Ontario marking King Charles III coronation: ceremony, free admission to several parks and attractions
Posted April 28, 2023 2:03 pm.
Last Updated May 5, 2023 2:26 pm.
Ontarians don’t have to be in the United Kingdom to be part of King Charles III coronation’s celebration.
The province is marking the historic event with a flag-raising ceremony, 21-gun salute, and drum circle at Queen’s Park at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday.
Related: Lisa LaFlamme to join CityNews for special coverage of the Coronation of King Charles III
Premier Doug Ford, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Speaker Ted Arnott, and Indigenous leaders will be among those attending the event at Queen’s Park.
The ceremony, which members of the public are invited to attend, will also include a special presentation of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
If you can’t make it down for the ceremony, you can also watch it live on the province’s YouTube Channel.
The ceremony will be followed by a royal fair on the south lawn with carnival rides, live entertainment and food. The fair runs from noon to 6 p.m. and is free to attend.
The following road closures will be in effect on Saturday:
- Queen’s Park Crescent East, from College Street to Wellesley Street West, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Grosvenor Street, from Queen’s Park Crescent East to Surrey Place, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Queen’s Park Crescent West, from Hoskin Avenue to College Street, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Wellesley Street West, from Queen’s Park Crescent East to Hart House Circle, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Queen’s Park Crescent West ramp to Wellesley Street West, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
As well, 10 major cultural attractions will be free for the day:
- Art Gallery of Ontario
- Fort William Historical Park
- McMichael Canadian Art Collection
- Niagara Parks’ Butterfly Conservatory and Floral Showhouse
- Ontario Science Centre
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
- Science North
- Upper Canada Village
The province also says 39 parks will be offering free admission. Click here for a list.
Ontarians will also be able to book their day use permit at 26 parks starting at 7 a.m. on May 1.
Toronto will also be marking the occasion with the raising of the Canadian Coronation Flag and the ceremonial planting of an oak tree at Coronation Park along the shore of Lake Ontario at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie will be joined by Dowdeswell for the ceremony which will include an offering of tobacco to the land, following Indigenous knowledge and practice.
The Toronto Sign on Nathan Phillips Square, the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place and other landmarks across Canada will also be lit emerald green.
Related: Full coverage: The Coronation of King Charles III
King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, England – the first coronation to take place in the United Kingdom in nearly 70 years.
Renowned Canadian journalist Lisa LaFlamme will be returning to CityNews as a special correspondent for the coronation. LaFlamme will be in London, England, leading the in-depth coverage alongside reporter Cynthia Mulligan.
In addition to CityNews television and radio outlets, ongoing reporting can also be found on CityNews 24/7, Citytv’s video streaming news service, and CityNews.ca.
Coverage will begin on May 3 before the Coronation is covered live in a special event airing on May 6, starting at 4 a.m. ET and 1 a.m. PT only on Citytv and CityNews 24/7.
With files from Meredith Bond of CityNews
