Caribbean Carnival—one of Toronto’s biggest festivals—is this weekend and police say they’re confident the event will be safe in the wake of the deadly Salsa on St. Clair shooting earlier this month.
“This year, I know public safety, especially safety at festivals and events, will be top of mind for many people,” Chief Supt. Andy Singh said at a briefing about the event Friday. “Street festivals and annual events like Caribbean Carnival are a vital part of Toronto’s identity, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure safety and security of attendees.”
Organizers of the three-day event say they’re expecting to see over one million visitors this weekend, culminating in the Grand Parade in an around Exhibition Place on Saturday.
In the wake of the July 11 shooting, which left two people dead during the packed festival on St. Clair Avenue West, Singh said police have reviewed their operation plans, and enhanced security measures “where appropriate.”
“We’ll have a strong, visible police presence at Carnival events throughout the downtown core and waterfront this weekend. Officers will be deployed across key locations to support public safety, manage crowds and traffic, and respond quickly should an incident occur.”
Singh underscored that police will have a “significant footprint” at this year’s event, including the use of two drones along the parade route and major parts of the city to give officers an aerial view of area.
Police offer tips to stay safe
Insp. Joe Matys also spoke at Friday’s news conference, and shared tips to Carnival attendees to stay safe this weekend.
“We encourage everyone attending Carnival to remain aware of their surroundings, have a plan for meeting with family and friends if you get separated, report anything suspicious to a police officer or event staff, and in an emergency, call 911,” he said.
Matys reminded guests to keep their cell phones secured, as cell phone theft is one of the most common crime police see during large-scale events in the city.
Beyond that, he said, as celebrations continue into the evening, police expect increased activity in the downtown core at restaurants and bars and additional officers will be deployed as a result.
