Toronto! Our Rave Scene Is Under Attack
A new motion threatens to suppress the city’s struggling Nightlife scene
On April 23, Councillor Chris Moise is bringing forth a motion to City Council that would give the City of Toronto more power to deny Special Occasion Permits (SOPs), which are temporary liquor licenses that are needed for warehouse raves, park parties, and other DIY events across the city. Moise cited “a surge in concerns around public safety, dangerous overcrowding and noise complaints stemming from certain non-profit organisations hosting large-scale rave parties” as justification for the proposal.
Nightlife advocacy group Save Our Raves, has started a petition to oppose the motion. “If it passes, it’ll become even harder to organise the events that bring our communities together,” the petition reads, "With the power to shut them down potentially resting in the hands of a single councillor. These spaces are more than just venues. They’re where culture is made, where we find each other, where community is built. If we don’t speak up now, we risk losing what’s left.”
Toronto’s Best Nightlife Is At Risk
Some quick things you can do to support the rave scene in Toronto:
Write your local Councillor and ask for them to support deferring this motion (keep it PLUR!)
Be sure to say you are writing about Member’s Motion 29.5. CC saveourravesto@gmail.com. Keep it short and polite!
Attend the Night Economy Townhall on April 30th
Currently unclear if there will be opportunities for questions, but it’s a great opportunity to learn about how the City of Toronto thinks about the city’s nightlife!
