(Originally published in TOURISM)
The Canadian Tourism Commission office in New York City played a big part to help the Big Apple get a triple jump on the holiday season by hosting a special tree-lighting event at The Pond at Bryant Park on November 28. Québec’s famous snowman – Bonhomme Carnival – was on hand to enchant the children and kick off the festivities, while Smucker’s Stars on Ice provided the skating power including six-time Canadian Champion Jennifer Robinson along with former World Champion Todd Eldridge and Britain's Steven Cousins headlining the program. The event also featured Canadian singer-songwriter John Gracie, an award-winning international touring artist.
This year’s Fêtes de Noël Holiday Tree hails from Québec; it stands 45‑feet‑tall and weighs in at some 1,500 lbs. The tree was dressed in partnership with the Hudson Bay Company and Canadian design guru Brian Gluckstein, whose personal line of ornaments from "The Bay" grace the tree from top to bottom.
A Canadian design duo were on hand to showcase their work with Celsius: A Canadian Lounge at the edge of The Pond. Chris Hyndman and Steven Sabados of Discovery Home Channel‑fame are known to television audiences around the world thanks to high‑profile shows including Designer Guys, Design Rivals and So Chic. The pair pooled their trademark style to create the look and feel of Celsius as a sleek, hip hangout capturing the very essence of Canadian cool.
