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Child and Teen Consumption Conference
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Things to do

Toronto is a massive city with lots to do. This small guide covers a small fraction of what the city has to offer.  

If you are interested in visiting a number of tourist attractions, the Toronto CityPASS allows each pass holder access to the CN Tower and four other attractions of your choice for $99.25 per person plus tax. You can learn more about this option here.  

Architectural Attractions 

  • CN Tower. This impressive building and an important feature of Toronto’s Iconic skyline was completed in 1976. Standing at 553.3 metres tall, this building offers unbeatable views of Toronto and Lake Ontario. The CN Tower offers a three-course “Lunch in the Sky” option for $65 CAD per person. General Admission tickets begin at $30 CAD per person.  
  • Gooderham Building. Also known as the Flatiron building, this triangular building was constructed in 1891. It is located by the St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District.  
  • Robarts Library (University of Toronto). This remarkable building is an example of brutalist architecture in Toronto. It cost over $40 million to build and was completed in 1973. Admirers of the building have nicknamed the building “the Peacock” and “the Turkey” due to the building’s appearance.  
  • Sharp Centre for Design. This building is part of the Ontario College of Art and Design. The patterned structure stands 26 metres above the ground and is supported by twelve colorful columns. This unique building is located near the Art Gallery of Ontario. 
  • Toronto City Hall. This is the building for the municipal government of Toronto. The building’s modernist architecture has made it one of Toronto’s most recognizable landmarks. 

Entertainment 

  • Comedy Bar. This venue on Bloor Street hosts sketch, improv, alternative, and stand-up comedy acts daily.  
  • Musicals with Mirvish. Every year, Mirvish Productions produces dozens of plays and musicals across several venues in downtown Toronto.  
  • Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. This aquarium, located just outside Union station and south of the CN Tower, is home to over 20,000 aquatic animals.  
  • Tiff Bell Lightbox. Home of the Toronto International Film Festival, this venue regularly screens interesting Canadian and International films.  

Historical Toronto 

  • Casa Loma. Toronto’s Majestic Castle was built in 1914 by Sir Henry Pellatt. Open daily aside from Christmas. General Admission tickets are $40 per person.  
  • Distillery District. Once a whiskey distillery, this historical attraction is now home to many restaurants, galleries, and shops. The Victorian industrial architecture and cobblestone streets offer a captivating glimpse into Toronto’s past. No cost admission.  
  • Fort York National Historic Site. This site is where British soldiers, First Nations warriors and Upper Canadian militiamen stood together against the United States and its mission to capture Toronto in the War of 1812. There are free 45-minute tours offered every hour on the hour daily from 11 AM. No admission cost.  
  • St. Lawrence Market. This market was established in 1803 and is home to many independent grocers, bakeries and independent shops. The market is located near union station.  
  • Steam Whistle Brewing. This brewery is Toronto’s largest independent craft brewery downtown. The brewery is housed in the historic John Street Roundhouse, which was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway and finished in 1931. The venue has a Tap Room where you can try a pint of Steam Whistle (filtered or unfiltered) for roughly $10 CAD.  

Museums

  • Aga Khan Museum. This stunning building is located in the North end of the city and is home to many examples of Islamic art and objects. Tickets begin at $10 CAD.  
  • Art Gallery of Ontario. This art museum is home is over 9,000 works of art and is located on Dundas Street West. Tickets are $30 CAD per person or annual passes, which offer unlimited access for the year to the AGO collection and special exhibits, are $35.  
  • Bata Shoe Museum. This museum regularly displays over 1,000 shoes from its collection of 15,000 objects. The museum’s permanent exhibit, All About Shoes, tracks over 4,500 years of shoe history. General Admission tickets start from $8 CAD per person.  
  • Ontario Science Centre. This was one of the first interactive science museums in the world and is visited by approximately 70,000 children and adults each year.  
  • Royal Ontario Museum. This is one of the largest museums in North America and showcases art, culture, and nature from around the world. General admission begins at $20 CAD. 

Music 

  • Danforth Music Hall. This venue was originally constructed as a movie theatre in 1919, it is now a major venue for international and local artists.  
  • Lee’s Palace. This rock concert venue is located in the Annex. At the top of the venue is a nightclub called “The Dance Cave”.  
  • Massey Hall. This performing arts venue opened in downtown Toronto at the end of the nineteenth century.  
  • Roy Thompson Hall. This internationally renowned venue is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and is located in Toronto’s entertainment district. Admired for its sloping and curved glass exterior, the site is a must-see for music and architecture fans alike. 
  • The Opera House. This venue originally opened as an Edwardian vaudeville stage but has now been converted to a full-service concert venue.  

Neighborhoods to Visit 

  • Chinatown. One of Toronto’s oldest and dynamic neighborhoods, located on Spadina Ave.  
  • Entertainment District. This area is concentrated around King Street West and is one of the busiest areas of the city. A go to for many looking for a night out.  
  • Kensington Market. A walkable and bohemian neighborhood in the West end of downtown. 

Outdoor Adventures 

  • Evergreen Brickworks. This park has lovely trails for hiking and a farmer’s market on Saturdays.  
  • High Park. This is Toronto’s largest park. It has many trails for hiking, playgrounds, a lakefront, and even a small zoo!  
  • Humber River. The Humber River was designated under the Canadian Heritage Rivers system in 1999. The river historically served as a transportation route for Indigenous peoples.  
  • Niagara Falls. A group of three waterfalls at the Canadian and American border about an hour and a half drive from downtown Toronto. Conference delegates interested in visiting the falls are advised to do so the day ahead or after the conference, as it will be a full day trip. Free to view from the park but there are boats that bring you closer to the falls. The surrounding area has many tourist attractions like amusement parks, a casino, and many restaurants.   
  • Toronto Islands. This chain of 15 small islands connected by bridges is located just south of downtown Toronto. You can access the islands through a short 13-minute city-operated ferry ride or by one of the private boat options available along the Harborfront. 

Queer Toronto 

  • The ArQuives. Formerly known as the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. The institution was established in 1973 by The Body Politic’s newspaper collection. It is one of the largest indpendent LGBTQ2+ archives in the world and the only archive in Canada with a mandate to collect at a national level. 
  • Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. The company, established in 1979, achieved notoriety in the 1980s as a queer theatre company. The company found its home on George Street in Toronto in 1991 and is a world leader in developing queer voices and stories for the stage. The venue hosts regular shows, and the schedule can be found here. 
  • Church Street (The Village). Internationally recognized as the heart of queer culture in Toronto, "The Village” begins at Wellsley Street and travels south. There are many bars, restaurants and shops.  
  • Glad Day Bookstore. This shop is considered the oldest gay bookstore still in Operation in North American. Aside from selling a range of queer literature and merchandise, the venue hosts “Canada’s longest running Drag Brunch” every Sunday at either 11 AM or 2 PM.  
  • Queer Street West. Located on Queen West, this is Toronto’s other main LGBTQ2+ neighborhood. Like “The Village”, there are many bars, restaurants and shops. 

Sports 

  • Toronto Raptors. In 2019 the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals. The area outside the stadium, colloquially known as “Jurassic Park”, is opened to the public and the game is streamed live on a large screen. If you would like to join the game inside the stadium, be sure to book your tickets in advance!