Toronto festival shooting raises safety concerns

A deadly shooting at Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair festival has renewed concerns about safety at large public events, even though police say gun violence in the city has been declining. Two people were killed and several others were injured in the Saturday night shooting, which led organizers to cancel the festival’s second day. Police said the victims were targeted and knew each other. Festival organizers and city officials now face pressure to review security plans for upcoming summer events, including Taste of the Danforth. Toronto police said shootings are down more than 26 per cent compared with the same period in 2025, but experts say a highprofile attack in a crowded public place can still sharply increase fear and reduce turnout.