U.S. CITIZENS: THE SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE PROGRAM DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL COSTS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A.

Information updated January 27, 2006.

Transportation to Toronto

Toronto (pronounced tor-ON-toe, or by the locals: tor-ON-no):
The name is aboriginal (Huron) in origin, meaning “Meeting Place”.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “but I thought they spoke English in Toronto”. Our official languages are English and French, but, as with all cities, there are local terms and slang that you may want to familiarize yourself with before you hit the streets:

10 digit dialing – a reality in Toronto as it is in New York City; in order to access any local number, you must dial its area code plus the number. Toronto has two area codes:  416 (original) and 647 (new). The suburban areas of Toronto have the area code 905, which are also considered as local calls. All long distance calls to points within the USA and Canada start with 1. All international calls outside the USA and Canada start with 011.

$100 bills – these are brown in colour, and not accepted in most stores in Toronto. If you have $100 bills, you should go to a bank or the hotel concierge, and have them changed down to $20 bills instead.

Bank Machine – what we call an ATM or Instant Teller machine. Most machines are operated by banks, and, unless it belongs to your personal bank, will charge a surcharge from $1.50 - $2.25 CAD per use.

Bar (also referred to as a Pub) – an establishment licensed by the government of Ontario to serve alcoholic beverages. By law, bars and pubs must also serve food. Many bars in Toronto permit smoking in certain sections. As a result, people under the age of 19 are not allowed to enter bars or pubs, even if they are accompanied by their parents and/or intend not to drink. If you look younger than 25, you will be asked to produce photo identification, such as a Driver’s License or Passport. College and/or University Student I.D.’s are not suitable forms of identification for Toronto bars and pubs.

GST – pronounced gee-ess-tee, this stands for the Goods and Services Tax which is levied on all goods purchased in Canada. If you are a tourist from outside of the country, and you have a valid passport, remember to keep all of your receipts as you can apply to the Canadian government for a GST refund on all of your purchases once your trip is over. (Click here for more information.)

The GTA – pronounced the gee-tee-eh, this refers to the “Greater Toronto Area”, including the suburban areas outside of the perimeter of the City of Toronto. Sometimes called the “905 region”, as this is the area code for the phone numbers located in this area.

Interac – sometimes pronounced incorrectly as “Interact”. This is our term for direct debit payment using your debit card. Look for the yellow and black signs on doors to see if you can pay using your debit card. No signature is required; all they need is your PIN. More convenient than carrying cash, that’s for sure! Unfortunately, this network is only available to Canadians.

The LCBO – pronounced the ell-see-bee-oh. This stands for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, and they run the stores where you can buy wine, coolers, hard liquor, and imported beer. Alcohol cannot be purchased at corner stores. Since the age of majority is 19 years old, if you look under 25, the cashiers at the LCBO will ask you for photo identification. Torontonians purchase beer at a place called The Beer Store.

The Leafs, the Buds, the Blue and White – all references to Toronto’s beloved NHL team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. From October to June, this town has hockey mania, and, for better or worse, we love our hockey team. The best place to see the Leafs in action is at the Air Canada Centre where they play, or head on down to the Loose Moose Sports Bar on Front Street West, to immerse yourself in the mania of the crowd. 

Loonie – a golden coin which is valued at $1.00 CAD, nicknamed for the picture of the bird on the tail side. 

Restaurant – an establishment designed to serve food to the public. Some restaurants may also be licensed to serve alcohol. Restaurants in Toronto are smoke-free, and as a result, are happy to serve people of all ages.

Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke (pronounced ee-TOE-bih-coe), York, East York, City of Toronto – at one time, each of these individual boroughs was its own city, before the amalgamation and formation of the Megacity (now called just plain old Toronto).

Spadina Avenue – pronounced spuh-DYE-nuh (not Spud-EE-na), Spadina Avenue (which is the same as Spadina Road) is the centre of the Fashion District in Toronto, and also the main street of Chinatown. If you are looking for elven-type cloth or a good leather oilskin coat to keep out the rain on those long journeys, venture on down to Spadina Avenue.

Street meat – don’t worry; this is a family website! We just refer to the many hot dog vendors found on our streets as vendors of “street meat”, or “the hot dog guy”. In Toronto, we grill our hot dogs, veggie dogs and sausages, and they come with a full range of condiments. If you ask nicely, they may even give you cheese. The best vendors are found on the corners of Queen and Spadina and at the Queen Street Exit of the Eaton Centre.

Toonie – a small gold coin surrounded by a larger silver ring coin, its value is $2.00 CAD. The toonie gained its nickname for being twice the value of a loonie. Sometimes called a “doubloonie” by folks from outside the GTA.

The TTC – pronounced the tee-tee-see. This is the Toronto Transportation Commission, or the public transit system of Toronto. Please see the section on “How to get around in Toronto” (below) for more details, but just remember that people refer to the subway, the buses, the streetcars, and wheel-trans shuttles, individually or collectively, as “The TTC”.

Yonge Street – pronounced young street, Yonge St. is the longest street in the world; it starts at Lake Ontario and goes all the way around the Great Lakes to the border of Ontario and Manitoba as it becomes part of the Trans-Canada Highway. Yonge Street is considered to be Toronto's main street, and will lead you to many tourist sites, like the Eaton Centre, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Hummingbird Centre, the World’s Biggest Bookstore, the Canon Theatre, the Hard Rock Café, etc. You can walk for several blocks along Yonge Street, but the best way to travel is by using the subway (the TTC).

And in Toronto, if you call it the “washroom”, “bathroom”, “loo”, “water closet”, “toilet”, “mens”, “ladies”, “womens”, it all means the same thing.
He did so to get a good grade,- buy a research paper you can find more.

Public Transit

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) The best way to get around the city is via the TTC. It truly is the better way. Whether you take the streetcar, subway, or bus, you will always get to your location, and sometimes, when traffic is restricted or banned because of construction, the TTC is the only way. The cost for a one-way fare is $2.50 CAD. If you are taking the bus or streetcar, they accept exact change only. Tickets and tokens can be purchased at each subway station at the price of 5 for $10.00 CAD and 10 for $20.00 CAD. A day pass can be purchased for $8.00 CAD, which provides for unlimited travel per day.

Click here to read all about Toronto’s Streetcars.

The Sheraton Centre is conveniently located on Queen Street between two TTC subway stations: Osgoode Station to the West, and Queen Station to the East. You can ask the Ticket Collector in the subway booths for copies of Ride Guides (the transit system map), or you can check their website. You can also call their information line at 416-393-INFO (4636). The service is available 24 hours a day, but you can speak to a live operator between the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

TTC Subway System - Downtown: Click here to download the full Subway map. Click here to download the full TTC System map (Ride Guide).

The 501 Queen streetcar stops right outside the Sheraton Centre at York St. Other streetcars may be diverted onto the tracks of Queen Street, so be sure to look for a 501. If a car has the destination “Roncesvalles” on the top, this means it is going back to the yard, and it may not be the best idea to board this streetcar.

Taxis

Taxi cabs are readily available. The initial fare is $2.75 CAD as soon as you sit down. Most of the times, you can just flag a cab down from the street if their top lights are on. Reputable taxis to look for in Toronto are:

• Beck Taxi (416-751-5555): Orange cabs with the green, white & orange light on top.
• Maple Leaf Taxi (416-392-3000): Blue and white taxis.

Most drivers know their way to the Sheraton Centre from any point in the city, and from the Sheraton Centre know their way to major attractions. Toronto has a regulatory body, the Toronto Taxicab Commission, whose job it is to ensure that all passengers experience a safe, clean, and quiet taxi ride. They can be contacted at 1-800-TO-TAXIS for more information.

Other forms of transportation which will take you to points outside of the city include VIA Rail and GO Transit, and major bus companies (Greyhound, Adirondack Trailways, Go Transit).

There is a shuttle bus between the Sheraton Centre and the airport, however, you can negotiate a flat rate with cab companies (approx $40 - $50 depending on your point of departure in the city), or call for an airport limousine.

If you must drive

Please note the Tow-Away zones for street parking on the major streets of downtown. Towing is strictly observed. Even if you pay for parking, if the zone is a Tow-Away zone, your car will be towed. No exceptions. Look for the little pictures of tow trucks. Towing times are usually during rush hours – 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If you park in a way that blocks a streetcar’s path (remember—they’re on rails—they can’t drive around your parked car), they are particularly merciless with you.

If you choose to park in a designated lot, parking prices can cost up to $20 CAD/day for outside lots from the hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Indoor parking lots can cost more than that, since some of them do not have flat day rates, and charge hourly rates.

If you drive on any street where streetcars travel, i.e. King St., Queen St., College St., Bathurst St., Dundas St., and others, please note that it is illegal to pass a streetcar while it is stopped with its doors open. Not only will you get a nice horn honking from the streetcar driver, you could hit a descending passenger or be fined or ticketed by police. You may drive in the streetcar’s lane unless there are signs prohibiting it. The most notable exceptions are on Queens Quay and Spadina Avenue.


Green lights that flash mean that all other signals are indicating red (including pedestrian signals) and that you may proceed through the intersection, even to make a left turn.

Cycling

Getting around by bicycle is often the preferred way in Toronto. The City has made it easy by designating a number of bicycle lanes and routes on downtown streets, and placing lock bars at various popular locations. There are many, many parks in the City, with lots of great bicycle paths that take you deep into natural settings in the middle of the tall buildings. Exploring Toronto by two wheels is a popular tourist activity. And the summer time is great for cyclists—why not bring your bicycle with you and solve all of the traffic congestion problems you might encounter?


Bicycles are considered vehicles and must be treated as such by automobile drivers. Please note that helmet use by cyclists is mandatory.

Walking - truly the better way

The other way that most people get around Toronto is by using their own two feet. From the Sheraton Centre, there are many attractions that are within a 5 – 30 minute walking distance, with a scenic route along the way. For more information, please see the “What to Do” section (below).

So you’re a tourist in the Big Smoke, eh? 

Canadians, in particular Torontonians (and Newfoundlanders), are known for their dry sense of humour, especially when it comes to pulling the wool over tourists’ eyes. Here is a little guide to dispel the myths and stories which you might hear as you wander around the town...

“Hey, isn’t that Gene Wilder on your money?”
 

“Polar Bears Walk Down The Streets”


“Living in Igloos”


“Can I make a quick day trip to visit my friend in Vancouver?”

Shopping

There are a lot of shopping areas within walking distance of the Sheraton Centre, and also, within 15 to 20 minutes via subway. Here are a few of the key shopping areas you may want to check out during your visit...


Taking the Family Out

Brought the wee ones along? Need something to do before or after the Tolkien festivities? Here are some of Toronto’s famous attractions, that are fun for the whole family...


A Neighbourhood Stroll

One of the greatest things about Toronto is its diversity. When you walk down the streets, you can see various cultures of people side by side, and this diversity is reflected in the neighbourhoods of Toronto. Summer in the City is a great time to take walking tours of some of Toronto’s neighbourhoods. Here are some of the more interesting areas...

I Love The Nightlife; I’ve Got To Boogie

You can find anything you want to eat in Toronto, from burgers & fries to Injeera and Gado Gado. There are many restaurants within walking distance from the Sheraton, of all price ranges and styles of food. Toronto is a city where we love to eat. To help you out, here are some places which have good food and good value.

Restaurants


Pub food

Just remember that pubs are not family restaurants.

Cafés/Desserts

by Naomi Mesbur, a Torontonian
(with additional notes by Ed Rodrigues)

Do you want to add to this guide? Are you a local Torontonian with some information that might be useful to Gathering attendees?
Let us know!
Send an email to webmaster@gatheringofthefellowship.org.

Information updated January 26, 2006.

Information updated April 19, 2006.