aUDIO Description

As part of the 2025 festival, TOPS will offer live and unscripted Audio Description (AD) to Blind or partially sighted patrons, and anyone else who may benefit from the service. The flexible and team-based approach used by Audio Describer Kat Germain and her team is live and unscripted. All describers are connected to Blind / partially sighted communities and/or description practices — they may, however, not be formally trained.

This service will be available upon request at select screenings. A staff member will guide listeners to a designated seating area near the describer or describers. As the film plays on TOPS’ movie screen and sound system, the AD team will describe the film's visual content verbally, during pauses in the film’s dialogue.

Attendees who would like to use the audio description service should make their request at least 3 days before the screening by sending an email to accessibility@topictureshow.com. We want to ensure that we have enough seating for everyone, and we’ll know to expect you near the beginning of the event. Pre-registration also allows TOPS to contact you directly in case of last minute changes to the event (for example, in the case of inclement weather cancellation). Upon arrival at TOPS events, individuals should introduce themselves to any staff member to be shown to the Audio Description seating area.

Please find the list of seven screening events, dates, and locations which offer AD below.

Wheel-Trans Arrival Details

If you need to arrange for Wheel-Trans services to attend any of TOPS’ screenings, please see the below arrival information for each of TOPS’ screening venues.

Fort York: The event is located inside the “Walled Fort” at Fort York National Historic Site. The event entrance gate can be accessed at 100 Garrison Road, where a paved path leads into the fort towards the screening area (the screening area and other venue amenities are a short walk past the event gate, followed on a flat, paved path). Upon arrival to the event entrance gate, guests are welcome to connect with a TOPS staff member, who can be identified by wearing a lanyard and found at the event gate, if they’d like assistance navigating the screening area.

Christie Pits Park: The event entrance is located near 5 Christie St, Toronto, ON M6G 3B1, directly across from TTC Christie Station,, and can be accessed at the corner of Christie St and Bloor St. Arriving guests are welcome to connect with a TOPS staff member, who can be identified by wearing a lanyard and found near the paved path at the Bloor & Christie corner in the park, if they’d like assistance navigating the screening area. The screening area is by the covered pavilion in the near centre of Christie Pits Park, making use of the hill and flat area in the southern portion of the park, across from the TTC Christie Station.

Corktown Common: The event entrance is located at 155 Bayview Ave, and can be accessed at the corner of Bayview Ave and Mill St. Arriving guests are welcome to connect with a TOPS staff member, who can be identified by wearing a lanyard and found near the event entrance, if they’d like assistance navigating the screening area. The event takes place at the open south field within Corktown Common.