A news story today is reporting that an infant tragically died days after attending the parade to celebrate the Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA Championship title. The death of a child is always tragic and the City of Toronto, its agencies and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) express their deepest condolences to the baby’s parents and family for their loss.
Here is what is currently known by the City and the Toronto Police Service about this tragic event. On June 17, a mother attended the parade and was on University Avenue at York Street, just north of Front Street with her infant. At approximately 1:30 p.m., the mother noticed her child was suddenly unresponsive and called out for help.
Paramedics began attending to the infant. A radio call went out for a medical distress and a nearby Toronto Police SUV with two Toronto Police Service employees including an officer and a civilian arrived and rushed the paramedics and the infant to hospital, arriving in 6 minutes. According to those involved, the baby was initially vital signs absent however, regained vital signs that afternoon. Sadly, the infant passed away on June 19.
Reports that neither medics nor police could get to the baby are unfounded. The infant arrived at hospital in 6 minutes from the police arriving at the scene.
On June 17, a parade and rally was held for Toronto Raptors fans – and Raptors players – to come together to celebrate Canada’s first-ever NBA Championship, where approximately two million people gathered to see the players, coaches and team management make their way from Exhibition Place to Nathan Phillips Square (NPS), with 100,000 people attending the rally on and near NPS.
Staff from MLSE, City Transportation, Police, Fire, Paramedics, Special Events, Solid Waste Management, Communications, the Office of Emergency Management, TTC, GO Transit, Exhibition Place and the Toronto Parking Authority met days later to discuss the need for a more proactive celebration plan in future, including parade logistics, improved public safety measures, and improved information-sharing for those in attendance, especially for those who attended the rally on NPS.
An organizing committee will be struck to plan future celebrations, in addition to an events and security consultant with experience in staging similar civic events of this nature being engaged.
Media contacts:
City of Toronto – Brad Ross, 416-919-6500
Toronto Police Service – Allison Sparkes, 416-808-7100
MLSE – Dave Haggith, 416-450-1681