Weekend need to know: First weekend with Blue Jays back in Toronto, CN Tower Climb; TTC/road closures

It’s the first weekend with the Toronto Blue Jays back in Toronto and they’re taking on the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre all weekend.

The WWF-Canada CN Tower Climb for Nature is also back this weekend, alongside other local events.

There is a full-weekend subway closure on a part of the TTC’s Line 1. More traffic congestion is also expected with sports games in the city and Cirque du Soleil located at Park Lawn Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West. Scroll below for those details.

Here’s what’s going on this weekend:

Top events

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Blue Jays had their home opener on Tuesday, where the team hit five home runs and beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3.

With summer-like temperatures this past week, the Blue Jays also played with the roof open at Rogers Centre for the earliest time on the calendar in history on Wednesday, in their second home game of the year.

This weekend, baseball fans can keep on cheering on the Boys of Summer as they play against division rivals Tampa Bay Rays from Friday to Sunday at Rogers Centre.

Rogers Centre | Photo: Flickr

CN Tower climb 

After three years, WWF-Canada’s CN Tower Climb for Nature is back this weekend.

The charity says humanity is seemingly heading towards an irreversible course when it comes to the climate crisis.

They say climate change impacts are increasing and a million species worldwide are at risk of extinction.

Climbing 1,776 steps up the CN Tower for this annual event is meant to help WWF-Canada raise awareness for the ongoing harms of climate change.

There is a registration free and a minimum fundraising amount of $125 to participate in the climb.

People can register to climb as an individual or with a team.

Stackt Market Anniversary Block Party

Stackt market is hosting their anniversary block party this Saturday at their grounds located at 28 Bathurst Street.

The party will include food, drinks, DJs and patios.

The event is free to enter and takes place this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

TIFF Next Wave Festival

The TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is happening all weekend from Friday to Sunday at TIFF Bell Lightbox on King West.

This year’s festival features new movies that are free for anyone under 25 to view, an advance screening of the highly-anticipated film Rye Lane directed by Raine Allen Miller, and a chance to connect with filmmakers for tips and inspiration in the Young Creators Co-Lab, which is a gathering space for young and emerging filmmakers in Toronto to connect with industry professionals and learn about all things film.

Photo: Courtesy of TIFF Photographer Emiliyah

Chlöe Bailey in concert

Chlöe Bailey is bringing her In Pieces tour to Toronto on Friday at Rebel nightclub.

Bailey is one half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle, and is currently on her first headlining tour, performing tracks off her debut album In Pieces.

Chlöe The In Pieces Tour | Photo: RAPSEASON

TTC closures

Line 1 full weekend closure

There will be no subway service on Line 1 between St Clair West and St Andrew stations on Saturday and Sunday.

Shuttle buses will operate instead. Regular subway service will resume at around 6 a.m. Monday.

Road closures

Eastbound Gardiner traffic congestion

With all of these events taking place over the weekend, there is going to be a lot of strain on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway.

• With Cirque du Soleil at Parklawn and Lake Shore, the eastbound Gardiner ramp to Park Lawn Road is going to back up the collectors lanes on the Gardiner.
• For westbound traffic, drivers can expect a line-up at the ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard by the Humber Bridge due to Cirque du Soleil.
• Getting into downtown is going to be a slow drive with the Gardiner ramps to Spadina, York, Bay and Yonge streets being the busiest.
• Lake Shore Boulevard will also be a busy option, with long term construction taking place on and off between Spadina and Cherry Streets.

Ongoing closures

• Southbound Salem Road in Ajax is closed south of Highway 401 to Achilles Road for Metrolinx electrical work. The closure will be in place until around 6 a.m. on Monday.
• Bathurst Street is down to a single lane each way at Laurelcrest Avenue for construction until the middle of August.
• Westbound Queen from Yonge to Bay streets, the right lane will be closed until late 2023 for work on the Ontario Line.
• Military Trail is closed from Ellesmere Road to Highcastle Road for road rehabilitation and slope stabilization. The project completion date has been delayed to the summer.
• Keele Street is reduced to a single lane about 100 metres north of Langstaff in Vaughan. Construction work is scheduled to finish this spring.
• Eastbound Queen Street, east of Bay street, has the right lane blocked for construction until September.
• Northbound Yonge Street is reduced to one lane between Wellington and King Streets for TTC construction. The project is scheduled to continue into 2024.
• Bloor Street is impacted by long-term construction, which is behind schedule, between Parliament and Sherbourne streets.

With files from Kyle Hocking and Jordan Kerr of CityNews