Giant Grinch inflatable owner hopes to transform Toronto street into Whoville
The owner of a nine foot inflatable Grinch is aiming to transform his Toronto street into the Christmas-obsessed whimsical town of Whoville next holiday season.
“I’m hoping to get more of the neighborhood interested on Rhodes Avenue to get a whole lot of Whoville related inflatables,” Bill Kennedy told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.
His family moved into a pale green house at the corner of Fairford and Rhodes avenues in May 2021. Typically, Kennedy said he tries to get to know his neighbours, but pandemic restrictions placed a roadblock in those plans.
“We wanted to say it’s a fun family moving in,” he said.
In an effort to communicate that message to the rest of his block, Kennedy pumped air into a nine foot inflatable ghost, who later became known as Casper to a little boy in the neighbourhood.
“For Halloween, it started as a COVID measure but it was just so much fun,” Kennedy said. “I used a pipe from the deck down to the ground which we called the candy shoot.”
The triumph of their Halloween festivities evoked the idea for Whoville, the fictional town featured in “The Grinch,” based on Dr. Seuss’ book.
A ghost inflatable is seen outside of Bill Kennedy's house in Toronto (Supplied).
Kennedy’s vision of a street dotted with the infamous green Christmas cynic was also inspired by Kringlewood, the Toronto neighbourhood south of St Clair Avenue East populated by oversized inflatable Santas.
Next year, Kennedy is hoping to do the same, but with Grinch and Whoville creatures, including adding a six foot inflatable Cindy Lou Who to his own collection.
With price tags in the hundreds for these giant blow-ups, depending on their size, he’s researching a volume discount for neighbours who want to get involved.
“It’s a way of getting to meet people,” Kennedy said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.