An oral history of the mammoth Downsview Park concert that was pulled together in just two months – an audacious effort by business, government and the musical community to rebound after a heavy blow
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones performs at the so-called SARSstock concert at Downsview Park in Toronto on July 30, 2003.Just after 10 p.m. on July 30, 2003, the Rolling Stones began their headlining set at a park on a former military airbase in Toronto’s northern outskirts.
When the concert was officially announced on June 24, Toronto’s tourism industry was in tatters. Along with Senator Jerry Grafstein, Molson Brewery, concert promoters House of Blues and Michael Cohl with the Rolling Stones, Mills marshalled resources and gathered logistical and financial support from the federal and Ontario governments.
Formerly a military base and the site of two papal visits, Parc Downsview Park was run by the federal government. The airstrip was being used by Bombardier Aerospace.: “I was the government point person for World Youth Day and the appearance of Pope John Paul II at Downsview Park in 2002. That took us two years to put together. But for the concert, we had the template established to do it. Essentially it was ringing up the old team.
Toronto Police officers walk amongst the crowd. Emergency crews treated around 3,000 attendees for various minor ailments.Right up until the concert itself, organizers were dealing with last-minute concerns and fears.: “A sound check needed to be done the day before the concert. The Bombardier people at Downsview weren’t co-operating with us. I called Bombardier’s president and CEO Paul Tellier. I said, ‘Paul, you can’t do this to us, man.
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