Toronto reverses decision, says Canada Day festivities will be held at Nathan Phillips Square
Canada Day celebrations will be held at Nathan Phillips Square, after all.
A day after saying that there would be no July 1 festivities at the downtown square, the city confirmed on Wednesday that it is reversing the decision after a meeting between Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie and city staff.
"There will be dozens of Canada Day celebrations across the city on July 1, including in Nathan Phillips Square and Mel Lastman Square," Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said in a statement.
"I want to thank the City Manager for taking quick action to make sure we celebrate Canada Day and continue to encourage people to gather together and enjoy Toronto."
While Toronto has not marked Canada Day at Nathan Phillips Square since 2017, the city had begun preparations for a possible event this year, recruiting volunteers and holding information sessions.
However, due to insufficient resources, the city said Tuesday it decided not to move forward with its plan.
"Officials agreed to revisit their decision and proceed with Canada Day celebrations in the Square along with Canada Day celebrations in Mel Lastman Square and countless other Canada Day events," the city said in a statement on Wednesday.
Other July 1 festivities taking place across the city include the fireworks display at Ashbridge's Bay and lead-up activities in the week preceding Canada Day.
The city noted that staff will work to use funding in existing budgets and leverage community partnerships and "continue conversations with our Government of Canada partners around additional federal funding for Canada Day celebrations."
More details about the festivities be announced in the coming weeks, the city said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NDP to form majority government following historic Manitoba election
Wab Kinew’s New Democratic Party is projected to have enough seats in the Manitoba Legislature to form a majority government, taking the helm after two consecutive terms of a majority Tory regime.
Parks Canada reveals additional details about deadly bear attack in Banff
The couple and dog mauled and killed by a grizzly bear in the backcountry of Banff National Park late last week did everything right, Parks Canada says.
Parents want arrest after son 'deliberately kicked' in neck during Edmonton hockey game
A Junior C hockey player says he is lucky to be alive after his neck was sliced open by a hockey skate last week in an act his parents believe – and the referee ruled – was an intentional kick.
Firefighters work until dawn to clear wreckage of bus crash that killed 21 people in Venice
A bus carrying dozens of people plummeted 15 metres from an elevated road in Venice, causing a fiery crash that killed 21 people and injured at least 15, mostly foreign tourists returning to a nearby campsite.
U.K. police open a corporate manslaughter investigation into a hospital where a nurse killed 7 babies
British police have opened an investigation into corporate manslaughter at a northern England hospital after a neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six others when she worked there, authorities said Wednesday.
Canadian condo sales falling amid concerns over interest rate hikes
Amid consistent interest rate hikes and wavering markets, Canadian condo sales are starting to fall in all but two markets in the nation, according to a new report from Re/Max.
OPINION Some of the key impacts AI is having on our everyday finances
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, its uses and applications grow even wider. Many people are already using tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google's Bard or Bing Chat to help them write emails, research new subjects and brainstorm business names.
These are the 5 headlines you should read this morning
Manitoba voters make history, Canada's House of Commons has a new Speaker, and the U.S. House of Representatives ousts its Speaker.
Liberal Greg Fergus makes history, elected first Black House Speaker
Liberal MP Greg Fergus is Canada's new House of Commons Speaker, following a secret ranked ballot election on Tuesday. It is a day for the political history books as Fergus, once a parliamentary page, becomes the first Black Canadian to hold the prestigious role.