Toronto, Ontario (Multi-Day Tour)
This tour can be combined with French Canada and Niagara Falls travel packages

Toronto, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, is the largest of Canada's vibrant urban centers.  People have lived here since shortly after the last ice age, although the urban community only dates to 1793 when British colonial officials founded the 'Town of York' on what then was the Upper Canadian frontier.  That backwoods village grew to become the 'City of Toronto' in 1834 and through its subsequent evolution and expansion, Toronto has emerged as one of the most liveable and multicultural urban cities in the world today.

As Canada's hub of the nation’s commercial, financial, industrial and cultural life and the capital of the Province of Ontario, Toronto is considered a global city.  Toronto's leading economic sectors include finance, business services, telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, media, arts, film, television production, publishing, software production, medical research, education, tourism and sports industries.  The Toronto Stock Exchange, the world's sixth largest, is headquartered in the city along with a majority of Canada's corporations.  Toronto's population is also one of the most diverse in the world.  Nearly all of the world's culture groups are represented in Toronto and more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken.  Thus, it is no surprise that Toronto abounds in so many investment and employment opportunities and also boasts a thriving arts community.

ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is the eighth largest art museum in North America.  Its collection includes more than 66,000 works spanning the 1st century to the present-day.  It includes an extensive collection of Canadian art which depicts the development of Canada's heritage from pre-Confederation to the present.  Indeed, works by Canadian artists make up more than half of the AGO's collection.  The Museum also has an impressive collection of European art including works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Vincent Van Gogh and Edgar Degas.  In addition to these, the AGO also has one of the most significant collections of African art in North America as well as a contemporary art collection illustrating the evolution of modern artistic movements in Canada, the United States and Europe including works by Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg and Jenny Holzer.  The AGO is also home to the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre which houses the largest public collection of works by this British sculptor.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

BATA SHOE MUSEUM

Discover the treasures of North America's unique shoe museum.  Over 10,000 shoes are housed in architect Raymond Moriyama's award-winning four-story structure.  The Bata Shoe Museum celebrates the style and function of footwear in four impressive galleries.  Artifacts on exhibit range from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut crushing clogs and glamorous platforms.  Over 4,500 years of history and a collection of 20th century celebrity shoes are reflected in the permanent exhibition, All About Shoes.  Three other galleries feature special exhibitions.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

BLACK CREEK PIONEER VILLAGE

To visit Black Creek Pioneer Village is to journey back in time to discover life in early Ontario.  The Village is an example of a typical crossroads community in the Toronto area during the 1800s.  Here you will do much more than just learn about history.  You will taste it, smell it, touch it, hear it and walk through it.  As you explore carefully restored heritage homes, shops and gardens, history will come alive as interpreters and artisans in period dress help you discover how settlers lived, worked and played.  Each of the Village's original Toronto-area heritage homes, shops and community buildings have been restored and furnished to recapture its original ambiance and demonstrate how settlers lived.  The great variety of buildings that make up the Village – from the Fisherville Church and Edgeley Mennonite Meeting House to Roblin's Mill and the Doctor's House – represent the diversity of activity and lifestyles that characterized a mid 19th century crossroads community.  Inside many of the buildings students will find interpreters and artisans explaining and demonstrating activities typical to the buildings early years including open-hearth cooking, bread-making, looming, milling, blacksmithing, sewing, printing and more.  The Hands on History Centre lets students try their hand at traditional trades and pioneer survival skills like building a log cabin or weaving cloth.

CAMPBELL HOUSE MUSEUM

Campbell House is the oldest remaining house from the original site of the Town of York and was built by Upper Canada Chief Justice Sir William Campbell and his wife, Hannah, in 1822.  The home was designed for entertaining and comfort and was constructed at a time when the Campbells were socially and economically established and their children had grown to adulthood.  The house is one of the few remaining examples of Georgian architecture left in Toronto and was constructed in a style in vogue during the late Georgian era known as Palladian architecture.  Today, the home serves as a museum which brings the past to life for students of all ages.  Museum programs have been created to complement school curriculum with emphasis on hands-on activities that stimulate the mind and excite the imagination.

CASA LOMA

Visit Toronto's majestic castle, Casa Loma, and step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendor.  The former home of Canadian Sir Henry Pellatt, Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800 foot underground tunnel, towers, stables and a beautiful five-acre estate garden.  During your visit to Casa Loma you and your students will explore one of Toronto's premier historic landmarks and learn about a truly remarkable Canadian who made significant contributions to the development of the city.  Sir Henry Mill Pellatt was a prominent financier, industrialist and military officer of the early 20th century.  A few of his many accomplishments include building the first hydro-electric generating station in Niagara Falls, co-founding the Toronto Electric Light Company, organizing the first St. John's Ambulance Brigade in Toronto and achieving the rank of Major General in the Queen's Own Rifles regiment.  However, he is most recognized for creating Toronto's majestic castle estate, Casa Loma.  Casa Loma was designed in European style by architect E. J. Lennox.  It was built between 1911 and 1914 and reflects the romance and splendor of the Edwardian era.  The tour of the castle will introduce students to the unique architectural features of this masterpiece while leading them through newly decorated suites, secret passageways, towers and stables.  Set student imaginations soaring as they journey back to a bygone era to explore the magic and wonder of a medieval-style castle.

CN TOWER

Defining the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable and celebrated icon.  At a height of 1,815 feet it is Canada’s National Tower, an important telecommunications hub and the center of tourism in Toronto.  Each year, approximately one million students visit the CN Tower to take in the breath-taking view.  The CN Tower has lots to offer from the history associated with the building to the science behind its construction or the importance the CN Tower plays in the telecommunications world.  Students can learn all about the Tower from their interactive kiosks located at the base of the CN Tower.  Right alongside all this education the CN Tower offers fun.  It begins as you journey up the CN Tower in the glass fronted elevators.  You then experience what it is like to be 1,136 feet above the ground as you enter the LookOut Level.  Then travel down a few feet to the glass floor level.  You'll get a view 1,122 feet straight down.  Be sure to experience the Marketplace with 10,000 square feet of retail space.  Here's the place to get one-of-a-kind CN Tower souvenirs and authentic Canadian items.

FORT YORK

The settlement of modern Toronto began in 1793 when Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe built a garrison on the present site of Fort York.  Fearful of war with the United States, Simcoe planned to establish a naval base at Toronto in order to control Lake Ontario.  Simcoe also moved the Capital to Toronto from the exposed border town of Niagara.  Civilian settlement followed and a community named York began to grow two miles east of the fort (York was renamed Toronto in 1834).  In 1812, the United States declared war and invaded Canada.  On April 27, 1813, the United States Army and Navy attacked York with 2,700 men on 14 ships and schooners.  The defenders put up a strong fight but fell back to Fort York in the face of overwhelming odds, eventually abandoning the fort and town to the enemy.  In the autumn of that year the British returned to Toronto and built the fortification that stands today.  Fort York opened as an historic site museum in 1934.  Today, Fort York is home to Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings.  The Fort is open year-round and offers a number of services including tours, exhibits, period room settings and seasonal demonstrations.  During the spring months the site comes alive with the color and the pageantry of the Fort York Guard.  The Fort also provides a wide variety of educational programs for students of all ages.

GARDINER MUSEUM

The Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada entirely devoted to ceramics.  Whether your interest is in contemporary work like Picasso’s Large Vase with Veiled Women, Maiolica dishes from the Italian Renaissance or 18th century European tea services, the Museum has something that will interest students of all ages.  The collection, which exceeds 2,900 pieces, is often described as a ‘jewel box of ceramic treasures.’  Located in Toronto’s trendy Yorkville district, the Gardiner is one of the best examples of modernist architecture in the city.  Beyond the collections students can try out clay sculpture or wheel throwing in the open clay studio or take part in an instructed course. Artist talks, book launches and free Friday films are just some of the great programs that take place at the Gardiner Museum.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

HOCKEY HALL OF FAME

The Hockey Hall of Fame is dedicated to the history of ice hockey with exhibits featuring memorabilia and NHL trophies along with interactive activities.  Your tour begins at the MCI Great Hall which houses the Stanley Cup (if not traveling) or a replica on display.  The Calder Memorial Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Hart Trophy and other NHL trophies are also displayed in the Great Hall.  View the tribute to the original six NHL arenas: the Maple Leaf Gardens, Montreal Forum, Chicago Stadium, Boston Garden, Detroit Olympia and Madison Square Garden.  Other exhibits include a locker room from the Montreal Forum as well as the Broadcast Zone, Rink Zone and other interactive exhibits.  As an entertainment destination for students, the Hockey Hall of Fame is in a league of its own.  Much more than simply a standard sports museum, the Hall offers an interactive journey for students.

MIRVISH PRODUCTIONS

Toronto is the third largest theatre center in the English speaking world.  Few cities in North America can offer anything approaching the variety and quality of its stage productions.  None can equal the number and splendor of its theatres.  The finest and best-loved of those theatres are the Royal Alexandra, the Princess of Wales and the Canon.  Located only a block apart, the Royal Alexandra and Princess of Wales form the heart of Toronto's entertainment district, an area including the city's finest hotels and restaurants and such major attractions as the CN Tower and Rogers Centre.  The newest addition to the Mirvish family of theatres is the Canon (formerly known as the Pantages) – a beautifully restored 1920s vaudeville and motion picture palace.  In addition to seeing a wonderful show, students can also enjoy an unforgettable and in depth look at the theatre of your choice.  Tour guides will escort students through the theatre, sharing historical information, little known facts and colorful folklore about these grand venues.

ONTARIO PLACE & IMAX THEATRE

Ontario Place is an internationally acclaimed 96-acre modernistic, cultural, leisure and entertainment parkland.  The complex extends throughout three man-made islands along the Lake Ontario waterfront.  Ontario Place features restaurants, a children's village, an outdoor amphitheatre, a water play area, mini-golf, the Rush River Raft Ride and many other attractions.  The highlight of Ontario Place is the Cinesphere – a six-story curved screen capable of showing not only regular 35 and 70 millimeter films, but IMAX films as well.

ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE & IMAX THEATRE

The Ontario Science Centre's mission is to delight, inform and challenge students through engaging and thought provoking experiences in science and technology.  Built in 1969, the Centre is filled with over 1,000 interactive and passive exhibits throughout its buildings.  They feature everything in Science and nature including Geology, Astronomical Science, Music and technology.  Recently, the Ontario Science Centre completed Agents of Change, a $47 million, three year revitalization initiative.  As a result the Science Centre has transformed more than 30% of their public spaces – inside and out – to create new environments that challenge students thinking.  Students thinking about creativity.  About collaboration.  About taking risks.  Your student’s ideas about what a Science Centre can be.  When you’re done, kick back and enjoy a movie on the IMAX Theatre giant screen.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

ROGERS CENTRE TOUR EXPERIENCE

Rogers Centre is the home of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.  Take an insider's look at one of the most unique entertainment venues in the world.  The Rogers Centre Tour Experience is the best way to appreciate the wonders of Rogers Centre, one of Toronto’s most popular attractions.  The tour offers a newly renovated museum area featuring a model of Rogers Centre, memorabilia from past events, concerts and much more.  See the multi-screen video wall featuring the many exciting sports and events that have been held at the facility.  The Rogers Centre Tour Experience is a one hour, fully-guided behind-the-scenes tour.  Highlights of the tour include a visit to the Blue Jays Hall of Fame, a Press Box and a Luxury Suite among other stops.  Rogers Centre is recognized as one of the world's premiere entertainment centers, which since its opening on June 3, 1989, has achieved the highest honors in the stadium entertainment industry.  Formerly known as SkyDome, the venue was renamed the Rogers Centre in 2005.

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

Explore Canada’s largest botanical garden featuring breathtaking gardens and spectacular nature sanctuaries.  With the world's largest lilac collection and a rare Carolinian forest, the Royal Botanical Gardens receives international praise and admiration.  The landscape, framed by the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario, is the perfect backdrop for flowering plants, hedges, roses and magnolias.  Enclosed in the garden's 2,700-acres is a thriving wetland and intricate ecosystem that includes deer, coyotes, muskrat and blue heron.

Experience guided tours of the world's largest lilac collection, over 100,000 spring bulbs, 250,000 iris blooms, 3,000 exotic rose bushes and a Mediterranean Garden under glass.  Enjoy hands-on workshops, the Gardens’ Shop and three on-site restaurants.  The Gardens also includes several educational programs.  Their education programs are built around Cootes Paradise and the Arboretum which boasts 12 miles of nature trails.  Students are involved in a variety of fun and educational activities.  The two hour programs are seasonally based and cover a variety of topics, such as birds, weather, habitats and seasonal cycles.

ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM (ROM)

At the turn of the 20th century a small group of Torontonians envisioned a museum in the city of international stature.  People of some position and influence, they championed the cause and persuaded both the Government of Ontario and the University of Toronto to fund the future museum.  The Royal Ontario Museum was formally created by the signing of the ROM Act in the Ontario Legislature on April 16, 1912.  When the Duke of Connaught, then Governor-General of Canada, opened the new building to the public on March 19, 1914, it instantly became an object of pride for Toronto.  Today, the ROM is a major museum for world culture and natural history.  The ROM is the fifth largest museum in North America and contains more than six million items and over 40 galleries.  It is also the largest museum in Canada.  It has notable collections of dinosaurs, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history and Canadian history.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

SAINT MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL

Located in downtown Toronto, Saint Michael's Cathedral is one of Toronto's oldest landmarks and is renowned for the Saint Michael’s Boys Choir.  Built in the traditional style in the mid 1800s, it has beautiful stained glass windows, steeples and spires.  As the ‘mother church’ of the archdiocese of Toronto, Saint Michael’s is patterned after the 14th century gothic York Minster in England.  The great stained glass ‘crucifixion’ over the sanctuary, a masterpiece of the noted French artist Thevenot, was donated by the Reverend Armand-Francois-Marie Count de Charbonnel, second Bishop of Toronto and was installed in 1858.  To this day the Cathedral houses splendid art, stained glass windows and magnificent gold chalices.  Within the Rectory of the Cathedral is kept the throne used by Pope John Paul II who celebrated Mass in the Cathedral in 1984 during the episcopate of Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter.  Your guided tour is conducted by the historical staff at Saint Michael’s.

TORONTO CITY HALL

In addition to providing services to local residents, Toronto City Hall is a popular student attraction.  The City Hall we see today was the result of a world-wide architectural competition in the 1960s.  The entry submitted by Viljo Revell of Helsinki, Finland was selected and the building opened on September 13, 1965.  Unfortunately, Revell died before the opening, so the city dedicated a Commemorative Column to his memory.  The main floor of the building houses the Hall of Memory, a scale model of the city showing major attractions and upcoming changes to the area, as well as artist David Partridge's Metropolis, a mural made entirely of nails.  Aside from the offices of Toronto’s Mayor and city councilors, students can look on as councilors from local wards develop policies and by-laws in the city council’s chambers.

TORONTO ZOO

The Toronto Zoo is Canada's premier Zoo known for its interactive education and conservation activities.  As a unique wildlife experience, the Zoo inspires students to live in ways that promote the well being of the natural world.  Encompassing 710-acres, the Toronto Zoo is one of the largest in the world.  It is divided into four zoogeographic regions with numerous indoor pavilions and outdoor exhibits.  The Zoo is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 460 distinct species.  The Toronto Zoo offers a great line up of fun-filled programs designed to quench your thirst for animal knowledge and enhance your appreciation of wildlife and the Zoo.  Learning just comes naturally at the Toronto Zoo.

QUEEN’S QUAY TERMINAL

Queen's Quay Terminal is an exciting shopping experience located in the heart of Toronto's Harbor-front district.  Built in 1926 as a cold storage facility by Moores & Dunford (NYC), the award-winning architecture features soaring ceilings, wide open spaces and natural sunlight.  Browse many unique shops with a rich diversity of jewelry, toys, fashion, galleries and special gifts for every occasion.  Enjoy a leisurely meal while taking in the spectacular views of Lake Ontario, in Toronto's only waterfront restaurants and cafés.  The Art Deco facility is also home to the Premiere Dance Theatre.

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