🎮 Toronto Declares June as Video Game Month with 40+ Citywide Events

From VALORANT to VR workshops, Toronto celebrates its booming video game and esports industry all month long

June 9, 2025 Tiana Breaking News, Community, Toronto 0

Toronto Declares June as Video Game Month with 40+ Citywide Events
Video Game Month in action: A young Torontonian enjoying a game at a public lab.

Toronto — Mayor Olivia Chow has officially proclaimed June as Video Game Month in Toronto, launching a month-long celebration spotlighting the city’s role as a global leader in gaming, esports, and creative tech.

With more than 40 events scheduled across the city, the initiative will feature everything from international esports tournaments and professional game development conferences to indie showcases and hands-on public events. Many of the activities are free to attend, offering locals and visitors alike a chance to engage directly with one of Toronto’s fastest-growing creative industries.

Flagship events include:

  • Riot Games’ VALORANT Masters (June 7–22) at Mattamy Athletic Centre: A global esports showdown expected to draw over 20,000 fans and generate $40 million in economic activity, complete with art activations and charity tie-ins.

  • Toronto Games Week (June 12–18): A grassroots celebration of indie games, including live action role-playing games (LARPs), workshops, interactive exhibits, and more.

  • Giant Video Games (June 12): A public kickoff presented by the City of Toronto alongside Interactive Ontario and OCADU, turning Nathan Phillips Square into a pop-up gaming playground.

  • XP Game Summit (June 12–13): Canada’s leading B2B video game conference, bringing together industry leaders for panels, demos, and global networking.

  • Toronto Tech Week (June 23–27): A broader look at the city’s thriving innovation economy, with 180+ tech events across multiple sectors, including gaming.

A full schedule is available at: toronto.ca/video-game-month

Gaming as a Cultural and Economic Driver

Toronto is home to over 180 digital media companies, including world-class game studios. With strong ties to the city’s film, animation, and VFX industries, the gaming sector continues to fuel both cultural expression and job growth. Ontario leads the country with over 270 studios and more than 6,000 employees—many of them based in Toronto.

Video Game Month is aligned with the City’s broader economic and cultural strategies, including Sidewalks to Skylines and Culture Connects. It also supports the Love Local campaign, which promotes homegrown talent and creative entrepreneurship.

“Toronto’s gaming industry reflects the best of our city. It is creative, diverse and forward-thinking,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “Video Game Month is an invitation to celebrate this growing sector and the talented people behind it and to discover how gaming connects with art, innovation and our local communities.”

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About Tiana 28 Articles
Tiana Squire is a multi-talented contributor to GTA Weekly, where she leads coverage of leisure, tourism, and food culture across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. She is the author of several weekly series including Jet Set Weekly, GTA Eats, and Weekend Vibes, offering readers curated guides to festivals, local dining, global destinations, and family-friendly fun. With a passion for storytelling and a flair for finding the best experiences near and far, Tiana brings a fresh, vibrant voice to the pages of GTA Weekly. She can be reached at tiana.squire@gtaweekly.ca.

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