Halloween on Church Street, an annual celebration in Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village, has sparked concerns regarding safety and crowd control during this year's event. The two-day event, organized by the Church-Wellesley Village BIA, resulted in a full road closure on Church Street between Carlton and Gloucester streets. Social media videos indicated the area was densely packed, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands attended. Prior to the event, officials anticipated a crowd of up to 80,000, urging attendees to be mindful of pickpockets.
Travis Myers, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocate and founder of Friends of Hanlan's, reported hearing troubling accounts following Saturday's gathering. He criticized the lack of crowd control, stating, “There was no crowd control ... no mention of the fact that this was taking place in the heart of the queer village.” Myers expressed that many attendees experienced harassment, theft, and other forms of assault, indicating that the focus of the event seemed to shift towards attracting larger crowds rather than ensuring the safety of the queer community.
Myers also reflected on how the nature of the celebration has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increased emphasis on drawing in visitors from outside the city. “People were coming from across the entire GTA not even realizing they were on Church Street, not even able to see the rainbows that are painted along the road," he noted. Reports of derogatory remarks and disrespect towards gender-diverse individuals were also highlighted, underscoring the need for a more inclusive atmosphere.
Rodney Chan, a community advocate for the pedestrianization of Church Street, echoed similar concerns about overcrowding, noting that the event had become uncomfortable due to the sheer number of attendees. He observed the significance of improvements made during the pedestrianization pilot project, which included added seating and security, emphasizing that these measures could have potentially enhanced safety during the event.
The Toronto Police Service reported receiving 86 calls for service about 107 incidents from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, with most related to theft under $5,000, including pickpocketing. Additional incidents involved lost property and various altercations, including sexual assault. Police Chief Myron Demkiw remarked on the importance of preparation in working with event organizers to ensure adequate resources are in place.
Myers expressed skepticism regarding the reliability of the statistics provided by the police, suggesting that many in the queer community might hesitate to report incidents due to historical strained relations with law enforcement. He emphasized that many community members may prefer to confide in advocacy groups rather than navigate police reporting procedures.
Incoming Ward 13 Toronto Centre Councillor Curran Stikuts, who will assume office in mid-November, stated that he intends to collaborate with the BIA and city officials to evaluate the event's execution. Recognizing the importance of Halloween on Church Street within queer history and activism, Stikuts acknowledged the pressures that increasing attendance has placed on the neighborhood while stressing the need for improved planning and safety measures for future events.
In light of these concerns, Myers and Chan expressed optimism for future celebrations, suggesting potential solutions like making the event ticketed and directing proceeds to queer charities. Myers advocated for a return to centering the advertising and messaging around the queer community, while Chan called for steps to restore a sense of safety and honor the event's origins.
