Show Up Toronto - September 2, 2025
Hi friends and neighbours,
If you had yesterday off, I hope you had a good long weekend! You probably know that in many parts of the world, Labour Day is celebrated on May 1st, or International Worker's Day. What I didn't learn until recently is why North America is different.
May 1st actually commemorates the American Federation of Labor passing a resolution calling for the 8-hour workday in 1885, as well as the general strike that followed a year later on May 1st, 1886. The strike culminated in the deadly Haymarket incident on May 4, a rally to protest deadly police violence against protestors the day prior which itself turned deadly after a homemade bomb was thrown at police. In the aftermath, President Grover Cleveland was concerned that allowing May 1 to become a labour holiday would strengthen the ties between American labour and various international socialist and anarchist workers' movements and highlight the Haymarket incident. The first Monday of September was chosen as a less inflammatory date instead and signed into law in 1894. Canada recognized the same September date that same year.
The fact that power fears international solidarity is evidence that it is worth cultivating. Whether we gather to send off the Canadian contingent of the Thousand Madleens to Gaza flotilla, call our MPs to demand a two-way arms embargo on Israel, or support the Migrant Worker's Alliance in their fight to organize the least protected workers in the country—who most certainly didn't have Labour Day off—our work here connects to solidarity movements around the world. We are not so easily divided.
Thank you for showing up.
Jenny
⭐️ = events updated since the last newsletter
Events this week
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 10-11AM — First Day of School Press Conference: No to Bill 33 (Media Studio, Queen’s Park)
Policing-Free Schools - Join Policing-Free Schools at Queen’s Park for a first day of school press conference demanding our elected officials say no to Bill 33! Our schools need support and resources, not carceral measures.
⭐️ 7-9PM — Civic Hacknight – Ryan Markwart (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’s speaker will be Ryan Markwart, a social entrepreneur and veteran of open data. The presentation will be followed by the usual breakout group sessions.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 🔗
5:30-7PM — Human Rights and International Law: A Conversation On The Limits and Possibilities for Palestine (Available upon registration (TMU))
Students for Justice in Palestine at Toronto Metropolitan University - Join SJPTMU for a faculty-led event in conversation with Wesam Ahmad, Director of Applied International Law at Al-Haq—a human rights organization in Ramallah. It is important that as the genocide continues, we reassess the power of international law and discuss its limits.
6-9PM — Ride and Learn: Community Land Trusts (Kensington Avenue and St. Andrew)
Cycle Toronto - Ever wonder how Toronto fights gentrification and keeps its soul? Join this unique bike tour to discover how! This ride includes informational speeches from the Kensington Market Community Land Trust and Community and Cultural Spaces Land Trust. See firsthand how communities are reclaiming land to secure affordable housing, protect local shops, and create permanent spaces for artists.
⭐️ 7-11PM — Thousand Madleens to Gaza: Toronto Send-Off (Pamenar)
Thousand Madleens Canada - The Canadian delegation of Thousand Madleens to Gaza invites you to gather for a night of food, poetry, song, and dance. Come learn about our important mission to break the illegal seige on Gaza via flotilla. This event is 19+ and will offer light food and an incredible lineup of Palestinian artists. All ticket proceeds go directly to fundraising for the flotilla.
Thursday, September 4, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 5-7PM — Platform Politics: Reflecting on Toronto’s History With Tech Giants (Sidney Smith Hall, 101 St George)
Fairbnb Canada Network - Join Luke Yates for a dive into the world of platform politics, promising an engaging discussion of Toronto's history with tech giants. Come hear about the platforms that have made Toronto its testing ground and how technologists and labour are organizing against it.
⭐️ 7-9PM — Pedal-ing Projects (The Kingston House, 676 Kingston)
East End Cycles - Join East End Cycles at The Kingston House to enjoy scrumptious snacks, and share your imaginative ideas for the future of cycle action in the East End!
8-9:30PM — Co-Resistance in the West Bank (Virtual)
The Morris Winchevsky Schools - Come hear how Jews and Israelis are joining the fight for justice in the West Bank. A talk-back with Anna Lippman and Daniel Roth who will discuss the work they are doing alongside Palestinians, Israelis, and activists from around the world. We’ll hear about the situation on the ground right now, what co-resistance looks like in practice, and how you can get involved.
Friday, September 5, 2025 🔗
12-3PM — Shouldering Each Other Up Amidst Atrocity & Outing Enraged Grief (Virtual)
Moms Stop The Harm - A fundraiser webinar for Moms Stop the Harm, with scholarships available to those who may find the cost a hardship. Join seasoned activists in the harm reduction space to explore understanding deaths in context of hate-filled politics, structural abandonment and necropolitics, collective care and mutual aid, revolutionary love, mourning amidst atrocity, and more.
Saturday, September 6, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 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!
Sunday, September 7, 2025 🔗
2-4PM — History of Revolution Pt 4: The Arab spring and revolution in the 21st century (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.
⭐️ 3-5PM — Jewish Musicians for Gaza (CSI Annex, 720 Bathurst)
United Jewish People's Order - A fundraiser for the Elham Fund, a grassroots org supporting Gazan families with supply and medicine. Tickets are sliding scale, featuring Hush, Joseph Shabason, Robbie Grunwald, Kilometre Club, daena dalem by isa farah, and more TBA!
Monday, September 8, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-1PM — Weekly Kill Bill 5 Phone Zap (Virtual)
Nagweyaab Ishkode - Nagweyaab Ishkode is collaborating with SURJ Toronto to run weekly phone zaps online via Zoom to help educate Ontarians and protest Bill 5. Bring your friends, share with your community, spread the word! Let's advocate and rally together to repeal bill 5 and protect land rights. Scripts and templates will be provided, though folks are encouraged to bring their personal writings.
⭐️ 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.
6-8PM — Fighting To Win (Bloor-Yonge area (available upon registration))
Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education - A 10-week course for union and community activists facilitated by John Clarke, former organizer with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP). Unions and social movements today are operating in a very challenging situation. There is great economic uncertainty, the worsening impact of climate change and a global situation marked by the growing threat of conflict and war. This course will grapple with these questions by looking at the forms of exploitation and oppression that exist in society and the means by which the power structure acts to limit and contain our struggles.
Down the road
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 🔗
5:30-7PM — Black & Indigenous Youth Share Circle (21 Cecil St)
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 6-7:30PM — Street Vending Bylaw Review In-person Consultation Meeting (Metro Hall, 55 John St)
Friday, September 12, 2025 🔗
6-8PM — Toronto Spring Meeting (Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor St W)
Saturday, September 13, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-4:30PM — No to Hate, Yes to Migrants Community Rally (Christie Pits Park)
1-4PM — Toronto-St. Paul Tenant School (Hybrid)
⭐️ 1-2PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)
2-4PM — Yiddish Art & Anti-Fascism: Radical Kensington History Tour (Queen & Spadina)
Sunday, September 14, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 9PM-3AM — Spoiler Room: Toronto Unites Against Blood Money Raves (TBA)
1-3PM — Friends and Families for Safe Streets Peer Support Meeting (401 Richmond St W, Room 215)
1-3PM — Overdose Response Training (Thompson Memorial Park)
2-4PM — Race for MMIWG2S (Dufferin Grove Park)
⭐️ 2-5PM — Labour After Labour (BAAA School, 300 Campbell)
Monday, September 15, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-1PM — Weekly Kill Bill 5 Phone Zap (Virtual)
⭐️ 12:30-1:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-1PM — Coalition for Better Childcare Network Session (Virtual)
6-8PM — Know Your Rights at Work: Scarborough Workshop (The Hub 2660 Eglinton Ave E)
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 7-8:30PM — Solidarity Circles: From Turtle Island to Palestine (Regent Park area)
Thursday, September 18, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 5-7PM — Guerilla Gardening (348 Danforth Ave)
6-8PM — Worker’s Justice: A community-Based Course on Rights and Action (Available Upon Registration)
Saturday, September 20, 2025 🔗
12-4PM — Mutual Aid Market for Families in Gaza (The Tranzac, 292 Brunswick)
⭐️ 12:30-3PM — Ghost Bike for Samuel Willets (Matt Cohen Park)
1-4PM — Arquives Button Making Workshop (34 Isabella)
⭐️ 1-2PM — BDS Leafletting (900 Dufferin St)
2-5PM — Draw the Line Rally and March (Yonge & Dundas)
Sunday, September 21, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 12-4PM — Civic Space Sunday (2567 Dundas St W)
1-5PM — People's Hearings on Military Spending (United Steelworkers, 25 Cecil ST)
2-5PM — Yiddish Art & Anti-Fascism: Radical Archival Collage Workshop (CSI, 192 Spadina)
Monday, September 22, 2025 🔗
⭐️ 10-11:30AM — Street Vending Bylaw Review Online Consultation Meeting (Virtual)
⭐️ 12-1PM — Weekly Kill Bill 5 Phone Zap (Virtual)
⭐️ 12:30-1:30PM — Weekly Phone Zap for Palestine (Virtual)
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.