What to know
- Salsa on St. Clair organizers say they may end their involvement with the festival unless the City commits to stronger security measures.
- A media roundtable is being held Monday to discuss gun violence, festival safety and the future of the event.
- Community leaders and a leading gun violence researcher are confirmed to attend, while Toronto Police and several elected officials have been invited.
- Organizers say the tragedy should prompt action before another festival is affected.
The organizers behind Salsa on St. Clair say they’re prepared to walk away from the festival unless the City of Toronto commits to making future events safer.
The announcement came after a deadly shooting shattered what had been one of Toronto’s biggest celebrations of Latino culture.
On Monday morning, community leaders, policy experts and invited public officials will gather for a media roundtable to discuss what happened, and what needs to change before another festival takes place.
In a statement released after the deadly shooting, organizers said they’re heartbroken by the violence that unfolded Saturday night (July 11).
“Saturday night’s (July 11) horrific shootings destroyed a joyous, safe, family-friendly celebration of Latino culture that has run annually since 2005,” the statement reads.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence. And we are thankful for the quick and overwhelming response to the shootings by Toronto Police.”
‘We refuse to subject our community to this again’
While organizers praised the emergency response, they say preventing future violence has to become the priority.
Unless city officials make what they describe as “concrete commitments” to improve policing and security around St. Clair Avenue, they say they’ll end their involvement with the festival.
“We refuse to subject any of our people, friends, clients and community supporters to situations where public officials responsible for preventing crime and ensuring public safety resist the community’s calls to do better,” the statement says.
Organizers also argue there were warning signs before the July 11 shooting.
They point to reports of disruptive behaviour at other Toronto street festivals in recent weeks and say those incidents should have prompted stronger planning and security measures.
The statement also criticizes comments made by some public officials in the aftermath of the shooting, arguing more focus should be placed on preventing similar incidents rather than accepting them as an unfortunate reality.
Roundtable to focus on public safety
Monday’s discussion will be held at the Columbus Centre in North York starting at 11 a.m.
Among those confirmed to attend are Rafael Gomez, co-author of the Ontario Attorney General’s 2021 report on gun and gang violence, Marilyn Solano, a Toronto technology entrepreneur and Latino community advocate, and representatives from the Salsa in Toronto organization.
Toronto Police Service, Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Mike Colle, councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford, MPs Leslie Church and Vince Gasparro, along with other officials, have also been invited.
Organizers say the conversation will centre on how governments, police and communities can better protect large public festivals.
A festival that has become part of Toronto’s summer
Salsa on St. Clair began in 2005 as a way to help revitalize the Hillcrest Village business district while celebrating Latino culture.
Over the years, it has grown into one of Toronto’s best-known summer festivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors for music, dancing, food and cultural performances.
Organizers say that’s exactly what’s at stake.
They don’t want Saturday’s tragedy to define the festival. But they also say they won’t move forward unless they believe people can attend safely.
The roundtable is expected to address not only what happened this weekend, but what changes are needed to ensure it never happens again.
