Church Street Pedestrianization Pilot

About the Project

Church Street is the heart of the Church-Wellesley Village — a neighbourhood with deep roots in Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ history and a community that has long shaped the cultural life of our city. This summer, we're transforming a stretch of Church Street into a pedestrian-friendly space where residents, families, and visitors can gather, connect, and celebrate together.

This initiative was brought forward by our office in partnership with the Church-Wellesley Village BIA. The pedestrianization plan coincides with two landmark moments: the 50th anniversary of The 519, a cornerstone community centre for the Village, and the long-awaited Cultural District designation coming to City Council in June 2026. This is the right moment to invest in this street and the people who call it home.

The project is designed with the whole community in mind. By temporarily closing Church Street to through traffic, we're creating safer conditions for pedestrians and people of all abilities, supporting local businesses and economic recovery along the street, opening up public space for families, children, and community events, and honouring the Village's place in Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ history. It's also a meaningful step toward a more walkable, active downtown.

The proposed route spans from Wellesley Street to Alexander Street, while keeping the east-west corridors open to vehicle traffic (map on the right).

Inspiration from Montreal

The inspiration behind this pilot project comes from Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest in Montreal, QC.

Montreal conducted a pedestrianization pilot over several years which has resulted in a stretch being permanently designed for seasonal pedestrianization.

Within the next 5-10 years, Church Street between Gloucester and Carlton Street will be reconstructed in coordination with an overdue water main replacement project.

The Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area conducted community consultations in 2021 and developed a Streetscape Masterplan which will inform the design process that the City will undertake prior to advancing the reconstruction.

Taking Montreal's lead, we want to begin piloting seasonal pedestrianization on Church Street to help inform the design and operations of the reconstruction.

The lessons learned from this pilot project will also inform the City's Street Pedestrianization Policies and Guidelines. Currently the City of Toronto only has processes in place for street closures for construction or street events. Longer-term closures present different challenges that require unique solutions that need to be tested.

Timeline

November 2025 - May 2026: Planning Phase

April 30, 2026: Toronto & East York Community Council Approval

May 20, 2026: City Council Approval

June 19, 2026 - August 21, 2026: Pedestrianization pilot period

August 23, 2026: Open Streets is anticipated to pedestrianize Yonge Street for the day

November 2026: Debrief and evaluation period.

Funding

The estimated cost of this project is between $50,000 and $80,000 funded through sponsorships and grants. These funds are critical for securing safety and street infrastructure and security personnel. We're grateful to the partners making this possible and committed to ensuring every dollar goes toward creating a safe, welcoming, well-supported public space.

How to Get Involved

We want to hear from you. Take the Survey or head to ExperienceTheVillage.ca to sign the petition and show your support for pedestrianizing Church Street.

We'll keep the community informed through flyering and postering in the neighbourhood, updates on social media, and ongoing posts here on the Toronto Centre Projects page (click "Follow" at the top of the page).

Stay connected — your voice matters as this project takes shape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who to Contact

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to our office directly at councillor_moise@toronto.ca. We're here to help and always happy to hear from residents.