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Mayor John Tory and Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Ward 21 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee, launched ShowLoveTO in association with Founding Sponsor American Express and in partnership with Destination Toronto, to encourage local tourism and foster community engagement and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. ShowLoveTO is a local initiative that will encourage residents to show their love for Toronto by safely connecting with neighbours, supporting local businesses and artists, and exploring their city neighbourhoods to help rebuild the social and economic fabric of Toronto. Launching with a series of City-led events, ShowLoveTO will also embrace and include events from organizations throughout the city offering a series of experiences that welcome Torontonians back to their city. Initiatives will be delivered with guidance from Toronto Public Health to provide a safer environment for participants. The following ShowLoveTO initiatives will engage Toronto residents this fall: BigArtTO, a city-wide temporary public art initiative involving large-scale projections in each of the City’s 25 wards, will animate Toronto neighbourhoods. Starting September 16, BigArtTO will provide opportunities for local artists and set the stage for ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021. StrollTO will feature self-guided itineraries for each of the City’s 25 wards to motivate residents to actively discover the unexplored shops, stops, places and spaces on their local main streets, starting September 18. Residents will become tourists as they stroll Toronto’s unique neighbourhoods. DineOutTO, a partnership between Destination Toronto and the City, will celebrate Toronto’s culinary community and support the industry’s economic recovery. The city-wide promotion will showcase Toronto’s diverse food culture through a digital platform offering content, special offers and unique culinary experiences from September 23 to October 30. Restaurants can register for free online . HistoricTO, time-ticketed, guided neighbourhood walking tours anchored at Toronto History Museums, connects Toronto’s communities by providing equitable and inclusive access to local history, heritage and land-based learnings. Pay-what-you-can tickets are available now until October 18 and must be booked in advance . CaféTO launched this summer to provide more outdoor dining areas to help eligible restaurants and bars create physical distancing for patio patrons. The program currently supports 760 restaurants and bars in 58 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). The program has installed 407 curb lane closures (occupying 9,015 square metres), created 44 public parklets and added 374 curb ramps for improved accessibility. More information is available.

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