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thebestintoronto · 5 years

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Toronto

" Toronno" for the residents. Right here we don't articulate the 2nd "T". Pronouncing the 2nd "T" is a telltale sign that you are not from Canada or Toronto, along with taking selfies before the legendary CN tower.

Toronto's population shows its existing and historical function as an essential location for immigrants. In fact, 51% of Torontonians were born outside Canada. Considering my group of buddies, I often seem like we are a delegation of the United Nations or part of the following Benetton commercial: accents all over the place, rainbow of skin complexions, curious keyboard alphabets as well as conversations that usually begin with" back house" ... No surprise Toronto has been placed one of the most effective cities in the world for millennials to live and also function. The city is very dynamic as well as ultra-cosmopolitan. A streetcar ride suffices to travel with one of the most prominent districts of community: Danforth (Greektown), Chinatown, little Italy, little Portugal, little India ...

Located just a "couple of" miles away from the Arctic Circle, winters are COLD with constant snow as well as temperatures can go down listed below − 25 ° C (− 13 ° F). Summertime is the very best time to go to. Daytime temperature levels are generally around 20 ° C( 68 ° F), as well as usually climb above 30 ° C (86 ° F). Summer season provides a lot more chances to be outdoors and also really take pleasure in the city.

Explore Transportation

How to get to Toronto: Traveling All international trips will certainly come to Toronto Pearson Flight Terminal. Head to Skyscanner to locate affordable trip offers. From the flight terminal you have few options to get downtown based upon your budget:

Taxi (flat price around $58 CAD/$ 45 USD), half an hour if there is no traffic

Public transport ($ 3.25 CAD/ $2.5 USD). Bus 192 will obtain you to the closest subway station and then take the subway to your last location.

Up express Train: Leaves from the airport terminal and also obtains you to downtown in 25 minutes ($ 12.35/$ 9 USD one method).

* I constantly take the bus and then the train. It's cheap, quick (40 minutes) as well as you prevent all the traffic.

Toronto has a city flight terminal (Billy Bishop) that provides solution to more than 20 cities in Canada such as Montreal as well as Ottawa and also the UNITED STATE (Boston, New York City, Chicago). The Flight terminal lies on Toronto Island, Yes, an Island!

To get to the terminal you can take the tunnel or the ferry. The ferryboat trip to and from Billy Diocesan Flight terminal is among the quickest on the planet (90-second trip). If you are not in a thrill, take it!

Bus companies (Greyhound or Megabus) will certainly obtain you from Niagara Falls, Montreal, NYC and also much more cities in Canada and in the United States. You can either purchase your tickets online or at the Toronto Coach Bus terminal.

Go Travel as well as Talk top suggestion: Buy your bus tickets ahead of time and be adaptable with your dates; you might score $1 seats on Megabus.

Exactly how to get around Toronto: Public transport|Cycling|UBER Public transportation: Public transportation is really practical as well as we finally have the WIFI. Take the subway, streetcar or bus: Select a day pass on weekend breaks.

Biking: Use the city bike share, there are over 350 locations across town. A lot of major streets and opportunities have marked bike lanes for safety.

UBER: Uber is preferred as well ~ Usage the Express pool if you are on a spending plan.

Discover what to see and also do in Toronto

Walk around the marketplaces Kensington Market: Kensington is a really diverse market, you can pretty much discover everything, from cheeses, produce, international cuisines (e.g. Salvadorian, Gloss, Syrian) to second hand clothing shops ~ Take a look at Pedestrian Sundays (last Sunday of the month from May to October). These events are an opportunity to observe the distinct independent company area. It has lots of artists, artists and also performers. Did I already discuss the food?! Await some uncommon minutes. I once saw a male cycling with a squirrel on his shoulder, as well as a pair having beverages with snakes around their neck. Entirely typical in Kensington market!

St Lawrence Market: Wonder around St Lawrence Market which has more than 120 suppliers, sellers as well as artisans marketing fruits, veggies, meats as well as beautiful artisanal products. Open daily.

See Casa Loma Casa Loma is an attractive Gothic style estate and yards in midtown Toronto. Built in between 1911-1914 it invites in over 350,000 site visitors a year and also organizes a few of the most spectacular personal events and also hospitality events. You can visit it during the day and take a trip of your home as well as yards or head to one of their evening events ~ make sure you don your ideal gown though and also possibly you will run into a celeb or more!

As one of Torontos most significant tourist attractions, Casa Loma has something for everyone, from Harmony evenings, Great Gatsby events in the gardens, the Legends of Horror trip as well as a Getaway area collection.

It is very easy to locate on the internet, take a look at their web site here as well as publication your tickets for a see. Open up daily from 9.30am-5pm. Price for an adult ticket is $30.

See the College of Toronto University The University of Toronto is based on the grounds that surrounds Queens park as well as regularly placed as Canada's best university. It was started in the 1800's but has actually expanded significantly over the years, with now 11 universities, each providing different personalities as well as backgrounds, so the College's style is a fusion of old as well as new.

Stroll around the school and also marvel at the different buildings and attractive grounds. Several of the best movies of all times were fired below such as: Goodwill searching, The Incredible Hunk, Resident Evil, Urban myth and also Robocop.

It is totally complimentary to walk around the premises of the University as well as if you have some extra time, I would highly suggest it.

Explore Scarborough Bluffs and the Islands Bike along the lakeshore as well as all the means to Scarborough Bluffs ~ Prepare to be blown away by incredible sights of the bluffs and also Lake Ontario.

Take over the lake and also the islands You have lots of options: cruise, canoe or publication a boat tour. You must spend one full day at one of the islands (Ward's island, Centre Island or Harlan's factor).

Take the ferry ($ 8 CAD/ $6 USD) from the city to the islands ~ the ferryboat from the islands to the city is free.

Conversely take a water taxi from the city ($ 10 CAD/ $7.50) as well as take the ferryboat to come back.

Appreciate the heat, go for a swim, have a BBQ, rent out a bike and also check out the islands. The islands are the most likely to put for Torontonian to relax from the city. Keep till sun down for a gorgeous sundown on the lake.

Experience Toronto's nightlife or head to a celebration

The post “Toronto” was seen first on Go Travel and Talk

Intravenous Hydration Clinic Toronto Ontario - Dr. Amauri Wellness Centre - Dr. Amauri Caversan

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atlanticcanada · 6 years

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Air Canada cancels Halifax, Newfoundland flights to U.K. after 737 ban

HALIFAX -- At least two Atlantic Canada flights to England aboard Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft were cancelled Tuesday amid the continuing fallout from Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Air Canada cancelled London-bound flights from Halifax and St. John's after the United Kingdom banned all Boeing Max 8 jets in its airspace.

Sunday's disaster was the second crash involving the jet in less than five months.

Air Canada said Tuesday it was working to rebook passengers through its Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto hubs.

At Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, passengers arriving on an Air Canada flight from London -- which took off before the British ban -- gave mixed reactions about being on the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.

Angela Taylor, whose daughter was flying for the first time alone on the plane Tuesday, said she felt the Max 8 aircrafts should be grounded in Canada.

"I was a bit perturbed Air Canada hadn't suspended flights when Australia is not even letting any in or out," said Taylor, saying she was concerned when she learned her 22-year-old daughter would be flying on that plane.

"You might be on the bandwagon, but for safety? Come on."

After her arrival, Taylor's daughter Bryony said she wasn't aware at the time that she was on Boeing's 737 Max 8, and may not have boarded if she had known.

"I'm a nervous flyer anyway, so that would have put me over the edge," said Bryony Taylor, who had been away for three months.

But Patricia Little, who was on the same flight as Taylor, said flying on the Max 8 didn't worry her in the least.

"I think it's a whole lot of hype. I think there's hundreds of thousands of planes that go, only one or two of them crash," said Little of Saint John, N.B.

"Get a grip. You could die walking out there to your car."

Several other countries have taken the same step as Britain, including France, Germany and Australia -- but Transport Minister Marc Garneau insisted Tuesday such a ban in Canada is premature until investigators have more information on the cause of Sunday's crash that killed 157 people.

He added, though, that "all options are on the table."

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/2CgWzyN

#new brunswick #prince edward island #nova scotia #news #politics #canada #CTVAtlantic

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experiencetheskies · 7 years

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Air Transat Fined For Stranding Passengers In Ottawa

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has ruled that Air Transat (TS) broke its agreement with passengers when it left them stranded on two aircrafts on the tarmac of the Ottawa International Airport (YOW)a on July 31, 2007. The airline was fined CDN$295,000 and ordered to compensate passengers for any out-of-pocket expenses related to the flight delays.

Air Transat

What Happened?'

Air Transat is a Canadian aircraft based in Montreal. The airline operates scheduled and chartered flights to leisure markets in North America and Europe. Two separate Air Transat flights destined to Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport (YUL) from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Brussels Airport (BRU) were diverted to Ottawa due to weather. CTA agreed that this diversion was out of the airline's controls. What happened after the aircrafts landed was the subject of an extensive inquiry. Once landed, passengers on the Brussels and Rome flights were stranded inside the aircrafts for six and four hours each without food, drinks or the the opportunity to disembark. One flight's air conditioning also broke down during the ordeal. The supply of food/drinks and the opportunity to disembark is part of the Air Transat's tariff. The latter is specifically considered after the aircraft has been grounded for 90 minutes and if the captain decides it is safe to do so. During the incident, the airline reported that there were insufficient resources (i.e refuelling information, staircase, etc) available from the airport to allow for disembarkment while the airport stated that there were no separate requests by Air Transat to offload passengers. After the inquiry was completed, the CTA ruled that the airline had the full responsibility to ensure that its tariff is enacted and worked with the airport authority to manage passenger needs once the aircrafts were grounded. The airline acknowledged this ruling and provided additional compensations to passengers on the affected flights.

Statement on Delayed Flights (Tweet from Air Transat)

Additional Changed Ordered

The CTA also ordered Air Transat to make changes to its procedures to ensure similar incidents will not occur again. These procedures include: Train all employees involved in offering services during onboard delays about the legal obligations under its tariff. Amend its tariff to include a requirement to update passengers every 30 minutes and deplane passengers after four hours of delay if it is safe by Feb. 27, 2018. Provide a stricter definition of events that release it from contractual obligations.

Passenger Bill Of Rights

The Canadian federal government has been working on a passenger bill of rights as part of Bill C-49 - Transportation Modernization Act. First reported by Experience The Skies in May 2017, this act introduced specific criteria for inclusion in airlines' tariffs to manage such items as voluntary or involuntary denied boarding (“bumping”), delays, cancellations, passenger re-routing, and lost or damaged baggage. At a minimum, all Canadian air carriers must: Set tariff terms and conditions that respect certain legal requirements, are reasonable and fair, and applied the same way for everyone, as much as possible; Clearly display the tariff at their offices and on their websites; and Apply the terms and conditions of carriage as stated in their tariff. As of December 1, 2017, this bill is in the second reading at the Senate and is expected to pass by 2018.

How Can Airlines Do Better?

In the age of social media and real time reporting, airlines and airports face more scrutiny when there are disruptions. This may have reputational and financial impacts to the parties involved. Airlines can manage passenger expectations better by proactively engaging with airport authorities to build processes in handling disruptions at all airports that it serves. The processes should include the following key items: Assessment of tariffs and how they should be handled in different disruptive scenarios Communication and training on relevant procedures by staff Timely testing of these procedures as part of onboarding or annual training requirements Monitoring and feedback mechanism for the airline to set goals on beginning a better passenger experience Third party tests by independent sources to verify that the procedures work as intended (e.g. simulate a disruption or perform a drill by working with the airport authorities) In addition, the airline should introduce a communication protocol (online, telephone, direct communication on board) to provide passengers with timely and relevant information on any form of disruption. Bad news is better than no news especially when passengers are faced with unknowns and heightened anxiety. Proactively handling disruptions, delays and cancellations can generate goodwill for the airline. Read the full article

#Air Transat #AIRLINES #Bill C-49 #Canada #Passenger Bill of Rights #Passenger Experience

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esprit-de-corps-magazine · 7 years

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DECIMATED, DEMORALIZED & DISBANDED: No. 124 (Ferry) Squadron's Demise Following The 1946 Crash Of Dakota 962

(Volume 24-7)

By Anne Gafiuk

In the summer of 1946, at the age of 17, William Cameron was awarded an Air Cadet Flying Scholarship at the Regina Flying Club. He said, “Throughout that summer, the RCAF flew a large number of Fairchild Cornell aircraft to RCAF Holding Unit No. 201 at the airport at Estevan, Saskatchewan from Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, bases that are now closed.”

He explains, “The Cornell was a low-wing, two-pilot elementary training aircraft that had been supplied in considerable numbers to the government of Great Britain, by the government of the United States, for use in the BCATP, under the 1941 ‘Lend-Lease’ agreement between those two countries.”

At that time, Cameron was just learning to fly. “During the two weeks of my flying course, I witnessed, on two occasions, the arrival and departure from the Regina airport of an RCAF C-47, carrying a number of RCAF pilots. I was tremendously impressed by the appearance of those young men. Most of them were flight lieutenants or flying officers, and almost all of them wore a number of honours decorations below their pilot wings on their uniforms. There were many Distinguished Flying Cross ribbons, as well as ribbons for various theatres of war.”

Of those on board the C-47 known by its RCAF designation as Dakota 962, 11 had been awarded the DFC, with one having the DFC and Bar, another the DSO and DFC, and three had received the Burma Star for their service in the Second World War’s Burma Campaign. Twelve were flight lieutenants and eight were flying officers. The sole leading aircraftman was the airframe mechanic.

Cameron recollects, “Those men were in ‘high spirits.’ They had survived the horrors of wartime operations, and were in a holiday mood as they went off to Estevan to fly Cornells across the border to the United States. Possibly some of them had learned to fly on those very same Cornell aircraft at a Canadian EFTS. Our small air cadet trainee group was in awe of those vibrant, young, veteran pilots. The pilots that we saw at Regina Airport in August of 1946 were either on their way to Estevan for the ferry operations, or having finished their assignment, were returning to Ottawa for discharge from the service.”

On September 12, 1946, F/L Wilson Marshall Iverson, officer in charge of No. 124 (Ferry) Squadron, instructed F/L Stewart and his crew to proceed to Estevan, Saskatchewan.

On the morning of September 15, the 21 men, including one pilot, one co-pilot, 18 ferry pilots, and one airframe mechanic, checked out of the Roosevelt Hotel in Minot, North Dakota and headed to the airport. They were readying themselves for a routine 45-minute cross-country transport flight northwest to Estevan, as passengers aboard Dakota 962, getting ready to ferry another set of Cornells back to Minot.

The pilot provided the flight plan after becoming airborne at 0930 hours CST. He reported his ETA at Estevan being 1015 hours CST and did not report any difficulties, making no further contact with ground stations.

At 1020 hrs CST, the dispatching officer of No. 124 (Ferry) Squadron reported that Dakota 962 crashed upon landing at RCAF Station Estevan.

Witnesses on the airbase testified that only two men had signs of life when responders first arrived on scene, but remained unconscious. All men on board Dakota 962 were thrown to the front of the plane, many on fire, after impact. The medical officer identified the individuals by rings, laundry marks and billfolds, among other things including watches, five of which needed to be identified by the families.

The crash and the funeral procession to the railway station in Estevan made local and national news across Canada. The men’s bodies were returned to their homes coast to coast, via train, with the exception of F/O Henry Hugh Cowan, DFC, whose body was flown home to Ottawa, as his mother was on her deathbed.

The Court of Inquiry said it was difficult to determine what had transpired in Dakota 962 between takeoff and the crash, but concluded Dakota 962 crashed on landing at RCAF Station Estevan as a result of loss of control due to an elevator control lock being in the locked position. The pilot was guilty of negligence in the performance of his duties, in that he failed to carry out a proper pre-flight check.

Questions were also raised about who was piloting the aircraft; at Minot, F/O Pond was noted as the pilot, but the seventh witness at the inquiry claimed F/L Stewart was given the responsibility as pilot. Due to the fire, “It was not possible to determine which of these two officers were occupying the left hand seat.”

The Court of Inquiry recommended:

That on aircraft using outside locks, the duties of the airman in carrying out daily inspections be amended to include the inspection of control locks, ensuring that each lock carries a red streamer at least 4 feet in length.

That all aircraft be fitted with racks, one for each control lock. These racks should be positioned in the radio compartment of the aircraft so that the pilot and co-pilot can check visually that they are in their proper storage spot prior to flight.

That all units be instructed to emphasize once again to all pilots the necessity for carrying out the proper pre-flight check.

Cameron recalls that, “A few weeks after the completion of the 20 hours of flight training at Regina Flying Club, I was shocked to learn about the crash of Dakota 962 at Estevan. It immediately occurred to me that the victims of that accident might well have been the same young men that I had so much admired at Regina Airport a few weeks earlier.”

Also shaken by the accident claiming many war heroes, the French, American and British military attachés in Ottawa sent their condolences to Air Marshal Robert Leckie.

On September 30, 1946, No. 124 (Ferry) Squadron was disbanded.

In October 1946, Mrs. Constance Marie Pond, wife of one of the designated pilots, F/O Pond, wrote the RCAF thanking them for their condolences and floral tributes, plus the honour paid to her husband at his funeral services in both Estevan and Montreal:

My husband did not even have his 2-weeks’ leave so he did not have a holiday this year, although he did not complain. The night he phoned from Ottawa to tell me they were going out West, he said he was at last signed up for his ‘leave’ and was called back and told ‘No you don’t. You’re going out West ...’

These are the things I can’t bear to think about — that seems so unfair and although I have had a report on how it is surmised the accident occurred, I believe, from my husband’s letters and cards written out there that they worked so hard, they were all tired out and the Pilot simply was so tired that he made a mistake.

With their findings and recommendations, the Court of Inquiry and subsequent memorandums between September 1946 and February 1947 made sure that this type of accident would not readily occur again.

Air Marshal Robert Leckie wrote in January 1947: “During this coming year as the Royal Canadian Air Force gets back to regular flying operations, there will be many pilots returning to active flying who have for sometime been employed on other duties. Many of these pilots will have done very little flying for some time and accidents are liable to occur during the period of their refresher training. For this reason the compulsory use of pre-flight and pre-landing checking list is to be reintroduced into the RCAF for all types of aircraft.”

“Two years later, in 1948,” recalls Cameron, “I became an employee of Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd. (CPAL) as a radio operator/agent. On those occasions, when a company aircraft was to remain on the ground overnight or was unattended for a long period in windy conditions, it was my responsibility at airports to which I was assigned, to place the elevator gust locks on the company DC-3s. The locks were put in place immediately after the aircraft arrived at the airport terminal, and removed as soon as the pilots went to the cockpit, prior to start-up of the engines for departure.”

Cameron says, “Knowing that the cause of the tragic accident of the RCAF C-47 at Estevan in 1946 was the failure to remove the elevator gust locks, it was a source of great comfort to me in carrying out these duties, to know that it was almost impossible for the gust locks used by CPAL to remain in place as the aircraft taxied away. Attached to each gust lock was a long, red canvas ribbon — easily seen — and a length of flexible cable, about four feet long, that was attached to a 10-pound metal ring. In the event that the removal of the gust lock had been overlooked prior to the aircraft departure, the heavy weight lying on the ground would pull the locks from the elevators as the aircraft moved away.”

Cameron, now 88, remembers, “How tragic that such a simple, inexpensive device had not been available for that RCAF C-47 departure from Minot, North Dakota, on that fateful day of September 15, 1946. I was overwhelmed by the seeming injustice of their death in peacetime, after having survived the many dangers of operational flying during the Second World War.”

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thebestintoronto · 5 years

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Toronto - A Multicultural Treasure - Canada, February 2019

Welcome to Toronto, the most multiculturally diverse city on the planet, where more than 180 languages are spoken on a daily basis. A popular adage describes the city as "New York City run by the Swiss," and it's true—you can find world-class theater, underground tunnels, shopping and restaurants, the sidewalks are clean and the people are friendly. It's estimated that over half of Toronto's residents were born outside Canada and despite its complex makeup, Torontonians generally get along extremely well. When the weather is fine, Toronto is a blast: a vibrant, big-time city abuzz with activity. Some of the world's finest restaurants are found here, alongside happening bars and clubs and eclectic festivals. Yes, winter in Toronto can be a real drag, with things getting messy on the congested highways and crowded public transit system. But come here with patience, an open mind and even during frigid days and bone-chilling nights, you're bound to have a great time. There is a fresh international buzz about this city. Perhaps it's the influx of flush new residents from across the globe; or was it the Pan-Am Games that shone a spotlight on Toronto? Either way, this is a city that is waking up to its own greatness.

A little bit of history:

When Europeans first arrived at the site of present-day Toronto, the vicinity was inhabited by the Iroquois, who had displaced the Wyandot (Huron) people, occupants of the region for centuries. The name Toronto is likely derived from the Iroquoian word tkaronto, meaning "place where trees stand in the water". This refers to the northern end of what is now Lake Simcoe, where the Huron had planted tree saplings to corral fish. In the 1660s, the Iroquois established two villages within what is today Toronto. By 1701, the Mississauga had displaced the Iroquois, who abandoned the Toronto area at the end of the Beaver Wars, with most returning to their base in present-day New York. In the 17th century, the area was a crucial for travel, with the Humber and Rouge rivers providing a shortcut to the upper Great Lakes. These routes together were known as the Toronto Passage.

As a major destination for immigrants to Canada, the city grew rapidly through the remainder of the 19th century. The first significant wave of immigrants were Irish, fleeing the Great Irish Famine -the vast majority were Catholic. By 1851, the Irish-born population had become the largest single ethnic group in the city. For brief periods, Toronto was twice the capital of the united Province of Canada: first from 1849 to 1852, following unrest in Montreal, and later 1856 to 1858. After this date, Quebec was designated as the capital until 1866 (one year before Canadian Confederation). Since then, the capital of Canada has remained Ottawa, Ontario. Toronto became the capital of the province of Ontario after its official creation in 1867.

Following WWII, refugees from war-torn Europe and Chinese job-seekers arrived. Toronto's population grew to more than one million in 1951, when large-scale suburbanization began and doubled to two million by 1971. Following the elimination of racially based immigration policies by the late 1960s, Toronto became a destination for immigrants from all parts of the world. By the 1980s, Toronto had surpassed Montreal as Canada's most populous city and chief economic hub.

As is my usual practice, I’m taking up “residence” in a Hilton property – this time it’s the Doubletree on Chestnut Street in downtown. My red-eye flights via Detroit had me touching down at Pearson International by 10:30am, temperature was just 13f with a wind chill of -17f, heavy overcast skies and thick snowflakes beginning to float down to add to the existing accumulation on the runways. To say it was cold would be a vast understatement – my breath was a stream of white mist as I walked up the gangway from the plane into the terminal, shivering all the way. My arranged transfer to the hotel was via Jayride Shuttles, an excellent shuttle company I have used in the past. They are significantly cheaper than most transfer services to the city (I paid $35 USD for a one-way trip) and it can all be done online via their website. By noon I was checking into the Doubletree right in the heart of the entertainment center of Toronto – a 26-story building and my home-away-from-home for the next couple of weeks is on the 24th floor, overlooking the city center ice skating rink. A small room by my usual standards but very cozy, with a bay window affording sweeping views of the streets far below. The Wifi signal is always strong and stable and of course, numerous American/Canadian television channels to satisfy even me! After the redeye flights and having been awake for more than 39 hours, I was more than ready for a hot shower and a long afternoon nap – I can unpack and get settled in later.

My first morning in Toronto and I awoke to a fresh layer of snow blanketing the immediate area and glistening in the bright morning sunlight. Skaters are already zooming around the rink, wrapped up like Goodyear Tire Men from head to foot in thick coats, scarves, hats and gloves. Temperature was -9c with a wind chill of -13c…. that called for hot coffee and lots of it. After the standard hotel buffet breakfast (or “brekkie” as it’s known in Canada), I stopped by the front desk to collect a city street map and some sightseeing literature – now I’m ready to plan my 2-week stay. Thankfully I picked an ideal location to use as a base of operations – I’m in easy walking distance from just about everything and even though it means braving these crazy temps, I’m ready to take on the challenge of Toronto’s outdoors. I have my winter coat (only one I own), gloves, umbrella and even a scarf – only missing the requisite fur hat…..you can now refer to me as Nannoka of the North, bring on the blizzard…. LOL.

Just as I was debating whether to go out for dinner or eat in, the fire alarm went off in my room – so loud, it startled me out of a half doze. Then came an announcement that the fire department was its way to check out the problem. This lasted for almost 25 minutes with the alarm shrieking constantly, only halted temporarily when an updated announcement was made by hotel staff. Finally it was determined to be a false alarm and things seemed to return to normal – yeah right. By this time, I had made the decision to eat in so made my way to the elevators. Turns out when the alarm was triggered the elevators automatically stopped, and until a serviceman arrived to release them, they were not moving. I had a choice: either go hungry or hike down 24 flights of back service stairs……no contest, I’m headed for the lobby on the ankle express (aka hiking). If I hadn’t been hungry earlier, I had definitely worked up an appetite when I reached the ground floor. See how much fun can be had while traveling the globe…. certainly boggles the mind at times.

Hemispheres Restaurant and Bistro is the inhouse eatery on the lobby floor. Having opted to eat here this evening, I was pleasantly surprised at the menu options. I selected the pea soup puree with wasabi cream which, in spite of its name, tasted way better than it sounds. My entrée was a fantastic Bistro burger with smoked gouda cheese accompanied by sweet potato fries – a really fantastic dinner. Considering I was dining in a hotel restaurant the resulting $27 USD bill was reasonable, and the food was excellent. Thank all the gods on high the elevators had been released for service by this time, and I didn’t have to hike UP 24 flights – that was NOT on my list of things to do this evening!

In spite of my clothing preparations, my sightseeing plans went to hell in a hand basket when I opened the drapes the next morning to see light snow falling. That wouldn’t normally have stopped me, but what I heard on the local weather newscast did. The City had issued a severe cold temperature warning, along with a major storm announcement moving into the area tomorrow morning, along with a prediction for heavy snowfall, ice pellets, freezing rain and mercury readings I don’t even want to think about. Sand trucks are being readied for the upcoming blizzard, so being outside and exploring is out of the question for a day or so…. I’ll use this time to finalize upcoming trips and watch the snow drifts get higher and higher outside my windows.

I’m looking at the blizzard right now – make that a “whiteout” – swirling outside my windows….I awoke a couple of hours ago to relative calm and low temps. Promptly at 7:30am the predicted winter storm rolled into Toronto and it has been hell on wheels ever since. The order to close all city schools went out very early; except for the subway, city transportation is at a standstill; the airport has cancelled multiple flights, government employees are working from home, and yet there are people on the street walking their dogs! The winds are howling, blowing the snow in all directions building drifts against every available wall, and I have a front-row seat for all this excitement – how cool is that?

Unfortunately I missed one of the city’s most popular events by just one day…..Winterlicious, created by the city and held from January 25 to February 4. It featured delectable three-course prix fixe menus at nearly 200 participating restaurants and an eclectic culinary event series city-wide. Bad logistical planning on my part.

However I am in time and in town for another spectacular event: the Toronto Light Festival, now in its third year. Approximately 750,000 lights are used to create a magical experience that sees the area’s 50+ Victorian-era buildings surrounded by light sculptures and dazzling canopies. Here I’m on a new visual journey and imaginative cerebral adventure, designed to entertain and inspire. The Festival transforms this neighborhood into one of the largest open-air galleries in the world, lighting up the long winter nights with distinctive works from both local and international light artists. Formerly the home of Gooderham and Worts, which was once the largest distiller in the world, it is now a designed National Historic Site. A free event which runs thru March 2nd is located in the Distillery Historic District. This entire complex is a romantic, creative and pedestrian-only village, lined with cobblestone streets and endless galleries, restaurants, cafes and shopping boutiques.

Winter here offers something else for free, ice skating at the Evergreen Brick Works. The Don Valley Brick Works (aka the Evergreen Brick Works) is a former quarry and industrial site which operated for nearly 100 years, providing bricks used to construct many well-known Toronto landmarks. Since the closure of the original factory, the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds, while the buildings have been restored and opened as an environmentally-focused community and cultural center by Evergreen, a national charity dedicated to restoring nature in urban environments. The outdoor rink weaves thru snow-covered gardens under exposed beams of the old brick factory roof and is considered one of the most picturesque skating rinks in Toronto. Bring your own skates or rent a pair for $5 (USD $3.74). Open 10am-5pm Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from December to March, with Winter Wednesdays from 5:30 to 9:30pm thru February 20th. These hours are always weather-dependent. My days on ice are long gone – I’m thankful to stand upright and walk without assistance these days - but it will be a great photo op and an interesting evening while I’m here, not to mention a chance to hoist a couple of hot buttered-rum toddies!

The most iconic (and definitely most visible) landmark in Toronto as to be the CN Tower measuring some 1,815’ high, making it the tallest structure in the western hemisphere. Located at 290 Bremner Boulevard, it provides numerous options for scoping out city views from three observation decks, with my favorite being the glass floor elevator watching the street get further and further away as you ride higher – certainly not for the faint hearted! The Skyped Observation Platform is the place to see Niagara and New York state on a clear day and for a really special meal, book a table at 360 Restaurant. This revolving eatery dishes up signature Canadian cuisine with a seasonally changing menu. Don’t even think of coming here without your camera – it’s the ultimate photo opportunity.

Known as the Castle on the Hill, Casa Loma took three years and $3.5M ($2.6M USD) to build. It’s owner, Sir Henry Pellatt, filled Casa Loma with priceless artwork from Canada and around the world. It stood as a monument to its creator – it surpassed any private home in North America and was once the largest private residence in Canada. With soaring battlements and secret passageways, it paid homage to the castles and knights of days gone by, and to this day it remains one of the only true castles on the North American continent. This grand estate features secret tunnels and doors, as well as colorfully lush gardens and very ornate details, like the family coat of arms on the library ceiling. Case Loma is also home to a historic-themed series of theatrical escape rooms, where guests can choose from 4 different games. Located at 1 Austin Terrace, you can find times, tickets and more information at escapecasealoma.com.

For the foodies in the crowd, St. Lawrence Market should be on your “must see” list when in town. Named by National Geographic Magazine as one of the world’s top food markets, it dates back to 1845 and features more than 120 vendors selling all manner of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese and baked goods. No, you don’t have to be shopping for a rack of lamb to justify a visit: the market is also home to a variety of takeout food stalls. It is made up of three major markets: Farmer’s Market only open on Saturdays 5am to 3pm; Antiques Market only open on Sundays 5am to 5pm; and the main South Market open Tuesdays-Thursdays 8am to 6pm, Fridays 8am to 7pm, Saturdays 5am to 5pm and closed on Sundays. A big plus is the Market Gallery located on the second floor of the South Market. It’s home to rotating exhibits that chronicle Toronto’s unique history via photographs, maps, paintings and more. Located at 92-95 Front Street East, just a couple of blocks from the Distillery.

And of course you can’t visit Canada and not visit the Hockey Hall of Fame (Canadians LIVE for this game). Located at Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge Street in downtown, it’s Toronto’s tribute to the national obsession featuring memorabilia, displays and interactive games. Fans are invited to do their own play-by-play commentary on classic games in the TSN/RDS broadcast zone, tour a replica of the Canadiens dressing room, or test their skill and block shots from some of the game’s greatest shooters. Visitors can also have a photo op with the game’s ultimate hardware: the Stanley Cup. There’s a new permanent exhibit here - The Mask - which chronicles the evolution of goalie masks as a means of protection and self-expression. Currently there are 90 masks on display.

Toronto boasts some of the best museums, including The Royal Ontario, Museum of Illusions, Gardiner Museum, Gibson House, Aga Khan, Museum of Contemporary Art and others. It also has numerous shopping centers and malls, the best known being the CF Toronto Easton Centre located downtown at 20 Yonge Street. One of the busiest malls in North America, it offers more than 250 shops, services and restaurants under its roof. An elevated pedestrian bridge over Queen Street connects to the flagship Hudson’s Bay department store and Saks Fifth Avenue across the street. Not being a shopaholic in even the vaguest sense of the word, you won’t find me anywhere near a mall 99% of the time, but this place is worth a visit if only to gawp with stunned reactions, at the price tags on the haute couture at design houses such as Balmain, Dior, Givenchy, Rodarte and Jason Wu (a favorite of Michelle Obama). Do people really buy stuff with that many numbers after the dollar sign? Evidently they do – enough to give both me and my credit card heart attacks.

Just 90 miles south of Toronto across Lake Ontario is a natural wonder of the world - Niagara Falls. I have visited it previously in summer and winter seasons many years ago – I think the most dramatic of all is right now, slap in the middle of February and during one of the coldest winters we have experienced in decades. During my sightseeing planning session on day one, I found a fantastic combo deal online via City Sightseeing Tours which, for a grand total of just under $80 USD, gets me not only my favorite HOHO 2-day unlimited-use bus ticket to explore Toronto, but also a full day tour to the Falls. I’m booked for Valentine’s Day and expecting it to be a frozen winter wonderland from start to finish.

The tour coach arrived some 20 minutes late, due to rush hour traffic and the ever-present construction sites, but finally around 10am all 35 tourists were onboard, and we made our way out of the city. It’s about an hour and a half drive to reach the Falls, paralleling Lake Ontario and passing thru the towns of Mississauga and Hamilton. The weather was holding well, and the sun actually made an appearance just before we reached Niagara. Yes, it was a winter wonderland with the thundering Falls throwing mist hundreds of feet into the air, much of which falls as frozen rain on surrounding rocks and embankments. This frozen mist builds up layer upon layer on virtually any available surface, until the entire area becomes a surreal landscape of sparkling snow, blue/white ice, and when accompanied by the most brilliant turquoise green water of the rushing Niagara River…..well, this place is simply stunning. The verdant green color of the water is a byproduct of the estimated 60 tons every minute of dissolved salts and "rock flour" (very finely ground rock) generated by the erosive force of the river itself. It’s something to see in summer time, but nothing compares with being here in the dead of winter. Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls (Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls) that straddle the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York, forming the southern end of the Niagara Gorge. The American Falls usually appear to be more “frozen” than the Horseshoe Falls because they only receive about 7% of the Niagara River flow. With less water cascading over these Falls, there is a greater opportunity for ice buildup. Superlatives are not in short supply here: the cumulative output of the falls is the highest of any falls in the world, with Horseshoe Falls being the most powerful on the North American continent. In the dawn of the automotive age, Niagara Falls was the top honeymoon and summer vacation destination and even though it no longer has that claim to fame, it still attracts millions of tourists every year.

There has only been one occurrence where the flow of Niagara Falls has been stopped due to a freeze-up which actually happened on March 29, 1848. After an extremely cold winter, the thick ice of Lake Erie began to break up during a duration of warm weather. Followed by a strong eastward wind, this caused the ice to form in the mouth of the Niagara River which then caused a blockage of water from flowing down towards the Horseshoe Falls. When water comes crashing down over the Falls into the rocks below, it causes it to turn solid and form what is known as “The Ice Bridge” connecting the American side to the Canadian Side. Many years ago, the Ice Bridge was a popular tourist attraction as visitors would gather on the bridge and admire the beauty that the cold winter weather had created. Both Canadian and American visitors would gather to walk on the bridge, where they could enjoy fresh food and beverages as some entrepreneurs set up concession stands during these cold times. That was all until an unfortunate disaster occurred on February 4, 1912 when the bridge broke off and caused three people to drift down the river to their death. Ever since this incident occurred, walking on the Ice Bridge is forbidden. For the majority of winters the Falls are known to partially freeze, although the Falls never entirely freeze-up on the waterfall or in the Niagara River. Notable years for the Falls displaying this icing up are 1885, 1902, 1906, 1911, 1932, 1936, 2014, and 2017. The illusion of the falls freezing completely is due to the outer part of the falls creating a buildup of ice, but underneath that outer shell, the water is continuously flowing down the Falls at a constant rate.

I had a couple of hours to explore, take photographs and grab a bowl of hot spicy chili for lunch at a nearby restaurant. It was too cold to spend a lot of time out of doors, but I had a great viewing spot from the second floor of the restaurant building and was able to take some stunning pictures. From here it’s a short drive to our next stop, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and there’s something about this town that makes you want to linger. The heritage district here is made for walking, with its boutique shops, cast-iron planters and horse-drawn carriages transporting riders to another time and place. It’s Victorian-era 19th century is charm personified, and you could easily transplant the entire town and set it down anywhere in New England, where it would blend in perfectly. Located at the point where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario, it is the only town in Canada with a Lord Mayor. The permanent population is about 18,000 residents.

Besides the obvious attraction of Niagara Falls, there are many other distinct historic sites in the area that educate tourists about the significance that the region served in shaping Canada to what it is today. The War of 1812 was a turning point in Niagara Falls history, when the fledgling United States army fought British Loyalists for the new lands that would become Canada. From Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake, it’s possible to visit the past, carefully restored and recreated. At Old Fort Erie, authentically dressed guides in 1812 period costume, recreate life in this former British garrison, including daily musket demonstrations and the annual Siege of Old Fort Erie Re-enactment. Fort Erie was also an entry point for freedom-seeking black slaves escaping persecution in the U.S. The point of entry into Canada from Buffalo, was known as “The Crossing” and is the start of the Freedom Trail - part of the Underground Railroad. There are innumerable stops for those interested in the history of the area, including Brock’s Monument, a tribute to the British General who lost his life at the Battle of Queenston in 1812.The Daredevil Exhibit at the IMAX theatre showcases real artifacts from daredevils that survived the plunge, and along with the all the stories to go with how each daredevil attempted the treacherous stunt of plummeting down the Falls. The Museum is where visitors can explore the history that changed a nation with real artifacts, images, videos and interactive experiences designed to deliver full exposure to historic events in the region. The Niagara Falls Gallery provides visitors with an opportunity to experience the history of the iconic Falls from the geological creation of the Falls to the daredevils that tested the ferocious capability of nature.

Our final stop before heading back to Toronto, was at the Niagara College Teaching Distillery located in the heart of Niagara’s wine country - its claim to fame is producing ice wine. It takes 4 times as many frozen grapes to produce it compared to regular wines and is sweet enough to make you gag…..not my idea of wine drinking at all, but it is an acquired taste. 40 students each year are selected for the college course and are taught everything from A to Z about making wine. Graduation from this college gives students multiple employment opportunities, especially in the hospitality industries.

During my stay in Toronto, the weather pendulum has swung from one extreme to the other. I have seen sunlight, snow blizzards, ice storms and ferocious winds, sometimes all in one day! Temperatures have rarely risen above freezing and are usually well below that but surprisingly, I have enjoyed the craziness of it all. This is a great town to explore, even if I’ve had to negotiate snow drifts on the sidewalks, handle ice pellets bouncing off my umbrella, and figure out where I am when caught in a “whiteout” …..such is life for a road warrior.

The post “ Toronto - A Multicultural Treasure - Canada, February 2019 “ was originally seen on Travel Blog

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