In June 2023, Toronto hosted the 11th International Public Markets Conference, where the City of Toronto announced an official Public Markets Week. Hosted by Project for Public Spaces, in partnership with St. Lawrence Market, the City of Toronto Economic Development Food Cluster Division, and marketcityTO.

In partnership with Jennifer Forde, Red Onions Events, manager of Scarborough and Courtyard Farmers' Market Scarborough Neighbourhood Fresh Food Pilot is prototyping a new model is better suited to the urban context.

June 16th to June 22nd marks the second City of Toronto Public Markets Week. This is an opportunity to visit, learn, promote, and celebrate the culture, diversity, and entrepreneurship of those participating in public markets across Toronto, emphasizing Indigenous, Black, and Immigrant communities.

2023 has been a tremendous year, and these three actions (IPMC, Public Market Week & Public Market Action Plan in 2024), culminate almost ten years of work launched at the Toronto Food Policy Council in 2015. During this time, we learned how to mobilize, advocate and build partnerships to lead this work. Learn more about our journey of getting to where we are today, and the many actions it took to make all this happen.

Attention to everyone involved in Public Markets, Food, Farming, and Entrepreneurship in Southern Ontario! We are excited to invite you to the first symposium focused on community-based markets. This is an excellent opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with market managers, vendors, municipal staff, and other key stakeholders.

Let's work together to build a stronger sector, enable local economies, transform the food system, and connect communities. We hope to see you there!

More information on how to participate, including sponsorship opportunities, will be available soon!

The second annual Public Markets Week was packed with local food and festival programming! Here's what we accomplished and celebrated with Public Markets across the city...

In October 2023, the Toronto City Council passed a motion requesting the General Managers of Economic Development and Culture, Parks, Forestry, & Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning, to form an interdivisional working group The goal is to create a Public Markets Action Plan to advance this work. The plan is expected to be presented to City Council for consideration by 2025.This is the first for Toronto, Canada, and even North America.

Cities like London and Barcelona have developed such plans and incorporated public markets into their policies; as such, they are integral to advancing their cities' priorities. It is time for Toronto to join the global movement.