These iconic Toronto musicians are playing a free benefit show in June
CanCon heads, this one’s for you
Nathan Phillips Square has long been the city’s go-to for free spectacles, including ice skating, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, fireworks and Nuit Blanche. But the event landing Saturday, June 6, might just be its biggest flex yet—and it’s for a good cause.
Enter TOgether for Toronto Healthcare, a free day-to-night downtown takeover presented by Fitzrovia. The all-day fundraiser—expected to draw 30,000 to 40,000 people—will move from daytime wellness activities (think interactive educational booths from University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital, plus free yoga from Barry’s Bootcamp) to an evening concert stacked with Canadian heavyweights.
Feist, Broken Social Scene, Alessia Cara and Paul Langlois of the Tragically Hip will take the stage—a lineup so star-studded that it’s verging on Live Aid territory. There will also be special appearances from Canadian Olympians, cultural figures and political leaders, plus a curated lineup of food trucks.
Related: What Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning loves about his King West neighbourhood
“We’re doing it for our friends and family, the doctors and nurses, and the structures that need care just as much as the patients,” says Broken Social Scene member Kevin Drew. “And we’re doing it for Toronto, which deserves to be looked after in these troubled times. Celebrations are hard these days, but when they’re grounded in the principle of people helping others, it feels like a gift.”
Behind it all is Adrian Rocca, CEO of Fitzrovia—one of the country’s largest rental housing developers—and, more recently, chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation. “With all the negative noise south of the border, we really wanted to put together an event that featured all Canadian talent,” says Rocca. “It felt like we needed a rallying moment as Canadians. People have been taking shots at our sovereignty and our health care system, both things I’m incredibly proud of, so this became a kind of Team Canada pep rally to showcase our talent, from musicians and athletes to politicians and health care workers.”
Being a husband and a father of four young children has fuelled Rocca’s growing fixation on health and longevity. “I am not alone in wanting to see my children grow into fully formed adults, and being a healthy individual with a strong health care system is key in that journey,” he says. “We have a solid foundation in health care, but we still have a long way to go.”
The goal of the event is to raise over $1 million for University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital. To get there, donation is baked into the experience. QR codes will be stationed throughout the site along with onstage artist callouts, pledge drives and even a raffle for a Dodge Charger Daytona. “I am confident our goal will be reached,” says Rocca. “If each attendee donates what they’d typically spend on a concert ticket, we’ll be right on target.”
And if any CanCon diehards feel like paying Taylor Swift ticket prices, well, even better.
Erin Hershberg is a freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the lifestyle sector. She currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and two children.
