I recently heard a story of a woman who is certain that there are ghosts in her home. I found the story of interest and decided to compare the situation with the so-called haunted homes in Toronto. To my surprise, there are many. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you might find some of the following places pretty exciting. Those who think ghosts exist may be reassured in their belief, and those who do not believe in their existence could find it entertaining at the least.

Mackenzie House

82 Bond St.

The home of the first mayor of Toronto, William Lyon Mackenzie, is perhaps the most famous ‘haunted house’ in our city. Mackenzie died in the house in 1861 and, according to some, his soul never left. An apparition resembling Mackenzie has apparently been seen in his bedroom and at his desk a number of times. Furthermore, a piano and a saxophone have been heard playing when nobody was even touching them. Could that have been the former Toronto mayor?

Old City Hall

60 Queen St. W.

Old City Hall by Loozrboy

Quite a few judges have shared their scary experiences from Toronto’s Old City Hall. Mysterious tugging on their robes, hands on their back as if to push them down the stairs, footsteps, and moans from empty hallways and basements belong among the most frequent stories. It is up to you to decide whether you think it is just their imagination or something more. Many of those who believe there is something to the story are convinced that the ghosts keeping the judges company are Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin, the last two men sentenced to hang in Canada.

McLaughlin Planetarium

100 Queen’s Park Dr.

McLaughlin Planetarium by Wikimedia Commons

Do you remember the McLaughlin Planetarium? It used to be a fairly popular place. Ghosts apparently liked it as well. Numerous members of the planetarium’s staff have reported seeing a young girl sitting by herself in the theatre. Once they tried to talk to her, she simply disappeared. As she became a frequent visitor, she was even given a name, Celeste. The planetarium has been closed and reopened as the Children's Own Museum, yet Celeste continues to make appearances.

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Queen’s Park

Legislative Assembly of Ontario by Sam

Quite a few stories go around about strange happenings in the building of Ontario’s provincial government. Some have seen and heard a woman “wailing and moaning” on the third floor of the building. As the government building was built on the grounds of a former insane asylum, she is thought to be a former patient. She is not the only ghost that has been seen in the building, however. Many others have sensed the presence of whom they believe to be Captain Charles Rutherford, a notable Canadian soldier.

The Haunted Streets of Downtown Toronto Tour

If you are interested in paranormal issues, there is a special two-hour tour for you! The tour takes place every Monday and Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M. It begins right next to the Royal Ontario Museum, then continues to Queen Street and Yonge Street. During the tour, you will hear about Toronto’s paranormal legends and see the most famous of the city’s haunted buildings, including the Old City Hall and Osgoode Hall. If you would like to take part, it is the best to reserve your tickets (priced $20.00 for one person, $15.00 each for two or three people, and $10.00 each for four or more people) at least 24 hours before the tour. It might be possible to attend even without reserved tickets, but it is a good idea having them booked in advance.

Powerhouse of Terror

65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.

The Powerhouse of Terror, located in what used to be a hospital in Etobicoke, is expecting all those who want to be scared for a little while. According to the creative director of this haunted attraction, Jason Dasti, this place is the scariest one in Toronto. Not only does it freak out people who are afraid of the dark or spiders, but also many of the visitors reportedly get weird vibes in the building. Go and experience all this yourself! Tickets are available online or at the door, the former being cheaper, at $16 compared to  $20 for adults and $12 opposed to $15 for those under the age of 16.

What do you say? Anyone up for a scary trip around Toronto? Or do you think these stories are completely made up? One’s imagination is a strong tool, but I am positive everyone sharing their story is convinced they have indeed seen ghosts. It is up to you whether you will choose to believe them or not.

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Toronto fans of historic buildings, this article is for you! Have you ever tried to find, and then personally view, some of the oldest buildings in our city? It could be fun. While Toronto sometimes seems like a super-modern city, old buildings are not so hard to find here. Even though their age is nowhere near that of the oldest buildings in the world, they are worth a visit.

Fort York

250 Fort York Blvd

The settlement of modern Toronto began in 1793, when Fort York was built. The plan of the Lieutenant Governor, John Graves Simcoe, who moved the capital to Toronto, was to form a naval base here to control Lake Ontario. In a previous article, I had mentioned that the Battle of York reached its peak at Fort York in 1813.

The site was used for military purposes until it was opened as a museum in 1934. The fort is open year round, and you will find the largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings there. The high number of visitors proves that this place is definitely worth seeing for yourself. You can also learn more about the history of Toronto by applying for one of the education programs the fort offers.

Scadding Cabin

200 Princes’ Boulevard

Scadding Cabin by Wikimedia Commons

The oldest house in Toronto was built back in 1794 for John Scadding, clerk to Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. This one-room cabin was “constructed of squared, white pine logs with dovetailed corners” and it is furnished as a typical settler’s first house, with artefacts dating from the 1790s to the 1850s.

In 1879, the cabin was moved from its original location on the east bank of the Don River to Exhibition Place and was surrounded by split rail fence and a recreation of a nineteenth-century garden. Nowadays, the cabin gladly welcomes visitors. Admission is free and the volunteers, dressed in period costumes, the York Pioneers, will explain the history behind this cabin. They are ready to make your visit as enjoyable and informative as possible.

Ousterhout Log Cabin

Guildwood Park

Ousterhout Log Cabin

The oldest house in Scarborough was built in 1795 by Augustus Jones. In 1805, William Outsterhout received the first grant land from King George III. The cabin, located in Guildwood Park, is currently owned by the City, which means it is not likely to go on sale in the near future. It is very easy to find, however, if you are interested to see what one of the first houses in Toronto looks like.

John Cox Cottage

469 Broadview Avenue

John Cox Cottage by Wikimedia Commons

Toronto’s oldest house that is still located at its original lot and used as a private house was built by John Cox before 1807. Just like Scadding cabin, it was built out of square-cut logs. The door of three-bay cabin overlooking Riverdale Park originally faced south towards the lake, but it was changed in the 1800s to face the west. The house, especially its northern parts, went through renovations during the Victorian period, but the original log is still visible in a rear bathroom.

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse

Lakeshore Avenue

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse by Andrew Rivett

The oldest standing lighthouse in Ontario was built in 1809 at Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island. The height of the lighthouses was originally 52 feet, but it was raised to 82 feet in 1832. The current, distinctive fixed green light was installed to the tower in 1945. Gibraltar Point is considered quite a scary, haunted place — party due to a mystery surrounding the disappearance of its first keeper.

The Grange

317 Dundas Street West

The Grange by Wikimedia Commons

The very first home of the Art Museum of Toronto was built in 1817 for one of Toronto’s best-known and most influential citizens at that time, D’Arcy Boulton Jr. This Georgian manor is the oldest remaining brick house in our city, and in 1970, the significance of the building in Toronto’s history was proven by the Grange being designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

Campbell House

Queen Street West

Campbell House by Wikimedia Commons

The home of the sixth chief justice of Upper Canada, and Speaker of the Legislature, Sir Campbell, was built in 1822. The house, built in neo-classical style, is the oldest remaining house from the original site of the Town of York. In 1972, it was moved from its original location at Adelaide Street East and Federick Street to its present site of Queen Street and University Avenue. Right after the move, the restored Campbell house was officially reopened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Today, the building serves as a clubhouse for the members of the Advocates Society as well as a historic house museum, including an art gallery.

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While all the diverse food markets are fascinating, there are hundreds of markets of other kinds that are well worth a visit, too. Which are the best to experience at this time of year? Just think about it: as unbelievable as it sounds, Christmas is here in less than a month. Why not prepare for the happiest and most anticipated time of the year by visiting one of the world’s best Christmas markets?

The festive atmosphere, lights shimmering all around, ice skating, the taste of mulled wine and eggnog, and the smell of roast chestnuts or sausages are just a few of the reasons why people just LOVE Christmas markets. Some might not realize that Christmas markets are miles away from being just a new fashion founded by people who want to earn money manipulating people‘s pre-Christmas eagerness to buy everything they see.

Unfortunately, Canada is not exactly famous for the tradition of such markets, but the world’s most renowned Christmas markets date all the way back to the Middle Ages. Christmas markets originally come from Europe. They first appeared in Germany, but it did not take them too long to spread all over Europe. The long history and fantastic reputation they have gained over the years is the reason why this article mentions so many European markets.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is probably not the city that comes to one’s mind when mentioning Germany; on the contrary, I dare say it is not that internationally famous. Its Christmas markets, however, definitely belong among the top in Europe. Nuremberg markets date back to 1628, and to this day, they are known as the regional centre for trading handmade wood figurines.

During wintertime, the city itself looks absolutely magical. Approximately two hundred stalls on the Main Square of the Old Town forms the basis of the festive atmosphere. Many of them offer fantastic food and drinks — you will not be able to resist mulled wine, gingerbread, or grilled Nürnberger Bratwurst; thin and spicy sausages. Other stalls offer everything you would expect to find at a Christmas market, from candles to original crafts and toys.

If you are wondering how to visit but have nobody to baby-sit your children, consider this problem solved. There is a part of this market devoted to the little ones. Kids are able to enjoy Kindersweihnacht (Children’s Christmas), which includes a steam train and carousels. There is absolutely nothing holding you back — except for the distance, of course. Hurry up, though: the market is only open from November 24th to December 24th. About two million visitors every winter are proof enough that hte Nuremberg market is worth it to experience.

Brussels

Brussels Christmas Market by Gary Bembridge

Brussels is often considered the capital of Europe in some way, as many of the EU Institutions are located there. Are the Christmas markets in Brussels representative, too? You be the judge. The tenth edition of Winter Wonders, as the big Christmas market is called, opened a couple of days ago, on November 25th, and it will be ready for your visit until the first day of 2012.

Before you go there, you should know the basic facts about the market. Its location is the Grand-Place, the central square of Brussels. Except for about 250 stalls offering mulled wine, food ranging from Belgian chocolates to steamed snails, as well as various candles and Christmas ornaments, attractions such as a Ferris wheel and ice rink for skating are waiting for visitors. This year, the kids are in for a treat too! A special separate tiny skating rink has been prepared just for them. The place can be crowded sometimes, but all the happy people you meet, the sound of Christmas carols, the lovely Christmas tree, and decorations all over the Grand-Place should only contribute to the festive mood.

London

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park by Thomas

How is the only English-speaking European country doing when it comes to Christmas markets? Its capital, London, does not have anything to be ashamed about. There are a few places where one can breathe in the true holiday spirit, but let me mention the one that seems to be the most popular. London’s Winter Wonderland, located in perhaps the best-known park of the city, Hyde Park, opened on November 18th and will be available to the public until January 3rd, 2012.

Entering Santa’s wonderland is completely free, but if you want to try out one of its many attractions, including hits such as The Giant Observation Wheel, Zippos Christmas Circus, or Ice Skating, tickets are necessary. To avoid standing in a seemingly endless line, it might be better to buy them over the phone rather than in person. Besides the fun all these attractions offer, there is also a great number of stalls selling everything from beer and hot wine to roasted chestnuts, hotdogs, and popcorn. Your children will absolutely love it; I can guarantee that you will spend hours in Winter Wonderland. Make sure to always keep an eye on them, though — it really is easy to get lost in such a crowded place.

Canada

Toronto Christmas Market by Stephen Weppler

We have to admit that compared to Europe, Canadian Christmas markets do not compare in age and are probably not among the best known in the world. This does not mean, however, that we should neglect them. Canada has quite successfully been trying to incorporate the markets into its pre-Christmas festivities. Many communities across the country have actually “embraced the Christmas Market tradition, providing a variety of Christmas-themed gifts, with some of the best Canadian Christmas Markets being found in Ontario."

Toronto

The Toronto Christmas market opened a bit later than the aforementioned ones in Europe, and it closes a little earlier, too. The centre of Christmas spirit in our city is open from December 2nd to 18th. Get ready to see the huge Christmas tree, all the amazing decor and lights, and a Ferris wheel, as well as Santa’s Lane. Due to all these attractions, the market is actually somewhat similar to the famous European ones.

Last year, more than 110,000 people visited, and I am positive the number this year is going to be even higher. Fabulous mulled wine, beer, and candy, as well as unique and local handcrafted products, are waiting for you in the historic Distillery District. Do not hesitate to get a little taste of what Europe is great at: traditional-style Christmas markets.

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The greatest thing about supermarkets is that they are practical: you can get almost anything you need in a space of a few square metres. Furthermore, plenty of them are open 24/7, so if you are craving ice cream in the middle of the night, you can just go and get some. Many of those who appreciate all of this will, however, agree that when it comes to shopping for groceries, there is nothing better than fresh food markets. Where should you go to experience some of the best markets the world has to offer?

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo

5-2 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

If you can appreciate good, fresh seafood, you had better write visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo on your to-do list. Thousands of tons of hundreds of varieties of fish and shellfish are readily waiting for customers nearly every day. The world’s busiest wholesale fish market is open from Monday to Saturday from 5:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., so it is necessary to get up early to be able to fully enjoy this very popular and tourist-filled destination.

Tsukiji has two parts: the inner market, where you will find the majority of the wholesale business, and an outer market with a number of restaurants and retail shops. One of the most popular events of this market is undoubtedly the tuna auction (in the inner part of the market), taking place daily at about 5:30 A.M. However, from December 1, 2011 to January 22, 2012, tourists will be forbidden from watching this attraction. This is not be the first time tourists were unable to participate; due to problems that can be caused by the large number of people interested in seeing the show, the tuna auction has been closed to the public a number of times.

La Boqueria, Barcelona

Rambla, 91 Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona

La Boqueria Barcelona by Ulf Liljankoski

‘Colourful’ is the word that can best be used to describe one of the most popular food markets in Spain; and one of the best-known tourist attractions in Barcelona. You have more time to visit this market than the one in Tokyo: La Boqueria is open from Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. You can sleep as long as you wish and still enjoy La Boqueria to the fullest.

The market offers an unbelievably wide variety of goods, but if all the wonderful seafood, fruits, and vegetables of all kinds are just not exciting enough for you, the Despojos Rosa section will satisfy you. Brains, stomach linings, and testicles are all offered to customers who are brave enough to try these not so commonly eaten, and perhaps not so attractive, cuts.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco

1 Ferry Building, Suite 260, Ferry Bldg Marketplace, San Francisco, CA

Stone Fruit by John Loo

Organic food has been gaining popularity over the last couple of years. If you belong among its fans, there is no better place in North America for you to visit than the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco. Thanks to the amazing selection of fruits and vegetables —including the world-famous Frog Hollow Farm peaches — chocolate, bread, and a number of many other yummy organic goods, the market has become one of the most popular in North America. The approximately 25,000 shoppers every week are a sufficient indicator of its popularity.

One of the best-known farmers markets in the world, The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is not open every day. You really have to plan your visit. Market days are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., but the busiest days are Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. On Thursday, visitors can enjoy freshly baked, wood-fired pizza and tacos, as well as grilled meats. On Saturday, customers are in for a treat by local restaurants. Simply put, a visit to the San Francisco market is a great chance to both have fun and support sustainable agriculture! It is a bit more fun buying herbs, flowers, or eggs knowing you are not only doing something good for yourself, but also for our agriculture.

St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

92 Front Street East, Toronto

St Lawrence Market by Andre Ribeiro

Luckily, we do not have to travel very far to be able to experience the lively atmosphere of a great food market. We are lucky to have an amazing market in Toronto as well. The former City Hall offices provide space for more than 120 merchants offering their high-quality goods, including cheese, meat, and freshly baked bread.

The market consists of two parts. St. Lawrence Market North is the venue of the weekly farmer’s markets, and an antique market that is open every Saturday from 5:00 A.M.. St. Lawrence Market South hosts food shops, restaurants, and bakeries open Tuesday-Thursday from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., and Saturday from 5:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. You have plenty of time to explore everything the market has to offer.

Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

155 Victoria St, Melbourne Victoria 3000

Queen Victoria Market by nAok0

Goods from all around the world, including Greek cheese and Italian sausage, can be found at the more-than-130-year-old Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne. This place is well known for the fantastic fresh produce which makes up for more than a half of all the goods at the market.

Open five days a week, Tuesday and Thursday (from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.), Friday (from 6:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.), Saturday (6:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.) and Sunday (from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.), the market offers an amazing variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood. Every Sunday, many visitors are pleased by the wine market, too. What I specifically love about this market is the fact that plastic bags are banned from the Meat Hall and Dairy Hall. You must bring your own reusable bags for shopping.

Do you know which places you want to visit in the near future? What about making a trip around the world and “accidentally” stopping by in cities with fantastic food markets? If you love good and fresh food just as much as I do, you are not going to regret it. Moreover, if you think about it, is there a better way to get to know a city or country than seeing what its food markets have to offer?

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One of the things Toronto really prides itself on is its diversity and multicultural values. It does so by supporting immigrants and showing others that their work is worthy of appreciation. There is an institution doing this kind of work called the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). Annually, TRIEC gives out Immigrant Success Awards, recognizing leadership and innovation in recruiting and retaining skilled immigrants in the Toronto region. Matt Galloway, host of Metro Morning at CBLA-FM, commented on these awards very accurately: “I don’t think you can state it clearly enough. This work is about building the city we want and making sure that the city we are in works for everybody who’s in.”

What is TRIEC?

The council was formed in 2003 by the Greater Toronto Civic Action Alliance and Maytree, as a reaction to conclusions of the 2002 the Toronto City Summit. TRIEC’s mission is to create solutions that will help skilled and qualified immigrants integrate into the Toronto labour market. To do this, TRIEC brought together government regulatory bodies, community groups, educators, professional associations and immigrants, and works on regional projects, aiming for better understanding between its members and sharing practical knowledge with each other. The Council is comprised of over 70 members and is co-chaired by RBC’s Gordon Nixon and Zabeen Hirji.

The idea is to establish effective policy development, program development, capacity building, public education, and research to help companies hire immigrants, educate society, and help immigrant empowerment associations, such as Career Edge Organization, The Consortium of Agencies Serving Internationally-trained Persons (CASIP), and ALLIES, a Maytree program, connect with the immigrant community. If you’re interested in how TRIEC succeeded in fulfilling its objectives, you can have a look at the TRIEC Annual Report for 2010.

Focus on Immigrant Success Awards

The Immigrant by Ambernectar 13

The Immigrant Success Awards are given annually in these categories: CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion, Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration, RBC Immigrant Advantage Award, and the Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award. This year’s awards will be the sixth in a row. If you know an individual or an organization that qualifies for an award or if you’re one of them, hurry up and nominate/apply before Thursday, December 1st, 2011. For more information about Immigrant Success Awards categories, see the detailed overview below.

CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion

This award is designed to honour unique initiatives that help with breaking down the barriers that prevent qualified and skilled immigrants from getting jobs. A prerequisite for the award is the potential for the initiative to spread beyond the organization and have an impact on the rest of the region/sector. Initiatives may be fully implemented as well as in the pilot stage.

Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration

This award is aimed only on one practice or a suite of practices that relates to one of the following: sourcing, recruiting, on-boarding, integration, inclusion, or the promotion of skilled immigrants. Unlike the initiatives from the CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion, this practice or suite of practices must already be fully implemented and established with positive results that are transforming the organization.

RBC Immigrant Advantage Award

This award recognizes an organization that demonstrates the economical effect of leveraging the skills of immigrants, producing tangible results for both businesses and immigrants.

Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in HR practice in integrating skilled immigrants in the workplace.

Here are the awards from the past two years. You can also find previous awards from 2008, 2007, and 2006 on TRIEC website.

2010 Winners

• CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion:

Toronto Foundation for Student Success

• Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration:

Deloitte

• RBC Immigrant Advantage Award:

Thales Canada, Transportation

• Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award:

Nancy Steele, Director, American Express Technologies

2009 Winners

• CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion:

Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP

• Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration:

St. Michael’s Hospital

• RBC Immigrant Advantage Award:

Pitney Bowes and Samtack

• Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award:

Michael Bach, National Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, KPMG

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