International Vegetarian Union (IVU) | ||
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34th
World Vegetarian Congress Sharing the Vision Toronto, Ontario, Canada •
July 10-16, 2000 |
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Things to Do |
Toronto is a very vibrant city with lots to do and see in town as well as at nearby locations. Great theatre and summer events are too numerous to mention, but here are a few that usually happen around the time of the Congress. July 1 is Canada Day, our national birthday. Caribana — an event reminiscent of the great Caribbean pre Lent carnivals — begins with a number of preliminary events in mid July and culminates with the largest Caribbean street parade outside the islands. Symphony of Fire is an annual fireworks competition that takes place on the waterfront each summer. There are many other annual events such as the outdoor art exhibition in Nathan Phillips Square in front of the City Hall, and numerous street parties like the Greek festival of Krinos on the Danforth and the Italian Corso Italia festival on St. Clair Avenue West. | |
What's Happening | Daily
newspapers and two free weekly newspapers — NOW and Eye
magazines — provide complete and comprehensive listings of current
events in town and nearby.
T.O. TIX, a ticketing agency located in the mews level of the Eaton Centre, sells half price tickets on the day of a performance (subject to availability). Hours are noon to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. In person sales only. Contact: 416-536-6468, www.ffa.ucalgary.ca/tta/totix.htm, or email: tta@direct.com. Tickets for most large events
can be obtained from Ticketmaster Canada. Contact: 416-870-8000, http://www.ticketmaster.ca/, or email:
sales@ticketmaster.ca or
groups@ticketmaster. |
Museums and Galleries | Art
Gallery of Ontario (AGO) 317 Dundas Street West, TTC: short walk from the St. Patrick subway station. The gallery has a wide and varied collection of changing art exhibits and permanent ones, including an impressive number of works by the sculptor Henry Moore. Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday to Friday 12 noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission includes entry to the fully restored, mid-19th century Grange, the AGO’s first home, which is staffed by costumed interpreters. Call: 416-979-6648 for a recorded message or 416-979-6660 ext. 245 for gallery hours. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Hockey Hall of Fame
George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic
Art McMichael Canadian Art Collection
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Theatre | Toronto
is the third largest theatre centre in the English-speaking world. Two
of the city's most famous theatres are the Royal Alexandra (built
in 1907) and the Princess of Wales. Located on King St. between
University Ave. and John St., they are in the heart of Toronto's ‘Entertainment
District’, which also includes lots of fine hotels and restaurants
as well as Roy Thomson Hall. TTC: St. Patrick Station.
The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres are two more historic theatres. Located on Yonge Street at Queen Street. TTC: Queen Station. Guided tours of these beautifully restored vaudeville theatres are available. Toronto is also home to many excellent and more affordable small theatres. Two of the best are the Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman, 416-536-5018) and Buddies in Bad Times (12 Alexander, 416-975-9130). Also, worth catching are productions from the Canadian Stage Company (416-367-8243) and Soulpepper Theatre Company (416-203-6264). Comedy An older generation of comics
including Dan Akroyd, John Candy, Gilda Radner, Martin Short and Dave
Thomas got its start at another Toronto comedy institution, Second
City. This sketch comedy theatre is now located at 56 Blue Jays
Way, just north of the SkyDome. |
Historical | Ontario
Parliament Buildings At Queen's Park. Over a century old, this impressive sandstone building houses the Legislative chamber and exhibits of Ontario history. Guided tours daily Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Info: 416-325-7500 City Hall and Nathan Phillips
Square The beautiful pink sandstone of old City Hall (now a courthouse) is just across the road on the northeast corner of Bay Street at Queen Street. Casa Loma Other historical places
Visit http://www.torontohistory.on.ca/ or call 416-392-6827 for further information on walking tours and more. |
Annual
Summer Events |
Harbourfront
Centre At 231-235 Queen's Quay West. TTC: LRT from Spadina or Union Stations. A variety of cultural and recreational events are held here throughout the summer — many of them free. Home of the world famous Harbourfront Authors Reading Series. Info: 416-973-3000. Caravan |
Sports | Skydome
Front Street at Blue Jays Way. TTC: Union or St. Patrick stations. This distinctive domed stadium with a unique retractable roof is the home of Toronto's baseball team, the Blue Jays and our football team, the Argonauts. Air Canada Centre
Maple Leaf Gardens
Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant
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Parks | Toronto
is a very green city with close to 10,000 acres of green space. There
are free guided walking tours of the U of T campus which is in a park-like
setting. They happen Monday to Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call the
Public Relations department at 416-978-5000. The tours leave from the
Nona McDonald building — close to Convocation Hall between Knox
and Convocation Hall. A free guided Historical Building Tour takes place
at 11:00 a.m. daily.
The grounds around the Provincial Legislative buildings are quite beautiful and numerous waterfront parks abound. Well worth visiting are: the unusual and dramatic Scarborough Bluffs and the Beaches area — with its extensive boardwalk — in the east end; Edwards Gardens in North York; the magnificent High Park — where the outdoor summer theatre of Dream in the Park is held — in the west end. The Toronto Island parks are readily accessible by ferry from the foot of Bay Street. Toronto is one of the best cycling cities in North America with numerous marked paths and trails in the city. Many of the walking/cycling trails are along Toronto's river valleys and ravines including the Humber, Don and Rouge Rivers. For more outdoor ideas see the book Great Country Walks Around Toronto by Elliot Katz or contact: Metropolitan Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority |
Family Fun | CN
Tower 301 Front Street West. TTC: Union Station. At a height of 553.33 metres (1,815 ft.), the CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the world. It has a revolving restaurant, night club and observation tower from which Niagara Falls and the city of Buffalo, NY are visible on a clear day. Observation decks are open Sunday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday). A number of amusements at the base of the tower include simulators and virtual reality centres. Contact: 416-360-8500. Ontario Place Ontario Science Centre Centreville Sega Playdium Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Black Creek Pioneer Village
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What's Happening | Museums and Galleries | Theatre | Historical | Annual Summer Events | Sports | Parks | Family Fun | BACK TO THE CONGRESS |