I'm ashamed that I just heard of Afrofest (despite having lived in Toronto before). Honestly though, reading about it in the news coverage, it sounds unbelievable. Here I am being like "i should really visit Toronto and see this festival", and here the city is trying to curtail it. How does that make any sense?
N
Nicholas muturi
10 years ago
Make it 100001 am IN.
C
Chinedu Ukabam
10 years ago
Today is St. Paddy's Day in Toronto. For alot of people it's going to be alot of fun. There's going to be a lot of green and vaguely Irish tropes. There's also going to be alot of drinking (and the complementary belligerence that sometimes comes with that) and ALOT of noise. I live on top of an Irish pub. They probably have the heated tents set up already and the noise of the eager patrons queued up outside would already be loud enough before the music kicks in. Once the thumping EDM music gets going there's absolutely no hope of getting a goodnight's sleep. Were I in town tonight, I would have made other plans or simply made peace with my predicament. It is highly unlikely I would go down and join the party on my own. All in all, tonight's festivities are usually a big inconvenience for me. It would never occur to me to call the police to enforce noise levels or file a noise complaint about the bar or St. Patrick's. I believe living in a multicultural city is a balancing act of compromise. My temporary discomfort or personal hang ups should not decide how or what other people choose to celebrate in my neighborhood if they are within the law and within reason.
....
Councillor McMahon sounds exasperated that Afrofest keeps coming up with excuses to extend their curfew or exceed noise levels. According to her, first it was Mandela's death and then it was Pan-Am games (As if these are not major world events). She is having the wrong conversation entirely. The problem that I see is not that Afrofest has to ask for exceptions. The problem is that after nearly 30 years one of the city's most multicultural festivals is STILL asking for piecemeal exceptions instead of being "grandfathered" in and properly institutionalized like events-turned-organisations such as TIFF have managed to do. Councillor McMahon needs to get over this tired mindset that she is doing Afrofest a favor by giving them the keys to Woodbine Park and they better play nice or she will take the keys
L
Lee-Anne Maier
10 years ago
I can hear it from my house and I don't mind!
F
Fotini L
10 years ago
Important, important, important festival!! We would never think of not have Taste of the Danforth!
N
Njacko Backo
10 years ago
When it comes to diversity and celebrating culture and arts, Afrofest is the best festival that Toronto has. Please City of Toronto, don't deprive people of their joy.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I can hear the music from up north of the Danforth...but I hear every concert in Woodbine Park. I don't recall the music running too late in years past. What I do remember is attending with my toddler. Great family friendly event!
I
Iesha Lawson
10 years ago
If this was anything but a African / black festival this wouldn't happen.
G
George Onen
10 years ago
One day Afrofest is a discrimination against black people that needs to stop.A lot of festivals close roads in Toronto and no body complain about it.Am signing this petition to make sure a 2 day Afrofest continue.
K
Kaimuri Karunge
10 years ago
Not fair!
P
Purity Karunge
10 years ago
Not fair
A
Abdoulaye Niamou
10 years ago
Let's celebrate being african
J
Joanna Nagiel
10 years ago
Please do not shorten the festival. It is vital to Black community to educate about their roots and music. It's is shamefull that you even attempt to hurt such important cultural event!!!!
B
Bridget Tougas
10 years ago
I live in the neighbourhood of woodbine park and we love this festival and its peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere
G
Greg Davidson
10 years ago
We need take back and retain our Heritage, we need to support our culture at all cost and always stand up and fight the social and political oppressors that wish to discriminate against us by stereotypical condemnation.
J
Jeff Good
10 years ago
This should be a two day event!
I
Irene njoroge
10 years ago
Please save Afrofest, it is the only way we connect with our African culture and showcase that to our friends here in Toronto
L
Laurie Townshend
10 years ago
This response from the City is paternalistic and insulting. #shame
M
Marilyn Jay
10 years ago
I've been to a zillion festivals and concerts, from the '60s until about 2005. I worked at AfroFest for several years and attended many other years until it moved to Woodbine and no shade. I have NEVER seen a festival or concert with less trouble, drunkeness, fighting and so on. Special duty cops never had anything to do but flirt with gorgeous women. I can't comment specifically on recent years, but can't imagine that it has changed that much. Why does AfroFest always get so much grief?
What's next....Caribana?
I'm ashamed that I just heard of Afrofest (despite having lived in Toronto before). Honestly though, reading about it in the news coverage, it sounds unbelievable. Here I am being like "i should really visit Toronto and see this festival", and here the city is trying to curtail it. How does that make any sense?
Make it 100001 am IN.
Today is St. Paddy's Day in Toronto. For alot of people it's going to be alot of fun. There's going to be a lot of green and vaguely Irish tropes. There's also going to be alot of drinking (and the complementary belligerence that sometimes comes with that) and ALOT of noise. I live on top of an Irish pub. They probably have the heated tents set up already and the noise of the eager patrons queued up outside would already be loud enough before the music kicks in. Once the thumping EDM music gets going there's absolutely no hope of getting a goodnight's sleep. Were I in town tonight, I would have made other plans or simply made peace with my predicament. It is highly unlikely I would go down and join the party on my own. All in all, tonight's festivities are usually a big inconvenience for me. It would never occur to me to call the police to enforce noise levels or file a noise complaint about the bar or St. Patrick's. I believe living in a multicultural city is a balancing act of compromise. My temporary discomfort or personal hang ups should not decide how or what other people choose to celebrate in my neighborhood if they are within the law and within reason. .... Councillor McMahon sounds exasperated that Afrofest keeps coming up with excuses to extend their curfew or exceed noise levels. According to her, first it was Mandela's death and then it was Pan-Am games (As if these are not major world events). She is having the wrong conversation entirely. The problem that I see is not that Afrofest has to ask for exceptions. The problem is that after nearly 30 years one of the city's most multicultural festivals is STILL asking for piecemeal exceptions instead of being "grandfathered" in and properly institutionalized like events-turned-organisations such as TIFF have managed to do. Councillor McMahon needs to get over this tired mindset that she is doing Afrofest a favor by giving them the keys to Woodbine Park and they better play nice or she will take the keys
I can hear it from my house and I don't mind!
Important, important, important festival!! We would never think of not have Taste of the Danforth!
When it comes to diversity and celebrating culture and arts, Afrofest is the best festival that Toronto has. Please City of Toronto, don't deprive people of their joy.
I can hear the music from up north of the Danforth...but I hear every concert in Woodbine Park. I don't recall the music running too late in years past. What I do remember is attending with my toddler. Great family friendly event!
If this was anything but a African / black festival this wouldn't happen.
One day Afrofest is a discrimination against black people that needs to stop.A lot of festivals close roads in Toronto and no body complain about it.Am signing this petition to make sure a 2 day Afrofest continue.
Not fair!
Not fair
Let's celebrate being african
Please do not shorten the festival. It is vital to Black community to educate about their roots and music. It's is shamefull that you even attempt to hurt such important cultural event!!!!
I live in the neighbourhood of woodbine park and we love this festival and its peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere
We need take back and retain our Heritage, we need to support our culture at all cost and always stand up and fight the social and political oppressors that wish to discriminate against us by stereotypical condemnation.
This should be a two day event!
Please save Afrofest, it is the only way we connect with our African culture and showcase that to our friends here in Toronto
This response from the City is paternalistic and insulting. #shame
I've been to a zillion festivals and concerts, from the '60s until about 2005. I worked at AfroFest for several years and attended many other years until it moved to Woodbine and no shade. I have NEVER seen a festival or concert with less trouble, drunkeness, fighting and so on. Special duty cops never had anything to do but flirt with gorgeous women. I can't comment specifically on recent years, but can't imagine that it has changed that much. Why does AfroFest always get so much grief?