Thousands of people are gathering in North York for the annual Walk with Israel, one of the long-running community events on Toronto's calendar. The walk is happening right now, drawing crowds out onto the streets of the city on a bright summer day.
The event is far from new. Organisers say the walk has been taking place for more than 50 years, making it a fixture that successive generations of participants have joined as it returns to North York each year.
Turnout is expected to be large. Last year's walk had about 55,000 people, and while there is no official count yet for this year, the early scenes suggest another big crowd, with the area around the route already busy with participants.
With so many people expected, security has been stepped up. Toronto Police are significantly ramping up their security and traffic control measures for the day, managing the flow of people and vehicles around the event as the crowds build.
The walk itself follows a set route through the area. Covering a little under four kilometres, it begins at Sinai Temple on Wilson and heads down the road towards Sherman Campus, with Wilson completely shut down and crowded as the procession moves through.
Anyone heading out around the city is being advised to plan ahead. Beyond the road closures for the walk, there is a closure on Line 1 and multiple GO Transit service disruptions to keep in mind, while other events such as Due West Fest are also drawing people out across town.