City officials, police, and Toronto festival organizers are scheduled to meet to address security issues ahead of the upcoming festival season. This meeting has become increasingly relevant in the wake of a tragic incident at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, where a driver in an SUV killed 11 people and injured 32 others. A 30-year-old man has been charged with several crimes, including first-degree murder, in connection with this attack.
The incident has prompted the Filipino community in Toronto to gather in mourning, leading to heightened concerns about public safety during festivals. Events like Pride Toronto are reacting by increasing their security measures. Kojo Modeste, a representative from Pride Toronto, expressed his concerns about the potential for copycat attacks, stating, “You worry about copycats. There are so many copycats out there. Now we have to be extra vigilant, 100 per cent; it will shift the way we do business, and every year, it’s getting worse.”
The term "hostile vehicle mitigation" refers to the strategies employed to prevent such attacks, including the use of concrete blocks or buses as barricades during events. It is noteworthy that not every festival is mandated to implement these measures; instead, event organizers must collaborate with Toronto police to conduct a threat assessment that dictates the appropriate level of security required for their event.
In light of the Vancouver attack, the focus of the upcoming meeting between city officials and festival organizers will shift to evaluating risk assessments and sustainability concerning public safety. Pat Tobin, the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture, emphasized the need to hear from event organizers about their thoughts on security and the long-term viability of their festivals following the recent tragedy in Vancouver.
The rising costs associated with security and insurance have become a significant concern affecting many festivals. Reports indicate that liability costs for festivals in Toronto have surged by at least 30 percent, prompting some events, such as Taste of the Danforth, to either cancel or scale back their operations. Councillor Mike Colle highlighted the need for federal and provincial governments to partner with local organizers to cover security expenses, ensuring that these costs do not solely burden the non-profit organizations that coordinate these festivals.
In response to these pressing security needs, City Hall has allocated an additional $2.5 million in funding to support Toronto festivals, particularly regarding enhanced security measures. However, the implications of the Vancouver attack may redefine what constitutes a high-risk event, potentially leading to stricter requirements for vehicle barricades.
Following discussions with festival organizers, Toronto will also host a Festival Safety Summit at the end of May to explore additional strategies for enhancing public safety at events. The summit aims to gather insights and develop collective approaches to ensure that festivals can proceed safely while minimizing risks in light of recent events.
