The federal government should be stepping up to help financially support the Taste of the Danforth festival, say the signatories of an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney. In the note, dated Aug. 2, two dozen current and former MPs, MPPs, and city councillors along with local stakeholders and community leaders expressed their “profound disappointment” that Ottawa is not providing funding for this year’s event. “We are actively involved in numerous community initiatives and span different political parties. However, we all agree on this: a Strong Taste of the Danforth needs federal backing, and we respectfully ask for your assistance,” they wrote. “We respectfully request that your government demonstrate the political leadership required to help secure the revival of the Taste of the Danforth.” Festival returns after 2-year hiatus The popular festival, which runs along Danforth Avenue from Broadview to Jones avenues, was cancelled for the past two years but is making a return in 2026. It will run from Aug. 7 to 9, thanks to a one-time funding injection of $200,000 from the province, which was then matched by the city. In 2024, Taste of the Danforth was called off after organizers emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with an almost $250,000 deficit, coupled with other “funding constraints.” The GreekTown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) said at the time that Taste of the Danforth needed a new title sponsor to push through, as the levy approved by its members would not be enough to cover the cost. The BIA has not officially confirmed why there was no festival held in 2025. ‘Severe budget pressure’ While the funding received this year from the municipal and provincial level of governments is appreciated, the signatories say they’re “disheartened” the federal government has not followed suit, especially since local corporate funding for the festival has been “heavily impacted” by the FIFA World Cup, “leaving this community festival with severe budget pressure.” “Private sector sponsors redirected their budgets exclusively toward soccer event initiatives, creating an immediate funding vacuum for Taste of the Danforth. Adding to this reality, the recent number of safety incidents in our city have created unplanned operational costs, making additional funding necessary to secure the venue and protect attendees,” the letter reads, adding in previous years the feds had supported Taste of the Danforth through then-local MP Dennis Mills. “We understand that, to date, only a couple of exploratory conversations and meetings have taken place (with the federal government). These efforts fall short of the hopes and expectations of the organizing committee and the countless stakeholders involved.” Organizers are saying this year’s edition of Taste of the Danforth, whihc is the largest street festival in Canada, will be “bigger and better than ever before.” They say there will be food from more than 100 restaurants, more than 100 performers and “exciting new attractions.” CP24 has reached out to the Greektown on the Danforth BIA and the Prime Minister’s office for comment. With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar and CTV News Toronto’s Allison Hurst
