Show Up Toronto - June 17, 2025
Hi pals,
Summer seems to have finally arrived in Toronto, and I hope you're enjoying the nice weather. I've added automated event posting to the Show Up Toronto Bluesky and Fediverse accounts, so if you follow one of those you'll now get reminders about that day's events every morning, as well as a few hours before each event starts.
The news is bleak, and every time I feel myself starting to spiral I try to go find something productive to do, no matter how small. I hope this newsletter makes it easier for you to find those things, too. If it does, please tell a friend or comrade!
Thank you for showing up,
Jenny
Take heart: There was a People's March for Housing Justice this past Saturday. If you missed it, there are some great photos on the York South-Weston Tenant Union's Instagram (sorry). I love this effort because it was a coalition of many housing groups in the city that came together to plan this action. In case you doubt stuff like this matters: the Kitchener City Council just voted to move towards establishing a renovictions bylaw despite internal opposition thanks to the work of housing advocates.
Take action: Mark Carney ran on protecting Canada from Trump and Trump-style politics, but his new border security bill is in direct lockstep with the racist and violent policies being enacted in America. Bill C-2 gives government officials greatly increased power to halt applications or cancel permits for an entire group without due process, exposing them to the risk of mass deportation. It also bans anyone who's been in Canada for more than a year from claiming refugee status even if their home country becomes dangerous after arrival, forbids anyone entering via the US from applying for refugee status, and greatly increase data sharing with law enforcement and foreign governments for both migrants and Canadian residents and citizens. It's an atrocious bill that we have to take action against. Call or write your MP and tell them you support the rights of migrants.
⭐️ = events added since the last newsletter
Events this week
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
1:30-2:30PM — Nonprofits x C4H.org: Building Cultural Power Together (Virtual)
Hosted by Social Good Collective - Join the Social Good Collective for a strategic briefing on Creators4Humanity—an emerging cultural infrastructure designed to mobilize content creators as a values-aligned force for collective change. At a time when misinformation thrives and public trust in institutions is eroding, nonprofits are being called to not just serve communities—but shape culture.
⭐️ 4:30-6PM — Fund Our Schools Phone Zap (Virtual)
Hosted by Fund Our Schools - Ahead of the final TDSB meeting on June 18, come together on an online Phone Zap to let the board know that they need to fund our schools adequately. Tell TDSB trustees that our communities will not stand for any more cuts.
6-8PM — Toronto Justice 4 Workers Organizing Meeting (720 Spadina, 2nd floor)
Hosted by Justice 4 Workers - Come hear updates from campaigns on the Decent Work Movement and help collectively strategize about next steps. We can win the fight for decent work for all!
⭐️ 6:30-8:30PM — Community Consultation for Toronto Shelters (Princess of Wales Park Tennis Court, 1 Third St)
Hosted by City of Toronto - The city of Toronto will be hosting in-person community consultations for a proposed shelter site in Etobicoke, one of six underway as part of a plan to open 20 new shelter sites by 2033. Every night, an average of 200 unhoused people are turned away from shelters due to insufficient capacity, and these new shelters are badly needed. Let the city know you support your unhoused neighbours.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
⭐️ 8-10AM — Grandmothers Against Genocide (Bay and Bloor)
Hosted by Grandmothers Against Genocide - Join a weekly peaceful vigil for Gaza. You don’t have to be a grandmother to come show your support.
⭐️ 12:15-1:15PM — Water Watchers Mid-Day Coffee Break (Virtual)
Hosted by Water Watchers - This is a difficult time to be alive and to bear witness to. In order to take the action and engage in service to support life, it's important to also take time to grieve and breathe and ground ourselves for next steps. Join Water Watchers for a mid-day coffee break to support one another in feeling all that is present.
⭐️ 1-2:30PM — Indigenous Ways of Knowing as Climate Policy (Virtual)
Hosted by Climate Institute - Day 1 of the fifth annual Indigenous Perspectives roundtable series. This talk will discuss three case studies that explore why Indigenous governance approaches and worldviews are essential to more effective climate adaptation and mitigation policies.
⭐️ 5-7PM — Does Your Landlord Suck? (Virtual)
Hosted by HOUSE Canada - Housing Our University Students Equitably (HOUSE) is running a series of summer workshops to help students navigate common housing challenges. This event will cover resolving disputes and finding solutions - learn how to take action on rent hikes, repairs, and other housing issues.
6-8PM — Assembling Change: How cities and citizens are reshaping public discourse (108 College Street 7th Floor, East Winter Garden)
Hosted by School of Cities, University of Toronto - A panel discussion on how cities and citizens can collaborate to break through polarization to make collective decisions on our most pressing urban challenges with citizens' assemblies, sortition, and technology.
⭐️ 6-8PM — Pride & Prevention: Voices from the Frontlines of HIV Work (349 Ontario St)
Hosted by The Neighbourhood Group Community Services - A community forum on building more inclusive and effective HIV prevention. HIV conversations haven’t always included everyone, especially queer folks with intersecting identities. This event is a chance to shift that. Let’s talk about how to support the whole person in HIV work. Open to 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, peer workers, service providers & people with lived experience.
7-9PM — Policing Palestine: The Process is The Punishment (Virtual)
Hosted by Legal Support Committee - Join a hybrid town hall on the tactics used to criminalize the Palestine solidarity movement in Toronto, and hear from those who have been involved in the penal process. Participants will hear from the Legal Support Committee, who have been supporting arrestees and tracking police trends, arrestees, a movement lawyer who has been working with movement activists, and arrestees themselves on the ways in which the penal system has been set up to make the process the punishment.
⭐️ 7-8PM — Renewables are Doable (Beach United Church, 140 Wineva)
Hosted by TERRE - Join Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE) for an information session about renewable energy and hear Angela Bischoff from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance speak about solar and wind renewable electricity generation options that can replace the Portlands Gas Plant on our lakefront.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
⭐️ 1-2:30PM — Indigenous Power as the Pathway to Clean Electricity (Virtual)
Hosted by Climate Institute - Day 2 of the fifth annual Indigenous Perspectives roundtable series. This panel will explore two deep dives into the necessity and potential of expanded Indigenous participation in the development, delivery, and security of clean electricity.
6:30-9PM — Life is Beautiful: A Letter to Gaza (Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex)
Hosted by If Not Now Toronto - A special screening of the documentary Life Is Beautiful: A Letter to Gaza, followed by a conversation with Gazan families organizing to bring their relatives to safety in Canada through the emergency Temporary Residence Visa program. All proceeds will go to a fund supporting Gazan family members as they arrive in Canada.
⭐️ 7-8:30PM — Kill Bill 5 Urgent Phone Zap (Hybrid)
Hosted by SURJ Toronto - Join Land Defenders from the Kill Bill 5 Encampment and organizers from SURJ Toronto via zoom or in person at the Kill Bill 5 Encampment to voice our opposition to Bill 5. Let Stephen Lecce, Edith Dumont, Doug Ford, and your local MPP know that we will resist this bill as it tramples Treaty Rights, and Sovereign Indigenous Nations’ autonomy.
Friday, June 20, 2025
1-3PM — All Out Rally for 2SLGBTQ+ Freedom (Queen’s Park South Lawn, 111 Wellesley)
Hosted by All Out Toronto - A coalition of 2SLGBTQ+ organizations in Toronto are showing up together to defend 2 Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people’s rights. Join to demand a world where lives, identities, and rights are not up for debate – or for scapegoating.
3:30-7PM — Community Gathering and Fundraiser for recently-arrived Palestinian Families (Christie Pits Park)
Hosted by Intersectional Anti-Racism Committee at the Grove - Inviting TDSB families and friends advocating for Palestine in schools to share and reflect on the past year of advocacy efforts and look to what’s ahead. Bring a dinner contribution to share and your own bowl.
6-8PM — Toronto Spring Monthly Meeting (Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor St W)
Hosted by Spring Magazine - June edition of Spring Magazine’s monthly chapter organizing meeting in Toronto. Come hear about current campaigns and actions and discuss key political issues and socialist strategies and tactics for becoming effective organizers.
⭐️ 6-8PM — Noname Book Club Toronto – Blessings (779 Bathurst St)
Hosted by A Different Booklist - Noname Book Club connects community members both inside and outside carceral facilities with radical books to build community through political education. Each month one book by a Black author is uplifted. Join A Different Booklist to discuss Blessings By Chukwuebuka Ibeh for the month of June.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
10AM-12PM — TNG Challenge Get Moving In Support of Seniors (349 Ontario St)
Hosted by The Neighbourhood Group - Join the Neighbourhood Group to fundraise for seniors to live independently, safely, and with dignity in communities across Toronto. Sign up with friends to do Tai Chi and help seniors living at various supportive housing locations and within the community.
10AM-1PM — Community Bikeways 5th Anniversary (Access Alliance Danforth, 2079 Danforth)
Hosted by Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition - Come celebrate Bike Month and Community Bikeways' 5th Anniversary! Community Bikeways is partnering with friends from Access Alliance, Scarborough Cycles, and Regenesis Cycle to bring you a fun social ride through Taylor Creek to the Evergreen Brick Works.
⭐️ 12-4PM — The Death and Life of Martha P Johnson (156 Sixth St)
Hosted by St Margaret, New Toronto - A special Pride Month screening of The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, a powerful documentary celebrating the life and legacy of a fearless LGBTQ+ activist.
1-4PM — Disability Pride March Banner Making Party (Grange Park)
Hosted by Toronto Disability Pride March - In advance of the 14th annual disability pride march in July, join a banner making party in Grange Park to prepare to take to the streets and be loud and proud about the joy and rage of disability pride.
3-5PM — Toronto Volunteer Convention (Palmerston Public Library Theatre)
Hosted by York Region Educational Services - Connect with inspiring local organizations and explore a wide range of volunteer opportunities with non-profts like
Sunday, June 22, 2025
⭐️ 11AM-1PM — Christie Pits Rally for Ontario Science Centre (Christie Pits Park, 750 Bloor St W)
Hosted by Save the Science Centre - It’s been one year since Doug Ford’s fake news that the OSC’s roof was falling. Join adovcates, community members, teachers, and students at Christie Pits to rally against the continued closure of the Ontario Science Centre.
1-4PM — Organize for a Free Palestine (Available upon registration (Toronto))
Hosted by Labour 4 Palestine - Join Labour 4 Palestine for a teach-in and panel discussion featuring local organizers from the Palestinian Youth Movement, Labour for Palestine, and Palestinian trade unionists. Together, we will unpack Canada’s entanglement with global imperialism and subsequently the occupation of Palestine.
3-5PM — Sandy Hudson Author Talk on Defund (Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St W)
Hosted by Hot Docs - Co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada Sandy Hudson discusses the writing of her book “Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety for All” and the issues it raises: the destructive effects of policing and how investment in community resources and infrastructure rather than law enforcement is key to making us safer.
⭐️ 4-6PM — Hands Off Iran (US Consulate, 360 University Ave)
_Hosted by _ - In the past week, the Israeli occupation launched air strikes in Iran. Join a coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations in Toronto in condemning any involvement by Western powers in support of Israel’s war of aggression and in continuing to call for sanctions and a two-way arms embargo.
Monday, June 23, 2025
12:30-1:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
Hosted by Toronto Zaps For Palestine - Join with organizers from coast to coast in calling, emailing, and faxing demands to newly elected officials to stop Canada's complicity in the genocide.
4-8PM — Community Care Mondays @ Dufferin Grove (Dufferin Grove Park)
Hosted by Ripple Community Collective - Join Ripple Collective every Monday for an evening of nourishment, connection, and shared stewardship. There will be food prep, a free store and community meal, and park clean up. Care for the community together!
Down the road
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
⭐️ 12-1PM — Rally for Animal Justice (Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen W)
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
⭐️ 5:30-6:30PM — Building Solidarity with Queer and Trans Prisoners (Virtual)
Thursday, June 26, 2025
4-5:30PM — Care Not Criminalization (Virtual)
Friday, June 27, 2025
5-11PM — Trans Rally & March (Church St & Charles St)
7-10PM — Health and Health Care Inequities Book Launch (Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave)
Sunday, June 29, 2025
12-1:30PM — Pan-Africanists for Palestine (Virtual)
1-6:30PM — A People’s Pride: Refusing Genocide, Policing and Fascism (McCaul & Stephanie)
⭐️ 2-5PM — Harm Reduction + Naloxone Training (640 Pape Ave)
⭐️ 6-8PM — HELP HELP HELP: The DULF Story (College Street United, 452 College)
Saturday, July 5, 2025
1-5PM — Call for Toronto Disability Pride Marshalls (TBA)
⭐️ 7-11PM — Spring Karaoke Night (Available upon registration (Toronto))
Monday, July 7, 2025
1:30-3:30PM — Unions x C4H: Building Cultural Power Together (Virtual)