Toronto’s DIY electronic music scene under threat from City Council motion 

A new motion in the Toronto City Council threatens the Toronto DIY music scene’s ability to put on events. 

The motion, brought by councillor Chris Moise, asks to give local authorities more power in allowing or denying Special Occasion Permits for non-profit organisations, currently the sole remit of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. (This would match the SOP application and approval for for-profit organisations.)

“In recent months, my office along with several of my colleagues have experienced a surge in concerns around public safety, dangerous overcrowding, and noise complaints stemming from certain non-profit organizations hosting large-scale rave parties”, councillor Moise wrote in the motion’s summary. “…While the majority of non-profit events in our city contribute positively to our community, a few have exploited regulatory exemptions, undermining the public trust and safety that these guidelines are intended to protect.”

A petition and open letter by Save Our Raves TO in response to the new motion urges the council to “protect our spaces, protect our city”. “If it passes, it will become even harder to organize the events that bring our communities together — with the power to shut them down potentially resting in the hands of a single Councillor”, the petition reads. “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.”

The city of Toronto instated new building and licensing bylaws at the beginning of the year intended to encourage the spread of Toronto’s nightlife from one downtown district to additional zones. The measures include: only allowing new venues to operate on the ground floor or in the basement of non-residential buildings in order to prevent neighbour noise complaints; an update to business license categories; and an increase in the maximum number of entertainment spaces permitted in a venue. 

Ciel is curating the next instalment in the Air Texture location-highlighting ‘Place’ compilation series focused on Toronto. Out next month, the collection features music from Kaspr, Yohei S, Moon King, Ninechecker, Rafael Khan and more. Learn more about Toronto’s electronic music scene in Rhea Singh’s 2024 in-depth feature. 

Support the Save Our Raves TO petition and read the open letter in full here.