Thousands packed the Enercare Centre on Friday for one of Canada’s biggest Eid festivals.
They came to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, but organizers said grief travelled with them.
What happened at the MAC eid festival in toronto
The Muslim Association of Canada hosted the MAC Eid Festival at Exhibition Place on March 20, marking the end of Ramadan. The charitable group says it educates and motivates Muslims in Canada “to put their faith into action” to benefit all.
Zubair Khan, one of the festival’s masters of ceremonies, said Eid al-Fitr is meant to celebrate community and faith. He said the day landed “at a particularly fragile time” as war in the Middle East intensifies.
“In our tradition, our understanding is that our global community is like one body. And when any aspect of it is hurting, the rest of body feels that, is concerned about that and responds to that,” said Khan.
He said Toronto’s diverse Muslim population has been tracking the pain beyond Canada’s borders. “Even though it’s a very ethnically diverse community and we’re all the way here in Canada, our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers are very much with people suffering around the world and places in the world, such as Sudan, Gaza, the unfortunate situation in Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan,” he added.
While it's a day of celebration, it's also a day for people to come together, to mourn together, to find strength, to find inspiration and to hold each other up and to show our strength and our pride as a community.
The festival mixed prayer with a family fair atmosphere. Khan said the day included congregational prayers, food, a kids’ festival with carnival rides, pony rides and a petting zoo, plus a bazaar and cultural performances.
Why this year’s eid celebrations felt different
Khan said the festival carried the normal joy of the holiday, but also a communal need for comfort. “While it’s a day of celebration, it’s also a day for people to come together, to mourn together, to find strength, to find inspiration and to hold each other up and to show our strength and our pride as a community,” he said.
Mayor Olivia Chow told the crowd she had already attended two other Eid events earlier in the day. She said she heard the same mix of celebration and worry at each stop.
“People’s hearts are heavy because of the suffering far away but also here. Islamophobia, hate, being insulted because of your faith. And that’s not who we are in Toronto. We are a city that is kind and caring,” Chow said.
Chow said the meaning of Eid includes generosity, and she pointed to volunteers working late into the night. “Today, I met volunteers who had stayed up until 2 or 3 a.m., putting meals together to make sure that no one goes hungry. That spirit of supporting and sharing is phenomenal,” she said.
Community leaders have also flagged the challenge of balancing big public gatherings with safety planning. The city has made similar calculations around other high-profile events, including the Al-Quds Day rally set for Saturday.
What toronto police are investigating near toronto islamic centre
The Toronto Islamic Centre, on Yonge Street north of Bloor Street, says it has added a “buddy system” during Ramadan. Volunteer security members now accompany worshippers leaving the mosque after prayers within the surrounding area.
The mosque says the change followed a March 16 incident as a family walked home after prayers. It says one of the children was assaulted by a person who allegedly made hateful and threatening remarks.
Toronto police said in an email Friday they were notified and are investigating. Police said the hate crimes unit is leading the investigation.
Residents looking for details on the centre’s response can read our earlier report on the buddy system and the timeline around the reported assault.
How toronto groups are responding to hate and safety concerns
At Friday’s festival, Chow linked global tensions to local consequences for Muslim residents. Her remarks echoed a repeated message from faith groups across the city that public celebrations now come with added vigilance.
Toronto has seen other community institutions adopt visible safety measures after incidents, particularly where young people are involved. Police have laid charges in unrelated cases, including the Rouge Hill GO Train assault that drew renewed calls for safer transit and public spaces.
For residents seeking support or reporting options, the federal government outlines how hate crimes are investigated and reported through local police services and Statistics Canada. The Justice Canada hate crime information page also lists federal legal definitions and resources.
What’s next for eid events and community gatherings
Chow said Eid is a time “to be kind, compassionate and generous,” and she urged Torontonians to reject faith-based harassment. Her office did not announce new city measures at the festival.
Weekend events will keep drawing large crowds across the GTA as Ramadan ends and public rallies continue. Police have signalled increased presence around Saturday’s gathering tied to Al-Quds Day.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Islamic Centre’s volunteer “buddy system” remains in place as police investigate the March 16 incident.
