Toronto Restaurants Support Pride Weekend With Community Initiatives
As Pride Weekend begins in Toronto, local restaurants are using the moment to support 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations through donations, giveaways, and community partnerships.
This year, Odd Duck and Minami Toronto are taking two different approaches. While Odd Duck is focusing on a three-month pay-it-forward donation program, Minami Toronto is hosting a guest giveaway tied to a donation for HIV research and community care.
Odd Duck Adds a Pay-It-Forward Option for Land Back Camp
Odd Duck is launching a pay-it-forward initiative in partnership with Land Back Camp, an Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit-led community space.
Through the program, guests can add a donation at checkout, with proceeds going toward Land Back Camp. The initiative will run for three months. As a result, the support will continue beyond Pride Weekend and Pride Month.
Land Back Camp has been described as a space led by Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer community members, along with queer, trans, and LGBTQ+ settler accomplices. In addition, its programming has included cultural learning, arts workshops, food sovereignty projects, community meals, and other forms of support.
The program also follows Odd Duck’s earlier community work, including support for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region.
- Address: 93 Ontario St S
- Instagram: @oddduckwandp
- Website: oddduckwp.com
Minami Toronto Hosts Ponzu the Penguin Pride Giveaway
Meanwhile, Minami Toronto is marking Pride Weekend with a giveaway featuring Ponzu the Penguin, the restaurant’s Pride-themed mascot.
From June 22 to 30, 2026, guests can take a photo with Ponzu and post it on Instagram. To enter, participants must tag @minamitoronto in either an Instagram Story or in-feed post.
The winner will receive dinner for two at Minami Toronto. In addition, the restaurant will make a donation to CANFAR, The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.
CANFAR was founded in 1987 and works to end Canada’s HIV epidemic through research, awareness, partnerships, prevention, testing, treatment access, and stigma reduction.
- Address: 225 King St. W
- Instagram: @minamitoronto
- Website: minamitoronto.com
Minami Giveaway Details
- Giveaway runs from June 22 to 30, 2026
- Giveaway closes at 5 p.m. on June 30
- Guests must take a photo with Ponzu the Penguin
- Participants must tag @minamitoronto on Instagram
- Stories and in-feed posts are both eligible
- Instagram accounts must be public at the time of entry and winner notification
- Winner will be contacted by Instagram DM
- Prize is dinner for two at Minami Toronto
- Prize has no cash value and is non-transferable
- This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram
Community Support Beyond Pride Weekend
Both restaurant initiatives connect Pride Weekend with ongoing support.
Odd Duck’s program gives guests a way to support queer and Indigenous-led community work over a longer period. At the same time, Minami Toronto’s giveaway adds a fundraising component for CANFAR while inviting guests to take part in a social media activity.
Together, the two activations show how restaurants can use Pride Weekend to support community organizations beyond a single event.
Media Contacts: Meghan George – meghanqg@milestones-pr.com Jenny Shin – jshin@milestones-pr.com
