|
|
Ontario |
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is home to Toronto, Canada’s largest city, Ottawa, the nation’s capital, the beautiful 1,000 Islands region, world-famous Niagara Falls, and six other urban centres of note that are in the top 15 most populous in the country. Centrally located on the North American continent, Ontario is easily accessed by land, air and water, with eight international airports, fourteen land border crossings with the United States, and additional rail border crossings and ports.
The first province in Canada to legalize same-sex marriage in June 2003, Ontario is also the home to one of the largest LGBT celebrations in North America and the world, as well as world-class wineries and attractions, exciting outdoor adventure, and a sophisticated tourism infrastructure, make Ontario a top of the list choice for many LGBT travellers.
TORONTO Toronto, a thriving megalopolis of five million people, is the capital city of Ontario, the centre of business, finance and entertainment, as well as being home to Canada’s largest LGBT population. For the past several decades, the focal point of gay life in Toronto has been the Church-Wellesley Village. Home to the largest percentage of LGBT-focused businesses, including world-renowned bars and clubs, including Fly, which was the original setting for Babylon, the infamous bar in the TV series Queer as Folk. The Village was also highlighted in many scenes throughout the series. Gay bookstores, saunas, cafes, restaurants, clothing stores, hair salons, music stores, sex stores, travel agencies, and more, are all conveniently located in a multi-block area of downtown. The village is also within walking distance of major downtown hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and several stops on the Toronto subway line. Pride Toronto, a not-for-profit organization, coordinates the annual Pride celebration, which celebrates its 28th anniversary in 2008. One of the largest Pride events in the world, features ten days of events and activities, including the annual Pride Parade and Dyke March, which draw an estimated one million attendees overall. Like many large urban centres, there is an evolving gay presence in other areas of the city as well, most notably Queer West Toronto, which includes the Gay West Village in Parkdale, and a strip of Queen Street known locally as Queer Street West. The Queer West Fest is now the second largest gay and lesbian festival in the city during Pride.
Toronto is also home to the CN Tower, which at 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), is the World’s Tallest Building. Of special note this year, the tower lit up the harbour skyline with a brilliant rainbow-lighting pattern, in anticipation and honour of the Pride 2008 festivities. Toronto is also home to Canada’s Walk of Fame, which pays tribute to Canadians of note, in a series of inlaid stars in the sidewalks of Toronto’s famed Theatre district. 2008 will see eight new inductees honoured, including Canadian icons, k.d. lang, and The Kids in the Hall, comedy troupe. International LGBT travel has also been on the forefront of Toronto’s tourism marketing in recent years, and the city looks forward to being the host city for the 2009 International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) annual convention.
OTTAWA Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, is the fourth largest urban centre in the country, and the second largest municipality in Ontario, with a metropolitan population of over one million people. Ottawa is the seat of national government, is home to the National Arts Centre, National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights Monument, and other national institutions of interest. This is also where legalized same-sex marriage was proclaimed into law nationally, on July 20, 2005. Capital Pride kicks off in 2008 on August 18, with the Flag Raising at Ottawa City Hall at 4:00 PM, followed by the Mayor’s Reception. There is a full week of Festival Events planned, winding up the week with the 22nd annual Capital Pride Parade, and related events.
THOUSAND ISLANDS The 1000 Islands Region of Ontario is an international tourism destination, along the St. Lawrence River and the eastern shores of Lake Ontario. The region takes its name from the more than 1000 islands that dot the lake and river, and legend has it, that an interesting historical experience of a one-time owner of The Waldorf Astoria in New York, was the inspiration for the ever-popular, Thousand Island Dressing. There are several unique ways to experience the region, including a number of same-day cruises, offered by the Gananoque Boat Line, varying from one-hour to five-hour boat excursions.
Resources: |
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
ONTARIO
