Hi friends and neighbours,

This past weekend there was a so-called "Canada First" rally at Nathan Philips Square promoted by a group of ideologues parroting the same anti-immigration talking points you hear down south. They were thankfully met by a much bigger group of counter-protestors, but right on cue the Toronto Police showed up to protect their friends by attacking counter-protestors with bikes. After clearing the street of counter-protestors, they helpfully provided an escort for the anti-immigrant rally down Dundas street and stood with them at Sankofa square. Eleven counter-protestors were initially reported as having been arrested, a number later revised down to eight for unclear but probably not positive reasons.

If you've been following the news about things down south you know things are Bad™. I know this is a sentence I could have said at any point in the last year, or realistically anytime in the last decade. The coldblooded murder of Renee Good was not the first murder ICE has committed, and the brazenness of an administration bent on smearing her in death and the cowardice of a defanged media ecosystem more interested in transcribing lies than in uncovering the truth is following a familiar playbook first perfected on Black and Brown communities, but the powder keg has nevertheless been lit. Friends in Minnesota say the question of civil war feels less than theoretical at this point; for them, the war has already started, military occupation and invasion against its own citizenry is already here.

I want to draw a straight line from the anti-immigration rhetoric we hear up here to the kind of brutal crackdown that is now being unleashed on progressive American cities. Our federal government is massively increasing funding for border security, to fulfill a promise made at the start of 2025 to boost deportations by 25% in 2025. They plan to implement Bill C-12, which blocks refugee hearings and gives ministers the power to cancel immigration status en masse, and are rushing through Bill C-9, which gives police expanded power to suppress freedom of speech while removing attorney general oversight. Meanwhile, the UN has compared our Temporary Foreign Workers program to slavery - corporations reap the profits, and the workers are discarded and scapegoated as being the cause of all our problems when they've been deemed disposable.

Canada is not the United States, for good reason, but the logic of authoritarianism always rhymes. Increases in policing, militarization, surveillance, and repression of speech while at the same time a marginalized group is scapegoated as the hated Other - we are not immune to any of the forces that have led to American fascism. Every day, every hour, ordinary people in America are showing up with incredible courage to defend their neighbours at great personal risk. If we can honour their bravery in any way, it would be by making sure we don't allow the same hatred to dig its roots even deeper in our own country.

Thank you for showing up.

Jenny

Events this week

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 🔗

10AM — Indigenous Perspectives on the Global Critical Minerals Rush (Virtual)
MiningWatch Canada and Above Ground - Five Indigenous speakers from around the world discuss global, regional and local fights for justice related to the global push for critical minerals extraction. Panelists will discuss specific harms and rights violations they are facing, what a “just” energy transition might look like, and what civil society groups working on related issues should know.

5PM — East End Acts Monthly Vigil (Main and Danforth)
East End Acts for Palestine - East End Acts meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month to remember the thousands of men, women, and children murdered by the zionist state.

6PM — Social Media for Grassroots Advocacy (Virtual)
Water Watchers - This training will demystify the social media advocacy landscape and explore specific techniques to boost your groups' movement-building skills through the strategic use of social media tools & practices.

6PM — StreetKnit Project Meeting (103 Bellevue Ave)
The StreetKnit Project - StreetKnit is a group of volunteers that makes, collects, and distributes hand-knitted items to the homeless. Bring your donations directly to a meeting, and join other volunteers in turning yarn into community.

6:30PM — Harm Reduction Advocacy Open Meeting (College St United Church)
Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective Toronto - A working meeting open to all, including newcomers to HAC! Work will focus on developing a financial working committee, working on mission vision and values statement, and the political education/teach-in organizing committee to advance harm reduction.

7PM — Civic Meetup - Open Data Infrastructure for the Performing Arts (Hybrid)
Civic Tech Toronto - Civic Tech Toronto's weekly meetups bring together Torontonians who want to improve the city through design, tech, and data. This week, Frédéric Julien will discuss the Artsdata knowledge graph to standardize live performance information. Followed by project breakout sessions.

7PM — Parkdale-High Park Heat Pump Party (Available upon registration)
Parkdale-High Park 4 Climate Action - Join a lively conversation to connect with neighbours, experienced homeowners and energy advisors while discovering more about energy saving Home Retrofits and Heat Pumps to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint!

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 🔗

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 — Technologists for Democracy Monthly Volunteer Meeting (Virtual)
Technologists for Democracy - Want to shape technology for public good? Come to the monthly TfD volunteer meeting to learn more and get involved! Current campaigns include tech policy, data centre research, retail surveillance, and more.

7PM — Deputation 101 (Virtual)
Social Planning Toronto - This workshop will explore how you can make your voice heard at Budget Committee Public Presentation meetings. Walk through the deputation process step by step and learn how to deliver clear key messages and concrete budget requests.

7PM — 2026 City Budget Telephone Town Hall (Virtual)
City of Toronto - You’re invited to join Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Committee Chair Shelley Carroll at a telephone town hall to learn more about the 2026 budget, ask questions and share your feedback.

7PM — They Were Promised the Sea Screening (1RG)
1RG - They Were Promised the Sea (2013) is a documentary that journeys through Morocco, Israel, Palestine, and New York to explore Arab-Jewish identity, memory, and political separation. Followed by a discussion with film-maker Kathy Wazana.

7:30PM — NINE HOURS NOW! The Battle for a Shorter Working Day, 1872 (25 Cecil St)
Toronto Workers' Theatre Group - A play about the 1872 struggle of Toronto workers to shorten the working day from ten or twelve to nine, in the face of fierce opposition

Thursday, January 15, 2026 🔗

2PM — Resource Nation: Public Engagement in the Fast-Tracking Age (Virtual)
Canadian Environmental Network - The federal government, along with some provinces, are rewriting the rules to fast-track projects deemed to be in the national interest, eliminating the need for public participation in major project decisions. What do these changes mean for the public’s ability to have a say in decisions that affect them?

3PM — Citizen’s Climate Lobby Canada Webinar: Five Times Faster (Virtual)
Citizen’s Climate Lobby Canada - Author and climate activist Simon Sharpe argues that climate action must move beyond global carbon pricing and net-zero targets by using sector-specific regulations, targeted public investments, and multilateral agreements to achieve rapid structural change.

6PM — BLAC Out Hate (Virtual)
Blac Legal Action Centre - This webinar helps parents understand how youth experience anti-Black hate online through social media, video-gaming platforms and in schools, how hate groups use online platforms to recruit youth, how to address it effectively.

7PM — 2026 City Budget Telephone Town Hall (Virtual)
City of Toronto - You’re invited to join Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Committee Chair Shelley Carroll at a telephone town hall to learn more about the 2026 budget, ask questions and share your feedback.

7:30PM — NINE HOURS NOW! The Battle for a Shorter Working Day, 1872 (25 Cecil St)
Toronto Workers' Theatre Group - A play about the 1872 struggle of Toronto workers to shorten the working day from ten or twelve to nine, in the face of fierce opposition

Friday, January 16, 2026 🔗

10AM — Housing Advocacy Workshop (Virtual)
Social Planning Toronto - This workshop will support you in understanding key municipal housing and tenant programs, policies, and advocacy initiatives. Explore how the 2026 City budget may affect tenant rights, access to affordable and secure housing, and broader community well-being, and how to get involved.

12PM — Oakwood Vaughan Repair Cafe (Oakwood Vaughan Community Hub)
Repair Cafe Toronto - Come learn how to fix your broken household items for free! One item per person. Volunteer fixers will help with clothing/textiles, small appliances, home electronics, general housewares, and toys!

1PM — Getting Shift Done: Applied Psychology for Environmental Impact (Virtual)
U of T School of the Environment - How can we get people to care about climate change? The answer - don't bother. Get them to act based on what they already care about. Dive into why people act sustainably, how we can encourage sustainable action using behavioral science.

2PM — 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.

7:30PM — NINE HOURS NOW! The Battle for a Shorter Working Day, 1872 (25 Cecil St)
Toronto Workers' Theatre Group - A play about the 1872 struggle of Toronto workers to shorten the working day from ten or twelve to nine, in the face of fierce opposition

Saturday, January 17, 2026 🔗

9:30AM — Scarborough Winter Duck Watching (Bluffers Park)
Scarborough Environmental Association - Bundle up and come join winter duck watching session! Whether you're a birding enthusiast or just love a peaceful nature escape, this event is the perfect way to embrace the season with your community.

10AM — Port Union Repair Cafe (Port Union Community Rec Centre)
Repair Cafe Toronto - Come learn how to fix your broken household items for free! One item per person. Volunteer fixers will help with clothing/textiles, small appliances, home electronics, general housewares, and toys!

11AM — Scarborough Winter Duck Watching (Bluffers Park)
Scarborough Environmental Association - Bundle up and come join winter duck watching session! Whether you're a birding enthusiast or just love a peaceful nature escape, this event is the perfect way to embrace the season with 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 — No War on Venezuela Art Build (473 Oakwood Ave)
Venezuela Solidarity Coalition - Join the art build to help make posters and banners in preparation for the January 24 action against war on Venezuela.

1:30PM — Advocate for Climate Action in the City Budget (192 Spadina Ave)
Toronto Climate Action Network - This event will prepare you to advocate for climate action at the Budget Committee hearings. Your voice matters. When residents show up, councillors listen.

7PM — Sudan, Remember Us Screening (Redwood Theatre)
East End Acts for Palestine - Sudan is facing immense violence and displacement—and silence is not an option. A screening of Sudan, Remember Us, followed by a conversation with guest speaker Rania El Mugammar. Please bring non-perishable food or personal care item for Community Fridges Toronto!

Sunday, January 18, 2026 🔗

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.

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!

12PM — Creative Reuse Toronto Drop-In Repair (Creative Reuse Toronto)
Repair Cafe Toronto - Bring your broken items to Creative Reuse Toronto's storefront location. Fixing small appliances, home electronics, clothing, jewellery and small furniture. Come early and beat the rush!

1PM — On Labour Zionism Part 1 (Virtual)
Labour for Palestine Canada - Part 1 of a 3-part online speaker series: ln labour Zionism and the struggle for Palestine in the labour movement, past and present. Featuring Jeff Schuhrke, author of No Neutrals There.

2PM — Revolutionary study series: Capitalism and economic crisis (427 Bloor St W)
International Socialists - Can Marxism Show Us How to Save the World is a revolutionary reading group and study series. The topc for this session will be capitalism and the economic crisis.

2PM — Defending Against the Bosses Legal Threats (Hybrid (Brampton))
Justice for Truck Drivers - Bosses often try to shut down pickets, protests, and organizing with legal threats like defamation suits, peace bonds, or criminal charges. This workshop explores how workers and their lawyers push back; using tools like truth defenses, anti-SLAPP motions, and reprisal complaints. All welcome!

Monday, January 19, 2026 🔗

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.

2PM — Budget Town Hall 2026 (Virtual)
Social Planning Toronto - Come hear Social Planning Toronto’s analysis of Toronto’s 2026 City Budget, based on decades of experience translating complex budget documents from a social and economic justice lens for community organizations, groups, and residents so they can more effectively shape the City Budget.

6:45PM — TWC Canada Book Club: Recoding Power (Bahen Centre for Information Technology)
Tech Worker's Coalition Canada - Join TWC Canada in reading Chapters 1 and 2 of Recoding Power - Tactics for Mobilizing Tech Workers by Sidney A. Rothstein. This book addresses how mobilization and organization from tech workers can force changes in companies and push for positive uses of technology.

Down the road

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 🔗

7PM — Civic Meetup - Mining public datasets (Hybrid)
1PM — The Retirement Security Crisis Webinar (Virtual)
5:45PM — Doorknocking for Palestine (Available upon RSVP)
6PM — Community Art Social (2660 Eglinton Ave E)
6PM — Eviction Prevention Workshop (185 Fifth St)
6:30PM — Cancelling Billionaires Before They Cancel Us Book Launch (Tranzac Club)
6:30PM — Major Transit Station Areas Zoning Town Hall (Hybrid)

Thursday, January 22, 2026 🔗

7PM — Making Room: Ending Homelessness (It’s Ok* Studios)

Friday, January 23, 2026 🔗

7PM — Toronto Association for Peace and Solidarity AGM (TBA)
7PM — Queers 4 Palestine Film Screening and Conversation (401 Richmond St W #452)
7PM — Collaborative Farm Governance Webinar (Virtual)
2PM — Fridays 4 Palestine (Yonge and Bloor)
6PM — Toronto Spring meeting: Socialism from Below (720 Spadina Ave, #221)
6:30PM — Earth’s Greatest Enemy Premiere (1006c Bloor St W)

Saturday, January 24, 2026 🔗

7PM — Cybernetic Circulation Complex Book Launch (502 Bathurst ST)
10AM — Wexford Repair Cafe and Remarket (Scarborough Citadel Child Care)
1PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)
1PM — East End Mini Repair Cafe (310 Danforth Ave)

Sunday, January 25, 2026 🔗

10AM — Virtual Tech Worker’s Coalition Coffee (Virtual)
11AM — Gaza Square (371 Wallace Ave)
12PM — Civic Space Sunday (1RG)

Monday, January 26, 2026 🔗

12:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
6PM — Disability 101 with Shay Erlich (Virtual)

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 🔗

3PM — Wires of Coloniality: A Century of Telephone in Palestine (19 Ursula Franklin St, AP246)
6PM — Major Transit Station Areas Zoning Town Hall – East York (777 Bloor St W)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 🔗

7PM — Pan-Canadian Worker’s Organizing Meeting (Virtual)
7PM — Fear of a Black Nation Book Club (504 Oakwood Ave)
7:30PM — Re-imaging Climate Education for a Living Future (Virtual)

Thursday, January 29, 2026 🔗

6PM — Fabric and Craft Supplies Swap Fundraiser (163 Stirling Rd Unit 167)
6PM — Major Transit Station Areas Zoning Town Hall – Etobicoke York (86 Montgomery Rd)
6:30PM — Higher Education Organizing Meeting (College Street United Church)

Friday, January 30, 2026 🔗

5:30PM — Jam3itna Arab Social Gathering (Downtown Toronto)

Saturday, January 31, 2026 🔗

7PM — Community Fridges Zine Workshop (Mischief Makers)
2PM — Construction Workers’ Industrial Organisation Congress (Virtual)
2PM — Noname Book Club Toronto – Nervous Conditions (24 Cecil St)
2PM — Blooming In Community (TBA)

Sunday, February 1, 2026 🔗

7PM — The Day Iceland Stood Still (Friends House)
12PM — Brigid’s Bazaar for Palestine (It’s OK* Studios)
3PM — Harm Reduction Book Club: Care Work (College St United Church)
6PM — The Revolution of 1936-1939 In Palestine Reading Group Part 1 (Available upon registration)

Monday, February 2, 2026 🔗

7PM — Queer Self-Defense (Tallulah’s Cabaret)

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.