Shamrocks, slainte take to Toronto streets

The streets of Toronto will once again be lined with people sporting green, white and orange as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes over the heart of downtown on the big day — March 17. 

The parade has become a staple in Toronto since 1988 following a 110-year hiatus imposed due to the annual ruckus caused by the parade as Catholic-Protestant brawlers spilled out into the streets in a long-gone era. Now, the afternoon full of music, dance, camaraderie, entertainment and, of course, an array of festive parade floats is a measuring stick in terms of celebration for Ireland’s history, culture and longstanding heritage in the city of Toronto.

The revived celebration of Irish-Canadian culture debuted back in 1988 and has become a mainstay event for decades, give or take a few years when it was put on hold for a handful of reasons. 

“The parade was cancelled way back when ‘The Troubles’ were going on in Ireland,” recalled Shaun Ruddy, chair of St. Patrick’s Parade Society, referring to the longstanding Catholic-Protestant conflict in Northern Ireland that has mostly subsided since the Good Friday Accord was signed in 1998. “Then William McCormack, the chief of police for Toronto at the time, was the one who permitted it to go back onto the streets. We were also one of the first major events to close because of COVID as well. It was two days before the parade and we had to shut it down. We had a two-year hiatus but we’re back stronger than ever now.”

The good times will continue to roll this year with upwards of 4,000 people set to take part across more than 100 different parade entries. Floats will marshall at Varsity Stadium at St. George and Bloor Street West before heading east on Bloor, turning south on Yonge Street and finishing at Dundas Street where the society is expecting a “big finale.” 

While the St. Patrick’s Day Parade prides itself on celebrating and showcasing the best of Irish culture, whether it be through music, marching or food and drink, the event has grown over the years to include a diverse selection of marchers that show support through their connections to Ireland and Canada.

“We are considered the largest, most diverse, inclusive community parade in the city as recognized by foreign governments,” said Ruddy. “You’ll see the Mexican folklore dancers, you’ve got the Ukrainian marching band, the Filipino heritage band, you’ve got the Jamaican steel drums, the Chinese dragons from the People’s Republic of China — we’ve got a little bit of it all, and that’s the beauty of it.” 

This year’s Grand Marshal is Brian Burke, the former Toronto Maple Leafs’ president and general manager from 2008 to 2013. As Grand Marshal, Burke will lead the parade through the streets.  

Burke is also of Irish descent, with lineage going back to County Roscommon and County Mayo, according to SaltWire. Even if he wasn’t, Ruddy joked that he wouldn’t be too far out of place.

“They say that either you’re Irish, you wish you were Irish or you have no ambitions at all on that day,” he quipped. 

Apart from Burke, the Toronto Professional Firefighters Association will be collecting cash and canned goods on the parade route in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank.

The society is already warning those interested in attending to plan accordingly for travel, with the event growing in size each year. Metrolinx has reported a spike in expected ridership trends for GO and TTC options. Adding to this, the public holiday lands on the weekend following March Break, meaning more families and youth are expected to attend, something Ruddy counts as a blessing.

“It’s a motivator for me because not everybody can afford to go to Florida, so this is a great way that families can come out and spend the day with no admission to see the parade,” Ruddy said. “Then, when the kids go back to school, they can at least say ‘Hey, I went to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade!’ ”

Apart from the parade, the society, a not-for-profit event staging organization, is responsible for a collection of different events throughout the year. These include the Grand Marshal Ball, the St. Patrick’s Parade Lunch and Celtic Park, an event that Ruddy spoke about in more detail. 

“We like to thank all of our sponsors and have them come out and enjoy a day looking at the view of the city from Toronto Island. There’s a place on the island called Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co. where we host a big party and thank everybody for their sponsorship and volunteerism,” he said. “We do a lot of youth events, a lot with our senior society and touch on all points if we can.” 

For information, see stpatrickstoronto.com/.