🌈 Join the Eastern Synod at the Toronto Pride Parade!
The Eastern Synod Office staff invites you, your members, and your friends to walk with us in Christ’s love at the upcoming Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28!
We are excited to gather as a community to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the beautiful truth that God’s Love Belongs To Everyone. Whether you want to join us for a full day of worship and fellowship or just come out for the march, we would love to have you by our side.
Here is everything you need to know about the day’s schedule and how to find us:
🗓️ The Day’s Schedule
- 10:30 AM – Morning Worship & Reception
- Kick off the day at First Lutheran Church (116 Bond Street) for a meaningful pride worship service, followed by a reception. Please feel free to be your fabulous self!
- After Worship – Lunch & Street Fair
- Following the reception, marchers are invited to grab some lunch and/or explore the Street Fair.
- Afternoon – Watching the Parade Together
- Before it’s our turn to march, we will find a spot near the corner of Bloor Street and Yonge Street to watch and cheer on the earlier parade contingents.
- 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Load-In & Gathering
- Official registration will occur at Aylmer Avenue and Yonge Street.
- Marchers can join the Synod contingent anytime during this window. Look for the large Eastern Synod flag so you can easily identify our group! Registrants will also be invited to sign up for a WhatsApp Group to ensure timely day-of communications.
- 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Approx.) – Step-Off Time
- We expect to hit the parade route and start marching between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM.
- The walk itself will take approximately 1 hour and will conclude at Nathan Phillips Square.
🎒 What to Bring
To ensure you have a safe and comfortable afternoon, please remember to bring:
- Comfortable shoes
- Sunscreen
- A hat and sunglasses
- Plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Snacks to keep your energy up
🚆 Navigating the City: Take Transit!
Whether you are commuting from within Toronto or travelling into the city from the Kitchener-Waterloo area, we strongly encourage everyone to use public transit. Due to the massive scale of the Pride Parade, there will be extensive road closures across the downtown core, making driving incredibly frustrating and parking nearly impossible.
- Coming from Kitchener/Out of Town: Consider taking the GO Transit Kitchener line into Union Station, or driving to an end-of-line subway station with a large commuter lot (like Finch or Kipling) and taking the subway in. Bonus: Metrolinx’s “One Fare” program means your local transit transfer to the TTC is free when using your PRESTO card or credit/debit tap!
- Getting to Morning Worship: First Lutheran Church is located right downtown on Bond Street. Take TTC Line 1 (Yonge-University) to TMU Station, and it is just a short 5-minute walk east.
- Getting to the Parade Load-In: When it is time to meet at 4:00 PM (Aylmer and Yonge), take TTC Line 1 north to Rosedale Station. Aylmer Avenue is located directly across the street from the station exit, making it the easiest way to find us without battling street-level crowds!
Let’s make our presence known! Wear your Synod Pride Shirt (or brightest colours), bring your joyful spirits, and let’s march together as a visible reminder of God’s inclusive love.
For any questions or to let us know your congregation plans to attend, please contact Rev. Adam Snook in the Synod Office. We can’t wait to see you there!