Show Up Toronto - September 16, 2025
Hi friends and neighbours,
Great job chasing racists out of Christie Pits this past Saturday. Wanna do it again? This upcoming Saturday (Sept 20th) is Draw The Line, a series of mobilizations across Canada to demand that the Canadian government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction, or a just and safe future for all of us. We can't keep cutting public services while billionaires profit.
Hundreds of groups across Canada have signed on to endorse this, including dozens in Toronto, who will all be converging on Yonge Dundas Square at 2pm. Will I see you there?
Showing up is a muscle like any other, so thanks for getting your reps in.
Jenny
Take action: More than 10,000 full-time college support staff are on strike as of last Thursday after months of bargaining with the College Employer Council. Support staff work across the college system to support students in roles like disability services, IT, facilities and trade, student success coordination, employment support, IT and food services, and so on. Over 10,000 faculty and staff have been laid off in the past year and over 650 programs have been cut, and this round of bargaining includes demands for an increase in provincial funding, AI protections, and a moratorium on campus closures to protect students. It may not be obvious from the outside, but going on strike is really rough for workers - you lose a significant portion if not all of your income, you're fighting an enemy with significantly more institutional power than you in a media environment that is often deeply hostile to labour, you're standing on a picket line all day and potentially getting into confrontations, and the uncertainty grows every day. Find a picket line this week and go show these college workers some love and support.
⭐️ = events updated since the last newsletter
Events this week
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 🔗
12-1PM — Coalition for Better Childcare Network Session (Virtual)
Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare - The second edition of the Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare and Association for Early Childhood Educators Ontario’s Roadmap will be released in September. Join the co-authors for a discussion on evaluating Ontario’s progress, setting a path forward and how we can work together to make this shared vision a reality for Ontario children, families, and educators.
⭐️ 12-1PM — Fighting an Eviction Workshop (Virtual)
Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations - Are you facing an eviction in the GTA? Do you want to learn about your rights? This free interactive workshop explains how evictions do and don't work, the steps in the eviction process, how to prepare for an eviction hearing, and lots more.
1-2PM — Ontario Day of Action - Double ODSP/OW! (111 Wellesley)
Ontario Acorn - Join ACORN members for the Ontario Day of Action on Tuesday, September 16th to demand that the Ford government raise social assistance rates and end legislated poverty. The current rates leave people hungry and unable to afford even the basics. Come stand with people with disabilities and low-income Ontarians to demand dignity and justice!
⭐️ 5:30-7PM — Artist Rights (Virtual)
JAYU - A workshop with CARFAC Ontario, the association of visual and media artists in Ontario, on understanding your rights as an artist and how you can advocate for yourself and your peers. This workshop will discuss professional industry standard practices including fair pay, contract and copyright basics, and tools for negotiation. You'll leave the session with practical resources to support you in your artistic journey.
6-8PM — Know Your Rights at Work: Scarborough Workshop (The Hub 2660 Eglinton Ave E)
Workers’ Action Centre - Do you know and understand your rights at work? Are you being paid properly at work? Are you being treated unfairly at work? Join WAC for a free and confidential in-person workshop to learn about your rights and how to protect them.
7-8:30PM — Solidarity Circles: From Turtle Island to Palestine (Regent Park area)
Asian Queer Alliance - With the recent bubble zoning laws restricting protests and a new report exposing how Canada continues to send arms to Israel, it is more urgent than ever to show solidarity, start conversations, and get involved. This gathering is a space for reflection, care, and collective responsibility across liberation struggles. Come if you’ve been curious to learn more, be in community to grieve or simply process sometimes difficult conversations and take collective action.
7-9PM — Civic Hacknight - Social Media Research for Social Good (Hybrid)
Civic Tech Toronto - Civic Tech Toronto's weekly hacknights bring together Torontonians who want to improve the city through design, tech, and data. tech, and data. This week, come hear from Alex MacIsaac from the Samara Centre for Democracy on the state of social media listening research in a Canadian context and insights from the 2025 federal election.
⭐️ 7-9PM — Billionaires VS All of Us (Virtual)
The Council of Canadians - Canada's corporate elite have been busy this summer designing an all-out assault on workers, First Nations, migrants and the environment—and Mark Carney’s Liberals are getting ready to carry it out. This webinar, featuring anti-poverty organizer John Clarke, peace activist Rachel Small, professor and researcher Shiri Pasternak and labour organizer Mostafa Henaway, will look at how Carney is fast-tracking a billionaires-first agenda that will only make the rich even richer – and how all of us can fight back.
⭐️ 7:30-9:30PM — Ontario's Energy Crossroad (Virtual)
TERRE - Ontario’s energy needs are growing. Premier Ford wants to tie us into an expensive, environmentally damaging and very long term nuclear/fossil fuel future. Join Cinema Politica/TERRE (Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy) in a webinar to explore how wind, solar and hydro can meet our future energy needs instead at this critical juncture.
⭐️ 7:30-9:30PM — Off the Hill: Parliament's back in Session (Virtual)
Rabble.ca - Parliament is back in session, the NDP searches for a new leader and labour leads the fight for economic justice in uncertain times. Join Rabble.ca for a panel breaking down the future of labour in Canada, featuring Ontario Federation of Labour president Laura Walton, former Ontario NDP MPP Joel Harden, researcher and activist Chuka Ejeckam and Rabble’s parliamentary reporter Karl Nerenberg.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-2PM — Gazan Canadians Toronto Sit-In (5343 Dundas St W)
Gazan Canadians - Join The Gazan Canadians League for a sit-in in front of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada offices to amplify their demand that the Canadian government evacuate their family members from Gaza immediately. Stand together to demand family reunification and justice for Canadian families.
1-3PM — Annual Truth and Reconciliation in the Healing Garden (3101 Lakeshore Blvd W)
The Gatehouse - Each year, The Gatehouse hosts its Annual Truth and Reconciliation Event in the serene and sacred space of the Healing Garden. This meaningful gathering brings together Indigenous Peoples, community members, survivors, and allies in a spirit of remembrance, reflection, and unity. Led by Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, this event will honour the truths of Canada’s colonial past, the lasting impacts of residential schools, and the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities through storytelling, cultural teachings, and ceremony.
⭐️ 7:30-9PM — Arms Embargo Now Movement Briefing (Virtual)
Arms Embargo Now - Parliament is resuming on September 15. With a new Parliament comes new opportunities to expose Canada’s complicity in genocide, grow the movement and force the government to act. This fall, come together to close the loopholes that Canada is using to arm Israel. Join this briefing for everyone to share Arms Embargo Now campaign updates and plan next steps as thousands of people coming together across the country to win an embargo on Israel.
Thursday, September 18, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-1PM — Indigenous Issues in Rental Housing (Virtual)
Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations - This workshop explains Canada’s colonial past and it’s impact on present day tenant rights, how tenant organizers can act in solidarity with Indigenous struggles, how Indigenous Principles for conflict resolution can support tenant organizing, and lots more.
5-7PM — Guerilla Gardening (348 Danforth Ave)
Carrot Common - Join Carrot Common on the green roof to discuss all things guerila gardening! Attendees will make native plant seed balls, talk about the importance of native pollinators, explore how to access garden space for folks without yards, and discuss the ways that urban growing can be a radical act. Email carrotgreenroof@carrotcommon.com to register!
6-8PM — Worker’s Justice: A community-Based Course on Rights and Action (Available Upon Registration)
Jane Finch Education Action Group - This is the start of a free 8-week in-person course on worker’s rights and the labour movement organized by the Jane Finch Education Action Group, Jane/Finch Centre and the Global Labour Research Centre at York University for those who live or work in the Jane-Finch/Rexdale/Northwest Toronto communities. Dinner, TTC fare and childcare will be provided.
⭐️ 6-8:30PM — Uptown Climate Futures: Session 4 (5210 Yonge St)
Uptown Climate Conversations - Part 4 of a low-cost conversational workshop series designed to convene community, create a cohort feel, and amplify the voices of people in Uptown Toronto with a focus on BIPOC youth ages 15-30. This session will involve a tabletop mapping game focused on different North York neighbourhoods to imagine how we would secure needed resources to take care of each other in an extreme weather event.
⭐️ 6-7:30PM — Community Consultation: Regulating Apartment Temperatures (519 Church)
The 519 - Was your apartment too hot this summer? Share your opinion on a 26°C maximum indoor temperature by-law to make next summer more comfortable!
7-9:30PM — Keeping Us Safe: An Introduction to Mutual Aid, Community Defense & Crisis Intervention Pt 1 (Virtual)
Rania El Mugammar - In the first part of this two session workshop, learners will cultivate an understanding of mutual aid practices, and values. Additionally, learners will explore examples, challenges and possibilities posed by community defense and crisis and intervention practice. Reflecting on strategies and models from organized resistance movements and everyday people, participants will work in groups and independently to assess and map the needs and opportunities within their own communities. These reflections will guide participants through the learnings in part 2.
Friday, September 19, 2025 🔗
12-1PM — Kill Bill 5 Weekly Phone and Email Zap (Virtual)
SURJ and Nagweyaab Ishkode - Nagweyaab Ishkode and SURJ Toronto are collaborating to run weekly zaps online via Zoom to help educate Ontarians and let our government and members of industry know what we think of this colonial and harmful bill. Scripts and templates will be provided, though folks are strongly encouraged to include their own thoughts and writings to diversify our messaging! Let’s unite in solidarity as we call and email those who voted for or supported the gutting of environmental protections and undermining of Indigenous sovereignty.
⭐️ 7-10PM — Red Square on a Black Board (OISE Room 2198)
Toronto Communists - The Toronto Young Communists League and Communist Party of Canada (UofT Club) invite you to join in a screening of ‘Red Square on a Black Board’. The movie documents the 2012 Quebec student strike, and has valuable lessons for the student movement today. How can students organize to make changes on and off campus? Who are the best allies of the students in their struggles? Come discuss these questions and more!
Saturday, September 20, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 10AM-1PM — UNSMOKE Butt Blitz Toronto (Harbourfront Centre)
A Greener Future - Join Canada’s biggest cigarette litter cleanup – right here in the heart of the city. A Greener Future is teaming up with UNSMOKE to host a massive cleanup event at Harbourfront Centre as part of a national campaign to collect 1 million cigarette butts in just one month. Help make a visible, unforgettable impact on World Cleanup Day.
⭐️ 11AM-2PM — Community Clean Energy Day (WindShare turbine at Exhibition Place)
SolarShare - Join SolarShare for a family-friendly party at the Wind Turbine! Community Clean Energy Day is your invitation to gather and play at the site of North America's first urban wind project. Bring your friends, family, and curiosity- there’ll be hourly turbine info sessions, hands-on renewable energy activities for all ages, live music, delicious eats, smoothie bikes, and more! Whether you’re a renewable energy superfan or just interested in what’s spinning in Toronto, this is the place to be.
12-4PM — Mutual Aid Market for Families in Gaza (The Tranzac, 292 Brunswick)
Come join a mutual aid market featuring work by local artists and makers from the GTA! This market is raising funds for three families in Gaza to provide urgent aid such as food, water, medical care, and shelter.
12:30-3PM — Ghost Bike for Samuel Willets (Matt Cohen Park)
Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists - On Thursday, July 31, 28-year-old Samuel Willetts succumbed to his injuries incurred when he was struck by a truck-driver 13 days earlier on Gerard St East at Church Street, near Toronto Metropolitan University. Samuel was a York University graduate and worked in the Film and TV industry here in Toronto. He was a gaffer and aspiring cinematographer. This Ghost Bike memorial ride is being organized with Sam’s family, who will be present that day and ride with teh group.
1-4PM — Arquives Button Making Workshop (34 Isabella)
The ArQuives - Come attend a button-making workshop and learn about queer culture’s history with buttons and their political, artistic, and community properties. This event will feature buttons from The ArQuives collections and participants will be able to create their very own buttons from archival designs or create their own. Supplies provided! 18+ due to the nature of discussions and material.
1-2PM — 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!
2-5PM — Draw the Line Rally and March (Yonge & Dundas)
Draw The Line - Only months into his mandate, Prime Minister Carney is fast-tracking a billionaires-first agenda. On September 20th, communities will mobilize across the country and demand that Prime Minister Carney and the Canadian government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction— or a just and safe future for all of us.
Sunday, September 21, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 11AM-1PM — Gaza Square - Every Sunday (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!
12-4PM — Civic Space Sunday (2567 Dundas St W)
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 us for an afternoon of building. Participants from all backgrounds and skill levels are welcome. Whether you're a seasoned developer, a curious beginner, or someone passionate about civic issues, your unique perspective and contribution are valuable to our community.
1-5PM — People's Hearings on Military Spending (United Steelworkers, 25 Cecil ST)
The Toronto Association for Peace and Solidarity - Military spending in Canada is poised to skyrocket, and Canada’s projected increase will come at the expense of spending that working people urgently need: healthcare, education, childcare, environmental protection, housing, employment insurance and public pensions, social assistance, public transit and more. What could we do with a bigger “peace” of the budget pie, if government spending was prioritized differently?
⭐️ 1-3PM — Toronto Aces and Aros Online Discussion (Virtual)
Toronto Aces and Aros - Get together online with fellow aces & aros and chat about aromantic and asexual representation in the media! This is open for both political critique and geeking out about your favourite aspec representation. There will be a break mid-way through and people are welcome to take additional breaks as needed.
⭐️ 1-3PM — Steps & Stories (Trinity Bellwoods)
Queer South Asians - In need of a relaxing walk, park hang, checking in about mental health, and gentle conversations? Come join Queer South ASians for Steps & Stories, a peer support park hang facilitated by peer support coordinator Luxmy Thiru.
2-5PM — Yiddish Art & Anti-Fascism: Radical Archival Collage Workshop (CSI, 192 Spadina)
The Morris Winchevsky Schools - Rad Yiddish and UJPO present educator Sharoni Sibony and special guests an afternoon of radical art-making inspired by the past on Sep 21. Using copies of historic pamphlets and protest signs, broadsides and bulletins, musical scores and more, from the archives, we'll build new art out of the remnants of our radical Yiddish past.
⭐️ 2-4PM — History of Revolution Pt 5: What do we mean by socialist revolution? (427 Bloor St W)
International Socialists - The waves of protest and strikes we see around the world show the nucleus of what can be a revolutionary movement to overthrow the billionaires. But how do we get there? What are the characteristics of successful revolutions in the past? Join the International Socialists for this summer study series on the History of Revolution for a better understanding of how we smash capitalism and bring about a society where people and the planet come before profit.
⭐️ 5:30-8PM — The Road to Genocide: From Oslo to Ethnic Cleansing (Available upon registration (Mississauga))
Palestinian Cultural Arts Collective - Join Palestinian writer and politician Jamal Zakout for a powerful discussion about the current political situation, unpacking the Oslo Accords and their lasting impact on Palestine. Drawing on his first-hand experience as part of the Palestinian delegation, ZaKout will reveal what really happened during the negotiations, debunk myths about the so-called “peace process”, and explore how Oslo continues to shape Palestinian life today. Proceeds go to supporting a camp in Gaza’s Mawasi Khan Younis.
Monday, September 22, 2025 🔗
10-11:30AM — Street Vending Bylaw Review Online Consultation Meeting (Virtual)
City of Toronto - The City is conducting a review of the street vending bylaws to create more opportunities for street vendors and performers through a licensing system that reflects the vibrancy of Toronto, with rules that are clearer and easier to follow. This is an online consultation to share your thoughts on street vending and performing in Toronto.
⭐️ 12-1PM — Your Basic Tenant Rights Workshop (Virtual)
Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations - Are you a tenant living in the GTA? Do you have questions about your rights under the law? This free interactive workshop will explain how leases work, how rent increases are calculated, what to do to get repairs done, how to end a tenancy, and much more.
12:30-1:30PM — 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 to stop Canada's complicity in the genocide.
Down the road
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-1PM — Getting Repairs Done Workshop (Virtual)
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 7-9PM — Palestine Poetry Fundraiser vol. 2 (The Beacon Room)
Thursday, September 25, 2025 🔗
7-9:30PM — Raising Anti-Racist Kids (Virtual)
7-9PM — Harm Reduction Kit Making (168 Bathurst)
7-8:30PM — Navigating Conflict Part 1: Avoiding Preventable Conflict and Building Conflict Skills (Virtual)
⭐️ 7-8PM — Rules About Rent Explained Workshop (Virtual)
8:30AM-3:30PM — Survivor’s Voices: Restorative & Transformative Justice After Sexual Harm (Humber College Lake Shore Campus Building)
9AM-5PM — Workers Governing Technologies: Collective Strategies Across Context (108 College St)
6:30-9:30PM — Sista Creatives Rising Presents: Art & Mind - COVID, Climate & Our Future! (Virtual)
Friday, September 26, 2025 🔗
12-1PM — Kill Bill 5 Weekly Phone and Email Zap (Virtual)
⭐️ 1-3PM — UNSMOKE Butt Blitz Sunnybrook Park & Hospital (1132 Leslie St)
6:30-2PM — 2025 Organizing For Power (TMU Student Centre, 55 Gould)
Saturday, September 27, 2025 🔗
8-11PM — Drag For Palestine Toronto (12 Alexander)
⭐️ 10:30AM-3PM — Counterprotest To Support Trans Kids (Queen’s Park)
6-9PM — Cripping the Past (The Village at The Black Creek)
Sunday, September 28, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 11AM-1PM — Gaza Square - Every Sunday (371 Wallace Ave)
⭐️ 12-2PM — Propaganda and Graphic Design Workshop (Available upon registration (Toronto))
Monday, September 29, 2025 🔗
7-9PM — Tenant Organizing Training (Virtual)
12:30-1:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 🔗
12-2PM — Annual Rally & Healing Walk for Every Child Matters (Spadina & Bloor)
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 🔗
7-9PM — Civic Hacknight - Is My MP a Landlord (Hybrid)
⭐️ 10AM-12PM — Marie Curtis Park Nurdle Hunt (Marie Curtis Park)
Thursday, October 2, 2025 🔗
7-8:30PM — Navigating Conflict Part 2: Practical Tools for Conflict Transformation (Virtual)
8-9:15PM — Parents for Child Care – October Organizing Meeting (Virtual)
12-1:30PM — Protecting Labour Rights and Human Rights Ahead of FIFA 2026 (Virtual)
Friday, October 3, 2025 🔗
12-1PM — Weekly Kill Bill 5 Phone Zap (Virtual)
6-8PM — Toronto Spring Monthly Meeting (Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor St W)
Saturday, October 4, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 1:30-6PM — Block Party @ 230 Sherbourne (230 Sherbourne)
Sunday, October 5, 2025 🔗
4-6PM — The Big Toronto Bike Ride (Christie Pits Park)
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.