May 25, 2024
Large crowds expected as Toronto hosts Canada’s largest Pride parade | CBC News

Large crowds expected as Toronto hosts Canada’s largest Pride parade | CBC News

Toronto

The annual event, which caps off weeks of festivities celebrating the city’s LGBTQ community, is slated to attract thousands of marchers and 250 participating groups.

Parade unfolds amid heightened security prompted by a rise in threats, hateful incidents

Three people, including a person in drag, wave to the crowd while on a motorcycle that's part of a Pride parade.
Revellers march down Toronto’s Yonge St. for the annual Pride parade on Jun. 26, 2022. This year’s annual Pride parade is set to take place amid a rise in threats and hate incidents against the LGBTQ+ community in Canada. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Massive crowds are expected to pack the streets of downtown Toronto today for Canada’s largest Pride parade.

The annual event, which caps off weeks of festivities celebrating the city’s LGBTQ community, is slated to attract thousands of marchers and 250 participating groups.

Some prominent politicians are also expected to attend, including federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and a handful of candidates hoping to be elected as the city’s mayor on Monday.

But the event will unfold amid heightened security prompted by a rise in threats targeting Pride festivals across the country and a surge in hateful incidents targeting the LGBTQ community.

Parade organizer Pride Toronto says policing costs have more than doubled this year, while insurance costs ballooned from $67,000 in 2022 to more than $300,000.

The parade is set to get underway at 2 p.m.

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