Police close University Ave. at hospital row ahead of Saturday protest convoy

Police have closed a key stretch of University Avenue in an effort to guarantee health care workers and patients access to Toronto’s hospital row ahead of the arrival of a planned protest convoy Saturday.

University Avenue is closed to regular traffic and protesters from College Street to Queen Street as of 11:30 a.m. Friday, police said in a news release. College Street will also be closed from University Avenue to Yonge Street, with the closures set to remain in place over the weekend.

Hospital staff, patients, family and those picking up patients will have access.

Police and city officials are set to provide more information on operational plans for the weekend at a 2:30 pm news conference.

Officials are urgently preparing for the threat the protest convoy could bring scenes of widespread disruption like those seen in Ottawa this week. In the capital, downtown businesses have been forced to close while the honking of heavy trucks, reports of harassment, and protesters’ display of racist symbols have left many residents exhausted and concerned.

Protest organizers have said they will not leave Ottawa until the federal government repeals COVID-19 vaccine mandates that were put into place to mitigate the spread of the virus that can lead to hospitalization.

The city is bracing as more protesters are expected to join the protests this weekend.

Meanwhile, Ottawa police have faced mounting criticism over their handling of what some are calling an “occupation.”

Mayor John Tory said Thursday that police and city staff need to do “everything we can” to prevent a repeat of what occurred in Ottawa, especially as Queen’s Park sits just north of Hospital Row, including Sick Kids Hospital, Toronto General and the Princess Margaret Cancer Center.

Tory emphasized Thursday that while he supports the right to protest, any demonstration cannot block off those receiving emergency or medical care along with hospital workers.

According to online flyers, protesters are planning to assemble at several locations across the GTA Saturday morning before making their way to the legislature by midday.

Ahead of the protest, some health care workers were told not to wear hospital apparel like scrubs on their way to work this weekend to avoid being targeted. Gillian Howard, a spokesperson for the University Health Network, said they’ve suggested this to employees as “may attract unwanted attention,” she said.

Toronto police are asking the public to avoid the demonstration area as it may cause more delays.

More to come.