Toronto's Beaches Lions Club moves 2020 Annual Beaches Easter Celebration Weekend online

Erin Horrocks-Pope | Posted April 10, 2020

The annual Toronto Beaches Easter Parade is the longest running Easter Parade in the world, according to Andre Buhot, Beaches Lions Club Secretary and Past President.

The parade was originally hosted by the East Toronto Community Association in 1967 and routed along the boardwalk. In 1973, the Toronto Beaches Lions Club began to take an active role in organizing the parade and eventually took over in 1981 as the official organizers. The parade was moved onto Queen Street in 1974 due to the increasing number of attendees.

The annual event has evolved over the years into a weekend long celebration, including an Egg Hunt for children in Kew Gardens on Good Friday.

However, due to COVID-19, it was necessary for the Beaches Lions Club to cancel the 2020 Easter Parade.

“At the direction of Toronto Public Health, Public Health Agency of Canada and local officials in response to COVID-19 concerns, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Beaches Easter Weekend celebration scheduled for April 10-12, 2020,” read a statement issued by the organization on March 24.

With the stress of Easter cancellations, children and families were concerned they would not be visited by the Easter Bunny this weekend.

Officials around the world have been declaring the Easter Bunny an essential service provider, including Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, in a statement he put out on April 07, 2020.

“I hereby confirm that the Easter Bunny is an essential service provider authorized to deliver Easter chocolate, candy and related treats to the children of Ontario,” read Ford’s official statement.

Amidst closures and cancellations of Easter weekend celebrations, the Easter Bunny has been declared an essential worker.

In lieu of community celebrations, the Beaches Lions Club is planning on engaging the community in an online virtual parade and celebration, bringing the experience online for people to enjoy from their homes.

The Beaches Lions are offering prizes to Toronto residents who posted photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with one of the following six hashtag categories:

#EasterBonnetLVP wear your best Easter themed hat, bonnet or headgear

#EasterEggLVP decorated Easter Eggs

#EasterBunnyLVP best costumes or bunny pictures

#EasterBasketLVP show off special treats, breads, baked goods, charcuterie

#SpringCelebrationLVP celebration of Passover, Persian New Year or other Spring holiday

#FamilyTimeLVP pictures of family time together

Posts submitted before Good Friday at midnight will be judged and the winners will be announced on Easter Sunday.