Toronto’s Police Chief is defending his decision to bar officers from wearing their uniforms at an alternative Pride event this weekend, calling it “a reaction” to the ongoing controversy about police participation.

Yesterday, Chief Mark Saunders announced that any TPS officers who plan on attending the First Responders Unity Festival on Sunday afternoon – the same day as the annual Pride Parade -- must do so without their uniform.

The event touts itself as designed mainly for LGBTQ police, firefighters, paramedics, TTC workers, military personnel and correctional services workers, and is in no way affiliated with Pride Toronto.

It comes on the heels of a prolonged battle between Pride Toronto and the Toronto Police Service.

Earlier this year, Pride Toronto voted to ban uniformed officers and police floats from marching in this year’s Pride Parade during its annual general meeting. The vote was driven by demands made by Black Lives Matter- Toronto, who previously accused the organization of implementing a number of “anti-black policies.”

Members of BLM-Toronto brought last year’s Pride Parade to a stand-still until Pride executives signed off on those demands.

Saunders later said that Toronto police officers would not participate in this year’s parade in uniform. Pride Toronto also clarified that officers are permitted to march, so long as they do so in plainclothes.

Speaking to reporters at Toronto Police Headquarters on Tuesday, Saunders stood by his decision to extend the uniform ban to the newly formed alternative Pride event.

“If this was something that was going on year after year after year, chances are I’d have a different answer, but this is more reactive and, again, I think right now it’s a bit of a distraction,” he said.

“I’m trying at all costs to eliminate as many distractions as possible so that we have the opportunity to do what we’re planning on doing.”

In his February decision to withdraw officers from the parade, Saunders vowed the service would continue to strength their relationship with LGBTQ communities through ongoing outreach.

But, he said that the First Responders Unity Festival is not part of that focus at this time.

“I’ve said point blank that our relationship is not weak, it’s very strong. There are some things that need to be fixed or modified or enhanced, and I stay focused on that. A lot of people have used the parade as a polarizing point, I’m not going to fall into that distraction – the parade is the parade, it’s not my parade. Who invites us and when they invite us, is up to them,” he said.

“However, the most important thing is what we’re going to do and what steps we’re going to take to enhance the relationship because there are some points we do need to touch on.”

When asked what he’ll be doing on Sunday as thousands march through the city’s downtown core during the parade, Saunders laughed.

“Hopefully wherever you guys won’t be,” he joked, alluding to the media.

Organizer ‘disappointed’ by uniform ban

First Responders Unity Festival organizer Bryn Hendricks told CP24 that the aim of his event is to create an inclusive space for uniformed personnel.

“It is a festival to unite people really. I mean, the idea was to bring together first responders who weren’t able to participate in Pride or are not necessarily feeling comfortable there,” he said of the event, which will take place in Winchester Park. “It’s an event they can participate fully in uniform or out of uniform.”

Hendricks says he sent Toronto Police the invitation to the Unity Festival “several times” despite being told it was never received.

Once the invitation was found, Hendricks said he was quickly told that officers are allowed to attend but not in uniform.

He called the decision “disappointing.”

“That decision was made very, very quickly. I’m not sure where it came from,” he said. “I’m having trouble understanding where the dividing lines are. If they’re (Toronto police) allowed to participate in New York, is the U.S. border the dividing line?”

Saunders told reporters that he’s written a letter to Hendricks about his decision. However, Hendricks says he’s yet to receive the letter.

Meanwhile, TTC spokesperson Brad Ross says TTC employees are “welcome to attend any and all Pride events in uniform or otherwise.”

“The TTC is not a sponsor of this specific event, but, again, all employees are free to attend if they wish,” Ross said in an email Tuesday. “The TTC has put no restrictions on its employees, nor have any been asked for, with respect to Pride and uniforms.”

Requests for comment from Toronto Fire Services and Toronto EMS have not been returned as of early Tuesday afternoon.

McCormack, TPS officers will go to NYC for Pride March

Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack told CP24 Tuesday that he’s yet to hear any complaints from officers about the uniform ban at Unity Festival.

But he suggested that Saunders’ decision may have to do with the fact that the event is being privately hosted.

“The problem with this unity event is that it’s being put on by a private individual. It’s not something that the Toronto Police Association, Toronto Police Service, firefighters or paramedics have put together,” McCormack said. “So I can see the chief’s point in not having private people arbitrarily saying officers should show up in uniform. Ultimately it’s up to the chief to decide when officers can wear a uniform.”

McCormack also said that the event will take place as a group of more than 100 Toronto Police officers travels to New York City to participate in that city’s Pride March – an invitation that was extended back in May.

“I’m not looking for an alternative event, I’m looking for the right things to happen in this city,” he said.

“The fact that we have to go down to New York City where they do things properly… I hope that this is as lesson to our Pride organizers. Let’s get things back on track – police officers should be proud to be part of the community, supporters of the community and proud to be police officers.”