Main stages & events

Events and times are subject to change. Note that Pride Toronto could not supply us with an official breakdown of performers and showtimes for their stages in time for our publication. We have done our best to provide specific details where we were able to find them.

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Marches & parades

Toronto is busting at the seams with WorldPride parking-lot parties, cruises, art shows, human-rights talks and late-night throw-downs. Winding their way through all this are the marches and parades — accompanied by the various marshals and honoured groups and individuals — that make Toronto Pride so inspiring. Below is a guide to all the street action.

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Trans* Pride MarchFri, June 27

The trans community comes together in protest and celebration for their longest Pride march yet. A second march, not affiliated with the official one, leaves at the same time from George Hislop Park and ends at Allan Gardens. Pre-march rally kicks off at 7pm in George Hislop Park (between Isabella and Charles streets, just east of Yonge Street); parade starts at 8pm and moves south on Yonge to Yonge-Dundas Square. Monica Forrester, accessibility advocate and producer of the bimonthly Spirit Indigenous Sex Workers zine, and Alex Abramovitch, queer youth homelessness activist. Trans Pulse, a community-based research group that looks at the impact of social exclusion and discrimination on the health of trans people in Ontario.

Dyke MarchSat, June 28

A grassroots march and demonstration where women and trans people take to the streets to make their voices heard. Rally begins at 1:30pm at Allan Gardens, at Carlton and Sherbourne streets; march starts at 2pm, moves west on Carlton Street, north on Yonge and concludes at George Hislop Park, between Isabella and Charles streets, just east of Yonge. This year’s honoured dyke is Connie Bonello, who is responsible for the national launch of IBM’s Teaching Respect in Canadian Schools program. Toronto Fierce Femme Organizers, including Kim Milan (Crosby), Catherine Hernandez, Gein Wong, Chanelle Gallant, Sedina Fiati, Leah Lakshmi, Dainty Smith, Monica Forrester, Belle Jumelles, Anna Camilleri, Allyson Mitchell and Vee Stun.

WorldPride ParadeSun, June 29

Canada’s largest Pride parade gets even bigger this year with an extended route. (Tip: head north of Bloor on Church Street to preview the floats lined up along tree-lined Rosedale Valley Road.) Starts at 1pm at Church and Bloor streets. The parade heads west, then dances all the way down to the party at Yonge-Dundas Square. Brent Hawkes, who has championed various human rights initiatives and, in 2001, officiated at the first legal marriage of a gay or lesbian couple in the world. 2 Spirits Toronto, a non-profit organization that offers services and support to two-spirit and other aboriginal people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

For comprehensive WorldPride listings, check out our Ultimate Pride Guide at upgtoronto.com.