Honest Ed's is gone, but the Bathurst and Bloor holiday turkey giveaway lives on

A tradition at Bathurst and Bloorstarted some 30 years ago by the namesake founder of Honest Ed's was kept alive again on Sunday, despite the iconic retailerclosing its doors last year.

About 500 turkeys were distributed on a first come, first served basis to people in an hours-long line up in the frigid cold. The event was hostedbyFreeman Realty and theToronto campus of Spirit of Math Schools, an after-school mathematics program.

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The first person in line arrived around 4 a.m. and, by opening hour at 9 a.m., there were hundreds of people. The annual line up outside the former Honest Ed's location was a holiday staple for many in the area, with it's antics and enthusiasm.

When Honest Ed's shuttered in 2016, says Elden Freeman, "we saw that there was a big need in the community."

Freeman, president of the eponymous realty firm, added that turn out exceeded expectations.

"Last year we started out and it was kinda slow and then this year there was a huge line up to start."

At its peak, hundreds of people were in thequeue outside the realty office, a few blocks north of the corner where Honest Ed's once stood. It took about two hours to give out $12,000 worth of poultry, Freeman says.

Several city councillors helped out the volunteers.

"They know how to do it in this area, and they've been doing it for so long," said Coun. Joe Mihevc. "First at Honest Ed's and now here."

For its part, Ed MirvishEnterprisesannounced it partnered with five organizations in the city to distribute more than 900 kg of turkey for holiday dinners for vulnerable people in the city. The groups include The Salvation Army, Scott Mission, Nellie's Shelter, Casey House, Covenant House and West Toronto Church of God.

According to a news release from the company, the donation came directly from downtown developer and theatre magnate, David Mirvish, the elder Mirvish's son.