PinkAgenda

Community Calendar and Travel Information

Gay in Toronto, Canada

Carlos T. Mock, MD and William R. Rattan

Last Update December 10, 2006

Airports | Climate | Currency | Dining | Getting Around | Holidays | Language | Lodging |Passports & Visa | References | Scene | Shopping | Things to See | Time Zones | Tipping

One of the most multicultural cities in the world, Toronto is home to more than 80 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages, and is marked by the diversity of distinct neighborhoods, cultures and communities. Set on the north shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto was created on March 6, 1834, when the settlement of York was renamed Toronto, the Mohawk word for "meeting place."

Time Zone

Toronto is on Eastern Standard Time zone. They adopt Eastern Daylight Savings time on the first Sunday in April and revert to Standard Time on the last Sunday in October.

Passport and Visa

New Requirements for Travelers as of December 10, 2006

Language

French and English are the official languages in Ontario.

Tipping

A tip of 15% is customarily left for waiters and waitresses at the table, calculated on the pretax total of your bill. It will not be calculated for you, and you are free to leave more or less than this if circumstances warrant. In bars, the tip is handed over immediately as you pay for each drink or round. Taxi drivers also normally get a tip of 15%.

Currency

Canadian Dollar. U. S dollars are accepted but exchanged on a one to one basis (at printing you could get 1.159 Canadian Dollars per U. S. Dollar.) Forget traveler's checks, cash, or personal checks. All you really need is a valid ATM and credit card. Charge as much as you can, thus ensuring the best exchange rate at all times and only take out cash from an ATM machine as needed. Avoid exchanging back to US currency by paying your hotel bill with excess cash and charging the rest. Keep enough cash to get you to the airport.

Holidays

Weather

MONTH FAHRENHEIT CELSIUS
  HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
JANUARY 30.1 18.1 -1.1 -7.7
FEBRUARY 31.5 18.9 -0.3 -7.3
MARCH 39.5 26.7 -4.2 -2.9
APRIL 53.4 37.8 11.9 3.2
MAY 64.3 47.2 17.9 8.4
JUNE 75.6 57.4 24.2 14.1
JULY 80.3 62.3 26.8 16.1
AUGUST 78.7 61.2 25.9 16.2
SEPTEMBER 70.8 54.2 21.6 12.3
OCTOBER 59.6 44.8 15.3 7.1
NOVEMBER 46.1 35.3 7.8 1.8
DECEMBER 34.2 23.4 1.2 -4.8

Airport

Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ), nonstop service to 27 Canadian, and 47 United States (transborder) destinations and same-plane service to 42 other international cities. International Symbol YYZ.

Getting around

Whether you're out to shop, sightsee, dine or anything that may involve a bit of traveling, with the right direction, getting around Canada's largest city can be both fun and affordable. Of course, car rental is an option, but only if you want to pay for gas and worry about finding parking in a strange city. And to avoid such hassles, we definitely encourage public transportation. For, you don't have to park it, clean it, fuel it, insure it, or worry about it at all, really -- (not to mention doing your part in reducing traffic).

Not unlike any other large metropolis, Toronto can get a bit daunting when trying to navigate it for the first or second time. Fortunately, the city is blessed with a clean and safe subway system, reliable buses, and amiable taxi drivers that are happy to do the navigating (and driving!) for you. An efficient way to travel Toronto is to stick with cabs while you're in the city, and then explore particular attractions located within a certain area by walking or by using the bus or subway systems.

If you have several hours to kill and you want to get a sense of the city beyond the high-rises, make your way to Queen Street and get on a streetcar going east. Just ride it to the end of the line then turn around and come back. You'll pass churchyards, antique stores, bric-a-brac shops, green space, ethnic districts and so much more. Try it and you'll get a unique taste of the people that make up this mega-city.

Things to See

Depending on the length of your stay and how active you want to be (or how late you stay out at night), you'll want to take in Toronto at your own pace. A few very selective suggestions?

Weekend in Toronto

An insider's hint - use public transit whenever possible; Toronto's network of subways, streetcars and buses is extensive, efficient, safe and inexpensive!

The Scene

While greater Toronto is home to more than 4 million people (the fifth largest city in North America!), the gay and lesbian Village is nestled in the downtown core, centered around the intersection of Church and Wellesley streets. The area is packed with cafes, restaurants, gay-oriented shops, and a vast array of bars and nightspots. The Village's central location means you'll find it an easy walk to the city's major business districts, shopping streets, and cultural attractions. Around every corner, you'll find diverting one-of-a-kind opportunities for fun and discovery! Map

For information on what's going on in Toronto's gay district you might want to start at the 519 Church Street Community Center. It pretty much has the 'in' with what's happening. Most coffee houses and bars in the Church Street area carry the local publications where you can find specific information about events and special nights going on in the city.

We recommend Gay Guide Toronto for an updated scene in Toromto.

Clubs, Associations & News Magazines

References

Site created and maintained by GLBTEvents - Bill Rattan webmaster.