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Toronto Cancels Canada Day Celebrations

by stevesmys | June 26, 2009 at 11:28 am

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Toronto has cancelled all Canada Day festivities due to the municipal strike, according to city officials.

City manager Joe Pennachetti said that while he hopes there will be a quick resolution to the contract disputes that are currently halting garbage pick-up throughout the city, Canada Day is approaching fast.

All city-run celebrations, including the Ashbridge Bay fireworks display, are canceled.

Without the unionized workers the shows can't go on — so the city is pulling the plug on about a dozen planned festivals, a sports tournament and even the traditional Canada Day fireworks display at Ashbridge's Bay.

The Ashbridge's Bay fireworks display has been held for decades and brings thousands of people to Toronto's east-end beaches for the show.

Other cancellationes include celebrations at Mel Lastman Square, Kew Gardens, Earl Bales Park and Flemingdon Park.

However, the Toronto Jazz Festival still has the go-ahead.

"The festival is a self-contained event, run independently from the city," said a notice from Patrick Taylor, the executive producer of the festival.

"We are not a city produced event but rather a charitable organization that has been planning this festival for months in advance. As the city's largest music festival, we look forward to putting on another great event."

City officials say some of the Canada Day events may be able to go ahead — but only "on a modified basis" — if the strike ends by this weekend.