Toronto’s ‘Hospital Row’ looked slightly different Sunday evening, with flashing lights, the sounds of sirens, and cheers filling the night air as a cavalcade of emergency vehicles celebrated and thanked health-care workers across the city who continue to risk their lives to keep residents safe through the coronavirus pandemic.
At 7:45 pm, dozens of police, paramedic, firefighter, and transit vehicles could be seen β and heard β parading down University Avenue for the βNight to Salute Hospital Across the City,β which was organized by the Toronto Police Service.
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Dozens of health-care workers, still wearing their scrubs and masks could also be seen lined along the sidewalks to accept the salute.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, and Toronto Mayor John Tory were among the City’s dignitaries participating in the salute.
“On behalf of the Toronto Police, thank you for your courage, sacrifice and commitment to keeping us healthy and safe,” said police chief Mark Saunders.
In addition to the parade along University Avenue, drive-by salutes to the workers and staff members coincided at hospitals and long-term care homes across the city, as far east as Scarborough all the way west to Etobicoke.
As of Sunday, Toronto confirmed it has 3,546 COVID-19 cases, with 174 deaths.
Proud to join members of our @TorontoPolice Services, @Toronto_Fire Services and @TorontoMedics this evening in making some noise to celebrate and thank the healthcare workers across our city who continue to keep us safe and healthy throughout this pandemic. #FromUsTOYou pic.twitter.com/GrNuj0wI9X
β John Tory (@JohnTory) April 20, 2020
Our Transit Special Constables led by @TransitStaffSgt Jay Lawrence were proud to be part of this evening’s first responder #StrongerTogether salute to medical staff along hospital row. pic.twitter.com/o2yUrs8MT7
β TTCStuart (@TTCStuart) April 20, 2020
First responders parade down hospital row in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in a salute to healthcare workers
πΈ Cole Burston pic.twitter.com/5bJp9KKlzpβ AFP news agency (@AFP) April 20, 2020
Saluting our Health Care Heroes @ St. Michaelβs Hospital with our partners from @Toronto_Fire & @TorontoMedics. The salute was done at all other hospitals in Toronto tonight! Thank you health care workers everywhere! @TPS51Div #StayHome @TorontoPolice @ShawnaCoxon @UnityHealthTO pic.twitter.com/OuaYShWPQB
β Keith Smith (@keith_smithtps) April 20, 2020
We had a fantastic evening showing support for healthcare workers at hospitals & long-term care homes across our city. On behalf of the @TorontoPolice, thank you for your courage, sacrifice & commitment to keeping us healthy and safe. #FromUsToYou #COVID19 #Toronto pic.twitter.com/xy81QKaH7q
β Mark Saunders (@marksaunderstps) April 20, 2020
Heroes saluting heroes ππππ©ββοΈ Again, we can’t thank you enough @TorontoPolice, @Toronto_Fire, @TorontoMedics, @GOTransitSSD and others for your show of support today. The sound of those sirens remind us that we’re #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/3fbc6IDLW8
β Humber River Hospital (@HRHospital) April 20, 2020
Thank you to @TorontoPolice, @Toronto_Fire, @TorontoMedics, and other @cityoftoronto emergency vehicles for surrounding @UHN‘s hospitals to salute our heroic healthcare workers. During these unprecedented times, these moments of solidarity make all the difference. pic.twitter.com/cDbBnwwWbh
β University Health Network (@UHN) April 20, 2020
There are no words that sufficiently express our thanks and gratitude for those on the very frontlines – especially our healthcare professionals. So for now, thank you! @marksaunderstps @JohnTory @GMceachen @cityoftoronto @bradrossTO @epdevilla https://t.co/Fi3kkKLSen
β Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) April 20, 2020
Hospital Row on University Avenue in downtown Toronto https://t.co/9exAraSGJG pic.twitter.com/XfkbcBQO1J
β Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) April 19, 2020
Police Chief @marksaunderstps, Fire Chief @ChiefPeggTFS & Mayor @JohnTory travelled down Torontoβs Hospital Row tonight to salute the healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the fight against #COVID19. Thank you for your suppprt. π #SickKidsVSCovid19 @SickKidsNews pic.twitter.com/XZj1L0nTlC
β SickKids Foundation (@sickkids) April 20, 2020
@TorontoPolice honoring the clinicians working at @UHN @SickKidsNews @PMunkCardiacCtr @PMResearch_UHN . Thank you #FrontLineHeroes pic.twitter.com/lxV11kZMFT
β π₯Albert Tai (@alberttai) April 20, 2020
#TogetherWeCanDoIt #Cheer4HealthWorkers β€οΈ π π¨ … @TorontoPolice @TPSOperations at @Sunnybrook Hospital tonight #davisvillevillage #Toronto #StayHomeTO pic.twitter.com/DKsHRnYNwm
β SBayview (@SBayview) April 20, 2020
Participated in “A Night To Salute Hospitals Across The Cityβ at Scarborough General Hospital. Thank you to our health care workers and their families who support them! #FromUsTOYou @TorontoPolice pic.twitter.com/XJSnmdnJkv
β Deputy Barbara McLean (@tpsmclean) April 20, 2020