Taylor Swift Eras Tour: City of Toronto moves unhoused near Rogers Centre to ensure their safety
The city of Toronto is clearing tents belonging to unhoused people near the Rogers Centre in preparation for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The first of Swift’s six sold-out concerts is on Thursday.
“The individuals surrounding Rogers Centre are being offered a space in the city’s shelter system to help ensure their safety,” a city spokesperson said in an email.
The city said only two people were living in the area. One of them, Chris — who goes by Crystofur and didn’t want their last name used due to their circumstances — told the Star on Tuesday they were being moved to a hotel paid for by the city.
When Crystofur was offered a hotel room at Islington Avenue and the 401, they cried “tears of relief.” The city said those living in the hotel can “stay as long as they require the services.”
A high volume of foot traffic is expected near the stadium; the city estimates as many as 500,000 people will be downtown during the concerts, which run until Nov. 23. Destination Toronto, a marketing organization for the city’s tourism industry, expects the Eras Tour will add almost $300 million to the local economy.
“The city of Toronto looks at all aspects of safety for residents, businesses and visitors when large-scale events occur,” a city spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said unhoused people living in a “radius around the Rogers Centre” would be moved and offered space in the shelter system. The spokesperson declined to share the size of the radius.
The Rogers Centre has told non-ticket holders to avoid travelling to the area and said they will not be allowed to stand outside the stadium. Bremner Boulevard will be closed on concert days.
Crystofur, 26, lived in a teal tent in Roundhouse Park across from the Rogers Centre, in the shadow of the CN Tower. They said police came twice to tell them to move their tent. Toronto police confirmed to the Star that officers attended the park at the city’s request.
Crystofur said that, for them, Roundhouse Park was a safe place to live. There are security cameras and people within eyesight at all hours. In the 12 days that Crystofur lived in the park, their phone hadn’t been stolen, a personal record, they said.
“I don’t feel safe anywhere, but in this park I feel very safe,” Crystofur said. “There’s no addicts here. There’s nobody but me.”
“Being in an encampment would be my downfall. I fall back into bad habits. I fall back into drugs. I’m not saying I’m completely clean right now, but I’m doing better than I’ve ever done.”
oronto isn’t the first city to move its unhoused away from an Eras tour concert venue. Last month, in New Orleans, an encampment of roughly 75 people was forcibly moved away from the Caesars Superdome. A judge later temporarily blocked the efforts to clear encampments.
This article was first reported by The Star
