Hi friends and neighbours,

The federal government is considering Bill C-9, which criminalizes protest with up to 10 years in prison if protestors are accused of having an intent to "invoke fear". It also criminalizes symbols that are deemed to resemble those used by groups considered to be terrorist entities. This might sound reasonable on its face, but it doesn't take into account the way that Black, brown, and Indigenous protestors are overwhelmingly more likely to be perceived as threatening even when they are the ones being attacked, or the way the state uses the "terrorism" designation to suppress speech it doesn't like.

This is part of a broader trend of our governments widening the prison pipeline. Bill 60 passed in Ontario last week increases housing precarity and will send more people onto the streets, where they be caught by Bill 6, which criminalizes encampments and makes it easier for the police to arrest and fine people publicly struggling with addiction. Bill 33 brings back police officers into schools, which has been shown to disproportionately harm racialized students, and now Bill 75 is looking to reintroduce cash bail, which keeps poor people awaiting trial incarcerated for longer and exacerbates inequalities inherent in our legal system. All of this will worsen the awful conditions in our overcrowded and desolate prisons, opening the door for expanding prisons further despite the fact that incarcerating people is far more expensive than providing them with better social services and support.

I say all this not to depress you, but to emphasize how interconnected all these struggles are. We live in scary times, and when so many of us feel precarity bearing down from multiple directions it is easy to close ranks and focus only on protecting our own. It can be comforting to believe the world is just, and that as long as we do everything right we won't end up like those people (whichever scapegoated category they may be), who must have done something wrong to deserve their fate. Of course this isn't true. The world is not just, and we can simply look at how the ruling party is working to put even more people into the category of being disposable to see that this injustice is an active, intentional process.

If you are reading this newsletter, you are closer to that disposability than you are to true prosperity in our current system. And so the only really rational response is not to withdraw further, but to expand the definition of who we consider "our own". At the end of the day, we take care of us. Call and email your MP to speak up against C-9, contact your MPP about how Bill 75 harms communities, and check out the work of Coalition Against Proposed Prisons Ontario, who are fighting against the expansion of this system across the province.

Thank you for showing up.

Jenny

⭐️ = events updated since the last newsletter

Events this week

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 🔗

⭐️ 11AM — Visual Resistance from Turtle Island to Palestine (Virtual)
Drawing Wisdom - A conversation between Indigenous filmmakers that explores the overlapping ways that the lives of Indigenous Peoples from Turtle Island to Palestine are shaped by colonialism and its inherent violence, and how visual storytelling is a vital form of resistance.

⭐️ 12PM — Fast track? Unpacking Carney’s major projects push (Virtual)
The Narwhal - Join The Narwhal for a panel discussion featuring journalists from around the country in unpacking Prime Minister Carney’s development projects that are meant to be in the national interest and what’s really happening with the Major Projects Office.

⭐️ 1PM — Deputation Training for Climate Action (Virtual)
Toronto Climate Action Network - Over the next few months, big climate decisions are coming to City Hall, including the City's 5-year climate plan. Learn how to effectively present your ideas and influence local policies at this online deputation training. No experience required!

5PM — East End Acts Weekly Vigil (Main and Danforth)
East End Acts for Palestine - East End Acts will be meeting weekly on Tuesday afternoons to remember the thousands of men, women, and children murdered by the zionist state. Join your east end neighbours as we gather in solidarity to mourn & honour our martyrs, demand an end to the genocide in Palestine, and an end to Canadian complicity in the ongoing atrocities.

5PM — Public Speaking Training with Scarborough Cycles (3079 Danforth Ave)
Cycle Toronto - The City of Toronto is considering road safety improvements on Kingston Road in Scarborough. Come learn how to make a deputation to the city with Scarborough Cycles and Cycle Toronto! No prior experience necessary.

6PM — Degrowing our Footprint (Available upon registration)
International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab and Degrowth Collective - What if the planet had a budget and we are over it? Every choice we make has a cost, but we rarely see the bill. Through interactive exploration and small-group discussions, come together to consider the concept of Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity to reflect on what thriving means: wanting less, and not having more.

6PM — Volunteer for Renter Protections (Bathurst and Finch)
Progress Toronto - Bill 60 has passed but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Now that it’s even easier for landlords to evict renters and even harder to find an affordable place to live, we need tenant organizing more than ever. Join a canvass to let renters know how Bill 60 impacts them and help them mobilize to protect their rights!

6PM — Faith and Climate Action Year-End Pot-Luck (60 Lowther Ave)
Faith and Climate Action - Faith and Climate Action’s year-end celebratory potluck is open to all! Please RSVP at faithandclimateaction@gmail.com or just show up (there will be lots of food) - come meet new friends and learn more about their work.

6PM — Button workshop (739 Palmerston)
Karma Co-op - This beginner-friendly workshop will teach you the essential skill of sewing on buttons to keep your garments in good working order. Bring a garment that you would like to fix and improve your re-use skills!

6:30PM — Create/Change: Toronto’s GivingTuesday Collab (1110 Dundas St W)
Youthful Vengeance - A night of art and performance bringing together Toronto’s arts and nonprofit communities for an evening of creativity and collective impact, raising funds to support youth-focused arts, STEM, and social innovation programs that create equitable access to education and opportunity through collaboration.

6:30PM — How to Organizer a Revolution (252 Bloor St W)
Revolutionary Communist Party - 2025 has been the year of revolutions. From the Gen Z movement to the Italian general strike: the working class has shown it is willing and capable of transforming society. Yet, nothing has fundamentally changed. History shows that spontaneity is not enough to change society - we need revolutionary organization.

6:30PM — TWC Canada Book Club Wrap-Up and Winter Social (300 Campbell)
TWC Canada - TWC Canada’s concluding book club meetup will double as a winter social – come meet labour-aligned tech workers! The wrap-up discussion of Jane McAlevey's No Shortcuts will include a fireside chat featuring a long-time labour activist about how the Canadian labour context differs, followed by lots of opportunity to socialize and learn more about TWC.

⭐️ 6:30PM — Harm Reduction Advocacy Open Meeting (College St United Church)
Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective Toronto - Join HAC Toronto for its monthly organizing meeting, following up on the closure of the Parkdale SCS and planning future events and direct action responses in support of harm reduction.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 🔗

⭐️ 9:30AM — Ontario Pre-Budget Collective Submission (Virtual)
York Region Food Council - Consultations and pre-budget submissions are important opportunities to share your voice on how the government should address poverty and food insecurity. Join other individuals and organizations to draft a collective York Region-focused budget submission for the provincial government!

2PM — Caring about Care Workers: Centring Immigrant Women PSWs (87 Elm St)
Social Planning Toronto - A community forum and the launch of a new report providing an in-depth look at the working conditions of immigrant women employed as Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Toronto’s home care sector, examining pathways for building collective worker power and advancing fairness and justice for PSWs.

⭐️ 5PM — Bodies in Crisis screening & panel (Daphne Cockwell Complex)
Office of Social Innovation at TMU - Mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a free public screening of Bodies in Crisis, a feature-length documentary by Maria Teresa Larrain, who returns to her native Chile to document five activists who embark on a transformative process to dignify their lives.

⭐️ 5:30PM — Bikechain Volunteer Orientation (Bikechain, 230 College St)
Bikechain U of T - Bikechain is an educational bicycle repair space serving the University of Toronto and the public, offering a variety of free services to students. Come learn more about volunteering at Bikechain – no experience required.

5:45PM — Doorknocking for Palestine (Available upon RSVP)
Davenport 4 Palestine - Davenport 4 Palestine is doorknocking in the neighbourhood to mobilize neighbours in support of a real arms embargo. No experience is necessary, you'll be paired up with a seasoned doorknocker. RSVP by emailing at davenport4palestine@gmail.com.

⭐️ 6PM — Freedom Fete 3 (468 Queen St W)
Toronto Community Justice Fund - Two years ago police raided the homes of the Indigo 11, attempting to scare all those organizing for a free Palestine. Two years later, the fight goes on! Come hear from a panel of activists to learn what the movement has learned from these two years, followed by a dance party! All proceeds go to the Toronto Community Justice Fund, supporting all those arrested for Palestine solidarity activism.

6PM — Climate Fresk Workshop (Virtual)
Climate Literacy Initiative - A fast-paced, eye-opening experience that’s part card game, part group chat, and 100% based on the latest climate science from the IPCC. You'll leave with a clear picture of how everything connects, real ideas for action, and a new crew of people who care.

⭐️ 6PM — War Criminals Out of Toronto Rally (Meridian Hall)
Toronto Centre 4 Palestine - A rally to protest the Munk Debates, which has invited Zionist politicians and IDF soldiers to "debate" the "two-state solution". This event platforms the very people responsible for the massacre and genocide of Palestinian people and manufactures consent for the occupation. Demand this event be cancelled and war criminals be ejected!

⭐️ 6:30PM — RIGS Grief Skill Building & Discussion Group (452 College St)
Radical Intersectional Grief Support - An in-person skill building and discussion group around navigating grief, for people impacted by the drug poisoning crisis. PWYC – trades welcome.

⭐️ 6:30PM — Change Course Zine Workshop (Virtual)
Change Course - Come learn about the radical histories of zine-making; how to fold & make your very own pocket zine; and tap into your dreams, emotions, imagination, and creativity!

7PM — PHP4P Community Meeting (Virtual)
Parkdale-High Park for Palestine - Join this virtual community meeting and learn how to help out with Parkdale-High Park for Palestine's work organizing neighbours in the community!

7PM — Re-Aim Virtual Town Hall (Virtual)
Re-Aim Coalition - In response to the abrupt closure of the Asian Initiative in Mental Health (AIM) on June 18, 2025, a broad coalition of healthcare leaders, advocates, and community members formed the RE-AIM Coalition to demand accountability, restore vital services, and reimagine culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care. Join this virtual town hall to learn more about their work.

⭐️ 8PM — Decolonizing our Energy Futures: Nuclear as a Path Forward? (Virtual)
IPPNW Canada - This talk asks whether nuclear energy colonizes energy futures by yoking us to new forms of “forever waste,” which have not been managed successfully by any nation. Does nuclear offer a path forward, or does it promote a new type of settler colonialism?

Thursday, December 4, 2025 🔗

⭐️ 4PM — The Clean Power Opportunity (Virtual)
David Suzuki Foundation - David Suzuki will speak with three leaders about the opportunity presented by clean electricity. They’ll discuss how the creation of an east-west electricity grid powered by Indigenous- and community-led renewables could benefit communities from coast to coast — and what it takes to turn this into reality.

5PM — Support PARC at Community Consultation (1499 Queen St W)
Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre - Attend the Community Consultation and speak up in support of the vital work that PARC does in supporting the development of affordable supportive housing. Speak up against NIMBYs!

6PM — Volunteer for Renter Protections (Eglington West Station)
Progress Toronto - Bill 60 has passed but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Now that it’s even easier for landlords to evict renters and even harder to find an affordable place to live, we need tenant organizing more than ever. Join a canvass to let renters know how Bill 60 impacts them and help them mobilize to protect their rights!

⭐️ 6:30PM — Reel Relief: A Night for Jamaica (Hot Docs)
Tristan Barrocks - Join for a powerful evening of storytelling and solidarity as five Jamaican and Caribbean filmmakers share their short films on the big screen — all to support families impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

⭐️ 7:30PM — Beyond the Headlines: Canadian Freelance Journalists Report Back from China (Virtual)
UNIFOR - An eye-opening panel discussion as Canadian freelance journalists share first-hand insights from their recent trip to China. A rare, unfiltered glimpse at China through the lens of independent journalists.

Friday, December 5, 2025 🔗

3PM — Fridays 4 Palestine (Yonge and Bloor)
Fridays4Palestine - Come show your support for Palestinians every Friday at the Israel Consulate. Stand up for human rights and say no to genocide.

6PM — Animal Justice's Annual Holiday Party (Avant Garde Gallery)
Animal Justice - Join Animal Justice for their holiday bash in Toronto on December 5, featuring delicious vegan food, refreshments, holiday treats, a DJ, a fun 360 video booth, and a highly anticipated silent auction with loads of vegan-friendly items!

⭐️ 7PM — Accessible Animation Exhibition (1411 Dufferin St Unit B)
Frame by Frame and TAIS - Come and see 6 animated short films that explore disability and meet the filmmakers who met weekly over the summer to share thoughts, explore co-design, and create!

Saturday, December 6, 2025 🔗

⭐️ 9AM — Landback Symposium: Kill Bill 5 (George Brown College Waterfront Campus)
OPSEU - A one day symposium exploring the impact of Bill 5 on Indigenous rights and the Land Back movement and how to fight back.

11:30AM — Free Holiday Toy Swap (2660 Eglinton Ave East)
Scarborough Environmental Association - Whether you're finding a gift for a little one or looking to give a toy a second life, drop by the holiday toy swap. Bring gently used, clean toys and swap them for new-to-you treasures.

12PM — Free Clothing Swap (2660 Eglington Ave W)
Scarborough Environmental Association - Whether you’re looking to refresh your own wardrobe or find something for this loved one, this free clothing swap event is a fantastic way to recycle, save money, and support your community.

1PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)
Davenport 4 Palestine - Join Davenport 4 Palestine for the weekly BDS leafleting campaign at Dufferin Mall. Meet outside south entrance and buddy up – no experience necessary!

⭐️ 1PM — Repair Cafe Fall Mending Workshops (George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre)
Repair Cafe Toronto - Come learn how to sew a sturdy, reusable, and reversible shopping bag—perfect for everyday use or gifting. Basic supplies will be provided. Please bring your own scissors.

⭐️ 2PM — Professional Keffiyeh Photoshoot Fundraiser (1184 Queen St W)
Palestine Impact Collective - Come get a professional photoshoot designed to capture your best look. Bring in your own kuffiyeh or any cultural items that you’d like to incorporate! All proceeds will go to CEPAL to fund scholarships for displaced students from Gaza.

⭐️ 6PM — Gran’ Market Fundraiser for Hurricane Relief (468 Queen St W)
Sharine Taylor and Pear’d Experiences Collective - Gran’ market is an annual Christmas Eve tradition in Jamaica that dates back centuries. Typically held in town squares, it’s a hybrid night market and cultural festival. This diasporic iteration celebrates this tradition while raising funds for communities in Jamaica. All proceeds go towards hurricane relief efforts.

Sunday, December 7, 2025 🔗

10AM — Virtual Tech Worker’s Coalition Coffee (Virtual)
Tech Worker’s Coalition Canada - Drop by for a virtual coffee hour on Sunday mornings to chat with fellow tech workers about what’s on your mind and to learn more about the Tech Worker’s Coalition. TWC considers anyone who is involved in the production and maintenance of digital technology to be a tech worker, whether you are a bike courier working at a food delivery app service, a designer, a software engineer, a product owner, a data labeller or a content moderator. Hope to see you there!

11AM — Gaza Square (371 Wallace Ave)
Davenport 4 Palestine - Daveport 4 Palestine invites you to come hang out at Gaza square on Sunday mornings with hot chocolate and coffee, buttons and posters, lawn signs and colourful chalk. Come say hi and meet your fellow neighbours/organizers as they make their presence known and continue to build safety in their community!

11AM — Sundays 4 Palestine (Bathurst and Sheppard)
Sundays4Palestine - Weekly counterprotest to the Zionist community that comes out to celebrate the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Flags and signs provided.

11AM — The Disability Holiday Festival (Wychwood Barns)
The Disability Collective - This festival features work created by disabled artists while celebrating the diversity of the holiday season in Toronto. Stop by to shop for arts and crafts made by local disabled artists, participate in multiple community-building events, listen to live music from disabled musicians, and enjoy food & drinks from community vendors!

12PM — 6th Annual Cycling Good Cheer (Raccoon Park)
Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition - Join the 6th annual Cycling Good Cheer to promote safe, fun, and active transportation in the GTA! The festive bicycle parade led by Ruby the Red Nosed Reindeer will travel along Yonge finishing at Raccoon Terrace in Biidaasige Park for a community picnic. There are four feeder rides you can join around the city as well! Kid-friendly and families welcome.

⭐️ 1PM — Holiday FUNdraiser for Palestine (The Jamii Hub)
Toronto Centre and Spadina-Fort York for Palestine - The 2nd annual Holiday FUNdraiser, packed with original artwork, ceramics, ornaments, accessories, knitwear, kids' activities, and more. Plus VR tours of historic Palestine and a zine launch. Proceeds will go to Glia Equal Care and Sisters in Solidarity.

⭐️ 6PM — Volunteer for Renter Protections (Kennedy Station)
Progress Toronto - Bill 60 has passed but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Now that it’s even easier for landlords to evict renters and even harder to find an affordable place to live, we need tenant organizing more than ever. Join a canvass to let renters know how Bill 60 impacts them and help them mobilize to protect their rights!

7PM — West End Community Action Network Fundraiser (Get Well Bar)
West End Community Action Network - Come out for a night of community, music, and fun all for a great cause! Expect amazing raffle prizes, DJ sets, free Naloxone kits and training, great drinks and food, and space to dance and connect. All proceeds go directly toward essential winter supplies for our unhoused neighbours.

Monday, December 8, 2025 🔗

12:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
Toronto Zaps For Palestine - Join with organizers from coast to coast in calling, emailing, and faxing demands to elected officials for a full two-way arms embargo to stop Canada's complicity in the genocide.

4PM — Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism (170 St George St)
U of T Institute for Environment, Conservation and Sustainability - Will green capitalism save us from the climate crisis? Clean technologies are growing sites of capitalist investment, but the supply chains that produce these technologies require significant resource extraction. This talk addresses this dilemma through the lens of lithium, which plays an essential role in decarbonizing one of the most polluting sectors: transportation.

5PM — Students for Queer Liberation Radical Drop-In (UTSU Student Commons)
Students for Queer Liberation Toronto - Open to students and non-students alike. Masks required. The drop-in is an open space for fellow anarchists, leftists, and radicals to hang out, meet like-minded folks, discuss leftist and anarchist books/zines, explore OPIRG TO's resource library, enjoy snacks with friends, and build community.

6PM — Rise Up 2: UJPO’s Big, Beautiful Winter Fundraiser (Trinity St. Paul’s United Church)
The United Jewish People’s Order - UJPO has been keeping the flame of progressive Jewish education, culture, arts and language alive for a century, while maintaining an unshakeable commitment to social justice. As more and more Jews turn away from institutions that are no longer compatible with their values, UJPO/MWS is more determined than ever to offer a vibrant, enriching home for the Jewish left, who advocate for Palestinian (and universal) human rights and dignity. Join this celebration fundraiser for an evening of entertainment, inspiring words, and community joy.

⭐️ 6PM — How to Divest Your Portfolio From Occupation (Virtual)
Palestine Impact Collective - A practical session on how to individually divest from companies complicit in genocide and occupation. This session focuses on real steps you can take with your personal banking, investments, and retirement accounts.

7:30PM — The Housing Question Reading Group (Virtual)
Toronto Centre Tenant Union - A virtual reading group to discuss the Preface and Part 1 of "The Housing Question" (1872) by Friedrich Engels. Join your neighbours with the Toronto Centre Tenant Union!

For the full up-to-date event listing, visit the Show Up Toronto website. If you find this newsletter useful, I would love for you to:

• Forward it to a friend
• Tell me if you go to an event
• Send me other organizing events in the city I may have missed

You can reach me by replying directly, or by emailing organize@showuptoronto.ca.