ACCESSFEST SCHEDULE

10:00 am

Accessible Yoga in the Square

Join us for an all-levels, all-ages accessible yoga session led by Orli Ziv, a certified yoga therapist. Whether you’re seated in a chair, or standing on a mat, this session is designed for every body. No experience needed, just bring your breath (and your personal yoga mat if you have one).

1:00 pm

Land Acknowledgement

1:05 pm

Welcome and Opening Ceremony

Hosted by JUNO-nominated comedian Courtney Gilmour, we’ll kick off the Main Stage with opening remarks, community celebration, and plenty of energy as we celebrate a day centered around accessibility and inclusion.

1:15 pm

Opening Remarks with Canada’s Chief Acessibility Officer

Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Stephanie Cadieux shares opening remarks on accessibility across Canada. Together, we’ll celebrate the power of accessibility, community, and disability leadership in the heart of Toronto.

2:00 PM

Translating Sound Into Visual Experience: An ASL Workshop + Performance

Experience how music can be translated beyond sound in this immersive workshop and live performance with Julian Ortiz. Drawing from real-world experience performing on major stages including the Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance, Julian explores how Deaf interpreters transform EDM through rhythm, movement, bass, and visual expression. The session includes a live interpretation performance, offering audiences a powerful look at how music can be experienced, embodied, and felt in entirely different ways.

4:30 PM

InterComplementary Journeys 

5:00 PM

Crip Rave

Crip Rave is a Toronto-based collective founded by Stefana Fratila (DJ Crip Time) and Renee Dumaresque. They are known for curating electrifying rave experiences that blend deep cuts, immersive visuals, and a commitment to creating inclusive spaces for all.

6:00 PM

Haviah Mighty

Haviah Mighty is a critically acclaimed Canadian rapper, singer, and producer from Brampton, Ontario. Known for her technical flows and incisive socio-political commentary, she made history as the first hip-hop artist and Black woman to win the Polaris Music Prize for her 2019 album, 13th Floor. 

7:00 PM

renforshort

renforshort, born Lauren Isenberg, is a Toronto-born singer-songwriter known for her emotionally raw lyricism and genre-blending alternative pop sound. Since releasing her breakout single “waves” in 2019, she has amassed over 200 million streams worldwide, collaborated with artists including Travis Barker and Mike Shinoda, and toured Europe with Lauv. 

8:00 PM

X Ambassadors – HEADLINER

X Ambassadors is an American pop-rock band from Ithaca, New York, known for their soulful, electronic-tinged sound and the distinct vocals of frontman Sam Nelson Harris. Formed in 2009, the multi-platinum trio—consisting of Sam, keyboardist Casey Harris, and drummer Adam Levin—catapulted to global fame with their 2015 debut album, VHS.

11:00 am

Future Focused AF – Youth Leadership

12:00 pm

Adaptive AF – Sport, Fashion & Technology

3:00 pm

Boundless AF – Accessible Travel & The Right to Move

4:00 pm

In Conversation: Dani Bowman

Known to many from Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, Dani Bowman is an animator, educator, entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for autism representation.

In this candid conversation, Dani will reflect on identity, dating, creativity, and what it means to navigate the world authentically as an autistic person in the public eye. Alongside running her own animation studio and school, Dani has become a recognizable voice in conversations around neurodiversity, inclusion, and self-expression.

10:00 am

MapMission: Princess of Wales Theatre Tour (1.5 hours)

Go behind the scenes of one of Toronto’s most iconic venues and explore its accessibility features in this special guided tour. Limited spots available.

10:30 am

MapMission: Royal Alexandra Theatre Tour (1 hour)

Go behind the scenes of one of Toronto’s most iconic venues and explore its accessibility features in this special guided tour. Limited spots available.

3:00 pm

MapMission:
Street Life – Cafés, Patios & Everyday Access (1 hour)

This tour takes you through a lively mix of patios, storefronts, and shared outdoor areas to explore how accessible, or not, everyday spaces really are. Limited spots available.

11:00 am

Adaptive Fitness with The Daisy Club

Rooted in the natural rhythm of a garden’s growth, this seated adaptive fitness workshop welcomes all, meeting you exactly where you are. Expect grounding, dancing, sweating, laughing, and connecting, all from your seat. Come as you are, take what you need, and move at your own pace. No pressure to perform, just permission to bloom.

12:00 pm

Chair Yoga

Led by experienced instructor Orli Ziv, Chair Yoga is an accessible and welcoming movement session designed for all bodies and abilities. Through guided breathing, gentle stretching, and seated movement, participants will explore how yoga and mindfulness can support relaxation, mobility, and overall wellbeing.

3:00 pm

Accessible Soccer ( in the square )

Hosted by Soccability Canada and powered by MLSE, this interactive workshop invites participants of all ages and abilities to experience the power of sport through accessible and adaptive soccer activities.

Whether you’re kicking a ball for the first time or a lifelong fan of the game, this session highlights how accessibility and inclusion can transform the way people experience sport and recreation.

3:00 Pm

Intro to Improv & Play

Join comedic actor and improv master, Ken Hall, (Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, CONAN), for a one hour introduction to improv workshop!  Ken is skilled in generating creative play, helping people take up space and find the joy of play.  In this workshop, Ken will lead a fun filled introduction to improv and spontaneous play.  Join and have some laughs while learning the fundamentals of improv!