Toronto | Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat — More than 1,000 Torontonians took to the waterfront on Sunday morning to celebrate the federal government’s decision to ground the proposal to expand the Toronto Island Airport to accommodate jets.
The Save Our Waterfront Celebration Rally, March & Flotilla drew residents from across the city and beyond to rally in Harbour Square Park, with participants marching along Queens Quay to HTO Park, where a flotilla of boats joined the festivities from the water. Participants also gathered around the heart-shaped pond at Love Park, creating a living love letter to Toronto and its waterfront.
Following the federal government’s announcement on July 24 that it would not proceed with the expansion, the event transformed from a planned protest into a celebration of this landmark community victory.
The rally featured speeches from Norm Di Pasquale, NoJetsTO Program Manager at Environmental Defence, and other community leaders, who reflected on the remarkable grassroots effort that led to this triumph.
“Standing in Harbour Square Park today, can you imagine jets roaring across it every two and a half minutes? That’s what we stopped,” said Di Pasquale. “Our waterfront isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a public space for recreation, for wildlife, for families. This campaign was never just about jets. It was about parks, public health, and the kind of city we want to live in. Eighty-seven thousand Torontonians made that clear, and the federal government listened. Today, we celebrate — but we also recommit. The same determination that won this fight will help protect our waterfront tomorrow.”
The proposed expansion would have increased passenger volumes at the Island Airport from 2 million to 10 million a year, bringing with it a dramatic rise in noise, air and water pollution, and debilitating traffic to already congested streets. The expansion would also have cancelled plans for thousands of much-needed new homes, and threatened parks, wetlands and wildlife habitats, including Biidaasige Park, Tommy Thompson Park and the Toronto Islands.
“Today we celebrate a monumental win for Toronto, our environment and the democratic process,” said Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “This effort brought together tens of thousands of residents who refused to stand by while our waterfront, our parks and our quality of life were threatened. As we celebrate today, we also commit to staying engaged and protecting our waterfront for generations to come.”
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Photos 1, 2, 3: Norm Di Pasquale, NoJetsTO Program Manager at Environmental Defence, addresses more than 1,000 rally participants at Harbour Square Park during the Save Our Waterfront Celebration Rally & March on July 26, 2026. Credit: Shay Markowitz
Photo 1: https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ShayMarkowitz-ED-NoJetsTORally-2026July26-06662-scaled.jpg
Photo 2: https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ShayMarkowitz-ED-NoJetsTORally-2026July26-405842-scaled.jpg
Photos 4, 5, 6: Participants carry NoJetsTO signs as they march with over 1,000 Toronto residents from Harbour Square Park to HTO Park during the Save Our Waterfront Celebration Rally & March. Credit: Shay Markowitz
Photos 7, 8: Rally participants gather around the heart-shaped pond at Love Park as a love letter to Toronto and its waterfront during the Save Our Waterfront Celebration Rally & March on July 26, 2026. Credit: Shay Markowitz
Photos 9, 10: A flotilla of kayakers and boaters take part in the NoJetsTO Save Our Waterfront Celebration Rally & March from the water to celebrate the federal government’s decision to block the proposed expansion of the Toronto Island Airport. Credit: Shay Markowitz
Photos 11, 12: Over 1,000 community members participated in the Save Our Waterfront Celebration Rally & March on July 26, 2026. Credit: Shay Markowitz
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Erinn Steringa, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
