Cherry blossoms in Toronto expected to reach peak bloom later this week
Social Sharing
Cherry blossom trees in High Park and across Toronto are expected to reach peak bloom later this week, the city said.
Peak bloom, which begins when at least 70 per cent of the blossoms are open, can last between four to 10 days depending on weather conditions, the city said in a news release Thursday.
Tens of thousands of people head to High Park every year to admire the blossoms, the city said.
There will be no vehicle access or parking inside High Park starting May 5 for the duration of peak bloom. TTC Wheel-Trans vehicles will continue to have access to the park to drop off visitors, the city said.
Visitors are asked to avoid climbing the trees and removing blossoms or branches.
They are also asked to remain on paved pathways and trails when visiting city parks to protect ecologically sensitive areas.
Visitors can also see cherry blossoms in Trinity Bellwoods Park, Birkdale Ravine in Scarborough, Centennial Park in Etobicoke and Toronto Island Park, as well as on some University of Toronto and York University campuses.
The first cherry blossom trees, known as Sakura trees, were planted in Toronto in 1959 after a fundraising project led by Japanese-Canadian leaders and community members, according to the High Park Nature Centre's website.
Two thousand trees were initially planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War, the website reads.
Several more groves were planted across the city in the following decades. The City of Toronto operates the Sakura Cherry Trees Project, which accepts donations to support the maintenance of existing trees and the planting of new ones.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Air traffic controller shortage could disrupt summer travel, WestJet warns
As Canadians start to jet off for vacations this summer, one airline is warning passengers they could experience delays due to shortages of air traffic controllers. In a statement Friday, WestJet said more than 300,000 of its customers have suffered delays since April and blamed NAV CANADA for the headaches, saying the problem is due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. 'These air traffic control staffing challenges frequently become the primary reason for delays throughout the WestJet network,' the statement read. 'The current situation presents serious operational challenges, as the industry heads into peak summer travel, with no short-term solutions in sight.' In May, 4.7 million passengers passed through security at Canada's eight largest airports, representing a 1.9-per-cent increase over the same time last year and a 5.5-per-cent increase over pre-pandemic levels in May 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Story continues below advertisement Winnipeg's James Armstrong Richardson International Airport saw the largest increase, with 7.5 per cent more passengers in May 2025 compared to the year before. 1:48 Staff shortages at Air Traffic Control could impact travel WestJet said it wants the federal government to work with all stakeholders to find an immediate solution to the staffing issue. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In a statement to Global News, NAV CANADA said it can't independently confirm the number of WestJet passengers who experienced delays, but acknowledged staffing does contribute to delays 'in some circumstances.' However, it said issues are rarely caused by a 'single factor or organization' and it is working towards improvements. 'We're investing heavily in our workforce because safety and reliability come first,' the statement read. 'That includes recruiting, training, and licensing new air traffic controllers at an accelerated pace. There are more than 500 individuals in our air traffic services programs across the country at this time, However, the path to full qualification is extensive, typically requiring 24 to 36 months of classroom instruction, simulation, and on-the-job training.' Story continues below advertisement Meantime, WestJet is warning travellers that Air Passenger Protection Regulations treat delays related to a lack of air traffic controllers as officially beyond the airline's control. That means there will be no compensation if delays occur due to NAV CANADA staffing issues.
Edmonton Journal
8 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canadian firefighter says he was denied entry to U.S.: 'Good enough to fight their wars but not good enough to cross their borders'
Article content A B.C. firefighter says he was denied entry into the United States, where he was going to take part in a competition for First Responders from different countries around the world. Jamie Flynn posted on social media on Thursday to detail what happened to him when he was en route to Birmingham, Alabama. He said he was supposed to represent Vancouver firefighters in the Jiu Jitsu category at the World Police & Fire Games. He described the games as an 'international event uniting frontline responders through sport,' in a post on Instagram. Article content 'Being denied entry to the United States is deeply upsetting,' he told National Post in an emailed statement on Friday. 'I lost my flights, my time away, and my opportunity to compete at the World Police & Fire Games in Alabama — an event I had trained extensively for.' Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jamie Flynn (@jamieflynnbase) Flynn said he is a British citizen living in Canada as a permanent resident. He is a firefighter in Vancouver and volunteers with Squamish Search and Rescue. He has served in the British Parachute Regiment (SFSG) and has also served alongside U.S. forces under Joint Special Operations Command. 'I operated under U.S. command, wore the American uniform, and fought under the American flag. I've always felt a strong bond with the United States,' he told National Post. 'I have no criminal record and no known issues that would justify this denial.' In his post on Instagram, he said he trained for the competition in the U.S. for months. 'And still, I'm grounded — sidelined not by injury or lack of effort, but by bureaucracy and silence,' he wrote. Flynn intended to fly to Alabama from Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday. He never made his flight because his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had expired and would not be renewed, Global News reported. He said he received an update on the ESTA app that said, 'Travel not authorized.' Article content ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is valid for two years, or until a passport expires, and allows for multiple entries. If a traveller receives a 'travel not authorized' response to their application, CBP says online that they can look into applying for a visa if they still wish to enter the country. The denial only prohibits travel under the Visa Waiver Program and does not determine eligibility for a visa, per the agency. Canadian citizens travelling with a Canadian passport do not need to apply for an ESTA. Flynn said that he did not receive an explanation from anyone at the U.S. border, the U.S. consulate or the ESTA program. 'This feels like a clerical error,' he said, and, he added, it's cost him thousands of dollars. 'I'm gutted. I'm angry. And I want answers.' Article content He ended the post with the line: 'We were good enough to fight their wars — but not good enough to cross their borders.' Flynn told National Post that he is looking forward to being able to visit the U.S. again in the near future. He has since submitted a visa application. Unfortunately, he said, the earliest available appointment is Feb. 11, 2027. University of Toronto law professor and Rebecca Cook Chair in Human Rights Law Audrey Macklin said her advice for travellers going to the U.S. is to avoid it altogether 'unless absolutely necessary.' 'Even at the best of times, states often treat non-citizens arbitrarily, and do not feel obliged to explain their actions,' she told National Post over email. 'This is sometimes justified on the ground that non-citizens do not have a right to enter, and therefore have no standing to complain about how a decision to admit or exclude is made. Since the rule of law is in free fall in the United States at the moment, the arbitrariness is more extreme, more coercive, and more frequent. That is why travellers should avoid the United States if they can.' Latest National Stories
Ottawa Citizen
12 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Rachlis: Canoeing was a challenge, but that aside, adult summer camp rocked
Like many campers, I headed off to summer camp — the quintessential Canadian experience — earlier this month, with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Article content Sure, I had three friends going with me, but would I get along with the other campers? Would I be able to do the activities? It had been awhile — the late 1950s and '60s, in fact — since I'd been out to sleepover camp on a school bus. Article content Article content Article content This time, camp was a Women's Weekend Getaway being held for the first time at the site of the Y Outdoor Centre in Dunrobin, Ont., and we were car-pooling. My three friends and I had been sent a list of clothing to bring, similar to what kids receive, and we also got the same Camper Code of Conduct. What was missing on the list of what to bring for older campers like us was our prescription medications, hearing aids and chargers, and Tylenol Arthritis. Article content At the Friday evening welcome meeting, we went around a circle saying each of our names and the age of our 'inner child.' Then we played conversation challenge games outdoors, exchanging mixer questions like, 'What was the best advice you were ever given? What do you want to be doing a year from now that you haven't done before?' We also all crammed onto a large wooden teeter-totter, and shuffled in a line on a rope on the ground to sort out our names alphabetically, then sort birthdays by day and month, using hand signals. Article content Article content Acting like kids, again Article content Article content There was constant chatter; everyone seemed excited to be there. The 25 of us included young mothers enjoying leaving their kids at home, and us, wanting to act like kids again. And we did. Article content We decorated 'wood cookies' — circular slices of wood — with our names, and painted motivational slogans on rocks to distribute randomly. Article content Canoeing was a bit choppy: a kayaker towed me and a friend back to shore when we kept paddling in circles. Archery was equally not of Olympic quality, but fortunately no one was hurt. I eschewed the climbing wall and high ropes, though for many it was the highlight.
