WARMINGTON: Feds come through for Taste of the Danforth in the nick of time
· Toronto Sun
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More than a million people are expected to flood Greektown this weekend — amongst the biggest crowds there since Greece won the Euro cup of soccer in 2004.
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It’s going to be a blast and is a reminder of how great Toronto is.
But there is a but here. If it becomes too dangerous and too expensive to hold neighbourhood street festivals, Toronto won’t be Toronto anymore.
So, it was not only positive that the federal government stepped up at the last minute to announce they would contribute to this year’s comeback of the Taste of the Danforth, but also vital that they did.
Up to $100Gs pledged for fest
“The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced funding of up to $100,000 through the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program to Greektown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area for the Taste of the Danforth festival, Canada’s largest street festival,” said a news release from the federal Liberals.
“This investment will support the return of the Taste of the Danforth following a two-year hiatus, continuing a tradition that began in 1994 as a celebration of Greek food and culture and has since become a symbol of Canada’s multiculturalism.”
Better late than never. They stepped up at the last minute after being guilted into it by a letter sent out by community leaders who pointed out that while the City of Toronto was in, and the province of Ontario too, for some reason Ottawa was sitting it out — perhaps counting dollars for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s next flight on what was known in the Justin Trudeau era as Hair Force One but is known in the Carney era as Expense Air.
They seemed to have plenty of taxpayers’ money, to the tune of more than $300 million, available for the FIFA World Cup soccer party, so it’s cool they found the $100,000 for a local legend like the Taste of the Danforth, which was established in 1994 but thanks to the pandemic and other pressing issues has taken a few years off, despite being so popular.
They are back in 2026 and hoping to be back every year.
‘Reflects Canada’s multicultural mosaic’
“It was always our vision to see the federal, provincial and municipal governments standing together on our world stage in support of what has become an iconic Canadian festival,” said Tony Pethakas, chair of the Greektown on the Danforth BIA.
“The story of Taste of the Danforth is the story of Canada itself. Greek immigrants built this neighbourhood and created a festival that now belongs to the entire country. Today, the Danforth reflects Canada’s multicultural mosaic while proudly remaining Greek at its heart.
“Seeing all three orders of government standing together behind this festival is a powerful recognition of what immigrant communities entrepreneurs and Main Street businesses have contributed to building our country,” Pethakas said.
Still, on the non-cynical side of things, the funding coming in just hours before Friday’s first souvlaki is served is welcome and positive news.
“The Taste of the Danforth festival brings people together to celebrate the cultures, traditions and experiences that make Canada such a diverse and welcoming country,” Miller said in the news release Wednesday. “We are proud to support events that reflect the many communities that shape our country, contribute to the vitality of our local economies and help make Canada stronger.”
Julie Aviva Dabrusin, Toronto Danforth MP and minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, added: “I am proud that our federal government is supporting Taste of the Danforth. This festival is a much-loved Toronto tradition that showcases the richness of our multicultural communities. What began as a celebration of Greek food and culture has grown into an event that welcomes people from all backgrounds to experience, celebrate and learn from one another.”
Good for them. Pats on the back. But, in fairness, a lot of the credit for bringing in the federal grant has to go to a letter signed by 20 prominent community leaders and politicians such as Julian Fantino, Mike Layton. Dennis Mills, David Collenette, Arthur Potts, Howard Lichtman, Anthony Furey, and Justin Van Dette, and others including Mayor Olivia Chow, Premier Doug Ford and mayoral candidates Councillor Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander.
Feds have caused the problems
This was not a partisan thing. It was a Toronto thing. The community got the federal Liberals’ attention. It’s only fitting the Liberals came through since a lot of the problems that could make these festivals extinct come from Ottawa’s decisions on how many new people they let into the country from abroad each year without the economy or housing to handle them, their new world order trade practices, and expensive ventures and agendas like climate change.
And, of course, the biggest problem from Ottawa surrounds its soft-on-violent-criminals approach, which sees so-called young offenders protected, and weak bail, parole and sentencing provisions — meaning more gun-toting gangsters settle their scores at events like the Salsa on St. Clair street festival where two young men were killed and five people were wounded.
From that event comes more security measures — which means more expenses for small Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), and neighbourhood groups and sponsors saying they are not interested in participating anymore.
If we are not careful, Toronto could become a place where street festivals are a thing of the past and are replaced by the guns and gangster world who will establish the city as a warzone and decide who gets to live and die.
But we don’t want to be negative. So, on that note, get ready to enjoy some great Greektown fun this weekend and some moussaka, spanakopita, gyros, feta cheese, olives, and tzatziki, too.