'It's time' for OpenStreetsTO to make a comeback, Toronto resident says

A Toronto resident is campaigning to revive a popular street event after a years-long pause. 

OpenStreetsTO is an event that closes roadways to cars and opens them to pedestrians, encouraging physical activity and recreation while allowing residents to experience the city's streets and architecture differently.

"Open Streets has widespread community support," said Robert Zaichkowski, who's leading the charge to restart the event. "It's a no-brainer to bring it back."

With some Toronto bike lanes under threat of removal, and the city trying to ease traffic congestion, keeping Toronto's streets accessible for pedestrians and cyclists is top of mind for many residents, including some government officials.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, who initially helped launch the Toronto branch of the festival in 2014 when they were city councillor, told CBC Toronto they felt inspired to bring OpenStreetsTO to the city after attending the event in Guadalajara, Mexico, and seeing its benefits. 

"I got back to Toronto and said, 'Oh my gosh, we need this,'" they said. "We need this for our health, our happiness. We need this to build up economic development. We need this to bring new customers to our main streets. We need this to connect our kids and our neighbourhoods."

OpenStreetsTO was held across Yonge and Bloor streets every summer until 2020, when it was cancelled due to the pandemic. It came back during the summer of 2022 through a partnership with ActiveTO, according to David Simor, one of the event's original founders. 

Simor says that because ActiveTO is not a permanent city program, they didn't have enough support to bring OpenStreetsTO back after that, and it hasn't been held in the city since.

Despite the passion for the program, there are no plans to bring the event back, Simor said. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Waterloo are holding Open Streets events this summer.  

The main obstacle is getting multiple city departments, such as transportation and police, to co-operate without having strong support from city hall, according to Amanda O'Rourke, executive director of 8 80 Cities, the non-profit organization that collaborated to help launch OpenStreetsTO. She says political support waned after Wong-Tam left office.

"Bringing all those divisions together was easier to do in a big city like Toronto with a political champion, like councillor Wong-Tam, who could help us bring everyone to the table," O'Rourke said. 

However, Wong-Tam says having a municipal champion won't be enough to sustain the program, should it return. Instead, they said management of the event should be raised to the mayor's office, reducing its reliance on councillor and volunteer support. 

"I don't think that it's fair for a group of volunteers to launch and sustain Toronto's largest free recreation program on their backs," Wong-Tam said.

CBC Toronto asked Mayor Olivia Chow if the city has any plans to bring OpenStreetsTO back. She said the city has to examine whether the program is needed, as they've already increased funding for many other street festivals. However, she said the city is committed to keeping streets open to pedestrians. 

"Streets are for people, and we'll continue to make sure that they are open for everyone as much as possible," she said.

Some say they are open to collaborate on reviving the program, with conditions. 

Cheryll Diego with the Downtown Yonge BIA – where a large part of OpenStreetsTO was held – told CBC Toronto that the team is open to having a conversation about the event's return, as long as appropriate planning is done to accommodate the community's other needs, such as reducing traffic congestion. 

WATCH | Toronto announces $2.5M in funding for summer cultural festivals:

What you need to know about Toronto's summer festivals 

10 days ago

Duration 2:23

Toronto has announced over $2.5 million in funding for 64 recipients putting on cultural events, including Pride Festival and the Caribbean Carnival.

While the pandemic and a lack of strong political support may have stopped the program for now, Simor says bringing it back is not impossible. 

"I think the community of organizations who came together to make it happen and to sustain it still very much have all the knowledge and expertise of running it," he said.

"All the pieces are still there for Open Streets to continue in Toronto."

Meanwhile, Zaichkowski is encouraging residents to reach out to the mayor and their councillors, asking for their support to bring OpenStreetsTO back.

"I just find Open Streets brings everybody together to walk, bike and do other forms of physical activity," he said. "It's such a pleasant atmosphere where you could try almost anything."