Toronto: The city of “the”

The TTC at Union Station on Front St.

In this blog, I haven’t written much about Toronto itself as I have concentrated on reviews of my travels to parts east. So, during a Labour Day weekend walk in one of Toronto’s many neighbourhoods, this time in Yorkville, I took stock of some of my impressions over last two years in Canada’s largest city. 

One thing that comes to mind is how folks here often use the in front of place names, streets, communities and sports teams. Topping the list for me is the TTC.  People say “I’m taking the TTC,” or “the streetcar” or “the subway.” The TTC is the Toronto Transit Commission, the operator of the subway, streetcar and bus system.

The Gardiner

For drivers, the constant worry in the GTA – the Greater Toronto Area – is the traffic tie-ups on the Gardiner (the expressway along the lakeshore) or the DVP (Don Valley Parkway along the city’s east side connecting the Gardiner and the 401, the highway across the northern part of the city) or the QEW (the highway linking Toronto with Hamilton and Niagara Falls.)

Bay and King: The Financial District

Queens Quay at York

Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods – some 140 of them.  A few to mention include: The Danforth, The Beaches, The Annex, The Entertainment District, The Financial District and The Harbourfront (my neighbourhood, south of the Gardiner.) Early during my time here, a Toronto local told me “no one lives south of the Gardiner.”  I guess she hadn’t noticed the explosion of waterfront condos. And since moving here in October 2013, the waterfront is now connected to the rest of downtown by an extension of the PATH, Toronto's underground pedestrian walkway that links 30 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment.

The Jays on a July 2015 afternoon

In terms of sports, it’s all about the Jays – especially this summer with everyone on the Jays bandwagon – and the Leafs and the Raptors. But there are also the Argos and the Marlies. By the way, the Leafs and Raptors play in The ACC. I’ve managed to see all the teams in action, except the Marlies.

The Ex on a hot and hazy early evening

I’ve been to two editions of The CNE or simply The Ex, Toronto’s annual summer fair that was founded in 1879 and renamed to Canadian National Exhibition in 1912.

From the Toronto Island Ferry

And of course, almost never out of sight during my downtown walks, is Toronto’s iconic landmark that punctuates the city’s skyline and is a way-finding marker – The CN Tower.


Battle of the Fairs

Well, it’s not quite a battle – just me checking out Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) for the first time after years (way into the double digits) of attending the annual Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver.

Living just blocks from the PNE grounds in east Vancouver for most of my life, as soon as the PNE banners go up on Hastings St. each August, you know that the end of summer is just around the corner.

It looks as if the same can be said for the CNE (The Ex). On a mid-August summer evening, I definitely felt a bit of an autumn chill in the air. But I’m told this year isn’t a typical Toronto summer as we haven’t seen the usual above 30-degree temperatures and high humidex values.

So, what do I think of the CNE? 

Well, just like the PNE, it’s in an urban setting, there are farm animals, craft displays, midway rides, a casino and merchants hawking their latest gadgets. And both fairs have the Superdogs show.


Then there’s the food. Over the last week, I would say the CNE PR folks did their job getting the media to talk about the “new and wacky” food such as chocolate fried chicken, thanksgiving waffles and s’more bao. 

I stuck to the basic fair midway fare:  a roasted corn on the cob and a tasty sausage on a bun with fried onions and green peppers from Corrado’s Authentic Italian Cuisine. I figured it was a reliable choice as it was voted the CNE’s best food concession in 2013.


There are more buildings to house the exhibits at the CNE compared to more green space at the PNE. And like everywhere in Toronto, one can pick up a Tim Hortons coffee to go at The Ex.

Overall, I would say the CNE satisfied my annual summer fair fix – this year in Toronto.

A couple of facts: the CNE was founded in 1879 and is currently one of the 10 largest fairs in North America.  Last year, the CNE attracted 1.36 million visitors over 18 days. The first PNE took place in 1910 and has become the largest annual ticketed event in B.C. drawing 900,000 visitors over 17 days.

The Princes' Gates were opened in 1927 by H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales
and his brother, Prince George.

One of the many historic buildings on the CNE grounds.