City of Toronto recreational services offered on Simcoe Day

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  July 27, 2015

 

City of Toronto recreational services offered on Simcoe Day

The City of Toronto encourages residents to take advantage of the City's attractions and recreational sites open for residents and visitors to enjoy on Simcoe Day, Monday, August 3. 

Outdoor swimming

Drop by your local outdoor pool, splash pad or wading pool on Monday. All City outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads will be open. More information about locations and hours of operation is available at http://toronto.ca/swim.

Golf

All five City-run golf courses will be open and offer holiday rates on August 3. More information about hours and locations is available at http://www.toronto.ca/golf.

Riverdale Farm (Located at 201 Winchester St.) 

Riverdale Farm features a variety of traditional farm animals. Visitors can tour the grounds, visit the barns and paddocks, and meet the farmer at 11:30 a.m. for a farming demonstration on the lower level of the Francey Barn. The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/riverdalefarm.

High Park Zoo (located on Deer Pen Road in the park) 

Toronto's oldest zoo has been entertaining people for over 120 years. The zoo houses domestic and exotic animals such as bison, llamas, highland cattle and reindeer. Visit the new arrivals, including new baby yak, reindeer and bison. The zoo is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/parks/zoo/.

Toronto Islands (ferry located at the foot of Bay Street) 

The Islands are Toronto's largest downtown park. The park offers a variety of fun – a great place to walk, cycle, explore and view the city skyline. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island.

Getting to the Toronto Islands by the ferry is half the fun. Toronto's ferries can carry more than 4,000 passengers an hour to and from the Islands. Arrive early to avoid long lineups or check peak hours and wait times online at http://www.toronto.ca/ferry.

Greenhouses (Allan Gardens located at 19 Horticultural Ave. and Centennial Park located at 151 Elmcrest Rd.) 

A wide variety of flowers are in full bloom at Allan Gardens Conservatory and Centennial Park Conservatory. Both conservatories are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. More information is available by calling Allan Gardens Conservatory at 416-392-7288 or Centennial Park Conservatory at 416-394-8543 or online at http://www.toronto.ca/conservatories.

Simcoe Day at Toronto's Historic Sites

Three of the City's 10 historic sites will offer events, activities and tours on Simcoe Day. Programming highlights for the open sites are listed below. All of the City's historic sites will be open with many activities over the long weekend. Times and activity details will vary by location. More information is available at: http://www.toronto.ca/museum-events.

Fort York National Historic Site (250 Fort York Blvd.) 

Fort York celebrates Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, who founded the town of York (Toronto) in 1793 and was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada (Ontario). Simcoe also lived at Fort York, the birthplace of Toronto. Experience the history of Toronto with sounds of musketry, cannons and fife and drum music. Admission is free. Fort York is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gibson House Museum (5172 Yonge St.)

Visitors can take part in games on the lawn, taste hand-made ice cream and tour the 1850s home of David and Eliza Gibson. There will also be activities and performances designed by the museum's youth volunteer team and visitors can make a craft to take home. Admission is pay what you wish. The museum is open from noon to 4:30 p.m.

Spadina Museum (285 Spadina Rd.)

The museum will be open and will host afternoon tours focused on the Austin family, who originally made Spadina Museum their home. Regular admission applies. The museum is open from noon to 5 p.m.

This news release is also availble on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1U2l6Zu

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: Parks, Forestry and Recreation media line, 416-560-8726, pfrmedialine@toronto.ca