It was called “Abolish Police in Canada: A Pride Rally and Teach-in.”īeverly Bain, an organizer and coalition spokesperson, said the event was an attempt to take Pride back to its political roots and to call for the abolition of police services across the country. The No Pride in Policing Coalition, comprised of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), queer and transgender groups, organized the event. Not bad for an event that wasn’t even supposed to happen this year after the city announced in March it was cancelling all major events and festivals, through June 30 to combat the spread of COVID-19.īut there was nothing virtual about the 1,000 people who gathered at Nathan Phillips Square, the forecourt of Toronto City Hall, at an event organized by the No Pride in Policing Coalition (NPPC), calling for a 50 per cent cut to the Toronto Police Service budget. Gay Pride Toronto started in 1981, and since then it has evolved. Protesters hold signs at a rally in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday to show their opposition to police violence in Canada. June 01 - 26, 2022 Pride Toronto Toronto Gay Pride is one of the largest Pride celebrations in North America and has become a major Canadian arts and cultural event.