Hi friends and neighbours,

Happy municipal election season! May 1st marked the first day candidates can actually register to run in this fall’s municipal elections, and Matt Elliott’s candidate tracker is the best place to see who’s running in each ward. The next few months are going to sorely test my conviction that this newsletter should not endorse specific politicians - there are a few council candidates I’m super excited about and one I’m already canvassing for. (Curiously, I have no qualms warning you away from candidates, such as the one whose name rhymes with Rat Ratbird. I should probably unpack that.)

I’ve been watching the current TTC labour story with interest. CUPE Local 2 represents about 700 electricians, technicians, linespersons, and power systems controllers who work on the TTC, and they voted overwhelmingly in April to authorize a strike after the previous collective agreement expired in March. Bargaining was originally set to start in January, but the TTC refused to recognize the union’s bargaining committee until CUPE filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the labour board. The Ministry of Labour, for their part, has issued a no-board report, which means the TTC can lock out workers if no deal is reached by May 16th. Given that the deadline is two days away I’ve been surprised that there haven’t at least been station announcements warning about this.

The widespread erosion of organized labour power means that unions are in a rough spot. When they don’t go to bat fighting for their membership, they’re rightfully dismissed as being ineffective and pointless. When they do put in the work to build a strike-ready force, they’re portrayed by the bosses and the politicians as being greedy and selfish. The Air Canada flight attendants very effectively gained the public’s sympathy last fall because they were literally doing unpaid work that kept passengers safe, and the impact was very legible to the average person. But labour exploitation does not have to sink to that level of egregiousness to still be exploitation, and still merit fighting.

The TTC CEO says the union’s demands are unreasonable, and the mayor and the premier are suggesting that maybe the workers could just go back to work until FIFA is done and then figure things out after. But isn’t the point of a union to get the best deal it can for its workers, the point of labour actions to create disruptions at high-pressure chokepoints like international sporting events? What do we think leverage means? It’s quite telling that organized labour is the one type of institution that capitalists would rather didn’t behave like a business. Once you start noticing this framing, you see it everywhere.

This weekend marks Nakba Day, and there are a number of rallies, vigils, and political and cultural education events, including 24 hours of Palestinian poetry. With international attention on the the war in Iran and the attendant energy crisis, Israeli attacks on Gaza are up 35% since the Iran “ceasefire”. The genocide is still happening, and our government is still complicit in funneling arms through embargo loopholes. The least we can do is show up and protest.

Jenny

PS: If you didn’t get a chance to take the reader survey I sent out last week, it’s not too late! I always want to hear from you. For those who have already answered: thank you for taking the time, and for your thoughtful notes and ideas! You’re my favourite.

Events this week

Thursday, May 14, 2026 🔗

12PM — Crossroads of Hate: Experiences of Intersectional 2SLGBTQI Communities (Virtual)
Egale Canada - This panel will explore how Indigenous and racialized 2SLGBTQI communities experience and respond to hate—both within the justice system and through alternative, community-based approaches.

12PM — Moose Hide Rally to End Gender-Based Violence (Queen's Park)
Moose Hide Campaign - Come gather in a space where hearts are open and purpose is shared for the collective goal of ending gender-based violence in Canada. The Moose Hide Campaign Family will share their reflections on the 15-year journey of the Moose Hide Campaign.

1PM — Defending Nature from Major Projects: Getting Engaged (Virtual)
Nature Canada - Nature Canada is hosting a webinar to inform and support nature organizations and advocates working to defend nature from the adverse impacts of these proposed projects.

6PM — Woodbine Beach Cleanup (1675 Lake Shore Blvd E)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

6PM — In-Person Workshop: Know Your Rights at Work (202-720 Spadina Ave.)
Workers' Action Centre - Have you ever had a problem at your job? Join Workers' Action Centre's free and confidential workshop to learn about your rights, how to protect yourself, and how to take action if you’re having an issue at work!

6PM — Knock on Doors in Apartments (St. George Station)
Progress Toronto - Join Progress Toronto to let renters know how Bill 60 impacts them and help them tell their MPP to protect their rights as renters. Never door knocked before? Don’t worry! They will give you support, training, and pair you with an experienced volunteer.

6PM — The Art of De-escalation: Essential Skills for Conflict Resolution (Theatre Centre)
Parkdale-High Park for Palestine - A de-escalation training workshop designed to equip participants with practical techniques for managing tense situations safely and effectively. This hands-on session covers the 5 Ds of de-escalation, verbal communication strategies, non-verbal cues, and real-world scenarios to build confidence in handling conflicts across various environments.

7PM — Mayworks Festival: With Hasan in Gaza Screening (CineCycle)
Mayworks Festival - This feature documentary explores Kamal Aljafari’s two-decade old camcorder footage depicting his search through Gaza for Abdel Rahim, a man he met while imprisoned by the Israeli occupation in 1989. The documentary screening is preceded by Ibrahim Abusitta’s short video work, Operations.

Friday, May 15, 2026 🔗

12AM — Marking the Nakba with 24 Hours of Poetry (The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W)
The Theatre Centre - From early morning (00:00) May 15th to midnight May 15th (24:00), visit The Theatre Centre for 24 hours of vital Palestinian poetry of life and resistance marking Nakba Day. This event is free. Come and go as you wish.

1PM — Bluffer's Park Cleanup (Bluffer’s Park)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

1PM — LivingWorks safeTALK (Bloor and Gladstone TPL)
Toronto Public Library - A half-day workshop that prepares participants to recognize when someone might be having thoughts of suicide and how to connect them to life-saving support. Learn practical skills to help someone keep safe and guide them toward further help.

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.

5:30PM — The Palestinian Land Exercise - An Interactive Workshop (301 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Mississauga)
Streetsville 4 Palesetine - An interactive educational workshop that traces Palestinian history from the late 19th century to today. Learn about Palestinian experiences of land loss, displacement, dehumanization, and other realities of life under occupation through storytelling and collective participation.

6PM — Nakba Day Vigil (Withrow Park)
East End Acts - Since 1948 the Nakba has been ongoing. East End Acts invites you to join their annual Nakba Day Vigil at Withrow Park in collaboration with Toronto Palestinian Families. This is a family friendly event with light snacks, music and speakers.

6PM — Toronto Palestine Film Festival Nakba Commemoration (OISE)
Toronto Palestine Film Festival - A special screening of the documentary Frontiers of Dreams and Fears (2001) by Mai Masri. Keynote speaker Mouin Rabbani will examine salient themes in Israeli policy towards the Palestinian people, from the origins of the Zionist movement until the Gaza Genocide, and examine how this helps explain current regional developments.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 🔗

9:30AM — Volunteer at Etobicoke-Lakeshore's Community Environment Day (Fairfield Seniors Centre, Lothian Avenue)
TTC Riders - Come and join us to table at Councillor Amber Morley's Community Environment Day event in Etobicoke-Lakeshore We'll engage with local residents on all things public transit. Come for an hour, two or all of it, you don't have to join for the entire time.

10AM — Port Union Repair Café (5450 Lawrence Ave E)
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 — Let's Clean Up Our Wexford Neighbourhood! (2121 Lawrence Ave. E)
Scarborough Zero Waste - Scarborough Zero Waste along with Wexford Heights Business Improvement Area will be hosting its fall annual clean-up. Come out and help make your Wexford community cleaner and greener this fall! Gloves and bags and a light lunch provided, please bring your own water bottle!

12PM — Bridging the Gap: Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Webinar (Virtual)
The Digital Sexual Violence Support Centre - In support of Victims and Survivor of Crimes Week, join this hybrid conference to gather survivors, academics, legal professionals, educators, healers, and community advocates to share strategies to support adults who have experienced technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) in Canada.

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 — Possibilities in the Polycrisis: Care, Skill & Community | Pluto Toronto (Pluto: Fourth Space for Community, Co-Creating and Coworking)
Lighthouse Ontario - An opening dialogue to talk about what feels impossible- how do we hold space for the grief, fear, and nebulousness of the many global crises happening at once, and how do we find courage and agency to take action?

1PM — Talk to Transit Riders (Sheppard-Yonge Station)
Progress Toronto - 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. Never volunteered before? Don’t worry! They will give you support, training, and pair you with an experienced volunteer.

1PM — Radical Book Sale (427 Bloor St W, 2nd floor)
Resistance Press Bookroom - New & used books on war, imperialism, the climate crisis, labour, anti-racism, anti-oppression, socialism, and more.

2PM — Caribbean Community Study Circle (A Different Booklist)
Caribbean Solidarity Network - Come discuss themes related to destabilization and Caribbean people’s efforts to increase popular control over the economy, land, and politics. There will be selected readings on how Jamaica has delegitimized land claims since post-emancipation into the present — and how this directly impacts people’s efforts in Jamaica.

3PM — The Toronto Nakba Day Protest (Sankofa Square)
Palestinian Youth Movement - This year will mark 78 years since the Nakba - the continuous project of ethnic cleansing and displacement of Palestinians from our homelands. We will lead a mass demonstration to demand an end to the ongoing Nakba and to affirm that we will not stop until full liberation and return.

6PM — Frames of Sudan: Community Screening of "Heroic Bodies" (350 Victoria St)
Frames of Sudan - Film screening and panel discussion. Through storytelling and rare archival footage, the film explores deeply rooted systems of opression while celebrating the courage of the women challenging them.

8PM — Food Not Bombs Benefit Show (Handlebar, 159 Augusta)
Food Not Bombs Parkdale - Food Not Bombs Parkdale is throwing a Food not Bombs benefit show next month! All proceeds go towards funding the Food not Bombs chapters of Tsí Tkarón:to and their mutual aid efforts, and food outreach to people in the city.

Sunday, May 17, 2026 🔗

9AM — Toronto Against Bigotry: Counter Demonstration Against Zionist Conference Hosting Known Bigot Ben Shapiro (tba)
Toronto Barricade - On May 17th, Toronto will be home to a large zionist conference with keynote speaker and known racist grifter Ben Shapiro. These racist, colonizing genocide lovers must be confronted - join the counterprtest.

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 — 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.

2PM — The Radical Jewish Tradition Launch (Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St.)
International Socialists - Book launch: The Radical Jewish Tradition tells the inspiring and lesser-known story of working class Jews—together with their non-Jewish neighbours—who took on the bosses, the Czars and the fascists. Hybrid available.

Monday, May 18, 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.

9PM — DSC Orientation (Online)
Democratic Socialists of Canada - Presentation and discussion introducating the organization, followed by question & answer perion for the curious.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 🔗

3:30PM — Volunteer at Toronto-St Paul's Community Environment Day (174 Orchard View Boulevard)
TTC Riders - Join to table at Councillor Josh Matlow's Community Environment Day event in Ward 12! Engage with local residents on all things public transit. Come for an hour, two or all of it.

3:30PM — Help Heal the Environment Through Crafting (Toronto Public Library: Malvern Branch)
Toronto Public Library - In this hands-on creative workshop, you will explore the importance of pollinator insects and animals in our urban ecosystems. Participants will design a wildflower garden and bug hotel for the library.

4PM — Learn, Plant, Bike at Yorkview Public School (Yorkview Public School)
Cycle Toronto - A community event focused on planting, community and growth. As part of the StreetSmartsTO initiative, Cycle Toronto will help those who may not have access but who want to get riding. Get help with things like inflating your tires, lubricating your chain, and how to do an ABC safety check.

5PM — Lake Ontario Shore Cleanup (East Point Park Bird Sanctuary)
A Greener Future - Join Ontario Lake shoreline cleanup at East Point Park in Toronto to help protect Lake Ontario and connected waterways. This community cleanup is part of our 2026 season bringing hands-on environmental action to waterfronts across the region.

5PM — East Point Park Cleanup (East Point Park)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

7PM — The Radical Jewish Tradition Launch (Another Sort Bookshop)
Another Story Bookshop - Book launch: The Radical Jewish Tradition tells the inspiring and lesser-known story of working class Jews—together with their non-Jewish neighbours—who took on the bosses, the Czars and the fascists.

7PM — Civic Meetup – The Future of Housing Listings (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, hear from Bisola-Mariam about her startup that adds an intelligence layer between the people who need housing and the people who have it. Followed by project breakout sessions.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 🔗

10AM — Marie Curtis Park Cleanup (Marie Curtis Park)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

1PM — Port Union Park Cleanup (Port Union Park)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

2PM — Naloxone & Overdose Response Seminar (Chantecler)
Chantecler - Chantecler is hosting a Naloxone & Overdose Response Seminar for hospitality professionals. Free kits avilable with registration! The session will be hosted by an OCP pharmacist with expertise in harm reduction.

4PM — Community Office Hours (88 Nassau St.)
Kensington Market Community Land Trust - Have an idea to share with KMCLT? Looking to volunteer? Come and meet Dominique Russell, Co-Director, Community during our community office hours at their new space at 88 Nassau St.

5PM — Wednesdays 4 Palestine (Danforth and Pape)
Wednesdays 4 Palestine - Every Wednesday afternoon in East Toronto. Flags and signs are provided.

5:15PM — 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 — Scarborough Community Art Social (The Hub - Mid Scarborough)
Scarborough Environmental Association - Looking for dedicated time and space to work on your art? All skill levels are welcome to create, stay motivated, and connect with fellow creatives. Bring a project you’re already working on or start something new.

7PM — City Politics Trivia Night (Sin and Redemption)
Progress Toronto - How well do you know our city? No matter if you know every city councillor, are new to the city, or somewhere in between, join Progress Toronto’s City Politics Trivia Night and meet fellow civic-minded neighbours. No prior knowledge of City Hall required!

7PM — Raging in Diaspora (virtual)
United Jewish People's Order - This 2-session, free online workshop is designed for writers of all levels of experience who are interested in writing from an anti- or non-Zionist worldview.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 🔗

10AM — Coronation Park Cleanup (Coronation Park)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

5PM — High Park Cleanup (High Park)
A Greener Future - Volunteer with community members to help clean park as part of Love Your Lake initiative. All cleanup supplies provided.

5:30PM — Workers’ Open House (The Hub, 2660 Eglinton Ave. E)
Workers Action Centre - Do you know your rights at work? Join the Workers' Action Centre Open House to get your workers' rights questions answered and learn what you can do to protect yourself at work.

6PM — Get Help With Housing Problems: A Toronto AMA (Youngplace)
The Green Line - Everybody’s got housing questions — but almost nobody knows who’s supposed to answer them. Come for a fun interactive evening with Jeopardy-style icebreakers, practical housing resources for local Torontonians, a Q&A with reporter Yara El Murr and representatives from local housing orgs, and sharing your experience about how to navigate housing in Toronto.

6PM — Spring into Action with the Student Mobilization Committee (55 Gould St, Thomas Lounge)
Student Mobilization Committee - Connect with other student organizers to discuss some of the effetive plans and strategies within the student movements. No priori organizing experience required! Let's learn from each other.

7:30PM — Resource Movement Orientation (Virtual)
Resource Movement - Resource Movement is a community of young people in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver with wealth and/or class privilege working toward the redistribution of wealth, land, and power. This info session is a chance to get an overview of how RM works, ask questions, and explore how you might want to plug into this movement.

Down the road

Friday, May 22, 2026 🔗

1PM — Budapest Park Clean-Up (Budapest Park)
3PM — Fridays 4 Palestine (Yonge and Bloor)
6PM — Toronto Spring Meeting (720 Spadina Ave, #221)

Saturday, May 23, 2026 🔗

7PM — Mayworks Festival: Sugar Island Screening (First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto)
9:30AM — Volunteer at Toronto-Danforth's Community Environment Day (Dieppe Park)
10AM — Green Day! Repair, Recycle & Plant with Swansea Town Hall (Swansea Town Hall)
10AM — Wexford Mini Repair Café (Scarborough Citadel Child Care)
11AM — Gateway Bike Hub: Giveaway (45 Overlea Blvd)
12PM — Repair Cafe Willowdale (North York Civic Centre, Member's Lounge)
12PM — Karma Co-op’s Small Appliances & Home Electronics Repair (Karma Co-Op)
1PM — No Ontario Prison Expansion (Queen's Park)
1PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)
1:30PM — People's Assembly for Housing Justice (Roncesvalles United Church)
1:30PM — Reimagining the Future of the Former Ontario Science Centre (Metro Hall Rotunda)
2PM — Mapping Project Launch (88 Nassau St.)
2PM — Policing in Youth Spaces & Community Programming (Jane-Finch Mall Unit 7B)

Sunday, May 24, 2026 🔗

7PM — Education Under Siege: New Strategies Against Austerity (Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave)
9AM — IWW Organizing Training (Available upon registration)
9:30AM — Volunteer at Spadina-Fort York's Community Environment Day (Stanley Park, 700 Wellington St W)
10AM — Virtual Tech Worker’s Coalition Coffee (Virtual)
10AM — From Trauma to Triumph - Step by Step (Ashbridge Bay)
10:30AM — Circle time & Picnic (Christie Pits)
11AM — Gaza Square (371 Wallace Ave)
11AM — Sundays 4 Palestine (Bathurst and Sheppard)
12PM — Civic Space Sunday (1RG)

Monday, May 25, 2026 🔗

11AM — Wexford BIA & SZW Spring Community (2121 Lawrence Ave E)
12:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
5PM — Funds for Families: Philippines (DROM Taberna, 458 Queen St. W.)
6PM — Asian Heritage Month Film Screening: Tiger Spirit (180 Brodie Drive, Unit #4)

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 🔗

7PM — Groundings in Little Xaymaca (504 Oakwood Ave.)
2PM — Asian Massage Workers’ Justice and Solidarity Parade (OCAD Great Hall)
6:30PM — Mayworks Festival: Linking Arms - The Porter Screening (Paradise Theatre)

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 🔗

7PM — The Walrus Talks AccessAbility (Bram and Bluma Appel Salon)
10AM — Justice for Regis (Queen's Park)
12PM — Toronto Against CANSEC (TBA)
1:30PM — Community-Centric Fundraising in Practice (virtual)
5PM — Wednesdays 4 Palestine (Danforth and Pape)
5:15PM — Doorknocking for Palestine (Available upon RSVP)

Thursday, May 28, 2026 🔗

7PM — FilmSocial: Finally Got the News (Eyesore Cinema)
12PM — Stop Doug Ford's Hospital Privatization Train Wreck (Union Station)
1PM — Disarming Bill C-5 (online)
4:30PM — Community Office Hours (88 Nassau St.)

Friday, May 29, 2026 🔗

7PM — Mayworks Festival: Confronting the Resurgent Right Book Launch (Tranzac Club)
3PM — Fridays 4 Palestine (Yonge and Bloor)
6PM — TfD Film Club: The End of The Internet (The Revue)

Saturday, May 30, 2026 🔗

11AM — Protest Doug Ford (Queen's Park)
1PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)
3PM — Mayworks Festival: Sambizanga + L'Mina Screening (Alliance Francaise Toronto - Downtown Campus)

Sunday, May 31, 2026 🔗

7PM — Mayworks Festival: True Chronicles Screening (Alliance Francaise Toronto - Downtown Campus)
10AM — Virtual Tech Worker’s Coalition Coffee (Virtual)
11AM — Gaza Square (371 Wallace Ave)
11AM — Sundays 4 Palestine (Bathurst and Sheppard)
1PM — What is Revolutionary Socialism (Virtual)

Monday, June 1, 2026 🔗

12:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 🔗

5PM — Wednesdays 4 Palestine (Danforth and Pape)
5:15PM — Doorknocking for Palestine (Available upon RSVP)

Friday, June 5, 2026 🔗

3PM — Fridays 4 Palestine (Yonge and Bloor)

Saturday, June 6, 2026 🔗

1PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)

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.