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“The atmosphere felt so special — it was a feeling of unity and the perfect place to experience my first real Canada Day.”

Imagine a place where families’ laughter echoes across the waterfront. A place where newcomers to Canada find a piece of home in a bustling city, and where art, culture, learning and recreation bring thousands of people together under the same sky.
That’s Harbourfront Centre — Toronto’s waterfront campus for connection, joy and belonging.

For Yorlis, who arrived in Canada after leaving behind a difficult situation in Venezuela, Harbourfront Centre became exactly that. “After everything I lived through in Venezuela, being here represents hope, new beginnings and the chance to build a life where I feel safe.”

This past Canada Day, Harbourfront Centre welcomed thousands of Canadians to celebrate one of our biggest national holidays with pride, inclusion and fun — including Yorlis. What she found was a day filled with gratitude and emotion. Celebrating Canada Day at Harbourfront Centre was more than a holiday; it was a milestone in her journey. “Canada Day isn’t just one day; it’s a reminder of the courage it took to start over and of all the good things this country has brought into my life. I’m grateful to call Canada my home.”

This Giving Tuesday, you can help us continue creating these moments. Your gift ensures Harbourfront Centre remains a place of joy, welcome and belonging for all; a place where someone like Yorlis can feel safe, included and truly at home.

Because a city is made from more than buildings — it’s built by the people we share it with.

Give today, and be part of our story.

Since July 2021, Métis installation artist Tracey-Mae Chambers has created over 150 fibre art installations across Canada for Hope and Healing Canada, a project that bridges the gap between settlers and Indigenous Peoples and encourages conversation around reconciliation.

“My work invites us to engage with the idea of connection, and how communities can move forward to heal and support one another through life-altering events.”

Last year, Chambers joined Harbourfront Centre’s Artist-in-Residency program at our Craft & Design Studio. Here, she has the space, tools and community to focus on a deeply personal and urgent project: a new body of fibre works addressing Canada’s growing opioid crisis.

“In 2023, there were 216 opioid-related deaths recorded in Ontario,” she says. “My son was one of them.”

Parker was 23 years old.

Through this work, Chambers weaves grief and personal loss into collective memory. Her art becomes a visceral reminder that no one is immune and that every life lost matters. “Parker’s hospital gown was the first piece of fabric I cut to start this project,” she explains. “This work is meant to speak to all parents and loved ones who have lost someone.”

Being part of Harbourfront Centre’s studio community allows Chambers to explore her work in depth, exchange ideas with fellow working artists and create in a space that nurtures both creativity and healing. With your support, we can continue providing artists like Chambers the studio and resources they need to create work that inspires conversation, reflection and change.

Your gift creates space for voices to be heard, empowering art that sparks essential conversation in our country.

Please consider a donation today.

When Sebastian landed in Toronto from Brazil in June 2025, he didn’t know many people. That changed the first Wednesday he stepped onto our waterfront for Dancing on the Square — Harbourfront Centre’s free, all-ages outdoor dance series.

He came back every week. Faces became familiar and strangers became friends. Soon, he had partners to dance with and a place that made his new city feel less overwhelming and Canada more like home. “You made me fall in love with Toronto. You gave me new friends and made me very happy. Thank you for what you created.”

This is the power of free, accessible programming. Dancing on the Square isn’t just about learning to tango — it’s a space where newcomers find community, friends make memories and everyone belongs.

These beautiful moments of connection aren’t just happy accidents, they are the heart of Harbourfront Centre’s mission to bring people together and shape a culture of joy, inclusion and shared experience across the country.

This Giving Tuesday, your support means we can keep creating moments that bring people together. With every donation, we can continue our promise of making connection, culture and joy stay free and accessible on Toronto’s waterfront.

With your support, more newcomers and neighbours can find community, joy and a sense of belonging at Harbourfront Centre — just like Sebastian did.

When Tania Khan immigrated to Canada with her husband and two boys in 2020, she heard about Harbourfront Centre Camps from a fellow mom. One of Tania’s sons, Tajwar, has an autistic spectrum disorder, so his camp experience needed to be inclusive of his needs. Discovering Harbourfront Centre Camps offered one-on-one support for neurodivergent kids, she felt relief. “The staff’s experience and education provided me with the support I needed,” she says, “and I felt confident he would be in good hands.”

Tania worried the financial costs of sending her son to camp would be difficult. She applied for the Harbourfront Centre Camps Subsidy Program, a legacy program that offers a discount on camp fees for families in need, and, according to her income level, she was able to receive a reduced rate. Not only did Tajwar enjoy his time at camp, but he also flourished, showing significant progress in his social skills and confidence. “He made some friends, which was hard for him to do before.” It proved to be a transformative experience for Tania as well. For the first time, she had a moment for herself. “I could walk around the beautiful campus and enjoy nature. It was so helpful for me.”

Harbourfront Centre Camps is more than just a summer camp: it’s a place where kids like Tajwar feel welcome. Our inclusive camp programs promise that every child can have a summer filled with new experiences and create memories that last a lifetime. Today, on Giving Tuesday you have a chance to make an impact on the lives of children like Tajwar.

At the start of his camp journey, Tajwar had some challenges socializing properly. By the third year, he had improved and was happily communicating with staff, fellow campers and (enthusiastically!) his mom. “When he came home from camp, he was so excited and always asked if he could go back.”

An engineer turned multidisciplinary artist, Mohammad Tabesh is deeply influenced by his experiences. “Having been raised in Iran, I’ve lived through significant historical events, including a violent revolution and eight years of war,” he says.

In 2022, Mohammad took a big step by applying to become an Artist-in-Residence at Harbourfront Centre’s Craft & Design Studio. Being a part of the ceramic studio has allowed him to explore his works in greater depth, thanks to the in-studio space and the creative exchange with other artists.

“Harbourfront Centre has created an incubator for artists exploring their different mediums, and being immersed in this environment with the exhibitions and conversations has been instrumental in pursuing my art.” His practice primarily focuses on human rights and social change, helping people understand the emotional impact of such violations.

These stories matter.

By supporting artists like Mohammad, we bridge meaningful connections to Toronto’s diverse community and the arts.

When Camille started dating Amreet, she knew exactly what they should do: Enjoy a concert at Summer Music in the Garden. “I love that people of all ages and cultures can unite as a community and enjoy something as beautifully universal as music.”

A year later, under Toronto Music Garden’s iconic willow tree, Amreet proposed. (She said yes!) For the couple, this was a sweet full-circle moment. “It’s now ‘our place,’” she says.

Hoping to build many more memories together, Camille contributed to Harbourfront Centre so it could continue bringing the beloved Summer Music in the Garden to the community. “There is so much effort that goes into bringing programs like these to Toronto, and they can’t go on without financial support. I donated because this place has done so much for me. And now, I’m part of a collective effort to keep it alive.”

Stories like these create the fabric of our community and your contribution is crucial in continuing Harbourfront Centre’s legacy programming.