Toronto police are stepping up their presence across the city as the Jewish community gets ready to celebrate the High Holidays.
As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur draw near, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw stated that authorities are taking extra measures to ensure safety during holiday gatherings.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Demkiw announced that officers will be stationed at Jewish places of worship, community centers, and other areas where people are likely to gather.
“We have seen an alarming increase in hate-motivated incidents targeting the Jewish community in Toronto and indeed in cities around the world,” he told reporters. “To address this, Toronto police have implanted a range of plans and strategies and deployed additional resources.”
“We’ll have command posts deployed in strategic areas, including one at Bathurst and Sheppard. Task Force Guardian will also be deployed,” he explained.
“As a reminder, Task Force Guardian will consist of officers with specialized tactical training and capabilities, including having access to patrol rifles,” Demkiw added.
The increased security comes months after several shootings targeted synagogues in the Toronto area. In March, three synagogues were hit by gunfire within about a week. Then in July, two locations of the Jewish-owned Kiva’s Bagel Bar experienced vandalism and shooting incidents overnight.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow joined Demkiw to discuss what she called an “unacceptable rise in antisemitic incidents.”
“We have a more visible police presence in communities,” she added. “We have created safety grants for faith-based institutions, and we have launched widespread anti-hate public education campaigns.”
Tuesday’s press conference was held before a mayoral debate organized by the group Jewish Lawyers of Canada later that evening.
Mayoral candidates Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander took part, but Chow chose not to attend the debate due to her no-event policy leading up to her campaign launch on September 9. She is expected at the Daily Bread Food Bank debate on Sept. 14.
The enhanced police presence will be active from September 11 to 13 for Rosh Hashanah and will continue until the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack.
Photo shows Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and Mayor Olivia Chow at a press conference on Tues. Sept. 8, 2026. Keep it Factual
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