TORONTO — More than 17,000 people turned out for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s annual Walk with Israel event in downtown Toronto May 18 as the rain held off on what turned out to be a beautiful sunny day.
The six-kilometre route began at Coronation Park on Lakeshore Boulevard by the CNE grounds and ended with a festival at Ontario Place, featuring a kosher barbecue, entertainment and carnival rides.
Proceeds from the solidarity event go directly to programs and services in Israel supported by UJA, including educational opportunities for at-risk youth in Bat Yam, such as school activities and educational enrichment initiatives; helping Ethiopian Israelis in Bat Yam through professional and vocational training; higher education and programs for young people in Israel's southern region of Eilat/Eilot; and social welfare and educational projects for residents of Sderot, the Israeli town on the Gaza border that has endured rocket attacks for the past decade.
“Altogether, we expect to raise a total of approximately $1 million for the first time,” UJA campaign director Steven Shulman said of the 48th iteration of the Walk.
“We raised $450,000 in corporate sponsorships and expect to be very close to or surpass $550,000 in sponsorship of walkers and registration dollars.”
Crowds began gathering in Coronation Park at 9 a.m. The walk started at 10 a.m. and the after-walk festival ran from 12 to 4 p.m.
“After surveying the route, it's clear that we have more walkers than we had last year,” Shulman said as the walkers were making their way along the route. “Last year's estimate was 17,000 and I believe that we have beat the number. It has been a fantastic day.”
Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver, centre, was joined at the Walk by Thornhill
MPP Gila Martow, right, and Thornhill MP Peter Kent, third from left in blue,
and newly elected provincial PC Leader Patrick Brown, second from left.
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One of the political dignitaries addressing the pre-walk crowd was federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver. Also in attendance were newly elected provincial Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown, St. Paul’s Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, York Centre MP Mark Adler, Thornhill Conservative MP Peter Kent and Thornhill MPP Gila Martow, Markham-Unionville Liberal MP John McCallum, and Willowdale Liberal MPP David Zimmer.
Jacob Benarroch, who took part in the walk with his three kids, said they were there to celebrate their love of Israel.
"The atmosphere was very festive. The kids were waving their Israeli flags while dancing and singing to Israeli music," Benarroch said. "The event was run beautifully. We were lucky that the weather turned out as great as it did. It was very well organized. The volunteers were more than accommodating to any need we had, and the walk moved along seamlessly with the help of the police at every intersection."
In addition to politicians, families and individuals, a wide array of community organizations – from camps to synagogues to student groups – also took part in the event.
Justine Apple, executive director of LGTBQ group Kulanu Toronto
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Among the thousands of walkers were adults with developmental disabilities who are clients of Reena and participants in Beth Emeth Synagogue’s Kadima program for adults with exceptionalities.
“There were more than 40 Reena/Kadima clients who attended today. As we passed by different stations, onlookers cheered on our group,” said Kadima progam director Marcel Cohen.
“Reena's reputation preceded us and people were impressed by our participation. The weather was magnificent, too,” Cohen added.
“It was a model day, and we were accompanied the entire walk by the new president and CEO of Reena, Bryan Keshen, who was so helpful and encouraging throughout the entire walk route.”
Protesters from Neturei Karta
NOAH WOLGELERENTER PHOTO
As in past years, a small group of protesters from the fringe anti-Zionist haredi sect Neturei Karta were present with placards and waving a Palestinian flag. They were visible at the beginning and end of the event, but kept their distance across Lakeshore Boulevard and did not disrupt the walkers.
With files from Sheri Shefa and Noah Wolgelerenter