Toronto launches new live music initiative for patios
Live music will soon be coming to patios in select Toronto neighbourhoods as part of a pilot project aimed at bringing vibrancy back to main streets while supporting two industries that have struggled throughout the pandemic.
Mayor John Tory held a news conference outside a Danforth Avenue patio on Thursday afternoon to highlight the new initiative, which was actually approved by city council during their June meeting.
As part of the program, bars and restaurants with temporary CaféTO patios in three Toronto wards – Beaches East York, Toronto-Danforth and Davenport – will be permitted to have live, amplified music during select hours from now until Oct. 31.
The city is also offering $100,000 grants to Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in the wards to help them promote the program and stage music programming in some small parks to further animate the neighbourhoods.
“We're hard at the battle to finish COVID-19 off once and for all and that really does involve you getting fully vaccinated but in the meantime we've got to keep bringing the city back to life and keep giving opportunities to people who really struggled during the pandemic and that's what this program is all about,” Tory said.
“Live music on patios is going to bring energy, it's going to bring vitality, but to be frank most of all it is going to bring some paid work to people who really deserve it.”
Patios at bars and restaurants across the city reopened on June 11 once Ontario entered step one of its reopening plan.
The launch of the new pilot project comes as the city rolls out several initiatives to support bars and restaurants that struggled during Ontario’s successive lockdowns, including a new prix fixe promotion called “DineTOgether.”
Tory said that as part of the new live music initiative bars and restaurants who want to book mucisians can receive advice on logistics through the city’s music office.
He said that the office can also help to put bars and restaurants who have not previously hosted live music in touch with performers.
“Anybody who says there aren't any musicians around to perform that's not a good excuse. We've got a database with 1,000 Toronto artists on it who would happily come out and perform, many of them probably on a moment's notice,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.