Thursday, May 15, 2014

City of Toronto's public events and activities on Victoria Day holiday

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release:  May 14, 2014 

City of Toronto's public events and activities on Victoria Day holiday

The City of Toronto will offer a wide variety of activities for residents on Monday, May 19, including the annual Victoria Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay. Many family attractions, including two farms, three historic sites and other facilities described below, will be open. City recreation centres will be closed on Victoria Day and recreation programs will not operate that day. 

The Victoria Day fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park will start at 10 p.m. The show will feature about 2,000 fireworks, with a spectacular finale.

Ashbridges Bay Park is located on Lake Shore Boulevard East at the foot of Coxwell Avenue and is easily accessible by public transit. TTC service will be increased between Queen Street East and Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) on the 22A Coxwell, 64 Main and 92 Woodbine South bus routes. Members of the public are strongly urged to use public transit and leave personal vehicles at home.

City bylaws prohibit members of the public from setting off or selling fireworks in any City park. Enforcement officers will be onsite to help ensure a safe and enjoyable event at Ashbridges Bay. 

Golf: Toronto has five municipal golf courses. They are open daily, including on Victoria Day. More information about the City-run golf courses is available at http://www.toronto.ca/golf. 

Tennis courts: All public tennis court sites will have nets up and will be available for use throughout the Victoria Day weekend. Public sites are free and available to the general public. Tennis players are asked to share the courts by limiting their play time to half-hour intervals if others are waiting to use the courts. 

Splash pads: Most splash pads will open on Saturday, May 17, with some exceptions. Splash pads adjacent to outdoor pools and those under construction will open later in the season. Splash pads operate daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. by push button. Splash pads are not city-supervised water play areas, so caregivers are reminded to supervise their children. More information, including hours of operation and up-to-date information on splash pad locations, is available at http://www.toronto.ca/parks or by calling 311.

Riverdale Farm: Riverdale Farm is a family attraction where visitors can see traditional farm animals such as cows, horses and chickens. While there, visit the farm residence and the Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum. Riverdale Farm will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 19. Admission is free. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/parks/zoo/ or by calling 311.

High Park Zoo: Victoria Day is a great time to see the High Park Zoo's spring babies. The zoo, located on Deer Pen Road, offers domestic and exotic animals. The zoo will be open to visitors from 7 a.m. to dusk. More information is available athttp://www.toronto.ca/parks/zoo/ or by calling 311.

Toronto Island Park: Catch a ferry to Toronto Island Park for a scenic picnic, hike or bike ride. The interactive Franklin Children's Garden is another attraction. Ferry schedule and fares: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm 

Greenhouses: A wide variety of flowers are in full bloom at Centennial Park Conservatory (151 Elmcrest Rd.) and Allan Gardens Conservatory (19 Horticultural Ave.) Both conservatories are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Information is available by calling Centennial Park Conservatory at 416-394-8543 and Allan Gardens Conservatory at 416-392-7288 or visithttp://bitly.com/QFFu6S. 

Discovery Walks: Residents can explore their city on foot. The Discovery Walks program is a series of 11 self-guided walks linking ravines, parks and neighbourhoods. Ranging from 1.5 to 11 kilometres, the walks are designed to showcase Toronto’s outstanding natural features and cultural and historical attractions. Brochures and maps are available.

Historic Sites 
The City of Toronto Historic Sites celebrate Victoria Day Monday with fun historical activities for everyone. Details follow.

At Fort York National Historic Site, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be demonstrations of Georgian-era cooking, English country dancing, and kids can participate in a soldiers' drill. Admission: adults $7.96, children $3.76, youth $4.87, seniors $3.81(plus tax). Visitors can also join a free walking tour that explores early British military influences on Toronto's changing urban landscape. Location: 250 Fort York Blvd. Check the website for special directions during construction of a new visitor centre:http://www.toronto.ca/fortyork. 

Montgomery's Inn at Dundas Street West and Islington Avenue will host its annual Victoria Day Tea from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 plus tax. 

Spadina Museum: Historic House and Gardens - Toronto's own Downton Abbey - will take visitors on a tour of the house through the eyes of the prominent Austin family, whose struggles and triumphs were closely tied to those of Toronto as they entered the 20th century. Spadina Museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. and is located at 285 Spadina Rd., next door to Casa Loma. Admission fees: adults $7.96, seniors and youth $5.75, children six and older $4.87. Admission is free for children five and younger.

For those looking for outings on Saturday and Sunday during the long weekend, all of the historic sites are open and offer guests an opportunity to experience Toronto's history in authentic settings. Event information, locations, hours and prices are available at http://www.toronto.ca/museum-events. 

Municipal services
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will operate on its holiday service schedule on Victoria Day, with most routes starting at 6 a.m. For holiday service details, call the TTC's customer information line at 416-393-4636 or visit
http://www3.ttc.ca/Routes/General_Information/Service_Details.jsp.

City of Toronto offices will be closed on the Victoria Day holiday. All City emergency services and 24-hour operations will be provided during the holiday. Residents can call 311, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for more information about City services. 

The City of Toronto Archives will be closed on Monday, May 19. More information about the Archives is available athttp://www.toronto.ca/archives. 

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Nancy Aranha, Strategic Communications, 416-338-5637, naranha@toronto.ca

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