Item - 2026.TE33.35

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council grant permission to the City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto, Breakthrough T1D, Canada Running Series, Global Arts Cultural and Heritage Foundation, Ahora Canada Community Connections, Ajiwa International, Toronto Spring Festival and Celebrate Toronto 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 City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto, BreakthroughT1D, Canada Running Series, Ajiwa International, Toronto Spring Festival, Journey to Freedom and Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council to solicit donations in support of their organization.

3. City Council grant permission to the City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto, Breakthrough T1D, Canada Running Series, Global Arts Cultural and Heritage Foundation, Ajiwa International, Toronto Spring Festival, Celebrate Toronto and Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council, 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 Protocol and External Relations, City of Toronto, on November 18, is requesting audio amplification from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to present the sunrise ceremony and speeches as part of the First Management of Council event;

b. Environment and Climate Division, City of Toronto, in April 2027, is requesting audio amplification in April 2027 (Date TBD) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for speeches as part of the Clean Toronto Together event; and

Third-Party Community Produced Events:

c. Breakthrough T1D on October 13-16, 2026, is requesting audio amplification on October 14-15 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm to present warm-up messages to the participants in the sport, health and safety announcements, music, and speeches as part of the Ride to Defeat Diabetes event,

all permissions would be contingent upon each applicant securing a Noise Bylaw Exemption permit through the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division and adhering to the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 591, Noise, along with mandatory sound monitoring by the City's preferred audio company, Production Service Industries, throughout the event to ensure compliance with schedules.

5. City Council grant permission to City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto, Breakthrough T1D, Canada Running Series, Global Arts Cultural and Heritage Foundation, Ahora Canada Community Connections, Ajiwa International, Strategic Protocol and External Relations City of Toronto, Toronto Spring Festival, and Celebrate Toronto, to use open flame as part of their event production; all permissions would be contingent upon each applicant securing an Open Air Burning permit, Ontario Fire Code 2.4.4.4, from Toronto Fire Services.

6. City Council grant permission to City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto, Canada Running Series, Toronto Spring Festival, and Celebrate Toronto to place objects in the reflecting pool.

7. City Council grant permission to City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto, Global Arts Cultural and Heritage Foundation, Toronto Spring Festival, and Celebrate Toronto to use special effects pyrotechnics as part of their event production; all permissions would be contingent upon the applicant securing a permit from Toronto Fire Services to discharge fireworks under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 466, Fireworks.

8. City Council grant permission to City Cultural Events Production - City of Toronto permission to cover the City Hall windows.

9. 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 as outlined in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges.

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 the former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 237, Nathan Phillips Square, for events that are proposed to be held on Nathan Phillips Square from October 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027.