ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

“Mayor Olivia Chow will present a Key to the City, honouring a celebrated filmmaker whose visionary work has helped shape global cinema and who has maintained a long-standing creative relationship with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½,” the City of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ teased in a media release.

The key presentation will take place during a joint ceremony with Cinespace Studios, where the Marine Terminal campus sound stages by the city’s waterfront will be renamed in honour of the Mexican director’s contributions to the film industry and ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½’s cultural landscape.

The city release did not name del Toro as the recipient, but a spokesperson with Cinespace Studios confirmed it will be him. 

“The Key to the City is a traditional symbolic honour, as the city has no physical gates to unlock,” the city release continued. “The ceremonial key and certificate represent the City’s recognition of exceptional civic contributions. The Mayor selects the recipients, acknowledging those who have contributed positively to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ and its residents.”

From filming movies in the city to advocating for an independent theatre in Roncesvalles, del Toro also has a publicized affection for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. 

In July 2024, when the was facing the threat of eviction and closure, del Toro urged Chow to save the theatre. In a followup open letter, he wrote: “It would be tragic to lose a venue like that, which is sustained by the sheer love of its patrons and founders...ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is a hub of production and many, many of the film practitioners (gaffers, set decorators, set designers, etc.) are proud and avid cinephiles. The denizens of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ tend to be humorously self-deprecating, but to an outsider, the city is a place that loves cinema with real passion.”

Del Toro commonly refers to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ as his “second home” and has shouted-out his favourite restaurants, theatres and bookstores across the city in the past. 

With files from Richie Assaly and Peter Howell