Item - 2025.TE20.29

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council grant permission to Second Harvest Canada, City Cultural Events Production City of Toronto, Rugby Ontario, Casa Cultural Peruana, the SickKids Foundation, the DeRo Foundation, Red Onion Event Management, the Batuki Music Society, Pride Toronto, Taste of the Middle East, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Artsxplosion Cultural Society, the Better Future for Kids Foundation, Young Canadian Alliances, Nepalese Canadian Community Services, Panorama India, the Philippines Independence Day Council, the Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts, The Caribbean Scholarship Foundation, Mexican Day Toronto and the Toronto Vegetarian Association, to operate a beer and wine Vintners Quality Alliance garden and to serve alcohol contingent upon the following conditions:

a. approval of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario;

b. approval of the Medical Officer of Health;

c. compliance with the City of Toronto’s Municipal Alcohol Policy; and

d. receipt of all the necessary permits associated with the production of the event i.e., building permits, noise By-law extension permit.

2. City Council grant permission to the Turkish Society of Canada, the Baycrest Foundation, the Evolve Hub Association, Second Harvest Canada, City Cultural Events Production City of Toronto, Sing! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival, City of Toronto Newcomer Office, Rugby Ontario, Casa Cultural Peruana, the SickKids Foundation, the DeRo Foundation, the Christian Music Festival, Red Onion Event Management, Pride Toronto, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Better Future for Kids Foundation, the Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition, Strategic Partnership City Manager's Office City of Toronto and the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre to solicit donations in support of their organization.

3. City Council grant permission to Turkish Society of Canada, the Evolve Hub Association, Second Harvest Canada, City Cultural Events Production City of Toronto, City of Toronto Newcomer Office, Rugby Ontario, Casa Cultural Peruana, the SickKids Foundation, the DeRo Foundation, Pride Toronto, Taste of the Middle East, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Artsxplosion Cultural Society, the Better Future for Kids Foundation, Young Canadian Alliances, Nepalese Canadian Community Services, Panorama India, the Philippines Independence Day Council, the Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts, The Caribbean Scholarship Foundation, Mexican Day Toronto, the Toronto Vegetarian Association, Strategic Partnership City Manager’s Office City of Toronto and the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre to engage in sports demonstrations. 

4. City Council grant permission to allow for sound amplification by the organizations and at the times listed below, which extend beyond the accepted Nathan Phillips Square's amplification schedule policy hours, such policy only allowing for amplification of sound from Monday to Friday between 12:00 p.m and 1:30 p.m, and between 4:30 p.m and 11:00 p.m:

City Produced Events:

a. Strategic Partnerships City Manager's Office – City of Toronto on September 16, 2025, to present land acknowledgment and African Ancestral Acknowledgment, remarks by the Deputy Mayor, the City Manager, the Deputy City Manager and the President of CUPE Local 4948, light exercise before the official run, band performance and closing remarks by emcee as part of the Civic Run event; and

Third-Party Community Organization Produced Events:

b. Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre from September 27-30, 2025, to present Indigenous music, dances and inspirational talks as part of the Indigenous Legacy Gathering event.

All permissions would be contingent upon each applicant securing a Noise By-law Exemption permit through the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division and adhering to the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 591, Noise, along with mandatory sound monitoring throughout the event to ensure compliance with schedules.

5. City Council grant permission to the Evolve Hub Association, City Cultural Events Production City of Toronto, Casa Cultural Peruana, Strategic Protocol and External Relations City of Toronto, Pride Toronto, Taste of the Middle East, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Artsxplosion Cultural Society, the Better Future for Kids Foundation, Young Canadian Alliances, Panorama India, the Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts, The Caribbean Scholarship Foundation, Mexican Day Toronto, the SickKids Foundation and the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre to use open flame as part of their event production.

6. City Council grant permission to the Baycrest Foundation, City Cultural Events Production City of Toronto, Rugby Ontario, the SickKids Foundation, the DeRo Foundation, Metro Marine Modellers, the Batuki Music Society, Pride Toronto, Taste of the Middle East, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Artsxplosion Cultural Society, the Better Future for Kids Foundation, Young Canadian Alliances, the Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition, the Philippines Independence Day Council, the Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts, Mexican Day Toronto and the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre to place objects in the reflecting pool.

7. City Council require that the various events compensate the City of Toronto, through the Corporate Real Estate Management Division, for all the City of Toronto costs associated with an event above the standard staffing complement.

The City of Toronto provides opportunities to access Nathan Phillips Square for eligible events through a permitting process administered by the Economic Development and Culture Division.

The purpose of this report is to request exemptions from Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 636, Public Squares and former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 237, Nathan Phillips Square, for events that are proposed to be held on Nathan Phillips Square from May 1 - September 30, 2025.