Once a Year the Country Comes to The City: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

The Royal Agricultural Winter fair is a special event that takes place every November in the City of Toronto.  The Royal is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world. Where Canadian and International breeders, growers and exhibitors are declared champions and where hundreds of thousands of people attend to learn, compete, shop and have a great time with friends and family.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair began on November 22, 1922 with an astonishing 17,000 agricultural entries and over 150,000 visitors. Now in its 87th year, The Royal continues to hold an important place in the world of agriculture and in the hearts and minds of the many participants and visitors - now over 326,000 strong - who continue to appreciate this one-of-a-kind event.

"I go every year!" says Julia Cook, an avid horseback rider and fan of The Royal.  "I've been riding since I was eight and many of the girls at my riding club have competed in The Royal (Agricultural Winter Fair).  It's lots of fun, and inspired me to start riding."

From great food to concerts and animals there's something for everyone. "You don't have to be into horses to like this fair." says Julia. "The agricultural part is fascinating!  My favourite part is The Giant Vegetable Judging. It's so cool!"

One of the many exhibitors and sponsors of the Royal is Greenhawk, the exclusive retailer of Roots Equestrian.  Roots Equestrian in partnership with Greenhawk is offering an exclusive Roots Genuine Leather gift at this event for all customers who spend $50 or more on Roots Equestrian apparel.

 

So, if you are looking for an adventure this week, make sure you go check it out!  Running from November 6th-15th.

Canada Collection By Roots Launch Party

Roots flagship store was buzzing with excitement last night for the launch of the Canada Collection By Roots!

The Canada Collection By Roots is the collaboration between three Canadian organizations: Roots, MasterCard Canada and Right To Play. Learn more.

Pictured above at last night's event is: Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman (wearing the Village Bag Roots Canada in Tribe Leather), Founder of Right To Play Johann Olav Koss (wearing the Men's Fredricton Sweater), President of MasterCard Canada Kevin Stanton (wearing the Men's Fredricton Sweater), Ambassador of Right To Play Adam van Koeverden (wearing the Men's Montreal Polo) and Roots Co-Founder Don Green (wearing a classic Roots Vintage Awards Jacket). 

 
 

 

 

 

View the full Canada Collection By Roots online or in-store.

Learn more about Right To Play.

Learn more about MasterCard Canada.

Be sure to keep checking the Roots Facebook page for more event photos!

Fall Foliage

Fall has arrived.  To many people, this can only mean one thing; the next step is winter!  To most of us, winter is a word that strikes fear into our hearts.  However, with all this dreaded doom hanging over our heads, we rarely take in the benefits of fall itself.  This is the time when nature seems to show off the most.  Acting as the finale to an amazing summer show, the leaves light up like bursts of colourful fireworks.  Luckily for us, Canada has a wide variety of scenic routes that are perfect to take it all in.

A scenic drive out of the city and back to nature, is a perfect way to spend a weekend.  After driving through beautiful country landscapes, stop at one of the many trails and take a hike.  Make sure to be prepared, and bring along a picnic and a warm blanket.  Sipping warm hot chocolate from a thermos, while over looking all that nature has to offer.  Afterwards, maybe stop by a little town and check into a little B&B.  Roots Small Banff Bag is the perfect weekender  bag.  This is a trip with a small cost and big reward. Get back to your ‘Roots’. 

Need some inspiration to plan this adventure?  Quebec has some beautiful routes to enjoy.  For routes and trails in Ontario go here, the site is completely equiped to plan your fall adventure.  Want to see it all? Here are the Top 10 Canadian foliage picks. 

 

Winter? We'd Rather Talk About Summer

Everyday the weather is has been getting a bit colder. (Of course this depends on where you live!)

And a few times this week we've seen our fans post pictures of their backyards already covered in snow. SNOW. And it's not even November yet.

But before we welcome our friend Winter, how about we reminisce about summer? We want the thoughts of sunshine to last just a little bit longer!

So share your summer story with the Roots community. Tell us what you did, where you went, who you saw. Oh and we love pictures and videos, so feel free to upload those too.

Click here to start writing!

Why we need the Walrus

We're adding our voice in support of Canadian culture. We think magazines, movies, music and culture are an important part of life in any country. We hope everyone will take the time to take the time to check out local and national titles as well as the large international names we all know.

Watch the video with Margaret Atwood, Geddy Lee, Broken Social Scene and more show their support for The Walrus or better yet visit their website, www.walrusmagazine.com.

Why We Need The Walrus from The Walrus Magazine on Vimeo.

More from the ICM Sierra Films Creative Coalition, Spotlight Initiative and Roots Event

With so many great moments at the event hosted recently at Roots 100 Bloor Street West we've decided to add more pics.  Following is Megan Fox looking amazing (as usual), in the new Roots Motorcycle Jacket for women.  Megan was at TIFF to promote her new movie Jennifer's Body. Find out more about the movie by clicking here.

Megan Fox wearing the new Roots Motorcycle Jacket for women

Left to Right, Matthew Budman, Roots Co-founder, Michael Budman, Actor, Megan Fox, Writer, Producer and Director, Mitch Glazer, and Roots Archetect, Diane Bald.

Megan Fox signs a Moët & Chandon bottle to be auctioned off in benefit of the Canadian Film Centre.

Photos courtesy of The Hollywood Minute  

Estefania Iglesias Dances Up a Storm for our Camera at Roots 100 Bloor

Estefania Iglesias took some time out from promoting her new film, Down for Life, during TIFF to visit Roots 100 Bloor Street to admire our new bags for fall. Take a look as she dances for our camera with a Lauren Bag.  In just five years, this beautiful Argentinean top model and commercial queen has transformed herself into a thriving Hollywood Actress.

Appearing alongside Snoop Dog and Danny Glover in Down for Life, Iglesias is quickly asserting herself in the North American film industry. Iglesias also recently shared the screen with Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche in Spread (2009), and David Carradine, her co-star in the action flick Bad Cop (2009).  We hope she enjoys her first trip to Canada!

We haven't been able to find a release date but you can find information about the film here.

Megan Fox attends Sierra Pictures ICM Cocktail Party held at Roots 100 Bloor

More from TIFF....  Megan Fox, Michael Caine, Mitch Glazer and others joined Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green at the Roots Bloor Street Store on Friday evening for a private cocktail party hosted by Sierra Pictures ICM to promote the movie Jennifer's Body on Friday, September 11. 

Megan Fox at Roots 100 Bloor Street

Photo Courtesy of The Hollywood Minute

Roots Co-founders, Michael Budman and Don Green, with Michael Caine and Shakira Caine,

2/3rds of The Jonas Brothers at Roots 100 Bloor on Day #1, Don't Miss the Excitement of TIFF

Toronto is alive with excitement as the Toronto International Film Festival brings celebrities from the entertainment industry to town.  Our flagship Roots store at 100 Bloor Street West is at the centre of the action.

Take a look... just a few hours ago Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas from The Jonas Brothers spent some time with Matthew Budman doing some shopping and checking out all the new clothing for Fall.

If you're in the area take some time to come down to the Bloor-Yorkville area to take in this once a year event and make sure you stop by the Roots Lounge at our store while you're there. With so many celebrities in town you never know who you might spot!

Left to Right: Kevin Jonas, Matthew Budman, Joe Jonas

Joe Jonas and a little Roots Shopping

Photos courtesy of The Hollywood Minute. For more pics from TIFF check it out!

Roots Radio Latest Playlist: A Tribute to Woodstock - 40 years later

This is a very special playlist from Roots Radio, as it pays tribute to an inspiring musical event that defined a generation, Woodstock.

The History Behind Woodstock

Forty years ago, in August 1969, half a million music fans gathered on a field owned by dairy farmer Max 'The Angel Of Woodstock' Yasgur. His small simple farm located in Bethel, New York would bring most of the best rock artists of the time to one place, in what would become recognized as the most significant and inspiring musical event of it’s kind: a landmark that defined a generation.

Woodstock is widely acknowledged as the defining moment of the rock-driven counterculture of the late 1960’s, a reaction to the conservative attitudes of post WWII society. Triggered by opposition to the war in Vietnam, many supported antiwar, racial equality, women’s rights, artistic freedom and sexual liberation. Although as a movement it was represented by many social, political and artistic groups, it is most recognized as a movement of young people adopting a “hippie” lifestyle, which encouraged “back to nature” communal living, an interest in exotic, mostly Eastern spiritual teachings and widespread use of mind-altering drugs. At the heart of the counterculture was the new, popular music of the 1960’s, which “tribal” gatherings like Woodstock celebrated.

The early half of the 1960’s set the scene for some radical social and political changes in America. The Cuban Missle Crisis, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the greatest concern for the youth of America was the US involvement in the Vietnam War. In the second half of the decade, American society became increasingly polarized. The Civil Right Movement reached a defining moment with the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. America would become heavily divided, not by the traditional lines of race and class, but by generation, attitude and culture.

This new counterculture suggested a whole new model for an alternative society, many felt this could be expressed most completely at the “3 Days Of Peace & Music" festival…Woodstock was born.

Too many artists took to the stage during those 3 momentous days in upstate New York to name here…seminal artists of the day such as Santana, Hendrix, CCR, The Band and many, many more. We encourage you to explore the music, culture and significance of Woodstock more in depth.

 

A Tribute to Woodstock from Roots Radio

Since The Woodstock Festival was the stage for some of the most predominant names in the history of music, Roots Radio pulled together A Tribute to Woodstock Playlist to share with you here at The Buzz. This playlist is truly inspirational and has some of the best sounds ever. Hope you like as much as we did. Enjoy!   

For more information on Woodstock, check out this website.

* You can also download all these memorable tunes on iTunes.

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