RAPTORS PARADE DAY: Jump for joy for the NBA champs

They jumped through hoops to bring Toronto, and Canada, home the NBA championship, and this morning the Raptors’ historic win will be celebrated with a giant victory parade and rally.

Upwards of one million people are expected to line the parade route to view the Raptors and their families — along with the Larry O’Brien trophy of course — as they drive by in open-air double decker buses

The parade commences at the Princes’ Gates at 10 a.m. ET and proceeds along Lakeshore Blvd. and up York St. and University Ave. to Queen St., with a viewing prior to that at Coronation Park.

Guys that's the sign. It's begun. 🐶#RaptorsParade #WeTheNorthDay pic.twitter.com/y6Q7Y0Dh6a
— Jeremy Singer (@JeremySinger) June 17, 2019

A victory rally will kick off at about 12:30 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square and large screens set up around the square, on Bay St. and Queen St. to allow everyone and anyone to view the party.

Mayor John Tory has proclaimed June 17 We the North day, to celebrate not just the “momentous win” but the passionate Raptors fans who filled Jurassic Parks in Toronto and across the country.

“Toronto has proven that it is a basketball city and that the game thrives in The North,” the proclamation states.

I'm proud to proclaim Monday as #WeTheNorth Day in the @CityOfToronto. As we gather to celebrate the first NBA championship in @Raptors' history, I encourage everyone in our city to show our support, pride, love, and appreciation for this incredible team. #WeTheChampions pic.twitter.com/SvsVnOLGiy
— John Tory (@JohnTory) June 16, 2019

“I want to thank the fans … who are extraordinary,” Tory said Friday, noting he’ll be wearing his lucky basketball blazer through Monday.

He joked that the blazer has been out in the rain many times and hasn’t disintegrated.

“I want to thank the players and coaches who brought an excitement to Toronto we haven’t seen for a long time,” he added.

We’ve raised the @Raptors flag today as we declare June 17 #WeTheNorthDay in the #HDSB to celebrate our beloved @NBA Champions - the Toronto @Raptors! pic.twitter.com/MkKoF39yfz
— HDSB (@HaltonDSB) June 17, 2019

Coun. Ana Bailao said Torontonians have waited for this for 24 years.

“Now all of us get to celebrate with the truly great Toronto Raptors team,” she said Sunday.

Everyone is being encouraged to wear Raptors clothing or #WetheNorth T-shirts to celebrate their hometown heroes.

Tory also said Friday he hopes all employers will allow employees to take a bit of time off to come to the parade because these kinds of things don’t happen often.

But a party of this size will come with major traffic headaches.

The public is encouraged to leave their cars at home and take transit, walk or bike on Monday.

A series of rolling road closures will impact on streets around Exhibition Place, as well as Lake Shore Boulevard West, York Street and University Avenue.

During the Nathan Phillips Square rally the following streets will be fully closed: Bay Street between Dundas and Richmond; Queen St. between Yonge and University, Chestnut and Elizabeth Sts.

TTC spokesman Hayley Waldman said they’ll have a large volume of extra staff situated downtown to help out customers and there will be more frequent subway service, as well as extra streetcars and buses on standby.

There will be some major streetcar diversions as well, including the 501 Queen; 504 King, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina and 511 Bathurst routes.

Customers are asked to check www.ttc.ca for a map of diverted routes.

A guide to the Raptors Championship Parade Procession:
1. Following a motorcade of police vehicles and two broadcast trucks, Toronto Raptors fans, represented
by Superfan Nav Bhatia, will serve as the Honorary Parade Marshall.
2. Masai Ujiri, President, Toronto Raptors, and family in grey Ford convertible.
3. Bobby Webster, General Manager, Toronto Raptors, and family in white Ford convertible.
4. Nick Nurse, Head Coach, Toronto Raptors, and family in red Ford convertible.
5. Wayne Embry, Senior Basketball Advisor, Toronto Raptors, and wife in silver Ford convertible.
6. 10 Ford F-150 Raptor vehicles carrying Toronto Raptors coaching staff and families.
7. Toronto Raptors parade float towed by Ford F-250 carrying MLSE Board of Directors and spouses:
– Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of the Board, MLSE and Chairman, NBA Board of Governors
– George Cope, Bell Canada
– Edward Rogers, Rogers Communications Inc.
– Bernard le Duc, Bell Canada
– Glen Le Blanc, Bell Canada
– Joe Natale, Rogers Communications Inc.
– Tony Staffieri, Rogers Communications Inc.
– David Miller, Rogers Communications Inc.
– Dale Lastman, Goodmans LLP
8. Ford F-150 Raptor carrying “The 6ix Stix”
9. Trolley carrying families of MLSE Board of Directors
10. Tangerine parade float towed by Ford F-150 carrying MLSE Executive Leadership Team:
– Michael Friisdahl, President and CEO
– Cynthia Devine, Chief Financial Officer
– Nick Eaves, Chief Venues and Operations Officer
– Peter Miller, Chief Legal and Development Officer
– Humza Teherany, Chief Technology and Digital Officer
– Jeff Deline, Chief Revenue Officer
– Shannon Hosford, Chief Marketing Officer
– Kim Carter, Senior Vice President, Human Resources
– Dan Morrow, Vice President, Food and Beverage
11. Parade float towed by Ford Ranger featuring Raptors global ambassador Drake
12. Open top double-decker buses carrying Toronto Raptors players with friends and family:
– Bus #1 – Serge Ibaka, Jodie Meeks and Malcolm Miller
– Bus #2 – Danny Green, Norman Powell and Chris Boucher
– Bus #3 – Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Kawhi Leonard
– Bus #4 – Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Patrick McCaw
– Bus #5 – Marc Gasol, Eric Moreland, Jeremy Lin and Jordan Loyd
13. Police escort and EMS vehicles
14. Two pipe and drum support vehicles