Toronto residents woke up this morning to the news that every major event scheduled for the summer has been cancelled.
The cancellations, posted at 7 a.m., pertain to every in-person city-led and city-permitted event until at least Sept. 6.
The move is to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help provide “predictability” to event organizers.
โThe city and the vast majority of Toronto residents are doing everything we can right now to stop the spread of COVID-19 and get vaccinated,” said Mayor John Tory, in a statement. “Following the public health measures and getting vaccinated as soon as youโre eligible will help us bring this pandemic to an end so that we can safely gather together once again. We will continue to support the cityโs major events through these tough times and will do everything we can to make sure they come back stronger in 2022.โ
For my American followers: if you want to understand the blow of losing the annual Frank D’Angelo concert at Taste of the Danforth, just imagine if Woody Allen’s Monday night Dixieland jazz concert at the Cafe Carlyle were cancelled.
โ Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) May 14, 2021
The announcement pertains to festivals and other large gatherings held at outdoor sites, and include the following:
- Taste of the Middle East
- Taste of Lawrence
- Honda Indy
- Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
- Afrofest
- Salsa in Toronto
- 49th Annual Festival of India
- Bloor West StreetFest
- Beaches Jazz Festival
- Oss Fest
- Caribbean Junior Carnival
- Scarborough Ribfest
- Caribbean Carnival, King and Queen Competition, Pan Alive and Grand Parade
- Taste of the Danforth
- Vegandale Food Drink Festival
- Bollywood Film Fair
- Waterfront Night Market
- Canadian National Exhibition
- Mabuhay Philippines Festival
- Toronto Chinatown Festival
- Labour Day Parade
Absent from the list is smaller outdoor events such as the summer programming at the city-run High Park amphitheatre organized by Canadian Stage Company. So, perhaps there is hope for at least smaller in-person outdoor events.
The CNE issued a statement acknowledging the cancellation, for a second year, and called attention to the need for relief funding.
โThe CNEA [CNE Association] is committed to working closely with its many partners, including the City of Toronto and provincial and local public health authorities, to plan towards a phenomenal event in 2022, when we can again come together in large numbers to celebrate,” wrote John Kiru, president of the Canadian National Exhibition Board of Directors, in a statement. “But we need adequate COVID-relief funding from the federal and provincial governments to see it through.โ
Mayor Tory responded directly to the CNE with a statement of his own committing to working with the city’s largest summer attraction to make sure it is a successful 2022.
I am working with @LetsGoToTheEX to help the fair through this difficult year and prepare for a bigger and better in-person event in 2022.
Read my statement below. pic.twitter.com/uutfCG9Q6c
โ John Tory (@JohnTory) May 14, 2021
According to a press release, the announcement does not include permits issued by the cityโs parks forestry and recreation division for activities in parks and other city facilities/sites that may be permitted under the province’s framework. Professional sporting events are also not included in this decision.
