The Toronto Freedom Festival (TFF) was developed in 2007 to offer thoughtful, passionate groups a forum to expose their ideas to thousands of progressive thinking individuals. Since then, it has welcomed tens of thousands of people from around the world to Queen's Park North making the event Toronto's largest spring outdoor festival. Recently, the 5th Toronto Freedom Festival learned that its 2011 permit for Queen’s Park North was being denied by the City of Toronto.
By coming together each year in large numbers at this historical and political venue, positive attention has been drawn to individuals and groups seeking to preserve their freedoms of speech, choice, expression and assembly, protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In its peaceful history, no arrests have ever been made. TFF was scheduled for Saturday May 7th at Queen's Park North and with the 13th Global Marijuana March (GMM) event launching north of the park. Toronto's GMM is the largest marijuana march in world with over 20,000 loyal participants. The GMM has an estimated financial impact of $3.5 million on Toronto’s cultural economy without receiving municipal or tax support. GMM organizers are looking forward to once again being the largest of the 200 participating cities on Saturday May 7th.
Gabe Simms, TFF co-organizer says, “There were several valid complaints from last year’s festival brought to our attention, however we did have solutions on how to address each and every element of concern. Numerous attempts were made in good faith to meet. Continuous delays were made leading up to mid-January decision to revoke our festival permit. The GMM will sadly now have to continue with no support from us.”
With all large cultural festivals taking place in City parks annual improvements must be made. For months TFF organizers requested face-to-face meetings to discuss plans for improving and expanding in 2011, however, their requests were denied for several months. At no time during this process were organizers alerted that their permit for 2011 could be in jeopardy, until recently receiving their permit denial from the Toronto East York District Parks with no time to make adjustments.
Simms adds, “More disheartening was the denial was disclosed without a solution for a more suitable City park venue. We’re currently planning on alternative measures and are looking forward to further negotiations with the City in order to save the Toronto Freedom Festival this year. We feel that we can offer a safer and simpler over-all plan designed for long-term success working with the Mayor and the City Parks. Our board is very focused and dedicated to finding a solution for the people.”
