Toronto Off the Beaten Path Tips by grandmaR

One of my goals was to go out on the tall ship Challenge. I thought June was late enough in the year that I could do that. However I was informed that general tourists could only go at the weekend and they were having school groups during the week. I took some pictures of it anyway.

The brochure says that an Adult is $11.95 for the one hour tour and $16.95 for the sail around the islands.

This is what the website says:
The Tall Ship Challenge is a 96 foot, three masted Schooner designed on the lines of the original clipper schooners that dominated the Great Lakes shipping in the late 19th century.

From May to September, your group can board this modern-day replica near the Queen's Quay Terminal and sail into the open waters of Lake Ontario.

Challenge can comfortably accommodate groups up to 72 people in any weather.

Your group can enjoy a breathtaking view of Toronto's skyline from the open deck, or can relax in the enclosed banquet rooms and lounge areas. Delicious hot and cold buffet meals can be arranged.

Capacity for 72 guests.
Fully licensed bar.
Coast Guard approved.
Professional DJ service.
Complete catering service.
Barbeque facilities.
3 banquet rooms.
Outside deck for all guests

The brochure emphasizes that it isn't a tour boat and says to call for reservations.

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Phone: 203-2322
Website: http://www.greatlakesschooner.com/html_contents_challenge.html

The tour boat person said that Queen's Quay was bought in order to be demolished and something else built there. But it was so well constructed with such thick walls that they gave up on the demolition having figured out that to demolish it would take more money than they had available.

She said that the cut-out portion with the glass windows was as far as they got. So they renovated the inside of the building and left the rest of the shell. I don't know how much truth there is to this. The website says:

"Built in 1926, the award-winning architecture features soaring ceilings, wide open spaces, and natural sunlight. The property was purchased by Brookfield in November 1997 and since then has undergone extensive upgrades."

After I finished the tour boat trip, I went into the building and did some shopping and ate dinner.

There are over 30 shops and boutiques and numerous restaurants including a food court. There are also offices in the building, including again according to the website: "CIT Group Charles Schwab Labatt Brewing Company Bell ActiMedia."

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Website: http://www.queens-quay-terminal.com/

One of the things the boat tour guide said was that one of the ships had telephone poles for masts - that it had been converted from a power boat. She said that the masts made it too heavy to actually sail. I don't know if that is true or if this is that ship or not.

In any case, there are more ships available for harbour tours than the Challenge. I got the following information from the internet:

This is your chance to get on board the Kajama, a traditional 165 foot three masted Schooner. Only in the Caribbean can this experience be duplicated. Sit back and relax with a cold drink from our fully licensed bar, as you set sail on Toronto Harbour and Lake Ontario.

11:30am 12:00pm 1:30pm
1:30pm 2:00pm 3:30pm
3:30pm 4:00pm 5:30pm

$19.95
$13.50 US*
*US Prices are Approximate

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This picture was taken from my hotel room window. At a certain angle I could see this strange building, which I found out was City Hall. This picture was taken about 6 am.

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The tour boat, the guide commented that most other industry on the waterfront had been eliminated. As I was posting pictures, I automatically assumed that the sugar refinery was Domino, because we have a Domino Sugar plant in Baltimore Harbor. I was going over the other Toronto pages, and I was reminded that this was the Redpath plant and not Domino. Redpath is apparently the name of the family that started the business.

I understand that the plant has the Redpath Sugar Museum 95 Queens Quay East Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5E 1A3

I have not been there, but this is the information on it.

Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon & 1:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Admission: Free

No. 6 Bay St. TTC bus: Get off at Cooper St./ Toronto Star building and cross the street to west gate of the refinery.
Queens Quay LRT: Get off at Queens Quay East and walk 300 meters east to west gate of the refinery.
Nearest Subway station: Union Station and connect with No. 6 TTC bus or LRT

Their website says: "The Redpath Sugar Museum was established in 1979, to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the original refinery in Montreal in 1854. Located inside a converted bag storage warehouse, the Museum display area houses a series of displays that tell the story of both the sugar industry as a whole and the Redpath company in particular... In 1996, the Museum underwent an extensive renovation with the installation of entirely new exhibits and an expanded storyline."

This apparently is a popular place for school tours.

Note: Due to regulations, no visitation is available within the production areas. During its opening hours, the Museum is available, without pre-booking, to individuals and families, for a self-guided tour. However, due to the industrial location of the museum, access can be disrupted by on-site activities. As a result, visitors are strongly recommended to telephone in advance to ensure the availability of the Museum

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Phone: (416) 366-3561
Website: http://www.tateandlyle.com/TateAndLyle/at_home/redpath/Redpath+Museum.htm

I took some photos out of my hotel room window. This was one of them. After Laura tentatively IDed the building as the Canadian Life Building, I went looking for a picture of that to compare.

I found that there is now (starting in 2000 the year after my visit) an architectural weekend, when historic buildings of Toronto open their doors to the public for a tour. The Canadian Life Building is/was part of the tour (in 2003 it was in May)

Information from their website:

"Designed by architects Sproatt and Rolph, Canada Life's impressive building was designed to symbolize the company's stability. At 17 stories and 276 feet, it was the tallest building on University Avenue when completed on March 16, 1931. The weather Beacon was added in 1951. Described as neo-classical or Beaux Arts style, the lobby is impressive, with many features including decorative ceilings, floors, columns and trim of various types of marble. The Canada Life Environmental Room houses a variety of plants and aquatic creatures. Its key feature, a 'breathing wall', which purifies the recycled air, enabled University of Guelph researchers to study the effects of the eco-system on air quality."

Self-guided tour of the Canada Life office building lobby, 17th Floor Tower Room which overlooks the city, the Hugh C. Baker Room, and the Environmental Room at 180 Simcoe.
Photography for personal use only.

Getting There:
Near Osgoode subway station.

More information on Doors Open: "Over 100 of Toronto's most historic and/or architecturally significant buildings open their doors. Many participating buildings are not normally open to the public. No pre-registration or tickets are required. DOORS OPEN TORONTO creates access, heightens awareness and generates excitement about this city. "

Mailing address:

Doors Open Toronto Program Development Office, Culture Division, City of Toronto
Metro Hall Room 207, 55 John St.
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6
Attention: Jane French

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Phone: 416-597-1440
Website: http://www.doorsopen.org/building/building.cfm?id=130
Other Contact: www.canadalife.com