This summer has been active one for great free music concerts at various public parks in Toronto. Edwards Gardens, HarbourFront, Leslieville, and Woodbine among others. And if you follow the previous links you can see some of the great concerts which dotted Toronto’s summer.landscape However, HarbourFront’s Summer Music in the Garden and its  performing group Amar mi fa cantar played a distinctly sour note for their concert – they asked that no pictures be taken. during their performance. Or at least that was what I was told by a HarbourFront sentry who prevented me and at least a half dozen others from taking pictures of the performance  and group. No matter that this performance was in a public park.. No matter that there were no warning signs along the 4 main entrance ways to the Music Garden. No matter that all Harbourfront and Music Garden advertising brochures have no warnings whatsoever that any of their  performances at the Music Gardens would be subject to photo or video restrictions.No matter that common photography law  and Toronto’s own  Law on Photography both specify that  public performances on public property  permit any picture taking without restrictions.
Consequences
A father and daughter from Mexico at the Music Garden who had been prevented from taking pictures were clearly disappointed by the Harbourfront sentry forbidding her picture taking. They were surprised because so many tourists to Mexico City take photos all over the city especially at various festival events and concerts. An older gentleman lamented the fact that he could not take back to his family in Pickering  pictures of the Music Garden in full summer concert regalia. I concurred with him – this is the story I had to produce rather than one that described another fun musical place in Toronto.
Questions
There are a number of questions raised by this incident. First, was the sentry at the August  28th concer official HarbourFront staff? Is HarbourFront aware of the illegal action of preventing photography taking place at the Music Garden Concert series? Has HarbourFront informed performers that picture taking cannot be restricted at the Music Garden? Is Harbourfront aware of the negative impact on the Music Garden brand as a fun place to go and enjoy fine music in Toronto? There are two more Music Garden concerts on September 11th and 18th – will they also have illegal photo restrictions placed on them ?
The Only Music Garden Picture Allowed:
