Toronto, Canada

[gr82bart]

Just wanted to post some links on my home town of Toronto. One of the greatest cities in the world. Diverse in culture, cultures and cultural activities. Lively theatre, world champion sports, worldly food, and a vibrant arts community. Here's some links so APUGgers can become familiar with Toronto.

Official City of Toronto website
Toronto.com
Toronto Convention and Visitors Association

And of course there's the annual Contact Festival of Photography, part of the International Festival of Light. One of the reasons the APUG Conference is being held in Toronto.

Those of you wondering about the film photography vibrancy of Toronto can be assured it is alive and kicking with many professional custom film labs:
Colourgenics
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Elevator Digital, owned by our very own Bob Carnie
Northern Artist
Silvano
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Toronto Image Works, which is also only one of three on-site Scala processors in North America

Plus you can get gear at $1CAD = $0.80USD or 0.66EURO as of today at:
Aden Camera
Downtown Camera
Film Plus
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Henry's
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Treck Hall
Vistek
8 Elm Photo

Flights to Toronto can easily be booked via Air Canada. Book online and go 'Tango' it's the cheapest fare. And you might even land at the new terminals of Lester B Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Hope you all can come and enjoy Toronto next May. As we get closer to the date, I'll post more about what to do and where to stay in Toronto.

Art.

 

[jd callow]

Great Information Art! Toronto is one of the great North American cities.

 

[andrewmoodie]

I miss it a lot.

 

[Uncle Bill]

That was the best shameless plug for Toronto

The rest of Canada hates Toronto, I like it. I have lived here for the last 25 of my 36 years and its home. I can never get bored shooting here.

Bill

 

[Daniel Grenier]

The rest of Canada hates Toronto...

Not me. I love T.O.

 

[rjs003]

Don't understand the rest of Canada not loving Toronto, I've loved the city everytime I visited. I also loved visiting Montreal... hel I just love Canada.

 

[blansky]

Same reason the rest of the US hates New Yorkers.

They think the world revolves them.

I've only been there twice, great city.

Michael

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I lived there for about a year and a half--1990-91, and I seem to get there every few years. Very pleasant city indeed.

 

[Earl Dunbar]

Don't understand the rest of Canada not loving Toronto, I've loved the city everytime I visited. I also loved visiting Montreal... hel I just love Canada.

Go Leafs Go!!! ;-)

Michael: No. As a former Torontonian (and my son lives there now,) the majority of Torontonians do NOT feel it is the centre of the universe. For ages Toronto was reviled before it became a truly great city... "Toronto the Good", "Hogtown", etc. There was natural resentment, and now Torontonians are justifiably proud of their city. They also appreciate other Canadian cities, as well as other great cities outside Canada. I think many Canadians lay that "centre of the universe" epithet on Toronto because they are jealous.

Earl

 

[FrankB]

Recently visited Toronto and loved it. (Very difficult to get a bad meal there!)

I found this site very useful when planning the trip - http://www.frommers.com/destinations/toronto/

 

[jd callow]

It is very easy to get a mediocre beer, but hard not to find an interesting photograph, friendly person, enjoyable activity, good meal (as stated) and the place is probably the cleanest major city in N America.

 

[Daniel Grenier]

It is very easy to get a mediocre beer....

That's right, Mr Callow, American beer is available in Toronto

 

[jd callow]

You would think that such an anglo town would have its fair share of bitters, stouts, IPA's and other ales, but it is choke full of Lagers -- 50% of which are of the near frozen nat's piss variety or that sad excuse for a famous pilsner.

 

[blansky]

Go Leafs Go!!! ;-)

Michael: No. As a former Torontonian (and my son lives there now,) the majority of Torontonians do NOT feel it is the centre of the universe. For ages Toronto was reviled before it became a truly great city... "Toronto the Good", "Hogtown", etc. There was natural resentment, and now Torontonians are justifiably proud of their city. They also appreciate other Canadian cities, as well as other great cities outside Canada. I think many Canadians lay that "centre of the universe" epithet on Toronto because they are jealous.

Earl

As someone who lived in the west (by Calgary) for 35 years, they don't begrudge or envy Toronto. Everyone knows it's a great city.

They don't like the attitude or the politics. When I lived there, there was not a Liberal seat in Parliament in the entire western provinces. BC, ALberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba. The country was literally polarized. Ontario and Quebec, Liberal Party, and the rest of the country including most of the Maritimes were Progressive Conservative.

It has more of a feel like the South vs the North in the US.

As I said it is a great city.

Michael

 

[rogueish]

There was a place on the corner of King and Portland called Rotterdam. Boasted it served over 100 different world beers and made their own too. Unfortunately it's gone now. It was part of the Amsterdam group, a microbrewery. They closed Rotterdam, remodeled and re-opened as Amsterdam. Sometime last year (I think) they closed the original Amsterdam on John and Richmond. Now it's called Al Frisco's. Not a bad menu, but I didn't care for the people hanging out there.

 

[Earl Dunbar]

I'm sort of out of the Ontario micro/craft brew scene, but my favourite in the past has been Wellington County, from Guelph. They make a wonderful bitter. Conner makes a great bitter, though I think they are now owned by Brick or someone else, and am not sure of the status of production.

Hey Daniel... there is some Canadian crap, too! The two major brewers come to mind.

But for a very nice CDN lager, how about Creemore Springs? Let's just hope that Molson doesn't f@#$ it up.

Anyway, what the heck... great, world-class wines are now coming from all over Ontario ... Niagara, Pelee, Prince Edward County. Better for you, too.

Earl

 

[Earl Dunbar]

Michael: We just need to give the NDP the nod and clean out the current crowd, including the sorry leadership of the CPC.

Earl, ducking and hiding
PS I got married in Calgary and have briefly lived in BC, have had lots of friends from the west.

 

[markbb]

A few questions:

1. What "world champion sports" can one expect in Toronto?
2. Apart from Air Canada, which international carriers would you recommend?
3. Are their any cheap/no-frills internal airlines (e.g. £1 4-hour flights if booked on-line & in advance)?
4. What is the official position on photography in public places - can I shoot LF from the street, with a tripod?
5. Considering the number of beer related comments, has Canada relaxed it's draconian attitude towards alcohol, or does it still have to be locked away like a guilty secret? Could I have a picnic in a public park that included a bottle of wine, for example?
6. Are there any 24 hour labs that can offer 10x8 (or larger) B&W and E6 processing?
7. Accommodation - what is 'cheap'? Can one rent short-term self-catering anywhere near the centre?

 

[Craig]

A few questions:

1. What "world champion sports" can one expect in Toronto?

Hockey, baseball, football, and basketball.

2. Apart from Air Canada, which international carriers would you recommend?

Most of the majors fly into Toronto. If you're coming from the UK ( I assume) BA flies into YYZ

3. Are their any cheap/no-frills internal airlines (e.g. £1 4-hour flights if booked on-line & in advance)?

Westjet is the closest you'll get, www.westjet.ca, but you won't see flights that cheap anymore.

4. What is the official position on photography in public places - can I shoot LF from the street, with a tripod?

Probably, but I'm not sure.

5. Considering the number of beer related comments, has Canada relaxed it's draconian attitude towards alcohol, or does it still have to be locked away like a guilty secret? Could I have a picnic in a public park that included a bottle of wine, for example?

Doubtful in Ontario. Quebec possibly.

7. Accommodation - what is 'cheap'? Can one rent short-term self-catering anywhere near the centre?

Take a look at www.bbcanada.com for some options.