-media-feeds/
For additional information, mailto:awards@cheeselover.ca or telephone 1.866.865.2628.
Source: The Great Canadian Cheese Festival
