Anti-vaccine protesters gather in downtown Toronto

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied around Toronto's downtown core Saturday including the provincial legislature and Queen's Park against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions.  

Toronto Police closed some downtown streets to normal traffic to ensure access to a stretch known as hospital row. Many in Queen's Park surrounded the King Edward Statue waving Canadian flags and holding signs saying vaccine mandates should be ended.

Toronto officials have said they are hoping to avoid the kind of blockade seen in Ottawa for the past week where demonstrators in trucks have occupied key areas of the capital.