Show Up Toronto - July 16, 2026
Hi friends and neighbours,
I had been planning on writing about the tragedy on St. Clair this past weekend, but it’s hard to think about anything other than the climate when the sky is the bleak sepia of garbage AI-generated clipart. The smoke and ash rendering Toronto’s air quality literally the worst in the world on Wednesday is the result of over 150 active forest fires in northern Ontario. You may have seen video taken by the crew of a CN train that is literally engulfed by walls of fire near Collins, a truly visceral depiction of the consequences of our actions.
As with everything in this accursed timeline, this story is one of interconnected harm. Many First Nations are evacuating from the area and entire communities have been destroyed, which is not just a random happenstance. An incredibly disproportionate 42% of wildfire evacuations (pdf) in Canada between 1980-2021 involve indigenous communities, because the feds and the province are too busy fighting over who’s on the hook for helping out to actually protect communities. Climate change is already hitting Indigenous nations first, who are often caught in cycles of evacuations and displacement even as the government continues to cut billions of funding for Indigenous communities and violate Indigenous sovereignty for the sake of capital projects with devastating consequences for areas already ravaged by industrial pollution.
Meanwhile, our prime minister stood on a stage and boasted of the “lasting benefits” of expanding fossil fuel production yesterday, with newly announced oil pipelines cutting directly across the parts of northern Ontario currently on fire. He’s given up on any semblance of caring about the climate, abandoning emissions targets while lecturing us that we can’t afford to care about the fact that we’re burning down the planet, which I guess is why he decimated our wildfire and flood tracking capacity last year, never mind that climate-related disasters are costing us 5-6% of GDP every year.
The Ford government, for their part, budgeted just $150m for fighting forest fires, which is a pittance compared to the $270m we actually spent last year. Despite over 150 fires raging across the province, the Ford government has not declared a state of emergency, and The Chiefs of Ontario have expressed frustration with the lack of support for nations being threatened by wildfire.
Even If you’re lucky enough to be out of the direct path of the fire, and all you have to contend with is an ashy sky amid a historic heat wave, the official advice is to stay inside, filter the air you breathe, sealing your house, and keeping cool. That’s hard to do if you’re a renter in a poorly maintained unit or have a precarious job outdoors where you have to choose between your lungs or your livelihood, harder if you’re unhoused and living outside with nowhere to go to dodge the ash, and nigh impossible if you’re a prisoner inside one of our boiling prisons with barely any access to hydration, let alone cooling or filtration.
As always, I point out the interconnectedness of all of these problems not to make you despair, but to remind you that every little bit of work you do in your little corner of the world affects everything else. Labour, housing, environment, prisoner’s rights, Indigenous sovereignty - it’s all in service of collective liberation. Your job is not to fix everything, it’s to work on one thing and keep at it and trust that others will cover their own lanes, too.
If you would like to send funds directly to Whitesand First Nation, you can send an e-transfer to donations@whitesandfirstnation.com. True North Aid is also coordinating support for wildfire evacuees. In Toronto several different groups are doing outreach to support unhoused folks who can’t escape the air that hurts to breathe - ACES in particular is looking for monetary donations right now, but Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction, WINC, and Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective are always good groups to support. Incarcerated Voters of Ontario is asking people to reach out to the ministries responsible for prisoner welfare to demand clean air protections. New Collar Collective is looking for fosters who can help expand their capacity to take in animals being evacuated from the north as well. If you're new to the disparate impact of environmental racism, next week SURJ is hosting a webinar about Grassy Narrows and 150 years of Indigenous resistance that I'd highly recommend.
Bonus: the Carney government got yelled at by a few thousand people about their plan to bypass environmental impact assessments and suspend laws protecting endangered species and now “consultations” are extended to July 22nd, so please yell at them some more.
Stay safe, and thanks for showing up.
Jenny
Events this week
Thursday, July 16, 2026 🔗
4PM — Canvass for Bill 98 (Woodside Square)
TTC Riders - Join TTC Riders to canvass for Bill 98 and talk to your fellow transit riders about how this will impact them!
5:30PM — Poetry for Palestine (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)
Centre for Media, Culture & Education - The OISE, Centre for Media Culture and Education (CMCE) and Social Justice Education Department invite you to an evening of poetry celebrating solidarity, reflection, and community with readings from the newly released collection: Unsilenced: Poems for Palestine with readings by John Portelli and guests.
6PM — Workers’ Action Centre Movie Night: Parasite (720 Spadina Ave, Suite 221)
Workers Action Centre - Join the Workers’ Action Centre for an in-person movie night featuring a screening of Parasite, with free snacks and popcorn! Stick around after the film for an engaging community discussion with neighbors and workers.
6PM — Talk to Transit Riders (Dundas West Station )
Progress Toronto - Doug Ford wants to take over the TTC — taking full control of TTC fares, routes and service. Join Progress Toronto and TTCriders to talk to transit riders across Toronto to get them to take action to keep Ford’s hands off our public transit.
7PM — Arms Embargo Now: Urgent Movement Briefing (Virtual)
Arms Embargo Now - Over the last 6 months, thousands of people took action to push our government to close the loophole that allows Canadian weapons to fuel Israel’s genocide. Join this urgent movement briefing where the next stage of the Arms Embargo Now campaign will be announced.
Friday, July 17, 2026 🔗
12PM — Oakwood-Vaughan Community Hub Repair Café (Oakwood Vaughan Community Hub)
Repair Cafe Toronto - Mini event to fix small appliances, housewares, clothing and textiles.
12:45PM — The Learning Circle - Black Food Sovereignty initiative (Daphne Cockwell Complex)
Urban Farm at TMU - The Urban Farm Learning Circles are back for another season! This month: MEDICINAL TEAS! The discussion will explore plants as Medicine in the form of teas! Sorrel, thyme, chamomile...how do they grow? What are their medicinal properties?
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.
5PM — The Theatre Centre's Community BBQ & Hangout (The Theatre Centre)
The Theatre Centre - Toronto! Join The Theatre Center and your neighbours from West Queen West for The Theatre Centre’s Community BBQ + Hangout! This outdoor event will feature FREE hot dogs and hamburgers while supplies last (vegetarian and GF options available), live music, and more!
7PM — Out of the Impasse? Debating Class Politics and Canadian Unions (502 Bathurst Street)
Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education - All are invited to join as we celebrate this new entry into the debates on Canadian socialism and working class politics! It features four pieces of striking analysis, all drawing from Rosenfeld’s decades of experience as an autoworker, educator, and socialist activist.
Saturday, July 18, 2026 🔗
9AM — Free Community Kitchen Swap (North/East corner of Withrow Park)
Withrow Park Farmer's Market - Bring your gently used kitchen stuff to Withrow Park Farmers’ Market. Don’t have anything to donate but need to refresh your kitchen? No worries, come find what you need. All are welcome! No need to donate in order to take.
10AM — Know Your Power - Youth Workers Skill Lab (55 University Ave, 15th Floor)
Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter - Join for a free full-day interactive workshop designed for youth and young workers to explore workplace rights, practical skills and community care. Through hands-on workshops, discussions, networking activities, and one-on-one conversations with youth leaders and organizers, participants will gain tools to better navigate workplaces, support one another, and strengthen connections.
12PM — Palestinian Football Exhibit (Available upon registration (downtown))
Palestinian Youth Movement - The story of football in Palestine is one rooted in identity, community, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for liberation. Drop in for an immersive exhibition exploring the Palestinian struggle through the lens of football.
1PM — SHAMS Mental Health Convention: Uncovering Stigma (Instructional Centre, 1599 Outer Cir, Mississauga, ON)
Supporting Health & Advocacy for Middle Eastern Societies - Join SHAMS for a community-centered Mental Health Convention focused on uncovering stigma, building understanding, and connecting families, students, healthcare professionals, and community members with meaningful resources and support.
1PM — Volunteer at the Beaches Jazz Festival (Woodbine Park)
Progress Toronto - Join Progress Toronto and TTCriders at the Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival! They will be talking to people at the festival about issues that matter to them and help them take action. Never volunteered before? Don’t worry! They will give you support, training, and pair you with an experienced volunteer.
1PM — Volunteer at BIG on Bloor Festival (Lansdowne Station)
Progress Toronto - Join Progress Toronto and TTCriders at the BIG on Bloor Street Festival! You will be talking to people at the festival about issues that matter to them and helping them take action.
2PM — Canada out of NATO gathering (US consulate, 361 University Avenue)
Code Pink - Join CODEPINK Ontario and many other organizations at the US Consulate to demand that Canada leave NATO and the never ending cycle of the war economy being forced upon us.
2PM — Caribbean Community Study Circle (A Different Booklist)
A Different Booklist - Explore the rich history of grassroots organizing to learn how we can build community power today. This discussion will bridge historical struggles with contemporary local movements by examining the Young Lords Party's 1970 health care liberation in the Bronx, the Black Action Defense Committee in Toronto, alongside a reading on the revolutionary legacy of Claudia Jones.
Sunday, July 19, 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. Whether you are a gig worker, data labeler, designer, software engineer, or content moderator, labour solidarity for all!
11AM — Toronto Book and Bake Sale (720 Spadina Ave, #221)
Spring Magazine - Mark your calendars for Spring’s Toronto Book and Bake Sale fundraiser! The deals will be outrageous, the ambience intoxicating and the baked goods divine. We’ll have used, rare and out-of-print heat from the history of the socialist tradition and beyond. Be there and eat a lemon square!
11AM — Gaza Square (371 Wallace)
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!
12PM — Civic Space Sunday (1RG)
1RG - 1RG is opening their space to folks working on projects addressing civic challenges with technology. Whether you're already involve in an existing project, or you're looking at finding one to contribute to, join them for an afternoon of building.
12PM — Creative Reuse Toronto Storefront Drop-in Repair Events (68 Abell St, Toronto)
Repair Cafe Toronto - Bring broken items to Creative Reuse Toronto's storefront location. There will be collaborative fixing of small appliances, home electronics, clothing, jewellery and small furniture.
1PM — Volunteer at BIG on Bloor Festival (Lansdowne Station)
Progress Toronto - Join Progress Toronto and TTCriders at the BIG on Bloor Street Festival! You will be talking to people at the festival about issues that matter to them and helping them take action.
2PM — Age of monsters, age of slayers: the late stage of Capitalism (427 Bloor St. West)
International Socialists - International Socialists' Revolutionary Study Series. Suggested readings: Bukharin, Imperialism and World Economy; Lenin, Imperialism the Highest Stage of Capitalism; Fighting oppression: the Comintern and the US Communist Party; and Imperialism today
6PM — A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde (Paradise on Bloor)
Black Gold - The Toronto premiere of a new 4k restoration of A Litany for Survival, which follows iconic poet and activist Audre Lorde from her childhood in Harlem through her fourteen-year battle with breast cancer. A rich portrait of one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers and one of Black feminism’s most essential voices.
Monday, July 20, 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.
5PM — Leafleting to Support Education Workers (Bloor and Dufferin)
Spring Magazine - Since 2018, the Ontario government has cut public education funding by over $6 billion. Teachers and education workers are heading into collective bargaining, and they're fighting for better funding and better learning conditions for students across the province. Join a leafleting session to spread the word: supporting public education means supporting the workers!
6PM — Voices Can’t Be Bombed Fundraiser Event (The Beacon Room)
Voices Can’t Be Bombed - Join the next Voices Can’t Be Bombed fundraiser event, a Palestine poetry fundraiser event where many Toronto writers will read the words of Mahmoud Ramadan. All proceeds will go directly to Mahmoud.
6:30PM — NO JETS TO! Film screening of 'The City Island' (Friends House)
ClimateFast - Toronto Climate Film Festival presents Elizabeth Littlejohn's film on Toronto Island's history & community struggle. How can we prevent jet son our waterfront? Stay after the film to meet the filmmaker and hear from community speakers about what you can do about the proposal to expand the airport.
7PM — Crip Time & Fractured Realities (Virtual)
Hanan Hazime - In this 1.5-hour-long virtual workshop, Mad/Neurodivergent Lebanese-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, creative writer, community arts educator, and creative writing instructor Hanan Hazime moves participants through the rich history of non-linear storytelling. All funds raised will be redistributed to Ahmad, a 25-year-old Afro-Palestinian.
8PM — Social Production of Science Reading Group - Artificial Intelligence Pt 1 (Virtual)
Science for the People - How is AI affecting the working conditions of researchers, tech workers, and scientists? How can these groups promote solidarity with workers in other industries? And how can we all confront job deskilling and support workplace organizing around AI-related issues?
9PM — DSC Orientation (Online)
Democratic Socialists of Canada - In this one-hour session, you will listen to a brief presentation outlining the DSC's mission, structure, and activities, and learn how to get involved in your local Chapter. Following the presentation, there will be a discussion period and the organizers will answer any questions you may have.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 🔗
12PM — Indigenous Youth Rise: Youth Leadership, Political Engagement, and Change (virtual)
Finding Our Power Together - Join Finding Our Power Together for a Lunch & Learn sharing findings from the Indigenous Youth Rising study, a participatory action research project led by Dr. Leah Levac and Dr. Nicole Ineese-Nash. This webinar explores how Indigenous youth understand leadership, contribute to their communities, engage politically, and imagine systems change.
6:15PM — Organize the Lab: A Discussion By And For Science Reseach Workers (TBD)
Science for the People - Join the Toronto chapter of Science for the People for a discussion by and for science research workers, as we discuss the systemic conditions that impact research workers, consider the ways our work as labour are mystified, and explore how other research workers like us are organizing for labour rights.
7PM — Civic Meetup #552: Want to flag to TTC where to improve service? Here's the data to support it (Address available to attendees)
Civic Tech Toronto - TransitBunny RT turns GTFS-realtime data into an interactive view of how transit service is actually operating throughout the day. The presentation will discuss how GTFS-realtime can be used to identify bottlenecks and irregularity in transit performance.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 🔗
8:30AM — Tell Julie Dabrusin: Save Our Waterfront (1028 Queen St E)
No Jets TO - Rally outside the office of Environmental Minister Julie Dabrusin to make it loud and clear that Toronto does not want jets polluting the city. We deserve better than smoke filled days!
12PM — Understanding & Countering Misinformation, Disinformation, & Malinformation (Virtual)
Egale Canada - Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) are increasingly shaping online spaces and public discourse. This webinar offers a practical introduction to MDM—what it is, how it spreads, why it matters, and how it impacts 2SLGBTQI communities in particular. The session will also provide practical tools to help you respond effectively.
1PM — Pleasure and overdose response: how people wake up matters (Virtual)
Drug Lab - In this webinar, Dr. Geoff Bardwell will share findings from interviews with people who use opioids in Kitchener and Galt, Ontario, who spoke about getting high, overdosing, and “coming to” afterward. Geoff and community partners will discuss how context shapes people’s experiences of getting high, overdosing, and being revived.
1:30PM — Transforming Cultural Equity in Canadian Arts: Virtual Launch & Panel Discussion (Virtual)
Canada Council for the Arts - Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), in partnership with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing at Toronto Metropolitan University, invite you to an Imagine Talk conversation on cultural equity and systems change in the arts.
2PM — Queerborough Zine Workshop with Wasifa Noshin (Scarborough Museum)
Queer Scarborough - Zine-making workshop exploring how queerness is lived and remembered outside of downtown cores and institutional archives. This workshop embraces fragmentation and mess not as failures of documentation. Although not required, participants encouraged to bring scrap-booking materials (perhaps, a donation box of old books and magazines).
7PM — How to Save a Corner Store: A Neighborhood Retail Story (Society Clubhouse)
More Neighbours Toronto - Hear the story of how Toronto photographer and urbanist Dan Seljak set out to help a beloved neighbourhood corner store regain their license, and helped legalize neighbourhood retail across much of the city.
Thursday, July 23, 2026 🔗
5PM — Canvass for Bill 98 (Islington Subway Station)
TTC Riders - Come and join them for a canvass for Bill 98 at Islington Subway station!
5:30PM — Make Calls to Stop Ford’s TTC Takeover (Virtual)
Progress Toronto - Doug Ford wants to take over the TTC — taking control over TTC fares, routes, and service. Join Progress Toronto and TTCriders to call people across Toronto and help them take action to keep Ford’s hands off our public transit.
6PM — Empowering Muslim Women: Navigating Gender Based Islamophobia at Work (Centre for Social Innovation)
Muslim Legal Support Centre - Join the MLSC to a workshop on Navigating Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Islamophobia in the Workplace. This will be an evening of meaningful conversation, community connection, and practical resources.
6PM — CivicTechBrampton: Nuclear Energy Renaissance and North American Young Generation in Nuclear (8 Queen St. E., Brampton, ON)
CivicTechBrampton - Can Ontario’s energy needs be met by low carbon energy sources? Can Nuclear Energy be a safe and reliable source of energy? Can technology be deployed to manage nuclear facilities? The answer is yes! Inviting all technologists, students, and citizens interested in organizations serving immigrants, and CivicTech related projects.
6PM — Newcomer Youth Civic Engagement Forum (Toronto City Hall)
Newcomer Youth Civic Engagement Forum - This event invites newcomer youth living in Toronto to Toronto City Hall—the place where key decisions regarding housing, public health, economic development, infrastructure and environment, and many more, are made — to learn about how local government works, why civic engagement is important, and how to get involved and get your voice heard.
6:30PM — Not Dead Yet, Shout! (Parkdale Hall)
PARC Toronto - Punks for PARC takes over Parkdale Hall for a fundraising show. Every ticket supports affordable housing with on-site services that keep people housed and connected.
6:30PM — Surveillance 101 (427 Bloor Street W)
Toronto Resisting Surveillance Systems - Join Toronto Resisting Surveillance Systems to learn about surveillance tech being used across the city and the implications for our day-to-day lives.
7PM — Launch of Mildred C. Poplar's Why Our Lands are Not For Sale (Another Story Bookshop)
Another Story Bookshop - Toronto launch of Mildred C. Poplar's Why Our Lands Are Not for Sale: The Inside Story of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs! With Emma Feltes. The event will consist of a short reading, a Q&A, and a book signing.
7PM — Grassy Narrows and Indigenous Rights: 150 Years of Resistance (Virtual)
Showing Up for Racial Justice Toronto - With Chrissy Isaacs and youth from Grassy Narrows First Nation. Grassy Narrows has been suffering from mercury poisoning from water pollution since the 1960s. They've also been a beacon of resistance, maintaining the longest-running blockade in Canadian history, and fostering Indigenous resistance across Turtle Island. Come meet the generations at the frontline of these fights.
Down the road
Friday, July 24, 2026 🔗
10AM — 50 Years of Impact: The Urban Alliance on Race Relations Racial Justice Sum (55 John Street)
12PM — No More Deaths! Emergency Rally (400 University Ave)
6PM — Toronto Spring meeting (720 Spadina Ave, #221)
6PM — Harm Reduction Happy Hour (Christie Pits Park)
Saturday, July 25, 2026 🔗
8PM — Summer Mask4Mask Fundraiser Dance (Society Clubhouse, 967 College St.)
8:45AM — Kidical Mass TO (Evergreen Brick Works)
9:45AM — Trash Trap Dive (Marina Quay West)
11AM — Black History, Past and Present in Kensington Market (88 Nassau St)
12PM — Latinx Community BBQ (Christie Pits Park)
1PM — Fight Ford Protest (Queen's Park)
1PM — Ontario: Repeal Bill 5; Fight for your future! (Ontario Legislature)
5PM — The Good Fight - Remembering the Spanish Civil War (TBA)
Sunday, July 26, 2026 🔗
10:30AM — Save Our Waterfront Rally and March! (Harbour Square Park)
2PM — TTCriders Book Club: Better Buses, Better Cities (Christie Pits Park)
Monday, July 27, 2026 🔗
3PM — Safe Cycling Workshop (3079 Danforth Ave)
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 🔗
7PM — Jackson Rising Series Part 2 (504 Okawood Ave)
5PM — East End Vigil (Main St & Danforth Ave)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 🔗
7PM — How Spending Time in Nature Builds Resilience and Climate Action (Virtual)
4PM — Arts on My Mind community exhibit and musical performances (Goldfarb Gallery Pavillion, 83A York Blvd)
Thursday, July 30, 2026 🔗
7PM — Jews for Grassy Narrows (Virtual)
10AM — Introduction to Campaign Organizing Training Session (Virtual)
Friday, July 31, 2026 🔗
6:45PM — FilmSocial Presents: I AM CUBA (College Street United Church)
Saturday, August 1, 2026 🔗
10PM — Toronto Against Apartheid II (1650 Dupont St)
Monday, August 3, 2026 🔗
6PM — TWC Bookclub: Imagination A Manifesto Part 1 (Fred Hamilton Park and Playground)
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 🔗
6:30PM — TCTU Reading Group: Reform or Revolution (Virtual)