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Stephen Dasko

Great Outdoors Comedy Festival brings top comedians to Mississauga’s Erindale Park

By Events

Get ready for a weekend of laughter under the open sky as Visit Mississauga welcomes top stand-up comedians.

Tourism | August 11, 2026

Large crowd of people sitting in front of a stage in a setting with grass and trees.Laughter is taking centre stage this September as the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival makes its Mississauga debut at Erindale Park from September 11 to 13. Emmy-winning and acclaimed comedians, including John Mulaney, Hasan Minhaj and Ms. Pat, will headline a weekend of live stand-up comedy alongside local food vendors and licensed beverage areas set against the scenic backdrop of the Credit River. 

The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is the newest addition to Visit Mississauga‘s growing portfolio of major events. The festival brings internationally recognized comedians to the city as part of North America’s premier outdoor comedy festival. Produced by Trixstar Entertainment, the festival has grown quickly since its 2021 debut. It has featured some of the biggest names in comedy, including Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, John Mulaney, Chelsea Handler, Nikki Glaser, Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, Amy Schumer, Theo Von, Tom Segura, Whitney Cummings, Martin Short, Matt Rife and Andrew Schulz.  

As the final stop on the festival’s 2026 North American tour, the Mississauga event is expected to draw thousands of visitors each day from across the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and from communities throughout Ontario and Canada. Combining headline comedy performances with food, beverages and a vibrant outdoor atmosphere, the festival offers visitors another great reason to spend the weekend exploring Mississauga while supporting local hotels, restaurants and businesses. 

Event details 

Who 

The lineup for the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Mississauga includes five headliners and a talented supporting cast. 

  • John Mulaney is a four-time Emmy Award, Critics’ Choice Award and WGA (Writers Guild of America) award-winning writer, comedian and actor. Artists performing with John Mulaney are Nick Kroll, Mike Birbiglia and Fred Armisen. 
  • Adam Ray is Dr. Phil Live. Adam Ray is a dynamic comedian known for his standout live performances. His wildly popular Dr. Phil impression has become a viral hit. Artists performing with Adam Ray are Ms. Pat and T.J. Miller.  
  • Jeff Arcuri has appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle,” “Laughs!” on Fox, SiriusXM, and comedy festivals around the U.S. Artists performing with Jeff Arcuri are Brad Williams and Grace O’Malley. 
  • Matt Mathews began performing stand-up in 2022. Since then, his tours, including the “When That Thang Get Ta Thang’n” tour and “Boujee On A Budget,” have sold out venues across the U.S. Artists performing with Matt Mathews are Jordan Jensen and Katherine Blanford.  
  • Hasan Minhaj is a two-time Peabody Award-winning comedian best known for his Netflix special “Homecoming King” and his political satire show “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.” Artists performing with Hasan Minhaj are Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta.  

Check out the video for a peek at the festival lineup. 

Find out more about the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival comedians. 

What 

The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is Canada’s premier outdoor comedy festival, bringing world-class stand-up comedy to iconic outdoor venues across the country. Festival-goers at the Mississauga event can choose from a variety of ticket prices and packages, including General Admission, General Admission Plus, VIP Club and VIP Table options. 

The festival is a 19-and-over event held rain or shine. Visit the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival website for detailed schedules, performance times and tickets.  

When 

Showtimes with featured acts are: 

Friday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. 

  • John Mulaney 
  • Nick Kroll 
  • Mike Birbiglia 
  • Fred Armisen 

Saturday, September 12 at 2 p.m. 

  • Adam Ray is Dr. Phil Live 
  • Ms. Pat  
  • T.J. Miller 

Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. 

  • Jeff Arcuri 
  • Brad Williams 
  • Grace O’Malley 

Sunday, September 13 at 2 p.m. 

  • Matt Mathews  
  • Jordan Jensen 
  • Katherine Blanford    

Sunday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. 

  • Hasan Minhaj 
  • Ronny Chieng 
  • Michael Kosta 

Where 

Erindale Park
1695 Dundas St. W., Mississauga, Ontario 

About Erindale Park 

Erindale Park is Mississauga’s largest park, with 220 acres along the Credit River. Known for its scenic ravine landscapes, woodland trails, river views and large picnic areas, the park is one of the city’s most popular outdoor recreation spaces. It’s well-suited for community events and festivals such as the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. 

About Visit Mississauga 

Visit Mississauga is the City’s official destination marketing organization. Working with local partners, Visit Mississauga promotes Mississauga as a place to visit, meet and host major events. By showcasing the city’s neighbourhoods, attractions, restaurants and experiences, Visit Mississauga helps attract visitors, support local businesses and contribute to the local economy.  

August 12, 2026
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City launches $25 adoption event as animal shelter reaches capacity

By Announcement, Events

The Homeward Bound adoption event offers $25 adoption fees for all dogs and cats from August 8 to 22.

City services | August 7, 2026

Close-up shot of a collie husky dog.

Are you looking to add a furry family member to your home? Now is the perfect time to adopt one.

The Mississauga Animal Services Shelter is asking residents to help shelter animals find loving homes during the Homeward Bound adoption event. With the shelter reaching capacity for dogs, every adoption helps create space for other animals in need.

From August 8 to 22, all dogs and cats at the shelter can be adopted for just $25, plus HST and any applicable pet licence fees for Mississauga residents. This reduced adoption fee offers significant savings compared to regular fees, which are typically $280 plus HST for dogs and puppies and up to $190 plus HST for cats and kittens.

View available pets online.

Event details

What

Mississauga Animal Services Homeward Bound adoption event.

Who

The event is open to everyone. No appointment is needed but wait times may vary. You must be 18 years or older to adopt.

Why

Mississauga Animal Services has reached capacity for dogs. The event will help more animals find loving homes while creating space for other animals in need of care.

When

Saturday, August 8 to Saturday, August 22, 2026
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where

Mississauga Animal Services
735 Central Pky. W
Mississauga, ON L5C 4H4

Why adopt from Mississauga Animal Services?

When you adopt from the shelter, you give an animal a second chance at a happy life. All animals available for adoption receive basic medical care, including vaccines and spay or neuter surgery. This can help save you money on the initial costs of pet ownership.

First‑time pet owners can also get helpful tips from shelter staff on training, food and exercise to make bringing a new pet home easier. Learn more about adopting a pet.

Not adopting? You can still help

There are many ways to support the Mississauga Animal Services Shelter if adopting isn’t possible for you.

Foster a pet

Foster volunteers provide a temporary home, love and daily care for animals while they wait to be adopted. To foster a pet, you must be at least 18 years old and complete an in-person interview.

The shelter provides everything you need, including food, bedding, toys and veterinary care. Foster placements can range from a few weeks to several months, making it a flexible way to help animals in need. View needed foster placements.

Read more and submit a foster parent application.

Donate to the shelter

The shelter accepts new and gently used items to help keep animals healthy and comfortable while they wait for adoption.

Towels and non-fitted bed sheets are regularly needed, but any of the following items can be dropped off at the shelter during operating hours:

  • Iams dry cat food
  • Purina Pro Plan dry dog food
  • Cesars dry and canned dog food
  • Leather or nylon leashes and collars
  • Dog and cat treats
  • Yesterday’s News cat litter
  • Toys that can be washed and sterilized
  • Pine shavings
  • Timothy Hay (nutritious grass for small animals)
  • Water bottles of all sizes
  • Bird cages, feeders, perches and millet seed
  • Pocket pet chew sticks, houses, climbers and cages
  • Dog and cat brushes
  • Cages, carriers, crates and aquariums
  • Cat climbers and scratching posts
  • Pet food bowls
  • Blankets and towels
  • Newspapers

You can also donate to the Animal Services Special Care For Animals and Resources Fund (SCARF). The fund helps pay for specialized veterinary care and surgeries for animals in need.

August 7, 2026
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Ternopil Park: Mississauga honours sister-city relationship through park renaming

By Announcement

Mississauga City Council renames Gulleden Park to Ternopil Park.

Local government | July 31, 2026

Gulleden Park, located at 3570 Havenwood Drive in Ward 3, will be renamed to Ternopil Park, recognizing the City’s twinning partnership with the City of Ternopil, Ukraine, and celebrating the contributions of Mississauga’s Ukrainian community.

The renaming reflects Mississauga’s commitment to fostering international relationships that promote cultural exchange, economic cooperation and global engagement.

Earlier this year, Mississauga and Ternopil formally entered into a sister-city relationship, strengthening ties between the two communities and creating new opportunities for collaboration. Ternopil Park joins Kariya Park, which was named in 1992 to honour Mississauga’s longstanding sister-city partnership with Kariya, Japan.

This past June, the City celebrated the re‑opening of a revitalized Gulleden Park. This park offers a variety of features including multi‑use pickleball & tennis courts, spray pad & playground, fitness area & skateboard features as well as pollinator gardens.

About Ternopil

The western Ukrainian city has a population of 230,000 people. It’s located 490 km from Kyiv, 125 km from Lviv and 150 km from the Ukraine-Poland border. Founded in 1540, its local economy focusses on various industries such as food and processing, mechanical engineering, metal and wood processing, construction materials and tourism. The city boasts 10 universities.

Quotes

“The renaming of Ternopil Park is a meaningful symbol of the friendship between Mississauga and Ternopil and of the strong ties we are building through our sister-city partnership. Just as Kariya Park has celebrated our longstanding relationship with Kariya, Japan for more than four decades, Ternopil Park will stand as a lasting reminder of the connections, cultural exchange and community spirit that unite our cities.” – Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish

“This park is located beside St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic Elementary School and within a neighbourhood that is home to many residents of Ukrainian heritage. Renaming the park to Ternopil Park celebrates the community’s contributions to Mississauga and acknowledges the importance of our new relationship with Ternopil.” – Chris Fonseca, Ward 3 Councillor

July 31, 2026
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Student entrepreneurs gear up for IDEA Connect Summer Market

By Events

From custom nails and baked goods to creative media, Mississauga’s young business owners have something for everyone.

Business and innovation | July 31, 2026

A person shows products to another person with a booth in the background.On August 12, the IDEA Connect Summer Market will present an event at IDEA Square One that features 13 student-run businesses. Visitors can shop for unique products and services, meet the young business owners behind them and support local talent. The event is a chance to connect, discover something new and celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

The young business owners are part of Summer Company, a program funded by the Government of Ontario. People ages 15 to 29 start and run their own businesses during the summer months. High school students commit to 280 or more hours while post-secondary students commit to 420 or more hours between May and Labour Day. Through training, guidance from IDEA and hands-on experience, they build skills and turn their ideas into real businesses. 

The IDEA Connect Summer Market takes place at the end of the IDEA Mississauga Summer Company program. Students get to meet customers and get sales experience before heading back to school.    

​What

The IDEA Connect Summer Market features 13 student-run businesses that are part of the Summer Company program in Mississauga. 

Visitors can shop for goods and services at the market. They’ll get a passport and collect a stamp as they visit each business. They can enter their stamped passports into a raffle to win an IDEA gift bag.  

Who 

Meet the talented student business owners behind the 2026 IDEA Mississauga Summer Company program. Discover a variety of creative, youth-led businesses, including:    

  • Hyprboost Tech 
  • Clevoir 
  • EPIC Car Detailing 
  • KDOT 
  • Helios Growth Systems 
  • Glu Nails 
  • Gig Tax Books 
  • Sauga Task Crew 
  • Six Blade Studios 
  • Jobbli 
  • Knot my Hook 
  • Luo Media 
  • Brown Butter Bakehouse 

When

Wednesday, August 12, 2026
5 to 7 p.m.      

Where

IDEA Square One
Square One Shopping Centre
100 City Centre Drive
Second floor, beside The Rec Room 

Registration 

Admission is free. Register online to attend the IDEA Connect Summer Market. 

Why it matters 

The IDEA Connect Summer Market gives young business owners a chance to showcase their businesses, connect with customers, bring in sales and use what they’ve learned in a marketplace setting. 

The summer market offers the community a chance to shop from local student-run businesses. It highlights how programs like IDEA Mississauga Summer Company can help young people succeed in business. 

About IDEA Mississauga 

IDEA Mississauga is the City’s hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. It connects local and global founders and helps businesses grow. Its home base, the IDEA Square One Entrepreneurship Hub, is a 4,300-square-foot innovation space located inside Square One Shopping Centre. It brings start-ups, scale-ups, corporate partners and investors together. 

Quote 

“The IDEA Connect Summer Market showcases the creativity, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of students who have spent the summer turning their ideas into businesses. These young entrepreneurs represent the next generation of innovators, and their success highlights the strength of Mississauga’s entrepreneurial community. I encourage residents to visit the market, connect with these talented young business owners and support their growing ventures.”
– Christina Kakaflikas, Director, Invest Mississauga  

July 31, 2026
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Mississauga moves to pause data centre development

By Announcement

The temporary restriction would be in place for up to one year as the City conducts a comprehensive review of the sector.

Local government | July 30, 2026

Council has approved a motion directing staff to prepare an Interim Control
By-law (ICBL) that would prohibit the approval of development of digital infrastructure projects, such as data centres, for up to one year. City staff are also undertaking a comprehensive review of this emerging sector to assess whether updates to City policies and regulations such as the Official Plan and Zoning By-law are needed.

The growing use of digital services is increasing demand for larger-scale data centres across Canada. The City’s comprehensive review will evaluate impacts on municipal infrastructure, economic activity, the environment, noise levels, energy and water consumption. It will also consider the role of provincial and federal governments in the regulation of data centre development. There will be opportunities for public engagement.

The review aims to help inform future policies and decision-making related to digital infrastructure while balancing economic growth, sustainability and community well-being.

Interim Control By-law

An ICBL is a tool under the Planning Act that allows a municipality to temporarily pause development of a certain use in a certain area for up to one year while the City reviews planning policies to determine the best long-term approach. In this instance, digital infrastructure developments (including data centres) will be paused in Mississauga while the City studies the land use planning implications of data centres.

The motion, brought forward by Councillor Martin Reid (Ward 9), directs staff to prepare an ICBL for approval at the City’s next Council meeting.

Data centres in Mississauga

Data centres are secure facilities containing computer servers that store and process digital information. This type of digital infrastructure supports delivery of digital information, including artificial intelligence (AI) services, to residents and businesses. This includes banking, healthcare, business operations, cloud computing and AI applications.

The City has received a rezoning application to permit a data centre in the Meadowvale Business Park. Data centres are currently permitted in designated Employment Areas. They are considered to be Warehousing, Distribution and Wholesaling under the Official Plan and Warehouse/Distribution or Science and Technology Facilities under the City’s Zoning By-law. Several data centres are currently operating in the City of Mississauga. Given the larger size and scale of data centres being proposed, the City’s comprehensive review will include whether the current classifications continue to be appropriate.

Next steps

Staff will prepare the ICBL and it will be brought forward for Council approval on September 16, 2026. If approved, data centre development would be prohibited until the ICBL expires.

Staff will also bring an interim report to Council this fall. The interim report will provide more details around the study scope and consultation strategy and review timelines. Once the comprehensive review is complete, City staff will bring a report to Council with recommendations for how data centres will be addressed in the future.

July 30, 2026
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Pan-African flag to be raised in Mississauga on Emancipation Day

By Events

Emancipation Day commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and celebrates the perseverance of Black communities in Canada.

Entertainment and activities | July 30, 2026

Recognized annually on August 1, Emancipation Day is a time for reflection, education and celebration of the strength and resilience of people of African descent and the ongoing fight against racism and discrimination.

The community is encouraged to participate in honouring this important day by:

Emancipation Day flag raising ceremony

What:

The City of Mississauga will be raising the Pan-African flag to honour Emancipation Day on August 1. Mayor Carolyn Parrish will bring greetings and will be joined by Members of Mississauga Council, members of the Black Caucus Alliance along with other special guests. Additionally, the City Hall clock tower will be lit black, red and green in the evening to recognize this important date.

When:

Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 11 a.m.

Where:

300 City Centre Dr.

The ceremony will begin in the Great Hall, located on the ground floor of City Hall. It will continue outdoors at the community flagpole, located on the west end of City Centre Drive.

Cost:

Free

The City of Mississauga is committed to building an inclusive and fair community. To learn more, please visit the Emancipation Day webpage.

July 30, 2026
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