Overview

• The Little Jamaica BIA announced on Instagram that the Aug. 30–31 festival on Eglinton Ave. W. will not proceed this year.
• Organizers cited funding shortfalls and permit challenges as the reasons for the last-minute decision.
• The City of Toronto says it did not issue a street event permit because required plans for the site, traffic management, and security were not submitted in time.
• City staff say they proposed alternate locations or dates to allow more preparation, but organizers did not pursue those options.
• The festival received $15,000 through the City’s Cultural Festivals Funding Program, and the BIA says it will work toward future events as Toronto sees other cancellations such as Taste of the Danforth, Tamil Fest, and Oktoberfest.