Pride Toronto strives to make our festival footprint, materials, and events as accessible as possible! Each year, we are committed to continually increasing access to ensure our communities’ needs are met. Pride Toronto offers an Accessibility Hub, or ASH for short, which is the main hub for all things accessibility! It is located at Church St and Wellesley St, we’ve got everything you need to make your Pride experience amazing. At the ASH you can find information on what events have ASL interpreters, where our mobility aid friendly washrooms are located, and much more. For any questions please head to the ASH which is open during the Festival Weekend on:
- Friday, June 23, 2023: 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
- Saturday, June 24, 2023: 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm
- Sunday, June 25, 2023: 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to accessibility@pridetoronto.com and for information about accessibility year-round, visit Accessibility 365.
Pride Toronto accessibility services include the following:
Mobility services
- Mobility aids will be available throughout the festival weekend and can be requested in person at the ASH.
- Examples of mobility aids include wheelchairs and rollators.
- Mobility aids can be used from the time the ASH opens until it closes and must be returned at the end of each day.
- Pride Toronto does not ask for proof of accessibility needs to access any mobility services.
Designated Accessibility Areas
- At designated spots along the Parade route, we will have accessibility risers or viewing areas.
- There will be designated Attendant Care Workers at risers for the Parade.
To find the locations of our accessible risers, check out the intersections below:
American Sign Language (ASL) English Interpreters & Attendant Care Workers:
- Designated events will have ASL interpreters booked for those stages.
- There will also be ASL interpreters at ASH who will be able to answer your questions or concerns directly.
- Attendant Care Workers are certified care professionals who are able to provide services for those in need.
Interpreters
Pride Toronto is organizing a variety of accessibility services for our upcoming events during the festival. Below are the dates, times, and locations for the performance interpreters at the festival:
TD Main Stage for Opening Ceremony and Wake ‘Em Up,
including Saucy Santana
6:30pm – 11:00 pm
Bud Light Wellesley Stage for brOWN///out
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Bud Light Wellesley Stage for Blocko After Dark
Including Pamputtae
10:00pm – 1:00am
Rogers South Stage for Catalyst (Two-Spirit Pride)
with Amanda Rheume
10:00pm – 11:00pm
TD Main Stage for Bright Lights: Closing Ceremony
with Lights
9:30pm – 11:00pm
Bud Light Wellesley Stage for Blockorama Main Show
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Bud Light Wellesley Stage for Nadia Batson.
8:30pm -10:30pm
In addition, we will offer Interpreters for the following rallies:
Church and Hayden Street for the Trans Rally.
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Church and Hayden Street for the Dyke Rally
1:00pm – 3:00pm.
We will also offer roaming Interpreters on-site as-needed from Friday, June 23rd to Sunday, June 25th.
Attendant Care Workers
If you require assistance, an Attendant Care Worker will be able to help; however, they will not assist with lifting or personal care. If you have more questions, please visit the Accessibility Services Hub. Below are the dates, times, and locations for all the Attendant Care Workers at the festival:
NPS: Main Stage
2 Attendant Care Workers
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Wellesley Stage
2 Attendant Care Workers
7:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Trans March Rally + March
1 Attendant Care Worker
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Trans March Riser
1 Attendant Care Worker
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Accessibility Hub
1 Attendant Care Worker
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Dyke March Rally + March
1 Attendant Care Worker
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Dyke March Riser
1 Attendant Care Worker
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
NPS: Main Stage
1 Attendant Care Worker
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
NPS: Main Stage
2 Attendant Care Workers
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Wellesley Stage
1 Attendant Care Worker
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Wellesley Stage
2 Attendant Care Workers
7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Accessibility Hub
1 Attendant Care Worker
1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
NPS: Main Stage
1 Attendant Care Worker
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
NPS: Main Stage
2 Attendant Care Workers
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Wellesley Stage
1 Attendant Care Worker
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wellesley Stage
2 Attendant Care Workers
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Parade Risers
1 Attendant Care Worker Per Riser
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Accessibility Hub
1 Attendant Care Worker
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Barriers To Prepare For
The festival itself is going to take place outdoors so please be aware of the climate and landscape of the event itself. Barriers to prepare for include, but are not limited to:
- Buildings – Not all of the buildings on or around the festival footprint are accessible.
- Sidewalks/Roads – Sidewalk and road conditions are also something outside of the scope of the Pride Toronto Festival which means that we can not lay down coverings over potholes, cracks, or other structures to help increase mobility access.
- Construction – If there is any construction going on during the festival weekend we want to make sure anyone attending can appropriately prepare for the potential barriers that could cause.
- Large Crowds – Pride Toronto is a large festival that frequently attracts many attendees each year.
- Outdoor Weather – Pride Toronto runs our festival outdoors in all weather conditions, so be aware of environmental conditions, such as extreme heat.
Mental Health
At Pride Toronto, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has a happy, healthy, and memorable experience. However, we are aware that Pride season can be a difficult and a emotionally charged time for members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Accordingly, we want to acknowledge that Pride is not always going to be easy for many people, and we seek to connect individuals to the services to they need.
Remember that your mental health comes first, please take care of yourself at the festival, and throughout Pride month. Do not overcommit! If there will be difficult times, do not hesitate to take it slow and relax. Pride Toronto volunteers and staff are here to support you! Do not hesitate to find us at the festival, or indeed, at any of our events if you have any questions or concerns.
While we are available and happy to help you in whatever way we can throughout Pride Month, if you require professional assistance, please see the following resources unaffiliated with Pride Toronto.
