The main event of Toronto’s pride weekend is underway after kicking off on Sunday afternoon.
The Pride parade, one of the largest in North America will take over the downtown core Sunday — began off at the corner of Church and Bloor streets and meandered its way south down Yonge Street to the Dundas Square stage.
The procession is jam-packed with performances, floats and thousands of marchers celebrating the LGBTQ2+ community.
READ MORE: Pride Toronto weekend begins, parade to take place on Sunday
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor, John Tory are among the dignitaries in attendance, while Juno Award- winning artist Carly Rae Jepsen is scheduled to perform as part of the celebrations.
The parade takes place amid concerns of public safety in the wake of an altercation at Hamilton’s Pride event last weekend.
On June 15, Hamilton police were called to the event at Gage Park and escorted a religious group and members of the populist Yellow Vest movement off the property after they reportedly displayed anti-LGBTQ2 signs.
Police arrested a man after an argument broke out between festival attendees and protestors. Several people suffered minor injuries.
A Toronto police spokesperson told Global News a heavy police presence will be felt at Sunday’s parade to ensure public safety and that the festivities go off without a hitch.
