The City of Toronto will help Torontonians and visitors celebrate Canada Day on Saturday, July 1, by offering and supporting events across Toronto. Admission is free for all City-produced Canada Day events.
Fireworks will be taking place in four locations across the city starting at 10 p.m. There will be no fireworks displays at Nathan Phillips Square and Mel Lastman Square.
Daytime activities will take place at Nathan Phillips Square, Mel Lastman Square, Fort York National Historic Site, Thompson Memorial Park and Stan Wadlow Park. Canada Day programming is partly funded by the Government of Canada, Official Sponsor Tim Hortons and media partner the Toronto Star. More information about the festivities and full sponsorship details are available on the City’s Canada Day webpage: www.toronto.ca/canadaday.
Attendees are encouraged to use public transit and leave personal vehicles at home. Information about TTC schedules, routes and expanded long weekend service is available on the TTC’s website: www.ttc.ca.
Thomson Memorial Park (1005 Brimley Rd.)
This event includes music, children’s crafts, a bouncy castle, a parade, a pancake breakfast and more. Celebrations take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
East York Canada Day Festival 2023
East York’s festivities begin at 10:30 a.m., with a parade beginning at Dieppe Park to Stan Wadlow Park. Starting at 11 a.m., Stan Wadlow Park will feature entertainment, kids activities, an artisan market, food vendors and a beer garden. The celebrations will conclude with a firework display hosted by the City. More information is available on the East York Canada Day Festival 2023 website: www.eycdc.ca.
Fort York (250 Fort York Blvd.)
Moving Forward: Celebrating Chinese Communities at Fort York Celebrating Canada Day and the vibrancy of Toronto’s Chinese communities with programming co-created with community partners on the centennial of the Chinese Immigration Act. Programming will include remarks, dancing, singing, face painting, food demonstrations and tastings, storytelling and more. Celebrations take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen St. W)
Canada Day programming will be offered on Nathan Phillips Square for the first time since 2017, celebrating Toronto’s diverse communities with high-energy performances from Alpha Rhythm Roots, The Hitmen Drumline, Celtic duo Alana and Leigh Cline, family-friendly programming with Muse Arts and Picasso Painters, “The Giant Storybook” activity from the Department of Imaginary Affairs and more. Celebrations take place from noon to 6 p.m.
Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St.)
Annual Canada Day celebrations will return to Mel Lastman Square with live performances from The Haneen Woman Choir, Trash Panda Brass, JER, Celtic duo Alana and Leigh Cline and family-friendly activities showcasing newcomer artists. Celebrations take place from noon to 6 p.m.
Fireworks display
The City’s annual Canada Day fireworks display will take place at 10 p.m. at the following City parks:
• Ashbridges Bay Park (1561 Lake Shore Blvd. E)
• Centennial Park Etobicoke (256 Centennial Park Rd.). The Rotary Club’s Rib Fest is also happening on this site on July 1.
• Milliken Park (5555 Steeles Ave. E).
• Stan Wadlow Park (373 Cedarvale Ave.). The East York Canada Day Festival 2023 will also take place on this site on July 1. Information is available on the East York Canada Day Festival 2023 website: www.eycdc.ca.
There will be no fireworks displays at Nathan Phillips Square and Mel Lastman Square.
Important safety reminder about fireworks
Fireworks are allowed without a permit only on Victoria Day and Canada Day until 11 p.m. on residents’ private property. A permit is required to set off fireworks on all other days. 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. Those setting off fireworks must 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.
The misuse or illegal sale of fireworks can be reported to 311 by phone or by submitting a service request on the City’s 311 webpage: www.toronto.ca/311. More information about fireworks rules, safety tips and proper disposal is available on the City’s Fireworks webpage: www.toronto.ca/fireworks.
TTC
No subway closures are scheduled this weekend. The TTC is adding additional trains and buses on Saturday, July 1. Several events around the city will result in adjustments to TTC bus and streetcar service. Residents are encouraged to follow @TTCNotices on Twitter, sign-up for e-alerts and check the TTC’s website for the most up-to-date information: www.ttc.ca.
Outdoor Pools and Beaches
The City’s 50+ outdoor pools will operate on a full schedule starting Friday, June 30. The City’s 90 supervised wading pools will also open on June 30. Residents can also enjoy the City’s 10 beaches. Residents can check which pools may be temporarily closed by visiting the Pool Closures and Services Alert webpage: www.toronto.ca/data/parks/aler
Splash and spray pads
Splash pads operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and are activated with push-button features. Caregivers are reminded to supervise children as these are unsupervised water-play areas. Information about splash pad locations is available on the City’s Drop-in Swimming & Water Play webpage: www.toronto.ca/swim.
Toronto Island Park
A great place for residents to enjoy a scenic picnic, hike or bike ride, Toronto Island Park is home to the interactive Franklin Children’s Garden, Centreville Theme Park and Far Enough Farm. Island visitors can find ferry schedules and fares at www.toronto.ca/ferry. Information about the amusement park and farm is available on the Toronto Island website: www.torontoisland.com/center.p
Golf at municipal courses
Toronto’s five municipal golf courses are located on beautiful parklands. These affordable, high-quality, TTC-accessible courses are open daily throughout the long weekend. More information is available on the City’s Golf webpage: www.toronto.ca/golf.
Tennis and Pickleball courts
Public tennis and pickleball courts across the city will have nets up and available throughout the long weekend. Public sites are free and available 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 them. More information about public tennis courts is available on the City’s Tennis Courts Listings webpage: www.toronto.ca/tennis and the Pickleball Court webpage: www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/
Conservatories and greenhouses
Flowers are in bloom at Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory. Both conservatories are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. While Allen Gardens is undergoing renovations, washrooms inside the conservatory are closed. Portable washrooms are available outside by the playground. More information can be found on the City’s Conservatories webpage: www.toronto.ca/conservatories.
Riverdale Farm
Residents and visitors to Toronto can visit a working farm in the city’s centre. Riverdale Farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage: www.toronto.ca/zoos-farms.
High Park animal display
Toronto’s oldest animal display has been entertaining people for more than 120 years and is open daily between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Visitors heading to the High Park animal display are reminded that roads in the park will be closed to vehicular traffic for the three days of the Canada Day long weekend. More information is available on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage: www.toronto.ca/zoos-farms.
Toronto History Museums
All 10 Toronto History Museums sites are open on July 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with many free activities/programs listed on the City’s Festival and Events calendar: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/h
Cultural Centres
Cultural Centres will be open standard weekend hours and close on Monday, July 3. More information and visiting hours are available at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/h
St Lawrence Market
The Market is open July 1 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and July 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This weekend the Market will feature live entertainment, children’s activities and food vendors outside on the pedestrian-only Market Street.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., including Canada Day. Visitors can discover more than 3,000 animals while exploring more than 10 km of walking trails. This year, guests can immerse in the Indonesian Community Marketplace on July 1 and 2. The vibrant marketplace celebrates the grand opening of our new outdoor orangutan habitat Orangutans of Gunung Leuser – Guardians of the Rainforest, the first of its kind in Canada. The Zoo’s behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters tours are also a great way to get up close and learn more about your favourite animals; timeslots can be booked online on the Toronto Zoo website: www.torontozoo.com.
Toronto Public Library
All Toronto Public Library (TPL) branches will be closed on Saturday, July 1. Branches will be open during regular hours on Monday, July 3. A full list of TPL branch locations and corresponding hours of operation is available on the TPL website: www.tpl.ca/branches.
Residents can download and stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, newspapers, movies and music anytime by visiting the TPL website: www.tpl.ca/downloads.
The City acknowledges that July 1 is not a day of celebration for everyone, particularly First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. The City encourages everyone to take time this Canada Day to learn about Canada’s history and relationship with Indigenous communities and consider how each person can help advance truth, justice and reconciliation. The City remains committed to advancing truth, justice and reconciliation and is working closely with Indigenous partners and the Indigenous Affairs Office to implement the City’s first Reconciliation Action Plan, available on the City’s Reconciliation Plan webpage: www.toronto.ca/Reconciliation-
Quote:
“I want to wish residents across Toronto a happy Canada Day. I encourage people to take part in the Canada Day festivities in all parts of the city throughout the day and to come out to the fireworks displays on Saturday night. This is a great city in the greatest country in the world and I’m proud that the City of Toronto can provide so many opportunities for families to celebrate Canada Day.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
SOURCE City of Toronto
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