2026.TE32.46 · Ward 13 (Toronto Centre)
Pedestrianizing Church Street Pilot
Decided by City Council on May 21, 2026, with changes to what was recommended. See the steps
Can I have a say?
A decision has been made on this item and the official page lists no open comment period. You can still contact your councillor, or watch for any follow-up report.
In plain language
Tap a sentence to see the exact words it comes from. Each sentence says which step it is from: a staff recommendation, a committee recommendation, or the final Council decision.
What is proposed or decided
The Community Council recommends closing Church Street to cars for a street event. City Council would let Transportation Services approve it. It would run from June 19 to August 21, 2026. [1]From the Toronto and East York Community Council recommendation (April 30, 2026)
“City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to approve a Street Event, despite any section of Chapter 743 to the contrary, to facilitate Church Street Pedestrianization Plan / Village Fest requiring the closure of Church Street to vehicular traffic, between Wellesley Street East and Alexander Street, but not including east-west intersections, from June 19, 2026 to August 21, 2026, inclusive”
Source [1]: Toronto and East York Community Council decision (2026-04-30). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source. The Community Council recommends that City Council ask for a study of the closure. Transportation Services would look at who took part, road safety, and social and economic benefits. It would also look at risks and public safety. [2]From the Toronto and East York Community Council recommendation (April 30, 2026)
“City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to evaluate outcomes of the temporary closure of Church Street, including levels of community participation and engagement, improvements in road safety, and overall social and economic benefits, alongside risks and public safety impacts”
Source [2]: Toronto and East York Community Council decision (2026-04-30). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source. City Council let Transportation Services approve a street event that closes Church Street to cars. It runs from June 19 to August 21, 2026. [4]From the City Council decision (May 21, 2026)
“City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to approve a Street Event, despite any section of Chapter 743 to the contrary, to facilitate Church Street Pedestrianization Plan/Village Fest requiring the closure of Church Street to vehicular traffic, between Wellesley Street East and Alexander Street, but not including east-west intersections, from June 19, 2026 to August 21, 2026, inclusive”
Source [4]: City Council decision (2026-05-20). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source. City Council asked Transportation Services to study the closure, working with Economic Development and Culture. The study looks at who took part, road safety, and social and economic benefits. It also looks at risks and public safety. [5]From the City Council decision (May 21, 2026)
“City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to evaluate outcomes of the temporary closure of Church Street, including levels of community participation and engagement, improvements in road safety, and overall social and economic benefits, alongside risks and public safety impacts”
Source [5]: City Council decision (2026-05-20). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source.
Who and where it affects
The closure applies to Church Street between Wellesley and Alexander, excluding the cross streets. [8]From the City Council decision (May 21, 2026)
“closure of Church Street to vehicular traffic, between Wellesley Street East and Alexander Street, but not including east-west intersections”
Source [8]: City Council decision (2026-05-20). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source.
Conditions, limits and amounts
The Community Council recommends that City Council waive fees for the street event. These are the application and permit fees for the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area. [3]From the Toronto and East York Community Council recommendation (April 30, 2026)
“City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to waive the application and permit fees charged in relation to any application by the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area for a Street Event requiring the closure of portions of Church Street, between Wellesley Street and Alexander Street, not including east-west intersections, for the period June 19 to August 21, 2026”
Source [3]: Toronto and East York Community Council decision (2026-04-30). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source. City Council told Transportation Services to waive the fees. These are the application and permit fees for the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area's street event, from June 19 to August 21, 2026. [6]From the City Council decision (May 21, 2026)
“City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to waive the application and permit fees charged in relation to any application by the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area for a Street Event requiring the closure of portions of Church Street, between Wellesley Street and Alexander Street, not including east-west intersections, for the period June 19 to August 21, 2026”
Source [6]: City Council decision (2026-05-20). Quoted exactly as it appears in the source. City Council let Transportation Services cancel the closure if needed. Reasons could be public safety, emergency response times, traffic problems, or not following the permit's conditions. [7]From the City Council decision (May 21, 2026)
Drafted with AI from the official records, checked by code and a second AI pass, and approved by a person on November 14, 2026. Reading level of these sentences: about grade 10.
What changed between steps
Code compares the official wording of each step with the next, part by part (no AI). It shows changes in wording only; for what a change means, read the official record. Struck-through words were removed. Underlined words were added.
From the Toronto and East York Community Council to the City Council (May 21, 2026)
Kept word for word: parts 1, 2, 3. Reworded: none. Added: part 4. Removed: none. Part numbers are those in the City Council.
Added: new part 4
City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to, if required, cancel the temporary closure of Church Street on the basis of unacceptable impacts or concerns related to public safety or security, emergency service response times, traffic-related operational concerns, or non-compliance with any conditions attached to the permit authorizing the closure, in consultation with, as appropriate, the Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services, the Chief Congestion Officer, and/or the Chief of Toronto Police Service.
How it got here, step by step
Council items move through steps. Usually City staff write a report with recommendations (some items start from a councillor's letter instead). A committee (or board) considers it and recommends what City Council should do. City Council makes the final decision and can change what was recommended. The coloured tags on the sentences above say which of these steps each one comes from.
Step 1. Toronto and East York Community Council
RecommendationApril 30, 2026
This committee recommends what City Council should do. Council can change it.
Result: Adopted without amendment
Vote on the whole item: Carried, 6–0 (Adopt Item) · details
Motion as recorded: “Majority required - TE32.46 - Moise - Adopt the Item”
April 30, 2026. Source: Toronto Open Data: Members of Toronto City Council - Voting Record.
Step 2. City Council
Final decisionMay 21, 2026
City Council made the final decision.
Result: Adopted with amendments
Vote on a change (amendment): Carried, 16–8 (Amend Item (Additional)) · details
Motion as recorded: “Majority required - TE32,46 - Bradford - motion 1”
May 21, 2026 at 9:37 p.m. Source: Toronto Open Data: Members of Toronto City Council - Voting Record.
Carried, 20–4