An annual fundraising walk for Israel is underway in Toronto on Sunday.
The Walk with Israel, organized by the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of Greater Toronto, is taking place with Toronto police promising an increased presence to maintain public safety.
Organizers say they are expecting a similar turnout to last year. An estimated 56,000 people took part in 2025.
The 3.9 kilometre walk was to begin at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto on Wilson Avenue. It was expected to travel north on Bathurst Street and end at UJA’s Sherman Campus for the walk festival.
Organizers said on the walk’s website that the event is intended to be a demonstration of “unwavering support for the people of Israel, especially now as they continue living through conflict, evacuations, and significant unease.”
A woman was arrested for obstructing a peace officer at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue W. — before the walk began, Toronto police said in a social media post on Sunday.
Less than two hours later, a man was arrested for assaulting a peace officer at Earl Bales Park near the same intersection, police said in a later post.
While marchers are carrying Israeli flags, some Iranian and American flags can be seen in the crowd.
There are barriers at major intersections along the route.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw told reporters on Sunday that the police presence will be “very significant” at the event.
“You will see obviously a lot of overt assets in place, wearing uniforms and many different types of uniforms, with different types of equipment. Of course, we also have many things happening that you will not see to ensure that we keep this walk safe,” Demkiw said.
“Our hope is that we have a peaceful march. It’s a permanent event and we hope it goes off without incident, no injuries and it occurs peacefully.”
On Friday, Deputy Toronto Police Chief Frank Barredo told reporters that police will have officers on foot, bicycle and horseback and officers with helmets and long guns. There will also be hostile vehicle mitigation devices and undercover police along the route.
Barredo said police have a robust plan at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue W., where protesters congregated last year.
Officers from York, Durham, Peel Regions and the Ontario Provincial Police are expected to be there.
The walk comes amid an increase in antisemitic incidents in Toronto since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and subsequent war on Gaza.
This is the 57th year that the walk will be held in Toronto.
Road closures are in effect for the walk at Wilson Avenue and Avenue Road, west on Wilson Avenue to Bathurst Street and north on Bathurst Street to Ellerslie Avenue, police said. The closures will be in effect until 4 p.m.
