Every Spring, the city gathers to revel in the ephemeral beauty of the Sakura (cherry blossoms) located in High Park, Trinity Bellwoods, the CNE as well as other sites around Toronto.

In an effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto barricaded the cherry blossoms from the public during their fleeting bloom period.

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Scroll to the Right to learn more.

The purpose of BlossomsTO is to create an experience for the residents of Toronto to interact with the beauty of the sakura in a safe and socially responsible manner. It was also to remind our community of the origins of the cherry blossoms during a time of increased Anti-Asian sentiment.

In 1959 the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Tou-Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Sakura trees to the citizens of Toronto on behalf of the people of Tokyo. The trees were planted across High Park in appreciation for the relocation of displaced Japanese-Canadians directly after the Second World War.

In 2011, the Sakura project saw just shy of 3000 more trees planted across sites around Toronto and surrounding cities including Hamilton, Burlington and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

The cherry blossoms began as a symbol of thanks, a token of recognition for the compassion and acceptance of the citizens of Toronto. Today, they are a reminder of the beauty of our diversity.

As Covid-19 caseloads overwhelm our healthcare infrastructure and stay-at-home orders and mandatory shutdowns have forced the shuttering of tens of thousands of businesses across Ontario; there has been a rise in anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate crime across Canada and the world. BlossomsTO casts a light on this situation to remind Toronto about the importance of our acceptance and that wondrous things can bloom even from these darkest of days.

Come by 146 Ossington Ave on Friday, May 21, 2021

To help us add some wonder to the world