Mayor John Tory launches ShowLoveTO to support recovery of 6ix businesses and communities

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TORONTO, ON., Sept. 16, 2020 — The City is encouraging Torontonians to support and show love for ‘The 6ix.’ Today, Mayor John Tory and Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson 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.

“This is our moment to show love to the places, spaces, businesses and people that make Toronto such a vibrant, dynamic and diverse city. ShowLoveTO is our way of bringing Torontonians together and providing them new opportunities to experience our great city,” said Mayor Tory. “I know these past six months have been challenging and we are not through it yet, but together, following Toronto Public Health’s direction, we can safely re-engage with our city and be a part of rebuilding it even better than before,” adds Tory.

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 .

ShowLoveTO is produced by the City of Toronto in association with Founding Sponsor American Express. ShowLoveTO programs are sponsored by: Panasonic Canada Inc., LEGO Systems, Inc., The Carpenters and Allied Workers Local 27, Bell, Downtown AutoGroup, and Equinix. ShowLoveTO programs are possible with the support of OCAD University, AVA Animation & Visual Arts Inc. and The Bentway, and Media Partners CHUM 104.5, Virgin Radio and Newstalk 1010.

The City has partnered with Destination Toronto to create partner programs to encourage local tourism and drive economic recovery and civic engagement. ShowLoveTO is one of a number of key initiatives that the City has delivered since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March to help Toronto’s restart and recovery.

As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, residents are reminded to adhere to Toronto Public Health’s advice to stay home when they are ill, wash their hands often, stay within their social bubble of no more than 10 people, practise physical distancing with those outside of their social bubble, and wear a mask or face covering where mandatory or when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Wearing a mask or face covering is required in all indoor public spaces in Toronto.

Residents can learn about what to expect and what is required as Toronto moves into the new normal and they begin to visit more establishments and take part in more activities.

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check here for answers to commonly asked questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.

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