Some of Canada’s most celebrated musical artists, including Feist, Alessia Cara, and Broken Social Scene, will headline a free festival at Nathan Phillips Square this summer to raise $1 million for Toronto hospitals.
The event, called TOgether, is scheduled for Saturday, June 6. It combines a daytime wellness festival with an evening concert, all aimed at supporting the University Health Network (UHN) and Michael Garron Hospital. Paul Langlois, guitarist for the iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip, is also on the bill.
Organized by rental developer Fitzrovia, the all-day event is free for the public to attend, with fundraising efforts taking place throughout the day. Organizers have said there will be opportunities for attendees to donate and win prizes, which include vehicles and sports tickets, with all proceeds going directly to the two healthcare providers.
The fundraiser addresses a critical need for investment in the city’s healthcare system as it contends with a rapidly growing population. Toronto’s public healthcare services, while provincially funded for operations, rely heavily on community and corporate donations for essential infrastructure upgrades, new technology, and vital research.
A pressing need for support
The choice to support both the University Health Network, a world-renowned network of research hospitals, and Michael Garron Hospital, a critical community healthcare provider in East Toronto, highlights the broad spectrum of needs within the city. UHN is recognized as one of the largest health research organizations in North America, pioneering treatments and medical innovations, while Michael Garron Hospital serves one of Toronto's most diverse communities.
Adrian Rocca, the chief executive officer of Fitzrovia and also the chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, underscored the urgency of the initiative in a statement. He emphasized the growing gap between the city’s population and its healthcare capacity.
As Toronto’s population continues to outpace our healthcare infrastructure, investing in these hospitals has never been more urgent,” Rocca says.
The TOgether festival represents a significant philanthropic effort from the private sector to bridge this funding gap, using the universal appeal of music to rally Torontonians behind a common cause.
An all-star Canadian lineup
The concert will bring together a roster of beloved Canadian musicians. Feist, an 11-time Juno Award winner, is known for her innovative indie-pop sound and captivating live performances. She joins Brampton-native Alessia Cara, a Grammy and Juno award-winning artist who rose to global fame with her relatable lyrics and powerful vocals.
Also headlining is Broken Social Scene, the prolific and influential Toronto-based indie rock collective. The band, known for its sprawling membership and genre-defining sound, is a fitting addition to a festival celebrating the city. The performance comes as the group prepares to embark on a summer tour across Canada, the United States, and Europe in support of their upcoming album, “Remember the Humans.”
The inclusion of Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip adds a touch of rock royalty to the lineup, connecting the event to a band deeply woven into Canada’s cultural fabric. Together, the artists represent a diverse cross-section of Canadian musical talent, promising a powerful draw for the fundraising effort.
A full day of wellness and music
The event aims to transform Nathan Phillips Square, one of the city’s premier public spaces, into an immersive hub of activity. While the evening concert is the main attraction, the daytime wellness festival will offer a range of programming designed to promote health and community connection. This makes the event one of many free things to do in Toronto this summer, similar to how the MBTA Green Line B branch was suspended for nine days recently to address critical infrastructure needs.
As a free, non-ticketed event, TOgether is designed for accessibility, inviting people from across the city to participate regardless of their ability to donate. The focus is on collective participation, turning what the organizers call "shared energy into real support for the hospitals at the centre of Toronto’s care system."
With its high-profile lineup and ambitious fundraising goal, the festival on June 6 is poised to be a major cultural event for the city, highlighting Torontonians’ commitment to both their arts scene and their community’s well-being.
