Item - 2022.TE34.229

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1.  Approved the temporary closure to vehicular traffic of Barbara Barrett Lane, between David French Lane to Brunswick Avenue, on the following dates and durations, in order to facilitate the Toronto Fringe Festival:

(a)  From 9 am to 10 pm on Monday, July 4, 2022;

(b)  From 9 am to 10 pm on Tuesday, July 5, 2022;

(c)  From 3 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 to 3 am on Thursday, July 7, 2022;

(d)  From 4 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2022 to 3 am on Friday, July 8, 2022;

(e)  From 4 pm on Friday, July 8, 2022 to 3 am on Saturday, July 9, 2022;

(f)   From 11 am on Saturday, July 9, 2022 to 3 am on Sunday, July 10, 2022;

(g)  From 11 am on Sunday, July 10, 2022 to 3 am on Monday, July 11, 2022;

(h)  From 4 pm on Monday, July 11, 2022 to 3 am Tuesday, July 12, 2022;

(i)    From 4 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 to 3 am Wednesday, July 13, 2022;

(j)    From 4 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 to 3 am Thursday, July 14, 2022;

(k)  From 4 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2022 to 3 am Friday, July 15, 2022;

(l)    From 4 pm on Friday, July 15, 2022 to 3 am Saturday, July 16, 2022;

(m) From 11 am on Saturday, July 16, 2022 to 3 am Sunday, July 17, 2022;

(n)  From 11 am on Sunday, July 17, 2022 to 3 am Monday, July 18, 2022;

(o)  From 9 am to 10 pm on Monday, July 18, 2022;

(p)  From 9 am to 10 pm on Tuesday, July 19, 2022

The Toronto Fringe Festival marks the 34th year of operation and is returning as an in-person festival for the first time since 2019.  Transportation Services has closed laneways in the past for the Toronto Fringe Festival and this year, the festival is collaborating with the Tranzac Club at 292 Brunswick Avenue to bring an outdoor patio and exciting programming experience.  The event organizer is requesting to temporarily close Barbara Barrett Lane, between David French Lane to Brunswick Avenue from Monday, July 4, 2022 to Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in order to accommodate their programming.  The purpose of the proposed closure is to facilitate a festival hub and will include food and drink service, buskers and the festival box office. 

The Fringe Festival is the most accessible arts event in the city, presenting nearly 100 productions at 11 venues this year.  Fringe has premiered some of Canada's most successful theatre productions including Kim's Convenience, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan wedding, 'Da Kink In My Hair, The Drowsy Chaperone and Mump and Smoot.  All Fringe Festivals in Canada are mandated to choose their participants by lottery and return 100% of the box office returns to the artist in the festival, which has seen a return of over $6,000,000 over the past three decades to artists from across the country. 

Municipal Code Chapter 937-3 authorizes the General Manager of Transportation Services to temporarily close to vehicular traffic any portion of a road for a period of not more than four consecutive days for social, recreational, community, athletic or cinematographic purposes. This proposed closure will be in effect for more than 4 days and, therefore, requires Community Council approval. There will be no amplified noise outdoors after 11:00 p.m.