Category Archives: Toronto Events

Tourist’s or resident’s guide to selected upcoming events in Toronto (Ontario, Canada)

Toronto Events

Two Toronto Events for Aug. 5-7, 2011

These Events are in the Past: Taste of the Danforth 2011 and Harbourfront in Summer 2011

We expect Taste of the Danforth will return in its familiar manner in 2012.

Harbourfront hosts a wide variety of cultural and seasonal events, but we do not have a crystal ball advising us on their Winter 2011-12 or 2012 seasons.

Taste of the Danforth in August 2011

The “Taste of the Danforth” is the grandfather of Toronto’s “Taste” events, as far as I know.

This stroll-and-eat street event is held every summer on the weekend following the August civic holiday (“Simcoe Day” in Toronto). Walk along Danforth Avenue, buy food from the participating restaurants, watch your children do fun things, get coupons, and watch everyone else do the same.

Take the Bloor-Danforth subway to either the Broadview or Donlands stations. Starting from Donlands allows you to sneak up on the event, because it really only starts at Jones. By contrast, the Broadview station is always packed and busy. If you like splashing yourself for ten minutes before swimming, start at Donlands. If you dive right in, begin at Broadview.

One of the delicious ironies of Pilaros Taste of the Danforth is that it is held in “Greektown”, is dominated by Greek cuisine, but you can get sushi and other foods from the Far East and Middle East. The neighbourhood has evolved over the years, with new restaurants moving in and competing successfully with the predominant Greek fare.

My tip: Bring one bottle of water so you can stay hydrated; wear your sunscreen and baseball cap.

The Bare Facts for Taste of the Danforth 2011

Begins on Friday August 5, 2011 at 6pm. Please leave at midnight.

Saturday and Sunday start at noon. Leave at midnight on Saturday and 8pm on Sunday.

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Expect huge crowds on the street. Do not even think of driving towards this festival.

Harbourfront Hosts “What’s Classical?” in 2011

The Harbourfront Centre on Queen’s Quay will host “What’s Classical?“, a festival of music, from Aug. 5-7, 2011.

Friday night starts at 6pm; Saturday and Sunday start at noon.

Please just click their link, above, and scroll through the many, many events.

Bonus Note: The Dream in High Park 2011

The 2011 Canstage production for The Dream in High Park is Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”.

Take the Bloor-Danforth subway to the High Park station, and walk south-east for 20 minutes to get to the ampitheatre (very near the Grenadier Restaurant). Or take the College 506 or Queen 505 streetcars.

I’m always impressed by Sanjay Talwar’s performances.

The Bare Facts for The Dream in High Park 2011

Began June 4; runs Tuesday-Sunday at 8pm until Sept. 4. The gate opens at 6pm; pay what you can but they appreciate $20 bills.

Apologies

Although I had originally planned to keep Toronto updated on its own events via this blog site, this function has been sadly neglected over the past months. If anyone cares deeply, please leave a comment. Thanks.

Fitness, Toronto Events

Better Late than Never to Report on the 2011 Toronto Challenge 5Km

(Updated June 18, 2015): My latest article about this annual summer event in Toronto is “One View of the 2015 Toronto Challenge 5K Charity Run“.

I foolishly allowed my work schedule to keep me from writing about the running event that launched my hobby of running with a purpose beyond mild fitness.

Mike in the 2007 Toronto Challenge
Mike in the 2007 Toronto Challenge

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The Toronto Challenge is an annual 5Km (3 mile, for readers from the USA) fund-raising running event in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Each entrant can raise money for one of approximately sixty housing or support institutions. Examples include the Yonge Street Mission for a variety of social programs including for those with marginal housing, True Davidson Acres (one residence of  many in the Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services), and the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf.

I’ve participated in this charity race for eleven straight years. As I mentioned, this was the first event that I entered. It was so much fun to take over the streets with hundreds of others, to block traffic, and to see how I did compared to others…that I vowed to run a marathon someday.

I did indeed run my first marathon almost a year later. I really prefer going longer distances, using that excuse to avoid having my heart race and my legs burn; but I keep running this particular event. Partly to say “thank you” to the organizers, and partly to keep in touch with a few buddies who also are hardy perennials in this “garden”.

One other strong point about this event is that it includes a 5Km walk and 1Km walk. The heart breaker is the 1Km walk; generally these participants live in supportive housing because of frailty due to age, or because of physical or mental challenges. Most of these participants need help from a caregiver or relative to make it through the single kilometre…in the time it takes most of us to run 5Km.

My apologies if you would have entered the event this year, if only I had posted this article earlier. Check their web site for next year’s date, generally the second Sunday of June. This is one of the few events that accepts last-minute entrants…arrive an hour before start time, pay your dues, and receive your official bib.

Fitness, Toronto Events

I Registered for the 2011 Toronto Challenge 5Km

(Updated June 18, 2015): My latest article about this annual summer event in Toronto is “One View of the 2015 Toronto Challenge 5K Charity Run“.

As the title says, today I registered for the 2011 Toronto Challenge 5Km run event.

It will be held June 12 in downtown Toronto. The race starts at 9:30 am. Be part of the crowd on Wellington St. at John St.; or sit and wait at Metro Hall.

There is also a 5Km walk and a 1Km walk. Those choices are terrific for the people who benefit from this fund-raising event: the residents at many of Toronto’s assisted care homes, nursing homes and special needs residences.

How to Register for the 2011 Toronto Challenge Event

You can register online via Running Room. (Or go to the registration page and find that same link, or other ways to register).

Fundraising and Sponsorship for the Toronto Challenge

The neat fundraising twist is that you can sign up to sponsor a specific agency. This is an umbrella fundraising event for all of them, but each benefits based on its own supporters.

Of course, if anyone asks you to sponsor them, you should do so gladly.

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My Own History with the Toronto Challenge 5Km Race

This was the first “race event” I entered. My wife encouraged me since we had strong ties to one of the agencies that would benefit from donations I would collect. That first year, I ran 5 1-Km sections and took walk breaks because I was out of breath. It was so much fun to participate with hundreds of others…and to block traffic safely!…that I vowed to run a marathon someday. But that’s another story.

I’ve run each year since then, and made a few friends along the way. It’s fun to try to push my pace.

My proudest moment in running came at this event. I was warming up on Front Street, a block south of Wellington where the event would start. Several people asked for directions, but one also asked if he could warm up with me. “Sure”. Later, he asked if I would set the pace for him, since we had the same goal time. He explained he usually ran shorter distances on the track, and was not sure how to pace himself over 5Km.

“Sure, but there’s no guarantee that I can set the pace I want”. So we ran the race. He stayed right at my shoulder for over 4.5Km. I always enjoy having a buddy during a run, and it was good to have his presence.

When we got into the final straightaway, I told him the balloons in the distance marked the finish line. “You’re a track runner; you will want to sprint for the final. Pick your own spot”, I gasped as we ran. Suddenly he took off like a shot. I had to wait a bit before making my move, and watched him finish from a distance.

He made his goal; I was just behind mine. Later, when he thanked me for the help, he said he had run for Canada in the Special Olympics and similar events. His condition showed as an odd gait that I had noticed but had not understood.

Anyway, that was my proudest moment in sports: helping a world-class Canadian set his personal best.

Your Mission is to Enter the Toronto Challenge

You have the link information above. Early entries close June 4, but you can just show up around 7:30am at Metro Hall on June 12.

By the way: their cotton T-shirts are awesome! They give away the best, longest-lasting cotton T-shirts that I have ever received from any event. If you don’t enter early, I don’t know if you would get the free T-shirt.