Hundreds of families won free backpacks and other prizes like calculators and lunch boxes on Saturday at the sixth annual Thorncliffe Park Tenants Association and the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office event Saturday at the East York Town Centre parking lot. The gifts were handed out by ticket number to residents during the day by tenants association president Abbas Kolias. Corporate donors were important contributors to the success of the gathering. There was a full political presence — Premier Wynne, MP Rob Oliphant and Ward 26 Councillor Jon Burnside were all there. Pigeons which normally reside in the west end of the large EYTC parking lot found themselves relegated to the mall roof. Occasionally they made a swooping protest flyover of the event tents.
