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Discover Toronto history, art and culture with this local website

  • May 6, 2021
  • culture
  • Comments Off on Discover Toronto history, art and culture with this local website

Having transformed from the main trading port of Canada in the 1800s to Canada’s major metropolitan centre, Toronto is one of the most historically rich cities in Canada. With its abundant history, comes a never ending supply of cultural and historic sites, museums and buildings to visit, all with a unique contribution to the city as we know it today. In addition, Toronto has a bustling arts culture, with everything from world renowned fine arts museums to internationally touring live musicians. This guide will lead you to the best historical, artistic and musical attractions in Toronto.

HISTORY

Start from the beginning and discover the city through its past, by reading these 3 comprehensive and insightful articles into Toronto’s history.

For decades, the graffiti scene has been thriving in Toronto, adorning the alleyway brick walls and the subway station surfaces with street art of all forms, from tagging to intricately designed murals. Today, in the digital age, the mysterious culture of graffiti is seemingly withering away, and transitioning into a culture motivated more so by public recognition and commission, as opposed to the very act of making art that livens the city. Click here to read more about the evolution of graffiti in Toronto.

Josia Henson, a Black man born into the slave trade in Maryland in 1789, sought freedom in 1830, and made his way up north to Canada, where he settled in the small town of Dresdan, just outside of Toronto. The trailblazer later took on the courageous act of traveling back to the south to rescue other enslaved people, and brought them back to Dresden. Here, he went on to found the British-American Institute of Science And Industry, a technical school aimed to teach former slaves real-life skills necessary to build a life for themselves as independent and free people. Click here to read more about the remarkable story of Josiah Henson.

The architectural diversity of Toronto can be seen just during a day trip through the city. Its rich history provides a collage of different styles ranging from Georgian to Victorian in the residential sectors, to lofty sky scrapers and grand gothic establishments in the governmental and financial sectors. Click here to read more about the history of architecture in Toronto.

Visit the Toronto Guardian website to find out more about old Toronto.

TORONTO ARTISTS

Marco Bertuzzo is a Toronto based artist who draws inspiration for his colourful and narrative-driven work from the European influences of his youth. As a child Marco spent summers in Europe, where he was drawn to the allegorical art of the Italian Renaissance. Today he continues to revisit this early inspiration as it resonates through his current work. Marco engages with a variety of media, including watercolour, enamel paints on transparencies, community projects, as well as his most recent interest in digital art, and he continues to pursue his creative practice in new and inspiring ways.

As an artist today, Megan McCabe’s work strongly reflects her personality. Her paintings feature enigmatic, often faceless figures that echo feelings of both mystery and familiarity simultaneously. In a premeditated attempt to challenge her audience to create their own narrative, she strategically omits certain details, encouraging viewers to search for themselves and their experiences in her figures and scenes.

In 1922, the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario since 1966) held a memorial exhibit for Mary Hiester Reid. Both she and another female artist, Helen McNicoll, worked to fight the social norms of their time, which actively reinforced womens’ role of staying home and tending to their children. Due to this, opportunities for female artists were few as most women were not allowed to pursue studies of fine art. Although these two female artists may have fallen into obscurity for a period of time after their deaths, they still remain trail blazers in the female artist community, and helped to pave the way for other women artists of subsequent generations. Click here to read more about Mary Hiester Reid and Heather McNicoll.

Visit the Toronto Guardian to find more Toronto artists.

MUSIC

Tarek Jafar and Justin Tessier form the Toronto duo known as The Blue Stones, and have always been certain about their passion for making music together. Since their original partnership, the pair has been writing songs and finally released their debut album Black Holes in 2018. As confident and self-assured as they are, their record was very much about the pair finding themselves, both musically and existentially, and deciding to pursue their aspirations in rock’n’roll by diving into the black hole of a musical career as opposed to a traditional, more ordinary life-path.

Matt Von is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Toronto. He released his first debut EP titled New Day in 2017, and has since been working on remaking and reintroducing his sound to the world. Music has played an important role in Matt’s life ever since he was a little boy. Guitar was the first instrument that he learned, and in tandem he developed a passion for singing, shaping him into the dynamic musician he is today. Matt has collaborated alongside his sister Sarah Jordan, and they developed a brother/sister duo called Sarah Jordan and Matt Von. Together, they have released 3 singles since March of 2019.

Michael Menegon, originally born in Montreal, is Toronto-based singer and songwriter. In 2017, he released his debut album, entitled I Just Live Here. Currently, when he is not writing or recording, Menegon works with his partner in their shop in west Toronto (COCO Crafted Organic Chocolates) and plays percussion for dance classes at School of the Toronto Dance Theatre. From 1987 to 2006 he was also the co-founder and artistic director for Toronto’s fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists (fFIDA) and executive artistic director for the Junction Arts Festival from 2007 to 2009.

Visit the Toronto Guardian to find more local Toronto bands.

 

 

 

Toronto’s Leading Sportspersons in 2021

Toronto is a world-leading city. In recent years. It has a strong presence across a range of industries, while growing its profile in others. Drake is the city’s ambassador on the music stage, of course, while it’s hard to ignore him when he ventures off into other areas like fashion and film. However, it’s the performances of its sportspersons on the international stage which could earn global attention in 2021.

Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu is one of poker’s best ever players. He has won $42 million at live poker tournaments, six World Series of Poker bracelets, and two World Poker Tour championships. He is a decorated competitor. The 46 year-old was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2014. By all accounts, it looks as if his career is starting to dwindle in the competitive game. However, it appears there’s a second leg to it. He is an avid blogger, where he posts his thoughts on the sport and other more general topics relating to life, and has recently signed with GGPoker to become an ambassador for the company. His 2020 challenge versus Doug Polk which was streamed live on YouTube suggests that Negreanu might be heading towards one-off content-led matches, bending his career towards being more of a creator, especially as the GGPoker brand has numerous sponsors who use Twitch to raise all involved’s profile.

Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair is a legend of soccer. The thirty-seven year-old is the highest-scoring international footballer in the world, of both the women’s and men’s game, 186 goals in 296 games. She is part of a select group of players to play in five FIFA World Cups too, joining the likes of Lothar Mattaus, Rafa Marquez, and Marta.

She will head into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with the national team hoping to finally win some silverware with Canada. They have a tough group as they were drawn against Great Britain, Japan, and Chile.

Kylie Masse

Kylie Masse is the current 100m backstroke World Champion. She has set national records with her performances and is also a world record holder. Her bronze at the Rio games in 2016 will surely look to be surpassed at Tokyo this summer. She’ll be the poster swimming for the Canadian team, as she’ll compete in the 100m and 200m backstroke, hoping to bring back gold.

Jamal Murray

While not born in Toronto but, rather, in nearby Kitchener, Jamal Murray came out of the end of the 2020 NBA season performing at a superstar level. His max-contract extension which was signed in the summer of 2019 was met with steep scepticism. He’d only been seen at that point as an average point guard in the league, averaging around 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. In the 2020 playoffs, though, he showed why the Denver Nuggets had tied him down: averaging 26.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, making clutch plays in clutch moments.

His start to the 2021 season was slow. It looked as though he’d stepped back from the superstar potential he’d shown and returned to being an average player. Jokic, his Nuggets teammate, was where a lot of the attention went, instead. The Joker is a unicorn, one of the best examples of an uber-attacking center in recent years, putting him in the running for this season’s MVP. Murray’s output began to improve. He looked like he was returning to where everyone thought he would be. Sadly, in a game against the Warrior he had a non-contact injury which turned out to be a torn ACL, requiring reconstructive surgery. He will miss the remainder of the NBA season and, also, will miss out on the Olympics, with plenty of Canadians putting their hopes on Murray pushing them towards a podium finish.

 

 

Gaming Industry is Growing in Canada

Everybody knows someone that games. Indeed, the gaming industry is growing at such a fast rate almost nobody can believe it. This is happening all around the world and it may reach over $300 billion by 2025, with billions of players all around the world enjoying a virtual experience every day. But, what is the gaming industry like in Canada? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Players Love Games in Canada

Gaming is becoming very popular in Canada and the industry does not look like it is going to slow down anytime soon. People are playing on all types of devices. Every type is experiencing amazing growth. We are talking about playing console games, as well as playing PC games on the internet.

Why Canada Loves Games

So why is Canada experiencing an explosion of gaming? There are likely many reasons for this. Generally, more people are spending time at home. They are turning to technology to keep them occupied. So, to have some fun, they are playing video games. Modern games allow a lot of versatility, which Canadians love. For example, you can play on your own at any time you want. Alternatively, you can play online and with a group of friends.

The great thing about gaming in the 21st century is that you have a lot of freedom. There are so many games you can choose from that there is something for everyone. What’s more, some games mean that you do not have to leave your house to have fun. For example, there has been a huge increase in Canadians enjoying casino games. A lot of players are enjoying the fact that they can play their favourite card and table games from home, as well as pull the lever on a slot machine. In particular, gamers like how many promotions and deals are on offer when they play. This can make games more fun, as well as more profitable.

Trends in the Gaming Industry

There are some particular trends that are emerging in the gaming industry that should be recognized. They are taking place all over the world and this is also happening in Canada. Let’s take a look at them in some more detail.

Increased Mobile Use

More people than ever before are using their smartphones for gaming. This is something that has emerged in the last few years, with more mobile games available. So, players that enjoy PC and console games are now enjoying mobile games too. But, there are also people that do not normally game that are playing with their smartphones.

There are many reasons for increased mobile use. For example, smartphones and games are better quality than they have been before. This means that the gaming experience has improved and there is a variety of popular games on smartphone to enjoy. This includes big titles that everybody knows on other devices.

More Streaming

Live streaming games are very popular. For example, a lot of people like to record themselves playing games, as well as watching other people play their favourites. It has become a whole new thing in the gaming industry. In addition, online casinos are now offering live streams of popular table games too. For example, players can enjoy having live elements to their playing experience, which can create more authenticity and fun.

Use of Augmented Reality

Every year, the gaming industry has to improve so that players are happy. In the age of technology, people expect the best experience. This has led to the emergence of augmented reality. So, what exactly is augmented reality? Well, it is able to create an interactive experience for players, creating a real-world environment that they can enjoy for gaming. A game that used augmented reality very successfully was Pokémon Go. This allowed players to enjoy a virtual world in a very unique way.

The Emergence of Virtual Reality

Again, players are looking to enjoy virtual worlds and escape from reality for a while. This has led to virtual reality being used in the gaming industry. This often involves using headsets and some famous models you may have heard about before including Oculus Rift. When players have this equipment, they can be transported into a whole new world like they are in the game.

More Free-to-Play Games

Several years ago, you had to purchase every game before you could play. This was true whether you bought a CD game or if you bought the game on the internet. There was always a price tag attached. But, things started to change recently. Now, there is a lot of free-to-play game models going around. In other words, players could enjoy the games for free. It was free to register and a lot of the content was available without having to pay any amount of money. For example, Fortnite is an example of an exceptionally popular free-to-play model.

Of course, this is a trend that a lot of players benefit from. They do not have to spend a penny to play. But, not a lot of people realize that free-to-play games are actually very profitable. The reason this happens is because players are able to make in-game purchases. They are more likely to do this when a game is free-to-play in the first place. The purchases are not normally expensive, which means players make them frequently and do not feel like they are spending a lot of money. What’s more, they can enhance gameplay.

Will the Gaming Industry Continue to Grow?

It does not look like the gaming industry or Canada is going to slow down any time soon. The statistics find that it is likely the gaming industry will continue to grow for many years to come. All of the trends we have spoken about, such as virtual reality and free-to-play games are likely to drive excitement and not slow down the growth. Indeed, it is likely that new trends are going to merge every few months that will be interesting to keep up with.

 

 

Toronto’s Tech Ecosystem is Preparing for a Boom

  • April 21, 2021
  • gaming
  • Comments Off on Toronto’s Tech Ecosystem is Preparing for a Boom

Toronto has always represented a veritable hive of activity. Its unique position in the world of commerce is routinely attributed to many factors, from its multiculturalism to the emphasis many of its key players have come to place on cutting-edge research, and together they have come to create a city which features high on the list of expert talent from across the globe.

For the past year or so, it has been growing increasingly clear that Toronto has been brought rapidly to the very forefront of the tech industry, with global players finding their home within the city and, as a result, opening up new avenues for talent to descend on the city further, and continue on the legacy it had already begun to forge for itself.

Now, however, it is clear that the city remains primed and ready for further growth – and as though the 2020s will spell a protracted period of change, positive upheaval, and technological development for Toronto. Read more below.

It Offers a Thriving Hub for Game Development

At this point in time, there exists an incredibly long list of game developers working in Toronto. From big, household names like Zynga, Ubisoft, Rockstar and StudioMDHR to indie projects like Laundry Bear Games and Clapfoot Games, the city represents a hive for creatives of all interests.

For the players themselves, the impact of this growing playing field has meant that the parameters are forever widening. Titles and sites that have proven immensely popular in other regions have found a significant player base in Toronto, and the rest of the country at large. For instance, the massively popular playing site GGPoker.com only opened its doors to Canadian players relatively recently, and already it has made waves within this userbase, and grown to be one of the highest-traffic destinations online today.

We are all by now aware that recent years have brought remarkable progress to the global gaming industry, with interest and revenues sky high, and a huge boost of potential for developers in the form of improved hardware. This growth has brought a wealth of new opportunities to locations across the globe, and there are few examples better than Toronto.

It is Ready for Silicon Valley’s Arrivals

It has been common knowledge – at least within tech circles – that Silicon Valley may well have moved beyond its peak, and that many companies are now looking beyond its sun-soaked hills to other areas of the world where development and innovation are better served.

In a recent article penned by Yung Wu, CEO of MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, he explains why those companies who were once thriving within California would be far better served by a chance of pace, such as the one offered by Toronto. The city’s unique ecosystem is, he argues, precisely what the tech sector needs in order to launch itself into a new age, rather than stagnating within old ways, and old problems.

The Start-Up Ecosystem Represents a Cornerstone of the Tech Industry

It is, of course, very easy to measure the value of a tech ecosystem by its key players. A heavy presence from the globe’s indomitable giants, like Google, Apple and Amazon, will naturally serve to propel any location into the public eye, and ensure a much greater sway within the global tech industry.

There is, however, a great deal to be said for the health of any country or city’s start-up ecosystem, and its ability to bring forward an entire industry if given the space and support it needs to prosper.

Now, at this point in time, Toronto’s start-up ecosystem is currently ranked number one within the country, and Canada itself falls in at number 24 in the world.

What this means is that new worldviews and new ideas are being pushed to the fore with the same enthusiasm Toronto is able to lend to its key players – and the output is better for it.

 

 

Is Las Vegas Really Worth The Trip?

  • March 26, 2021
  • Travel
  • Comments Off on Is Las Vegas Really Worth The Trip?

Meta: Are you thinking about visiting Las Vegas over the next year? Find out whether we think Las Vegas is really worth the trip or not here in this article.

If you live in Toronto, you probably already know just how exciting this city is. There really is so much to do but yet, people still decide to travel to the USA and other countries around the world to see what is on offer. Yes, it can be good to experience new cultures and learn about the world but are big, expensive travel destinations like Las Vegas or London really worth the trip?

In this guide, we thought we’d look at Las Vegas in more detail and discuss what you should consider before jetting off there. Read on to hear our thoughts.

It Has A Buzz About It

As Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations around the world, you’ll find that at certain times of year, it has a certain buzz around it. You’ll find the hustle and bustle can be really exciting and this is why many people go. Imagine walking down the Vegas Strip at night, surrounded by locals and tourists from around the world.

However, it should also be noted that the buzz and atmosphere in Las Vegas can often disappear during the day. Yes, there are activities that you can do such as visiting the Grand Canyon but many tourists who have been, note that it lost its sparkle during the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPXed7MrhL4&ab_channel=HungryPassport

The World’s Biggest Casino on Offer

One of the main reasons that Canadians and people from Toronto specifically tend to visit Las Vegas is due to the impressive casinos that are on offer. This city is known for its famous and grand locations that also feature hotels, bars and entertainment venues. You can easily walk from casino to casino and try out everything that there is to offer, as long as you are over 21 of course.

On the other hand, online gaming has really skyrocketed over recent years with more games available from your home in Toronto. These days, you can enjoy playing at casino.com/ca/live-dealer/ with real equipment and dealers, without having to visit Vegas at all. This is something to consider if the gambling is your reason for going.

Mixing With The Rich and Famous

Toronto is certainly a place where celebrities like to visit, especially during the Toronto Film Festival. However, if you want to mix with the rich and famous, you’ll want to visit Las Vegas. Many celebrities not only visit Las Vegas on a regular basis but they also live there or have residencies at the top entertainment venues. You might even be able to catch your favourite musician on stage at a show when you visit.

If mixing with the rich and famous isn’t really your thing, Las Vegas might not be for you. This city is filled to the brim with people hoping to spend big on the casinos and the hospitality and so things will come at a cost. Make sure to consider this if you are thinking about heading to Las Vegas on a trip this year.

Final Summary

Las Vegas might appear to be one of the best locations that you can visit around the world but there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of. Why not spend some time in Toronto seeing the local attractions? Or you could head to South East Asia and experience an entirely new culture.

Don’t just visit Las Vegas because someone told you it would be great. Sure, you might have a good time but if you don’t enjoy the high life, it might not be the best location for you.

 

 

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