The province of Prince Edward Island will support the city of Toronto by donating more than 20,000 pounds of Island cultivated mussels to city restaurants. The donation is to help attract people back into the downtown area and to help Toronto's economy to recover. The city is currently struggling to get back into business following an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Ad campaigns are urging people to start visiting local restaurants again and the hope is that a feed of Island mussels will be a strong incentive.
Honourable Michael F. Currie, Minister of Development and Technology, will travel to Toronto for an official launch at Rodney's Oyster House on Tuesday, May 6. That event will begin at 11:30 a.m.
"The news coverage has clearly indicated the losses that the local restaurants have endured as a direct result of SARS and the travel advisory issued by World Health Organization," said Minister Currie. "We may be a small province, but we are ready, willing and able to show the Island's support for a city that has always been an important customer and friend."
The Minister will also visit Oyster Boy on Queen Street West.
The mussels will be purchased from PEI processors who already supply to the existing Toronto market. They will be shipped to a seafood distributor and supplied to selected seafood restaurants in the downtown area.
Rodney Clark, owner of Rodney's Oyster House, says he believes the donation will be a big help.
"Rodney's Oyster House is extremely excited about the generosity of Prince Edward Island and after a very difficult few months we appreciate the support," said Mr. Clark. "We invite all of Toronto down to Rodney's to enjoy our special mussel promotion and experience our hospitality."
Restaurants involved with the promotion will be identified in ads which will run in the Toronto papers once the mussels arrive.
The promotion will run May 12 to May 16, 2003.