The Stronger TOgether program recognizes impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on all Torontonians with a suite of free and accessible initiatives that honour the resiliency and perseverance of the entire community – particularly those who were disproportionately affected and those who continue to live with the effects of the pandemic.
The program launched on November 26, 2022, with a commemorative illumination of Toronto City Hall.
Stronger TOgether provides relevant and meaningful ways for Toronto residents to collectively:
Team Toronto continues to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and over 2.5 million Toronto residents have completed their primary series of vaccines. All COVID-19 vaccine data is available on the Toronto Public Health Vaccine Dashboard.
The program includes the following below. Sign up for the Celebrate Toronto eNewsletter to receive email updates about Stronger TOgether programming.
The Toronto Community Champion Award recognizes and acknowledges the extraordinary contributions that community organizations have made to support the health and solidarity of the residents of the City of Toronto throughout the pandemic.
This award shines a spotlight on organizations across the city that made a positive and lasting impact on individuals and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those in most vulnerable areas and populations. Stories of resilience, perseverance and strength are worthy of recognition, for they honour the collective commitment and unwavering determination of our communities to support each other through some of the most unprecedented of times our city has ever experienced.
The following organizations were honoured from over 260 nominations at an award ceremony on March 20, 2023, for their outstanding contribution to Toronto over the last three years.
Etobicoke
North York
Scarborough
Downtown
City-wide
Transforming Grief: Loss & Togetherness in COVID-19 exhibition is a free and accessible program that provides opportunities for people across the city to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on recognizing disproportionately affected communities and those who continue to live with the effects of the pandemic.
The exhibition brings together interviews, art and artifacts. They represent the collective voices of community members, artists, front-line workers, activists and volunteers, and convey how we experienced and continue to experience the pandemic. These are their stories, your stories and our stories.
Learn more about the exhibition, on view at Fort York Visitor Centre from March 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024.
The Burn is an interactive installation that provides a place for transformation, healing and letting go. From January 19 to March 11, the installation’s vessels toured the city, inspiring Torontonians to set healing intentions on wooden spheres.
On March 11, the third anniversary of the official start of the pandemic, a commemorative ceremony featuring The Burn took place at Nathan Phillips Square in memory of lives lost. It was followed by a 24-hour interactive public art experience and wellness programming.
Ashes from the burn were harvested, and will be mixed into soil and spread across city gardens to honour the spirit of our collective healing.
Learn more about The Burn.
From November 26, 2022, through February 20, 2023 (Family Day), an illumination of the Toronto City Hall towers was incorporated into the lighting design of Nathan Phillips Square. The illumination featured sky beams and gradient lighting features on the towers that symbolized and celebrated the collective response by Toronto residents to support each other through and following the pandemic. Light is a symbol of the vibrancy of life, and the lighting colours chosen for the Illumination installation represented our hope for the future, unity of purpose, strength in the face of adversity and renewal of our city and its residents.
On December 31, 2022, the City marked the new year with high-altitude fireworks along downtown Toronto’s waterfront. This event was an opportunity for residents to gather and celebrate their resiliency throughout the pandemic together.
The fireworks display acted as a symbol of hope for the coming year and acknowledged the city’s front-line workers.
