Police in Toronto area ramp up patrols around Jewish gathering places for Passover

Police in the Greater Toronto Area are proactively ramping up patrols around Jewish places of worship and community gathering spaces as Passover begins Wednesday evening.

Toronto police say the public can expect an increased police presence in residential areas, grocery stores and other locations throughout the weeklong holiday, and rotating command posts will be deployed. 

The command posts will appear at a number of synagogues, Baycrest Hospital, the Ledbury Jewish Centre, as well as intersections along Bathurst Street north of the city centre.

Meanwhile, police in York Region say they’ll also be increasing patrols during Passover and setting up command posts at two Jewish community centres and a Thornhill mall.

York Regional Police say residents may see officers near places of worship, gathering places and in their neighbourhoods. 

Passover, a major Jewish holiday, is set to begin at sundown on Wednesday and will be observed until next Thursday. 

The increased police patrols come as Premier Doug Ford says many Jewish people in Ontario are feeling increasingly unsafe.

In a video posted to social media, Ford reiterated his government’s commitment to addressing antisemitism and protecting Jewish communities and places of worship. 

Last month, police in Toronto and York Region said they were investigating shots fired at three Toronto-area synagogues. 

News of the shootings drew widespread condemnation from politicians representing all three levels of government and, shortly after, Ottawa earmarked $10 million to help Jewish communities bolster security at gathering places. 

The shootings caused building damage but no injuries were reported.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.