This weekend, Kensington Market was set to kick off the first Pedestrian Sunday (PSK) of the season. Streets leading into and out of the vibrant neighborhood were to be closed to vehicles, providing a space for pedestrians to enjoy the unique offerings of the area without the worry of traffic. Local businesses typically participate by setting up merchandise outside their shops, and restaurants offer street-side dining, while several pop-up booths and vendors enhance the festive atmosphere.

However, the Kensington Market Business Improvement Area (BIA) announced that they are pressing pause on the event, resulting in the cancellation of the much-anticipated summer kickoff on May 25. Many local businesses expressed surprise at the sudden cancellation, indicating a lack of communication from the BIA regarding the decision.

"[The BIA] doesn’t ever keep in touch with anybody. I sent out a message to a lot of the businesses today in a group chat and nobody realized Pedestrian Sunday was cancelled. So the communication is really bad [from the BIA]," stated Joy Zubair, owner of Boho Chachkies, a vintage clothing and décor store.

Shane Dunphy, assistant manager at Public Butter Vintage, also voiced his shock at the news. "You literally told me a couple minutes ago that it was cancelled, I had no idea," he remarked to CityNews. Michael Viglione, owner of the Kid Icarus print shop, described the cancellation as last-minute, having already canceled some plans in anticipation of the event.

The BIA provided a statement on their website noting that the decision to pause the event follows extensive community feedback and a recent public consultation about the festival's future direction. They outlined several ongoing issues, including an increase in unpermitted vendors leading to overcrowding, logistical challenges, and liability concerns stemming from the sale of unauthorized substances.

"Additionally, PSK began as a celebration of art, music, dance, play, and community—a family-friendly space to explore and enjoy diverse cultures. In recent years, the event has taken on a more commercial tone, which no longer reflects the values that originally shaped it," the BIA board stated.

Reactions from businesses in the area have been mixed. Viglione acknowledged the security concerns that led to the cancellation, recognizing the issues with illegal vendors causing tensions. "It’s kind of unfortunate, but I do realize why it was canceled... if we can bring back some more art and culture into the event, that’d be amazing," he added.

Contrarily, Zubair expressed relief at the cancellation, stating that the event had hindered her business instead of helping it, as pedestrian access was limited. "For us, they actually block our street off, so pedestrians can’t even really walk on it unless you know that you can still walk on the road on this street," she explained.

The BIA’s statement confirmed only the cancellation of the May 25 event, with future dates for 2025 to be reassessed based on community feedback. They plan to seek support from the Mayor’s Office and community members in reimagining PSK to better reflect the community spirit of Kensington Market. The BIA also intends to explore funding opportunities to aid in organizing a safe and inclusive festival.

Ward councillor Dianne Saxe expressed understanding of the BIA's decision while acknowledging the challenges that local businesses face. "It’s a terrible shame because it’s enormously popular, brings lots of people to Kensington Market, and I’m really sorry... But I completely understand the decision of the BIA,” she stated.

Visitors and tourists expressed disappointment about missing out on the festivities. Comments from those visiting from places like the Netherlands and Miami highlighted their sadness about the cancellation, emphasizing the community spirit that Pedestrian Sundays usually bring to Kensington Market.

Viglione hopes the event will be reinstated either next month or later in the summer, emphasizing its importance in attracting new visitors to the area. Dunphy echoed similar sentiments, stating that the cancellation was disheartening given the boost such events provide to local businesses.

Zubair concluded by suggesting that the BIA should enhance communication with businesses, bringing the community together to improve future iterations of Pedestrian Sundays. "If we all, as a community, did this together—this could be a crazy good event,” she remarked.