Toronto police are warning of “extreme” traffic and transit delays today as many as 200,000 people are expected to gather in North York in support of protests in Iran.
The rally — part of what exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has labelled a Global Day of Action — is poised to become one of the largest demonstrations in the city in recent months.
Police say the march will begin at Yonge Street, south of Steeles Avenue, before heading south toward North York Boulevard near Mel Lastman Square. Road closures stretch along Yonge Street from Steeles to Sheppard Avenue, with full closures between Steeles and North York Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Officers are urging residents and commuters to avoid the area entirely as attendance “may exceed” 200,000 people.
“200,000 is the estimated number of people attending, and that is a large number, but we’re ready for it,” Const. Viktor Sarudi told CP24 Saturday morning.
Const. Viktor Sarudi Const. Viktor Sarudi speaks to CP24 Saturday morning on Feb. 14 2026 (CP24 photo).
He said police were coordinating closely with organizers and monitoring the march in real time.
“I actually spoke with the Incident Command Center, and the latest information is that at 12:15 p.m., Yonge and Steeles will be shut down completely, which is when the march is expected to move,” Sarudi said.
Although the rally is expected to conclude near North York Boulevard, Sarudi noted closures could stretch further.
“There is road closures in place all the way from Sheppard up to Steeles…we highly encourage people to avoid the area,” he emphasized.
How will parking be affected?
Parking is prohibited on Yonge Street from Steeles to Sheppard between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Several adjacent roads will also be restricted to local traffic only during the march.
For a full list of the parking and traffic restrictions, click here.
The TTC is expected to adjust service as needed to manage crowds, including possible staggered station closures. Access to North York Centre Station will be limited due to heavy foot traffic, with Sheppard Station recommended as an alternate exit point. The 97 Yonge bus will be on detour after 11 a.m.
Sarudi said police anticipate the event will remain peaceful.
“We do expect it to be peaceful, and we are ready for it to be peaceful, but these past events, specifically with this type of crowd, they have been historically peaceful and that is what we’re anticipating today,” he noted.
When will the event end?
Two weeks ago, police estimated 150,000 people attended a major protest at Sankofa Square in Toronto’s downtown core.
iran protest Protesters march in support of regime change in Iran during a demonstration in Toronto, on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan
With today’s turnout potentially surpassing that number, police say the end time remains uncertain.
“With a number this large, it is really hard to say a specific time things are going to end. What we’re anticipating, a rough estimate is around 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. the rally will be done,” Sarudi said.
He also notes it could take longer for crowds to disperse.
“You have to keep in mind it’s not just a rally or the speeches itself, but afterwards for a large crowd like that to leave and make their way safely home,” he said.
Officers will remain in the area throughout the day.
Toronto police requested on Saturday afternoon that drone operators refrain from deploying their drones around the demonstration, to avoid the risk of interfering with police operated remotely piloted aircraft system.
ATTENTION: DRONE OPERATORS
We are requesting all individual drone operators not to deploy their drones in the area of the demonstration as to not interfere with the police operated RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System).
Thank-you
^lb
— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) February 14, 2026
With files from CTV’s News Toronto’s Phil Tsekouras and The Canadian Press…