The City of Toronto will help Torontonians and visitors celebrate Canada’s 152nd birthday on Monday, July 1 by offering and supporting events across Toronto. The City’s Canada Day celebrations planned for Mel Lastman Square (North York) and Thompson Memorial Park (Scarborough) are presented by Tim Hortons, with additional funding provided by the City and the Government of Canada.
From 6 to 10:30 p.m. on July 1, Mel Lastman Square will feature a School of Groove performance and dance workshop, DJ Dre Ngozi and singers Maylee Todd and Jully Black, and face-painting, food and market vendors and more. Fireworks will conclude the event at about 10:20 p.m.
Visitors to Thompson Memorial Park on July 1 will be treated to entertainment by Sonja Collymore, the Arsenals and Danny Fernandes, and there will be kids’ crafts and face-painting as well as opportunities for interactive performance. The community’s annual parade along Brimley Road is scheduled to start at 4 p.m., with fireworks at 10 a.m. in Milliken District Park (5555 Steeles Ave. E.).
More information about these Canada Day celebrations is available at http://www.toronto.ca/canadaday.
Canada Day fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park and various neighbourhood-based celebrations, some of the larger ones described here, will also be held on July 1. Torontonians will also be able to take advantage of recreational opportunities such as swimming, tennis and golf offered by the City – as well as visiting the two historic sites noted below.
Toronto Historic Sites
Two of the City’s 10 historic sites – Fort York National Historic Site and Scarborough Museum – will offer activities and tours on Canada Day.
Fort York: The City encourages you to bring a picnic to Fort York National Historic Site to experience its free celebration of Canada Day on Monday. This celebration will feature the return of the Fort York Summer Guard, with its musket and cannon drills, as well as a program that includes music, tours, crafts, face-painting and cooking demonstrations. The location is 250 Ford York Blvd. and hours on Monday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scarborough Museum: Visitors to Scarborough Museum on Monday will have the opportunity to explore the historic buildings, sample traditional foods and observe historic activations by the Inprint Collective, blacksmith David Brandow and Toronto Spinners and Weavers. The museum, located at 1007 Brimley Rd. (in Thompson Memorial Park), will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 1.
The remaining eight historic sites will be closed on holiday Monday, though all (except the Market Gallery, closed on Sunday) will be open Saturday and Sunday of the Canada Day weekend. Admission fees and activities vary by location. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/museum-events.
July 1 fireworks at Ashbridges Bay
The City’s annual Canada Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay (1561 Lake Shore Blvd. E.) will begin at 10 p.m. on Monday, July 1. Residents planning to attend are encouraged to leave their vehicles at home and use public transit.
City of Toronto bylaws prohibit members of the public from setting off or selling fireworks in City parks.
East York’s Canada Day parade
East York’s annual Canada Day parade featuring marching bands will begin at Dieppe Park at 10 a.m. on Monday, 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 all day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., including a fireworks display starting at 10 p.m.
West Toronto/Etobicoke
The annual Toronto Ribfest will be held at Centennial Park (256 Centennial Park Rd.) from Saturday, June 29 through Monday, July 1. Fireworks take place at 10 p.m. on Canada Day. More information is available at http://www.torontoribfest.com.
The annual Canada Day event at Amesbury Park (1507 Lawrence Ave. W.) will offer a full day of family entertainment, concluding with fireworks at 10 p.m.
City parks and pools
City of Toronto parks, outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, splash pads and swimming beaches across the city will be open on Canada Day, July 1. Indoor pools and community centres will be closed Monday. More information and swimming pool schedules are available at http://www.toronto.ca/swim.
The status of designated swimming beaches is available at http://www.toronto.ca/beaches. Water quality reports for local beaches are available at http://www.toronto.ca/health/swimsafe/index.htm.
Tennis
All public tennis courts will have nets up and will be available for use over the long weekend. Public sites are free and available to the general 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 at http://www.toronto.ca/tennis.
Golf
All five City golf courses will be open and will offer holiday rates on Monday, July 1. These affordable, high-quality, TTC-accessible courses are open daily over the summer. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/golf.
Toronto Island Park
Residents and visitors can enjoy what Toronto Island Park has to offer this holiday weekend. Businesses will be open and are ready for a busy long weekend. Ferry tickets can be purchased online at http://www.toronto.ca/ferry to save time at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (at the foot of Bay Street). All swimming beaches at Toronto Island Park will be open, with lifeguards on duty from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Information about the park’s amenities is available at http://www.toronto.ca/islands.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is offering peak-season hours during the Canada Day long weekend from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (last admission at 6 p.m.). Visitor highlights include Saving Species Days, featuring endangered Canadian species, and Splash Island, the zoo’s vast splash pad, as well as daily animal shows (at the Waterside Theatre) and Keeper Talks. More information is available at http://www.torontozoo.com.
Union Summer at Union Station
Union Station will offer food and free entertainment on the “Union Summer – Presented by TD” patio for everyone going to and from Canada Day activities via the downtown station on July 1. Details are available at https://torontounion.ca/event/union-summer-presented-by-td/.
Public transit and other services
TTC service will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday, July 1. TTC customers can visit http://www.ttc.ca for more information to help plan their trips.
City of Toronto emergency and 24-hour services will operate throughout the long weekend including July 1. City administrative offices and service counters, the City Archives at 255 Spadina Rd., Toronto Public Library branches and City-operated child care centres as well as Children’s Services district offices will be closed on Monday, July 1.
Quote:
“I encourage residents and visitors of all ages to get outside and enjoy Canada Day in Toronto on July 1. We live in the greatest city in the greatest country in the world and I can’t wait to celebrate Canada Day 2019 with people across Toronto. Happy Canada Day!”
– Mayor John Tory