Thursday, March 28, 2024

Canada Day celebrations taking place across Toronto

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This Canada Day, the City of Toronto will help Torontonians and visitors to Toronto celebrate Canada’s 155th birthday on Friday, July 1, by offering numerous City-organized and community-based public events across the city.

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Canada Day events

The City’s Canada Day celebrations are planned for Mel Lastman Square (North York) and Thompson Memorial Park (Scarborough).

Mel Lastman Square will host Canada Day programming from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. with live music, dance performances, family-friendly activities with Muse Arts and Picasso Painters, dance workshop, food and vendors and more. Fireworks will conclude the event at 10 p.m.

The City is grateful to presenting sponsors Tim Hortons and Bell for supporting Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square. The day will feature moments of reflection alongside the opportunity to celebrate the things people love about Canada. This programming is funded in part by the Government of Canada. Admission is free.

This year’s event also marks the 100-year anniversary of North York. Event-goers are encouraged to share their day using #CanadaDayTO and #NorthYork100. The full program lineup is available on the Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square webpage.

Also, on July 1, visitors to Thompson Memorial Park will be treated to live entertainment, kids’ crafts and face-painting with fireworks at 10 p.m. in Milliken Park (5555 Steeles Ave. E.). More information about these Canada Day celebrations is available on the City’s Canada Day webpage.

East York’s Canada Day parade

East York’s annual Canada Day parade featuring marching bands will begin at Dieppe Park at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 1. The parade will move east along Cosburn Avenue to Woodbine Avenue and end at Stan Wadlow Park (888 Cosburn Ave.). The celebration will continue at the park from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. More information about East York’s Canada day celebration are available on East York’s Canada Day Festival 2022 webpage Opens in new window.

Firework celebrations

The City’s annual Canada Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay (1561 Lake Shore Blvd. E.) will begin at 10 p.m. on July 1. Ashbridges Bay Park is located on Lake Shore Boulevard East at the foot of Coxwell Avenue and is readily accessible by public transit. Attendees are encouraged to leave personal vehicles at home and take public transit or Bike Share as a greener, faster and more affordable way of getting to and from the festivities.

There will also be a firework display beginning at 10 p.m. at Stan Wadlow Park (888 Cosburn Ave.) and Milliken Park (5555 Steeles Ave. E).

Important safety reminder about fireworks and bonfires

Fireworks are allowed without a permit on Victoria Day and Canada Day until 11 p.m. on residents’ private property only. Fireworks are not permitted in City parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or a property not owned by the person setting off the fireworks. Only adults 18 years of age or older should supervise or set off fireworks.

The City is asking people to be mindful of their surroundings and not discharge fireworks where they may be a nuisance or pose a risk of fire, injury or damage to any person or property. To report the misuse or illegal sale of fireworks, residents can call 311 or submit a service request at Toronto.ca/311. More information about fireworks, including proper use and disposal, is available at on the Fireworks webpage.

Residents are reminded that bonfires are not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces, except for City-designed fire pits, which require a permit more information can be found on the One-Time Booking of Parks & Recreation Facilities webpage. Amplified sound, such as DJ equipment, large wireless speakers, and littering in parks and on beaches, are also not permitted.

During the Canada Day weekend, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) will continue to respond to public safety issues in parks and beaches. In addition, City Bylaw Enforcement Officers will be present to monitor busy parks and beaches to respond to issues. TPS also has a policing operation in place for Ashbridges Bay, and a variety of resources will be in the area to ensure everyone can enjoy the beach safely.

Public transit and other services

TTC service will operate on holiday service on July 1. Extra bus service is scheduled from Woodbine Station and Coxwell Station on Line 2 to help customers get to Woodbine Park and the beach for the Canada Day celebrations and fireworks. Customers attending Canada Day celebrations at Downsview Park can take Line 1 to Downsview Park Station. Customers can visit the TTC’s webpage Opens in new window for more information to help plan their trips.

City services

City emergency and 24-hour services will operate on Canada Day and throughout the long weekend. City administrative offices, service counters, and the City Archives at 255 Spadina Rd. are closed on Friday, July 1. The City’s residential curbside garbage, recycling and yard waste pick-up services will not be affected by the Canada Day holiday.

City parks and pools

City parks, outdoor swimming pools, wading pools and splash pads across the City will be open on Canada Day. Indoor pools and community centres will be closed, including the washrooms within them. More information and swimming pool schedules are available on the Swim & Water Play webpage.

Beaches

Lifeguard supervision and beach maintenance are available daily at most beaches from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; a lifeguard supervises Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island Beach on weekends only. Gibraltar Point will not be supervised until later in the season. People heading to beaches are encouraged to check the status of designated swim beaches on the Beaches webpage.

While at City swimming beaches, the City asks all residents to remember:

  • Only swim in designated areas with lifeguard supervision
  • Stay within arm’s reach of children at all times
  • Hydrate with water, wear sunscreen and don’t swim while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • City beaches that meet high standards for water quality, safety, environmental management and education fly The Blue Flag
  • Each lifesaving stand across the waterfront will be marked with a Parks Locate Point (PLP) and 911 signs to support further safety measures for the public this coming beach season.

Swim zone boundaries are marked at Toronto’s swimming beaches by red and yellow flags. Floating swim markers show the swim zone boundaries in the water. Swimming past or outside of these markers is not permitted. If no flags are flying at a Toronto beach, lifeguards are not on duty, and people should not swim. Stay within the clearly marked swim zones to avoid the dangers of being struck by vessels. Undesignated areas can have dangerous water conditions such as undertows and rip currents.

Golf

All five City golf courses will be open and offer holiday rates on Canada Day. These affordable, high-quality, TTC-accessible courses are open daily over the summer. More information is available on the City’s Golf webpage.

Tennis

Public tennis courts across the City will have nets up and available for use throughout the Canada Day long weekend. Public sites are free and open to the public. Tennis players are asked to share the courts by limiting their play time to half-hour intervals if others are waiting to use the courts. More information about public tennis courts is available on the Tennis webpage.

Toronto History Sites

Fort York Historic Site (Visitor Centre will be closed) and Scarborough Museum will be open on Canada Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is free. Please plan your museum visit the Plan Your Museum Visit webpage. Entry to all 10 Toronto History Museums is now permanently free for everyone.

Toronto Island Park

Residents and visitors can enjoy what Toronto Island Park offers this holiday weekend. Information about the park’s amenities is available on the Toronto Island Park webpage. Businesses will be open and are ready for a busy long weekend. Ferry tickets can be purchased online on the Toronto Island Park webpage to save time at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (at the foot of Bay Street).

Conservatories and greenhouses

Both conservatories are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission. While Allen Gardens is undergoing renovations, washrooms inside the conservatory are closed. Portable restrooms are available outside by the playground. Visitors can learn more about the conservatories by visiting the Conservatories webpage Opens in new window.

Riverdale Farm

Residents and visitors to Toronto can visit a working farm in the City’s centre. Riverdale Farm is open daily, including holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. More information is available on the Zoo & Farms webpage Opens in new window.

High Park animal attraction

Toronto’s oldest animal attraction has been entertaining people for 120 years and is open every day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Roads within High Park will be closed to vehicular traffic for all three days of the Canada Day long weekend. More information is available on the Zoo & Farms webpage Opens in new window.

Toronto Zoo

What better place to spend the Canada Day long weekend than at the Toronto Zoo, where visitors can discover over 4,000 animals while exploring over 10 km of walking trails and four tropical pavilions. The Zoo’s behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters are back, and timeslots can be booked online on the Toronto Zoo webpage Opens in new window.

Toronto Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Canada Day. The zoos will also open Splash Island on July 1.

Union Summer at Union Station

Union Summer at Union Stations presented by TD is back at Union Station’s Front Street plaza from June 27 to August 28, running from midday to late evening each day. The market is designed as an outdoor patio oasis and is a feast for the senses featuring dynamic music, live performances, cuisine, film, and other entertainment. A complete list of vendors, programming and hours of operation is on the Union Summer webpage Opens in new window.

StrollTO

StrollTO free self-guided walking itineraries in 140 neighbourhoods across Toronto can be accessed on the StrollTO webpage Opens in new window. StrollTO is produced by the City of Toronto in association with Founding Sponsor American Express Canada and partnership with Destination Toronto.

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is closed on Canada Day but will reopen Saturday, July 2, from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available on the St. Lawrence Market webpage Opens in new window.

Toronto Public Library

All Toronto Public Library (TPL) branches will be closed on July 1 for Canada Day. A complete list of TPL branch locations and corresponding hours of operation is available on TPL webpage Opens in new window. Residents can download and stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, newspapers, movies and music anytime by visiting the eBooks & Online Content webpage Opens in new window.

Road restrictions for Canada Day long weekend

For all road closure information that may impact travel throughout the long weekend, visit the City’s Road Restrictions & Closures webpage.

COVID-19 and monkeypox vaccination options

With health and safety top of mind, Toronto Public Health (TPH) will hold several vaccination opportunities to protect most at-risk individuals from the monkeypox virus over the long weekend. Clinics will offer vaccination to those who meet the provincial criteria. Eligible individuals can get the Imavune vaccine by walk-in at the following City-run immunization clinics:

  • Friday, July 1 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.): Metro Hall, 214 Wellington St. W., Main Floor
  • Saturday, July 2 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Cloverdale Mall, 250 The East Mall
  • Saturday, July 2 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.): 1940 Eglinton, 1940 Eglinton Ave. E.
  • Sunday, July 3 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Metro Hall, 214 Wellington St., Main Floor

TPH and Team Toronto also continue to provide COVID-19 vaccination clinics to residents as part of its ongoing hyper-local, equity-focused vaccination strategy to ensure COVID-19 doses remain as accessible as possible, with opportunities to get vaccinated where residents live, work and play. Over the long weekend, TPH will be holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics at special events across the City:

  • Friday, July 1 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.): High Park Canada Day Festival, 1873 Bloor St. W.
  • Friday, July 1 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.): East York Canada Day Festival at Stan Wadlow Park, 373 Cedarvale Ave.
  • Friday, July 1 (2 to 7 p.m.): Canada Day Celebrations at Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St.
  • Saturday, July 2 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.): CIMA Mayor’s Trophy Cricket at Sunnybrook Park, 1132 Leslie St.
  • Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.): Lakeshore Ribfest, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.

Toronto Public Health encourages residents to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 immunization, including all booster (third and fourth) doses for the best protection against serious illnesses linked to COVID-19 and its variants. Recent data shows that residents who kept up-to-date with their vaccinations were better protected against serious consequences related to the virus when compared to those who were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.

Residents can also get their doses at more than 525 local pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccine, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, select primary care offices and other Team Toronto health care partner clinics. More information is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.

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