anti mask protest toronto

Thousands of anti-maskers protest in Toronto and everyone agrees they're idiots

If you had the misfortune of being anywhere near Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square over the weekend, you likely witnessed the anti-lockdown protesters who continue to loudly insist on making themselves and their beliefs very much known.

A crowd of thousands took to the bustling intersection on Oct. 17, rallying down Yonge Street with signs, a full-on motorcade, and not a mask in sight while the COVID-19 case count remains high in Ontario — specifically in Toronto, which is one of three urban centres the province moved back into a modified Stage 2 lockdown just nine days ago.

The spectacles have been a bit of a regular thing throughout the pandemic, with major ones in recent weeks organized by groups like Mothers Against Distancing (MAD), founded by anti-masker Chris Sky, who was famously arrested earlier this month for breaking federal quarantine rules to attend one of his events right after a trip overseas.

Sky — whose real last name is Saccoccia — was detained again just days ago for causing a disturbance when he defied Canadian pandemic guidelines yet again, refusing to mask up on a domestic flight.

He is among those conspiracy theorists planning additional large-scale events and special anti-masker schools to protest health and safety directives amid the health crisis.

The vast majority of the public has grown beyond sick of the antics of such protesters, noting the selfishness of such demonstrations and the danger they can pose to the public and to the prospect of things ever being able to fully open back up again.

Face coverings were made mandatory inside all indoor public places in Toronto back in July, and province-wide on Oct. 4.

People have since thrown tantrums about being asked to don the garment in stores, on public transit and more, often making for some great viral videos.

Lead photo by

Jeremy Gilbert


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

People spotting Toronto's fancy Roombas for cutting grass in parks are enthralled

Ontario just got hit with an earthquake and officials blame this mine

TTC workers are gearing up to go on strike and here's what you need to know

Here are the highest and lowest paying gig jobs at the City of Toronto right now

Yonge-Dundas Square renaming to Sankofa Square is about to become more official

A 7-kilometre stretch of the TTC subway will be closed for this entire weekend

Years of construction on major Toronto street set to extend even longer with new project

Toronto just got a beautiful new streetscape but oops it's already being torn up