Rainbow crossing (Toronto)

The rainbow crossing in June 2014
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A rainbow crossing was installed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 2014. Streets were painted at the intersections of Church and Alexander Streets and Church and Isabella Streets head of the WorldPride festival. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

History

Toronto City Council approved the crossings. Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Councillor Doug Ford voted against the proposal. ^[5]

As of 2017, the crosswalks were faded and repairs were not planned until at least 2018. ^[6]

In 2018, the crossing was vandalized with a swastika. ^{[7] [8] [9]} The incident prompted a hate crime investigation by police. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

A trans pride crosswalk was installed in 2019. ^[13]

References

1. "Rainbow crosswalks come to the Gay Village". CBC News . Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
2. "WorldPride leaves its mark on Church Street". Xtra Magazine . 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
3. "Rainbows everywhere as Toronto readies for WorldPride". Xtra Magazine. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
4. "Rainbow Crosswalks Are Here To Stay In Toronto". HuffPost . 2014-06-05. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
5. "Rainbow crosswalk to be painted at Church and Wellesley". Xtra Magazine. 2014-02-21. Archived from the original on 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
6. "Toronto's rainbow crosswalks won't be fixed for another year". Xtra Magazine. 2017-07-14. Archived from the original on 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
7. "Toronto Rainbow Crosswalk Vandalized with Swastika". Out . Retrieved 2025-08-22.
8. "New Rainbow Crosswalk Defaced With Swastikas, Slurs". The Advocate . Archived from the original on 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
9. "Swastika painted on rainbow crosswalk in Toronto's gay village". Xtra Magazine. 2018-08-03. Archived from the original on 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
10. "Police still investigating swastika painted on rainbow crosswalk in Toronto's gay village". Xtra Magazine. 2018-08-17. Archived from the original on 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
11. Stevenson, Jane (August 6, 2018). "Swastika spraypainted in Toronto's gay Village". Toronto Sun . Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
12. "Police investigate after swastika found painted in Gay Village in 'despicable hate crime'". CBC News. August 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
13. "Trans Pride crosswalk unveiled in Church-Wellesley neighbourhood". CityNews Toronto. Archived from the original on 2025-07-09. Retrieved 2025-08-22.