17 people were taken to hospital after a lightning strike at a food festival in Whitby.

Officials say none of their injuries are life-threatening.

Calls to 911 were made after 2:00pm Sunday, not long after Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for areas including the GTA.

The lightning struck the main pole of the dining tent at the Whitby Ribfest. 

Event chairman Colin O'Regan says the lightning storm "came out of nowhere'' and that there was no prior sign the weather was about to change.

Sunday was the last day of Whitby Ribfest.

Its had been on since Friday at Iroquois Park, across from the Whitby GO station.

(with files from The Canadian Press)