CNE, Taste of the Danforth, other big festivals cancelled by COVID-19 for a second straight year

The Canadian National Exhibition, Taste of the Danforth, Caribbean Carnival and other crowd-drawing Toronto events are being cancelled for a second straight summer due to COVID-19 risk.

The city announced Friday no permits will be issued for events on public property until after Labour Day, Sept. 6. The timing preserves the possibility of in-person events at the Sept. 9-18 Toronto International Film Festival.

But there can be no in-person component for a long list of summer crowd pleasers including the CNE, Caribbean Carnival, Taste of the Danforth, the Honda Indy Toronto, and Beaches Jazz Festival.

Others on the list include: Afrofest; Caribbean Junior Carnival; Caribbean Carnival, King and Queen Competition, Pan Alive and Grand Parade; Taste of the Middle East; Salsa in Toronto; Taste of Lawrence; Toronto Outdoor Art Fair; 49th Annual Festival of India; Bloor West StreetFest; Oss Fest; Scarborough Ribfest; Toronto Chinatown Festival; Vegandale Food Drink Festival; Bollywood Film Fair; Waterfront Night Market; Mabuhay Philippines Festival; and the Labour Day Parade.

The news landed as the city returned to painting circles in Trinity-Bellwoods Park, signalling another summer when pandemic measures will be front and centre in the lives of Torontonians despite dropping infection levels and rising vaccination rates.

Darrell Brown, executive director of the CNE Association, said two years of cancellation translates to a net loss of about $11 million. Without help from other governments, the 142-year-old Toronto tradition will fold for good.

“We’ve already depleted all of our own resources; we’re working on borrowed money,” Brown said Thursday. “We can stretch things out to December, but we can’t make it to next year without about $11 million in funding.”

The city can forgo or delay payments to use the city-owned site. Federal pandemic aid could provide help but might not come in time, Brown said, adding that his discussions with Ontario government officials on financial relief have been “frustrating as hell.”

Mary Fragedakis, executive director of the Greektown on the Danforth merchants’ group, called another year without Taste of the Danforth “devastating news for our businesses — but not surprising.”

On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford, extending Ontario’s stay-at-home order until June 2, said: “My goal is to have the most normal July and August possible. Obviously, that won’t mean large sporting events or concerts, but if we manage the next few weeks properly, I believe we can have things in a very good place.”

Before deciding not to issue event permits, city staff consulted event organizers and officials with public health, pandemic response and police, according to a statement dated Friday obtained by the Star.

“Today’s announcement includes festivals and other large, in-person gatherings, held at outdoor sites managed by the City or other public locations, such as roads, parks and civic squares,” the statement reads.

“The City understands the importance of these events to Toronto’s vitality, liveability and prosperity. City staff are working in close collaboration with event organizers, who in every instance possible have been consulted on this approach and given advance notice of this decision.

“The City is committed to working closely with event organizers to help them manage through 2021 and come back stronger in 2022.”

Mayor John Tory is quoted as saying the city is “working with the Canadian National Exhibition to help the fair through this difficult year and prepare for a bigger and better in-person event in 2022.”

Toronto is committed to ensuring the Ex’s survival, he said, “and I am confident that the other governments share that determination.”

No CNE 2021 means the loss of 5,000 summer jobs, most of them for students.

Organizers of Taste of the Danforth, the 24-year-old celebration of food and culture that has lured as many as 1.6 million Torontonians to Greektown early August weekends, were also awaiting word from the city.

Cancellation for a second year would be “truly unfortunate,” event spokesperson Harold Lichtman said in an email. But “the health of Torontonians and the staff at restaurants and retailers are of the utmost of importance and must be the driving force behind any decision,” he wrote.

Loading…

Loading…Loading…Loading…Loading…Loading…

Fragedakis, whose association represents around 400 business owners on and around the Danforth, said many are hanging by a thread. With their festival cancelled, hopes are now pinned on the city’s CafeTO restaurant and bar patio program, she said.

CafeTO, which Tory had hoped would launch before the Victoria Day weekend, remains on hold during the stay-at-home order that limits restaurants to delivery and takeout service.

Honda Indy organizers confirmed Friday that the July 9 to 11 race through Toronto streets and Exhibition Place has been removed from the Indy race schedule.

Luminato arts festival, normally held in June, will instead go ahead in October, organizers said last month.

With files from the Canadian Press

David Rider is the Star’s City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider