Put A Spring In Your Step!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Written by Carole Mokbel, IABC/Toronto Student member and volunteer, Wilfrid Laurier University

The Kensington and Chinatown Food Walking Tour on May 12, 2009 was my first event with IABC/Toronto, and it most definitely left a good impression on me. Arriving with an open mind, I met with the tour group on Spadina Ave., by the tall red pole with a black cat on top (one block North of Dundas St. W.). Some of us were first time attendees to an IABC event, while others have attended several chapter events before.

We began our guided tour through the sunny streets of Kensington Market, coming across places I, as well as most of the Toronto natives in our group, had never truly noticed before. While learning about this market’s colorful and multicultural history, we first experienced a little bit of Jamaica, sipping on the country’s refreshing and tangy Ting juice, before venturing across the street to nibble on an assortment of cheeses, including a very interesting, yet surprisingly tasty, real Canadian maple cheddar.We then washed it down with some refreshing Mexican cider at a store a few streets away. These were just a small sampling of the international cuisine offered inside Kensington Market that will dazzle any foodie’s taste buds.
After the tour, we delighted ourselves in a delicious, eight-course Chinese meal, learned the custom of two-finger tapping on the table to thank our fellow member for pouring our tea, and finally took turns reading our personality profile in the book of Chinese horoscopes.

As the youngest and only student in attendance at this event, I was able to expand my small network and obtain very useful advice from other IABC members on the direction I need to take before and after I graduate university. It also gave other members an excellent opportunity to chat with both new and experienced communication professionals in a very non-threatening, fun and laidback setting.

“The Kensington walking tour gave us an opportunity to truly get to know one of Toronto’s neighborhoods, and the local food gave us the chance to sit down and get to know other like-minded individuals in the Communications industry,” said Natalie Pastuszak, a fellow chapter member who was also attending her first chapter event.

Indeed, whether you’re a student like me, an entry level professional or a seasoned senior communicator, I highly recommend going to such events—you can take my word for it, you will not regret it!

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