Countless Bay Street businessmen breathed a sigh of relief today, as the City of Toronto denied a proposal that would have seen the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair hold a bull run in the city’s financial district.
The run, which would have taken place on Tuesday (tomorrow), was envisioned by the event’s organizers as a way to promote the fair’s 90th anniversary, which starts this Friday. Had the run been approved, Torontonians would have been treated to the spectacle of six 900-kilogram bulls running along Bay Street between Wellington and King Streets.
In an email to the Canadian Press, the city’s animal services manager, Elizabeth Glibbery, said that the proposed event violated one of the city’s bylaws: “Under the bylaw there is a provision for exceptions – under educational and for film production. However, the purpose and intent of this event is for promotional purposes and, therefore, does not meet the exception.” Glib went on to state, “This would have been a significant and dangerous precedent in respect to prohibited animal use in the city.”
The fair’s organizers were understandably disappointed with the decision. Despite the setback, the fair will still begin as planned in several days. Those who still wish to see the six bulls can do so during the fair’s rodeo. [CP24]
____
Igor Bonifacic is a writer working for the Toronto Standard. You can follow him on twitter at @igorbonifacic.
For more, follow us on Twitter @TorontoStandard and subscribe to our newsletter.
