Music filled Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday evening for the Together for Toronto Healthcare event, a gathering held in support of healthcare workers throughout the city. The square, one of Toronto's central public spaces, became the stage for a night that paired live performances with a fundraising drive for local hospitals.
For those who took part, the evening was as much about civic pride as it was about the music. One attendee described it as Canada getting together to recognise both the talent in the country and the healthcare system behind it, calling the night a chance to take pride as Torontonians in what the city has at its doorstep.
That pride was tied closely to the local healthcare system. An attendee pointed to the public system and to Toronto General, which was described as the second best hospital in the world, adding that the care it provides is built on research carried out in the city and funded privately by Canadians. The message of the evening was to show support for that system and the people who keep it running.
The fundraising itself was woven into the event. Those in attendance scanned QR codes on the night and gave what they could, turning the concert into a direct appeal for donations. Organisers stressed that every single dollar counts, and that the effort did not have to end when the music stopped.
For anyone who heard about the event only after the fact, the organisers said the door to give remained open. Donations could still be made through the website jointogetherto.ca, allowing people who could not attend in person to add their support to the campaign.
The musical lineup gave the evening its draw, with Grammy-winning Canadian singer Alessia Cara and Feist among the guests who performed. Their appearance helped bring crowds to Nathan Phillips Square and lent the fundraiser the feel of a major Canadian music night.
Behind the performances was a clear target. The ultimate goal of the event was to raise more than two million dollars for the University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital, with the money set to fund research and community care. Together for Toronto Healthcare framed that aim as an investment in both the institutions and the workers at the heart of the city's healthcare.