land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples; Toronto is also home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Importance of Land Acknowledgements
Although not expressly listed in the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Land Acknowledgements are a small but significant first step in recognizing and respecting the presence of Indigenous persons and honouring the First Peoples that have lived here since time immemorial. Indigenous people typically begin gatherings and ceremonies by giving thanks and respect to the land, ancestors, and communities; by employing a public Acknowledgement we aim to honour and give respect to First Peoples and their ancestors, and are mindful of our connections on this land.
Read more about the significance and importance of Land Acknowledgements here and here.
WHAT WE LOVE TO DO in TORONTO
Bojana
In Toronto, I love hole-in-the-wall places that serve delicious ethnic cuisine. Some of my favourites are the Khao soi at Pai and the Kani salad at the Yummy market. The Crème Brûlée-filled donut at the Box Donut, and mille-feuille at Chocolada are good bets if you have a sweet tooth. You can walk it all off at Allen’s and Edwards gardens or the Boardwalk in the Beaches. I also love the AGO for its architecture, the Group of Seven, and many visiting exhibits. There are so many other great attractions in the city: the Aga Khan museum, Koerner hall, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber choir, Alex Pangman at the Reservoir Lounge, and Xmas market at the Distillery District to name just a few.
Bharathy
What I enjoy doing the most in Toronto is visiting Drake One Fifty, a place where art and food meet (two of my favourites), it’s a cozy, classy, comfortable restaurant with delicious meals. Summerlicious and Winterlicious are two food festivals held in the city each year (as the names imply, one is in summer and one is in winter). During the festival, restaurants across the city offer three-course prix fixe lunches or dinners at a discount from their typical prices, and some of the best restaurants in the city take part. I always check out a few participating restaurants - it’s a wonderful way to try out new places without breaking the bank.
Adrienne
Having lived in Toronto for more than 10 years, I have found Toronto to have an amazing music scene and a wide variety of excellent restaurants. One music venue I enjoy is The Garrison on Dundas West; as for restaurants, Curry Twist in the Junction is a personal favourite. I highly recommend getting away from the crowds with a visit to Ward’s Island in the summer and a day trip to the McMichael Art Gallery.
Tina
I love to further my obsession with all things tiki by visiting one of Toronto’s two tiki bars: the Shameful Tiki Room or the Shore Leave (my personal fave). They both offer a year-round tropical oasis without ever leaving the city. I’m kept busy year-round as the President of the Notso Amazon Softball League, which offers recreational softball for queer women & trans folks in a safe, supportive, inclusive environment and is a wonderful way to meet people if you’re new to the city. In the winter I love cross country skiing in the Don Valley, and snowboarding as much as possible - Mount St Louis Moonstone is a great hill just an hour north of the city, and Bromont in the Eastern Townships of Quebec is perfect for a long-weekend road trip.
Margaret
Toronto has a lot to offer for entertainment. There are free festivals throughout the summer, such as the Beaches Jazz Festival. There is eclectic shopping at the Distillery District, artsy things around Harbourfront Centre, and casual hang outs in the Beaches. Toronto has a great variety of cycling paths; my favourite is the Humber Trail. Not far from the city, there are fantastic hiking or snowshoeing trails along the Niagara Escarpment. And as a member of the University of Toronto, don’t miss checking out activities or clubs at Hart House!
Andrea
I like biking around Toronto’s ravines, and parks. I enjoy experiencing new flavors in Toronto’s incredibly vast variety of restaurants. The Japanese and the Persian cuisine are among my favorites: Ramen Raijin’s Tonkotsu and Miso Ramen are incredibly delicious. When I’m spending time with my family, I particularly enjoy Toronto's Lakeshore for skating and when the temperature drops, I like hanging around the ROM and Ripley's Aquarium.
Andrew
In Toronto, I love to go axe throwing and to board games cafes like For The Win at Yonge & Lawrence and Face to Face Games on the Danforth. Storm Crow Manor is Toronto’s “geekiest bar” - it has a tonne of theme rooms, secret doors, and all the decor references fantasy, science fiction, and horror fandom. They also host regular games nights. It’s definitely worth checking out!
Matt
Toronto has quickly become my home since moving here in 2015 from San Diego. As an Alberta native I have enjoyed the mild winters found in Toronto. I enjoy the vibrant city life that is offered here and wonderful neighbourhoods. Some of my favourite places to eat include Pizza Banfi, Tabule, Canoe, and Montecito. I enjoy taking advantage of the numerous ice rinks that the city puts on in the winter, my favourite one is the Natrel Rink at the Harbourfront Centre. My favourite event the city holds every year is Ribfest. I am also a huge fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and enjoy their games in the summer.
Monica
My favourite place to eat is a Tibetan restaurant called Norling. It's in the same area as Crown Flora, so I like to go in on the weekends for the lunch special and do some plant shopping afterwards. My go-to places to sit and have a matcha latte and read are Boxcar Social (Summerhill location), Happy Coffee and Wine, The Library Specialty Coffee, or Bampot Tea House. My idea of a fun afternoon would involve either going to the AGO or Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and trying to draw my favourite art pieces or heading over to Goodspace or Yogaspace for a class. The best eggs benny in the city are at Starving Artist.
Dustin
I haven't been to Toronto (yet!), but I’m drawn to move here because of how good the government and healthcare system is, what wonderful sites and national parks they have, the diversity of people and culture, it's cleanliness, high happiness index and quality of living. Being into several countries from Asia and Europe I have always been excited to experience culture, try various cuisines, and be exposed to diverse perspectives. I always long to learn and discover a lot of things around the globe... and essentially knowing myself more in the process. I am excited to be immersed and experience life in Toronto soon!
Ahmadreza
Toronto is the most inspiring city for an international student like me. It is the city of opportunities for pursuing desired careers due to its universities, companies, etc. The multicultural society of Toronto made it a gem among international cities; this causes me to become familiar with different cultures that exist around the world.
Emma
A typical Saturday afternoon routine for me is to go to one of my favourite exercise studios like Spokehaus, Barre3, or Studio Lagree. I then like to find a nice cafe to get a tea and do some work, my top recommendations so far are Shy Coffee Co, the Lobby at the Ace Hotel, Little Ghosts (a local horror bookstore that also has a cafe and a patio, made even better when they host Happily Ever After Books pop-ups), and Icha Tea. My favourite places to meet up with friends on a weekend evening are Civil Liberties, Bar Hop, Misty, or Koh Line.
George
I don’t get out of the lab much, but if I did, I would definitely go to Hotblack Coffee and have someone else make the coffee for a change :) The coolest thing is that it’s in the heart of downtown, but there’s a fire pit out back where you can cozy up with a coffee or toast marshmallows for s’mores in the middle of winter.
MORE INFO ON TORONTO
blogTO
blogTO is an endless resource for all things Toronto. Their “Best of Toronto” lists are a fantastic way to discover what’s going on in the city. Looking for the best gluten-free bakeries in Toronto? They got you covered. The best onion rings, pork bone soup, samosa, bibimbap, or halal pizza? They’ve got that covered too. Looking for the best dog park, rooftop patio, outdoor skatepark, or the best summer sports league? You name it, they’ve got a ‘best of’ list for it.
NOW Magazine
NOW is Toronto’s best source for alternative news, entertainment, events, and food. This free (yay!) newspaper is published every Thursday. It’s easy to find their distinctive green newspaper boxes at any street corner or TTC station. You can also read NOW in the way it was printed for Toronto’s street corners without having to leave your house through their PressReader, which also houses the NOW archive going all the way back to the very first issue in 1981. NOW is the perfect place to find out about all of the city’s events: music, movies, stage, community happenings, art, books, galleries, museums, and restaurants.
City of Toronto
The City of Toronto website is an essential resource for anything & everything to do with the city. They have an entire section devoted to moving to Toronto, which would be invaluable to anyone considering moving to the city. In addition to that, if you are looking for a beach, a place to go ice skating, an art exhibit, food festival, or pretty much anything else you can find it there. This is also where you would find info on essential city services such as garbage pick up, snow removal, or parking tickets.