'More allies than ever before': Tens of thousands expected for Walk with Israel

With tight security and support from Jewish allies including First Nations groups, another massive turnout is expected for the 57th annual Walk with Israel this Sunday in Toronto.“We are expecting more allies this year than ever before, which is pretty remarkable,” says Sara Lefton, chief development officer with United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto, who called it an “opportunity for the Toronto Jewish community, and our allies to come together to show support for the people of Israel.”With the Jewish community “feeling increasingly targeted and isolated in Canada,” says Lefton, but also “a proud part of Canadian society … there are many people who are seeking out the kind of comfort and strength that will come from an event like this, not just from walking with other Jews, but, again, walking with so many allies.”Last year, 56,000 people participated in the annual walk, she says, adding that “registration is in line with what we saw last year, and so we’re expecting similar numbers.”Lefton attributes this to “many people in Canada recognizing, more and more, the shared threats that we face as Canadians, that we all have to stand together in these really challenging times.”She notes that this year’s walk has a record high corporate sponsorship, reflective of how many businesses “Jewish and non-Jewish” have stepped up to show support for the Jewish community. Meanwhile, the peer-to-peer fundraising numbers are showing well too, as the UJA looks to raise more than $700,000 from individuals.“This really does mark an important moment for the Jewish community in Toronto and our annual calendar,” says Lefton. “And in these really, really challenging times when there is so much hatred directed towards the Jewish community. In all parts of our society, this day really represents an opportunity to show strength and to feel proud for our children, proud to be Jewish, proud to be Torontonians.”For more details about the walk and how to participate, she directs people to the walk website.

This year’s Walk will begin at the Temple Sinai Congregation, travel north on Bathurst Street. Then end at UJA’s Sherman Campus for the Walk Festival, a gathering with food, activities, and entertainment.

This Sunday, thousands of people are expected to attend the annual Walk with Israel. We have been working closely with organizers and our policing partners to prepare for the event and support public safety throughout the day.Listen to @TPSMyronDemkiw discuss our approach. https://t.co/6zsWwXVruK

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) June 5, 2026

A full police presence will be evident at this year’s walk, according to Toronto Police Service deputy chief, Frank Barredo. In a press conference on Friday he said the police role “is straightforward, to help ensure that everyone attending can do so safely, and that anyone exercising their right to protest does so lawfully.”Barredo said the police have been planning for the walk in close coordination with organizers and neighbouring police services. “There will be a significant police presence in the area. supported by officers from York, Durham, Peel, and the Ontario Provincial Police. Members of the public can expect to see officers on foot, bicycles, and horseback, at the walk and throughout the surrounding neighbourhoods.”He said this deployment is designed to support public safety and allow police to respond quickly to any incidents or concerns.He noted “lawful protest is a fundamental right in Canada, and Toronto police remains committed to protecting that right. At the same time, no one should be subjected to intimidation, harassment, threats, hate motivated criminal acts or other criminal behaviour. Any suspected hate speech, or hateful signage, will be investigated.” He recounted charges laid last week for signage that promoted willful antisemitic hatred, adding that this Sunday, “charges will be laid when the evidence supports them.” Barredo expects some people will attend with the intention of protesting the event, but police have “a plan in place to deal with that.” The “police liaison team” keeps in regular contact with many regular protest groups “to inform them about what will and what will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that up to 150 protesters are expected. Given the “blurry line between what is peaceful expression and what is crossed over into something that is hatefully criminal” Barredo said that there will be inconspicuous hate crime experts on the ground.He also spoke about the proximity last year of “a gauntlet of hate, if you will” along one portion of the walk. “We had police officers there. There was a separation. But the very fact that people, families walking by, might hear things that are offensive, was really distasteful, and something that we’re hoping to reduce, if not eliminate completely this year.”Lefton spoke about that incident too.“We’ve heard from police that they have a new way of stepping up security to make sure that protesters will not be, as close to walkers, but you can imagine for our children in the community and for community members, it’s a pretty horrific thing to come out to celebrate your identity. and to be yelled at and screamed at, and as you’re walking through your own city.”Among the allies marching on Sunday will be approximately 30 Indigenous representatives from First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities. That will include several former and current Chiefs, Grand Chiefs, and leaders present.For some, it will be their first time attending the march, says Martin Bernholtz, who will be walking with his grandson and the Indigenous leaders.Bernholz is the chairman of Canadian Friends of Hebrew University and has a board member, Harvey Ezno, who is a former grand chief, one of the founders of the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem movement, and visited Israel several times with former prime minister, Stephen Harper.Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem is a platform for indigenous peoples that enables them to show their solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people.“Their involvement shows a lot of harmony between the Jewish community and the indigenous communities around the world in a time where we are fighting a lot of antisemitism,” says Bernholz. There is “a sense of collegiality” between the two communities, he says.Among the Indigenous leaders expected on Sunday are Grand Chief David Harper, Cree Manitoba, Grand Chief Wallace Mckay, OjiCree Ontario, Chief Reggie Neeposh, Cree, Quebec, Gela Naqica, Inuit, Nuvuvut, Mary Faus, OjiCree, Northern Ontario, Conrad Flett, CreeTribal Trails TV, and Dr. Sheree Trotter, Maori, NZ.

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