What's New and Happening in Toronto

Summer 2010

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Tourism Toronto Media Relations:
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This summer in Toronto will offer visitors a wide range of events, festivals and activities for the entire family. Experience Toronto during its warm and sunny season and take advantage of our waterfront city with a wide range of harbourfront activities. Whether you enjoy art at its finest with LuminaTO, showing off your dog in his/her best outfit at Woofstock, flaunting your colourful characteristics during Pride week, catching the breeze of fast cars at the Honda Indy or dancing the night away at Salsa on St. Clair, Toronto has an event or festival around every corner just for you! But don’t forget to also find time for relaxation once you arrive in Canada’s largest city. The picturesque Toronto Islands are only minutes away by ferry, a vibrant waterfront offers beaches and laid back shops, and the city lays claim to more than 1,500 parks of sprawling green space.

Toronto has an event line-up almost as hot as the weather. June welcomes Pride Week and The Fringe Festival followed by an even hotter July with the Festival of Fire, Just for Laughs Festival, and the illustrious Caribana Parade. Don’t miss out on the great 2010 summer season as it also welcomes featured exhibits such as the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre and the Mirvish Production Rock of Ages. So, read on and find out the updates on the latest news in Toronto or visit www.SeeTorontoNow.com. Don’t forget to request a copy of Tourism Toronto’s newly released Toronto Magazine 2010 featuring compelling editorial, rich photography and thoughtful perspectives on Toronto.

ATTRACTIONS
A new 150,000-square foot aquarium could be coming to the foot of the CN Tower: Canada Lands Company is partnering with Ripley’s Entertainment to build a 150,000-square-foot facility. If approved, the aquarium is going to be a major new tourist attraction to come. Along with the aquarium is a planned 47,000- square-foot retail and restaurant complex, a destination hot-spot for Torontonians and tourists.

The pace is visibly quickening around the Art Gallery of Ontario’s much anticipated Weston Family Learning Centre, with design development already underway. The project was first announced in September 2008 following on a lead gift of $12 million from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. The gift included $10 million toward capital costs for the Learning Centre and $2 million toward an endowment to be named the Weston Family Teacher Training Fund – the AGO’s first education program endowment. The project received a second major boost in April 2010 when the Government of Canada announced a $7.5 million funding contribution from its Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. To be completed within the existing footprint of the AGO, the Weston Family Learning Centre will enable the Gallery to increase participation in art education for all ages with dedicated spaces for art instruction, workshops and community-based exhibitions. Substantial completion of Learning Centre is expected by mid-March 2011, with an anticipated official launch in fall 2011. www.ago.net

The Harbourfront Centre displays a unique artistic venture that will explore the land and people of Ontario’s Greenbelt in an outdoor exhibition to occupy Canada’s largest outdoor photographic exhibition space. The exhibition, Beyond Imaginings: Eight artists encounter Ontario's Greenbelt commissions the work of eight emerging Ontario-based photographers, each one focusing on a distinct aspect of Ontario’s Greenbelt, one of the world’s largest and best protected greenbelt areas. The exhibition will open to the public June 18, 2010, at Harbourfront Centre’s 10-acre central waterfront site. www.harbourfrontcentre.com

This summer, Harry Potter fans will have the chance to step inside the famous wizard’s magical world when Harry Potter: The Exhibition opened at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto on April 9, 2010, its first venue outside the United States. The 14,000 square-foot exhibition offers fans a firsthand view of authentic artefacts displayed in detailed settings inspired by the film sets, including the Great Hall, Hagrid's hut, the Gryffindor™ common room, and more. The exhibition will also include costumes and props from the upcoming instalments of the Harry Potter film series, once production of these films has been completed. www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

Playdium is pleased to announce the addition of approximately $300,000 in new attractions as part of an ongoing program to offer clients the latest and most updated gaming experiences. First is the addition of a 10-car "SPIN ZONE" Bumper car attraction. This exciting new indoor ride puts you in control of the most advanced electric cars in the world. You will go head to head with friends and others in a bumper car battle royal. However if you take a hit to the side of your car you will find yourself spinning out of control, you are in the Spin Zone. Also pleased to announce a Maxflight motion simulator. This simulator features a full 360-degree movement and simulates a jet fighter or roller coaster. From stunt flying to designing your own roller coaster track, this attraction will have your heart pounding and your adrenaline racing. The only one in Ontario and it's at the Ultimate Place to Play. www.playdium.com

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) has announced the first national tour of The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army commencing in June 2010. The exhibition showcases one of the most significant archaeological finds in history: the 1974 discovery, in China’s northern Shaanxi province, of thousands of lifesized terracotta sculptures of Chinese warriors. These extraordinary figures, along with countless treasures yet to be uncovered in the elaborate underground tomb complex of China’s First Emperor, were created during the Qin Dynasty, 2,200 years ago. The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army will feature 120 sets of loan objects, encompassing over 250 artifacts, dated to the first millennium BC. Among them are impressive 18 life-sized terracotta sculptures, comprising 16 human figures and 2 horses. These figures depict a wide range of military and civic personnel. www.rom.on.ca

The award-winning Tundra Trek, an awesome Arctic experience, home to polar bears, Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes, snowy owls, reindeer and lesser snow geese, is now open at the Toronto Zoo. Special features are the spacious new polar bear exhibit; the Wolf Bridge; the Goose Camp, depicting the contributions of native Canadians; the new Caribou Restaurant; Plexiglas Arctic fox burrows that kids can clamber through; a whale skeleton; bush plane; and state-of-the-art audio components that deliver realistic animal sounds. Tundra Trek conveys the impact of climate change and global warming. Construction on this new exhibit, valued at $13.5 million, began in August of 2007 and completed in August 2009. www.torontozoo.com

STAY
In keeping with the theme, stay with the Carlingview is about to get a little more comfortable! Now with a completed makeover of its guestrooms including new upgraded mattresses and new bedding. Other updates include comfortable new sofas, ergonomically designed desk chairs, warm inviting carpet and a great new colour scheme. Best of all, every guestroom includes a new state of the art flat screen LG television. www.carlingview.ca

The Comfort Inn Airport West is undergoing over $1 million in renovations. To be completed by May 30, 2010, renovations happening are over half of its guest rooms and its lobby will receive a new facelift. Expect a new modern design to accommodate relaxation and comfort. www.choicehotels.ca/cn280

The Crowne Plaza - Toronto Airport Hotel, located minutes from Lester B. Pearson International Airport offers complimentary 24-hour direct shuttle service. Business travelers will appreciate the cozy and luxurious hotel rooms, the Sleep Advantage® program, dedicated quiet zones, complimentary wireless high speed internet. Unwind and de-stress after a long day in our fitness centre and pool. At the end of your day enjoy a succulent meal at the La Brasserie Restaurant prepared by our award winning Chef, Tony Fernandes and his Culinary Team. The hotel has been awarded the Meeting Service Excellence recognition. The Crowne Plaza offers 12,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, with beautiful natural lighting, remarkable Toronto skyline views from the top floor meeting space. www.cptayyz.com

The Delta Chelsea Hotel is undergoing a $5 million renovation that includes 270 guestrooms to be completed June 1, 2010; all hotel corridors to be completed September 30, 2010; and Market Garden Restaurant to be completed summer 2010. www.deltachelsea.com

When the new luxury boutique hotel, Le Germain Maple Leaf Square, perched within the Square, opens its doors in August 2010 discerning sports fans alike will appreciate the modern décor and high-tech amenities each room features – perfect for the big game. If you’re looking for a more social environment to share the “oooohs and awws” when the game gets down to the nitty gritty, you can take advantage of the sports bar and restaurant below where shout outs to the building’s history will be the main design theme (also evident in the hotel’s décor scheme as well, but with a lighter touch). www.germaintoronto.com

After a two year absence, Toronto’s most unique bed and breakfast, Making Waves Boatel, will once again be welcoming guests aboard the floating boatel from May 14 to September 30, 2010. Located at the Harbourfront, it’s a fullyequipped, floating bed and breakfast, providing travelers with an opportunity to experience living on the water. Activities at the Harbourfront include cultural festivals that celebrate an array of cuisines, visual arts, crafts, music and dance. www.boatel.ca

Chef Tom Rainer joins the Toronto team at the award-winning The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto. As the new Chef de Cuisine of the feature restaurant, Rainer will draw on his farm-to-table philosophy and strong relationships with suppliers from coast-tocoast to create a menu that incorporates the most authentic, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. A Toronto native, Rainer was the Chef de Cuisine at the critically acclaimed Canoe Restaurant and Bar since 2004 - named Toronto Life’s Best Restaurant, 2009 and winner of CAA’s 4-diamond award. His professional background also includes positions at notable establishments in Toronto including North 44 and Vaughan Estates, as well as New York’s famed Gramercy Tavern. He has been invited to James Beard House, has participated in several culinary events such as the Chicago Gourmet Festival and Festival Montréal en Lumière and has appeared on a number of television programs including the Food Network’s Cook Like a Chef. www.ritzcarlton.com

Located at 550 Wellington Street West, Thompson Toronto Hotel’s 16-floors will feature 102 guestrooms as well as an unprecedented 30,000 square feet of dining and event space, including a signature restaurant, operated by New York-based Scarpetta with Chef Scott Conant. www.thompsonhotels.com

The Toronto Airport Marriott recently completed a stunning $12 million renovation to revitalize their guest rooms, meeting space, restaurant, lounge and lobby. The renovations have enhanced the functionality and style of the hotel’s 424 guest rooms and suites, which feature a variety of convenient amenities for the business and leisure traveler. The new guest rooms feature luxurious Marriott Revive bedding, 32” LCD TV’s, ergonomic desks and chairs and a unique Plug n’ Play panel. Marriott’s Plug n’ Play panel allows travelers to connect and use most electronic devices, including the ability to use the 32” LCD TV as a display screen for laptops and other devices. The Plug n’ Play functionality also offers split screen viewing, so guests can work and watch TV simultaneously. This Toronto Airport hotel has also completely renovated their meeting space. Specializing in corporate meetings and events, the hotel offers over 20,000 square feet of stylish meeting space, with 18 meeting rooms all located on the main level. www.marriott.com/yyzot

WATCH and LISTEN
The fourth annual Toronto Just For Laughs Festival presented by WestJet will be held July 6-11, 2010 at several key theatres and comedy clubs around Toronto including Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, Winter Garden Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Panasonic Theatre, Berkeley Street Theatre, Absolute Comedy, Comedy Bar, Mark Breslin's Yuk Yuk's, The Rivoli and The Second City. This year’s Festival will feature some of the world’s best comedic performers over six days. The Festival’s goal is to expand on last year’s success by adding more local/grassroots and ethnic programming and expanding on the one-person show series to appeal to Toronto’s vast demographic make-up, including its large multi-cultural population. Overall, this summer’s Festival will be approximately 25% bigger, with 4 additional venues and 13 more shows to offer the Toronto audiences as well as tourists. In addition, for 2010 the Festival will produce two shows for TV – the Ethnic Show for broadcast on CBC and a 3rd Language Special (TBD) for broadcast on Omni. www.hahaha.com/toronto

The Canadian premiere of Broadway’s rockin’ goodtime musical ROCK OF AGES will feature some of the country’s hottest musical theatre talent with performances at the Royal Alexandra Theatre which began on April 20, 2010. After many months of auditions across Canada and in major centres in the U.S., lead producers Matthew Weaver and Carl Levin and director Kristin Hanggi have cast six of the musical’s lead roles with performers who have made their marks on stages in Toronto, New York, and other cities. www.mirvish.com

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES and SPACES
The International Centre recently completed the first phase of its multi-million dollar revitalization plan. A modern colour palette of white, grey, light blue and green emphasizes the new cosmopolitan sensibility of the International Centre. Fresh on the heels of a $13-million, 48,000 square foot addition of a state-of-theart Conference Centre, the International Centre is mid-stream of implementing a 3-Year ‘Path To Sustainability.’ A $2-million, eco-friendly kitchen is at the heart of the plan. Sourcing locally whenever possible, the International Centre delivers restaurant quality food and service for events ranging in size from 4-4000 people. With cooking ovens that reduce water and energy usage by 70% via EcoSmart technology—without sacrificing quality or preparation technique—and by implementing a line that provides 95% in packaging waste in its Retail Operations, the International Centre is committed to sustainable CSR business practices as part of its leading-edge revitalization plan. www.internationalcentre.com

The new $500 million retail, commercial and residential development, Maple Leaf Square is located at the epicenter of Toronto’s sports and entertainment district, is the largest mixed-use project constructed in Toronto since 1977. Maple Leaf Square shares its footprint with Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and LIVE Events forming a backdrop for this “vertical village”. Connected to the City’s transit systems and climate-controlled underground walkway, Maple Leaf Square provides residents and visitors of Toronto with access to shopping, services and dining experiences. Whether a resident of the condominiums, a guest enjoying the luxury of the boutique hotel, Hôtel Le Germain, or a sports fan purchasing their favourite teams’ jersey at Real Sports Apparel and then watching them play on the largest indoor HDTV in a North American restaurant at Real Sports Bar & Grill, Maple Leaf Square is a unifying place, connecting people through passionate, pure experiences. www.mapleleafsquare.com

Nathan Phillips Square’s revitalization will transform it into a more vibrant urban square for the over 1.5 million people who visit it yearly. Included in the project is a new, state-of-the-art permanent theatre stage for various events, a relocated and enhanced Peace Garden, a new two-level restaurant, a new Visitor Information Kiosk, and a new skate pavilion. The City will also reintroduce the Square’s overhead walkways with new furniture, landscaping, and connections to the second levels of the new restaurant and skate pavilion, which will provide panoramic views of activities on the Square. In 2012, the people of Toronto will reopen a revitalized Nathan Phillips Square, where Torontonians will once again gather, share memories and welcome the world. Toronto’s centre for local government and celebration will ignite applause, and inspire as it did, over 45 years ago when it was first opened. www.toronto.ca/nps

WINE, DINE and DANCE
The Boiler House restaurant in Toronto’s Distillery Historic District is completing a $200,000 patio renovation for Summer 2010. Its 200+ seat patio accommodates seating for regular a la carte dining as well as our cabana lounge which will now include our newly added MEGA cabana. It’s sexy and chic atmosphere lures people from all over with its live music and fresh mouth-watering tapas. The combination of our stylish patio, on site event planners, canapés and bottle service makes for one unforgettable night! www.boilerhouse.ca

The newly renovated venue contain a café, exposed, robust wine cellar, dining area, chic bar and lounge space, as well as an events room for private bookings. Brassaii offers a tantalizing menu inspired by interpretive, scintillating, Mediterranean fare crafted by celebrated executive chef Bruce Woods. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and late night dining, Brassaii also caters to the music and arts crowd by featuring performances, art exhibits and intimate show programming. www.brassaii.com

Quinn’s Irish Bar and attached Shopsy’s Deli and Restaurant recently opened in a newly designed 10,000 square ft dual space at the Toronto Sheraton Centre. The refurbished space created an atmosphere that is welcoming and comfortable with many private booths and a cozy bar area. The décor includes rich wood tables and leather stools, while walls are lined with authentic photos from Ireland bringing a little history into the renovated space. Nestled in the back of Quinn’s are two private dining rooms that can accommodate individual dinner parties of up to 16 each or a larger party of up to 32. Quinn’s is also a great venue for cocktail receptions of up to 120 people. www.quinnssteakhouse.com

At Real Sports Bar & Grill, the game comes to life. It will undoubtedly be the best ticket in town for watching the game, unless you are actually in the stands. Real Sports combines raucously exciting sports watching with fresh, mouth-watering fare at a huge (25,000 sq.ft.) yet humble venue where you can also find: 170 HDTV’s, 112 taps, 29 brands of beer, and the largest indoor HDTV in a North American restaurant. www.Realsports.ca

GET YOUR MOVE ON
Toronto's most unique and classic charter boat has had a face lift! The New Beginnings has operated on Toronto's waterfront for decades. This vessel is ideal for small groups of up to 23. Available for charter, this beautiful teak and mahogany power yacht is perfect for birthday parties, weddings, corporate events or simply a cold drink out on the water! The "New Bee" has undergone major restoration in 2009/10 to restore its shine, brilliance and comfort. Available for hourly or daily charter, May- October. www.harbourtourstoronto.ca

Shake off the city and get recharged – experience unique adventures packaged exclusively at NiagaraBreakFree.com. Rush through the Niagara rapids deep in the ancient Great Gorge... or stroll through magnificent forests and gardens. Fly high over vast vineyards…then indulge in local vintages by the glass. This is the Niagara you need to discover. Use your tickets in a day or a week, and plan to return again and again. www.NiagaraBreakFree.com

The Toronto Society of Architects is launching Toronto Architecture Tours in June 2010. Two guided, walking tours will showcase some of the best and most controversial building design in the city by local and internationally renowned architects including Frank Gehry, Will Alsop, Daniel Libeskind, Mies van der Rohe, I.M. Pei and Santiago Calatrava. “Toronto’s Cultural Renaissance: Buildings of the 21st Century” tour features the buildings and additions created in the last 10 years with over $1 billion of funding to expand and rebrand many of the city’s largest cultural organizations. The “Skyscrapers of the Financial District” tour traces the evolution of Toronto’s financial district, with a particular emphasis on the modern skyscrapers that marked a “race to the top” in the 1960’s 70’s and 80’s. www.torontosocietyofarchitects.ca

SHOPPING and SERVICES
With the addition of two new retailers, shopping at Dixie Outlet Mall just got even more attractive! Dixie’s retail mix now includes a near 4000 square foot Melanie Lyne Outlet and a 3024 square foot Bluenotes. www.dixieoutletmall.com

The Bay now offers a qualified consultant to provide the necessary information, tools and support for any customer’s needs. The personal shopper works from a wide spectrum – from clothing to home décor – and everything in between. Best of all the service is complimentary! The consultant comes with innovative talent for styling, and a warm and bubbly attitude that is contagious. Clients from various industries and companies include Johnson & Johnson, Knightsbridge, Right Management, CIBC, RBC, Toronto Western Hospital and Sunnybrook Hospital. www.hbc.com

Toronto’s beauty is waiting to be discovered and Gray Line Toronto serves as the ultimate tour guide. Gray Line guides passengers through the unbelievable vistas of Toronto, including the CN Tower, Harbourfront and the city skyline. Breathtaking views of the Niagara Peninsula and Niagara Falls can be found aboard our luxurious motor coaches, making a Gray Line trip one to remember. One of the most popular and intriguing destination tours is our Niagara Falls Freedom Tour 3B, designed to provide the full experience of Niagara Falls. Gray Line is excited to offer this trip to those looking for a unique Niagara Falls excursion. After some free time in Niagara Falls, passengers board the Niagaraon- the-Lake shuttle where they enjoy hours of free time exploring this charming 18th century town, complete with unique shops, beautifully restored inns and enchanting restaurants. At the conclusion of this tour, passengers stop at a local winery to indulge in the spirits of the area. www.grayline.ca/toronto

It’s another first for one of Canada’s most innovative retailers: Leon’s Furniture Ltd is opening Canada’s most unique furniture store, in Toronto’s historic John Street Roundhouse, a semi-circular structure built in the late 1920s and formerly used by Canadian Pacific to service steam passenger locomotives. Completed as part of a $25 million rejuvenation of the Roundhouse area, Leon’s Roundhouse location introduces a brand new retail concept; the country’s first large downtown, urban store offering 40,000 square feet of modern furniture, electronics and appliances on one floor. While shopping, customers can enjoy the most spectacular vistas of Toronto, relax in Leon’s new in-store café, and enjoy special events such as celebrity chef demonstrations and interior design and home entertainment seminars. www.leons.ca

National Helicopters celebrates 25 years of operation! National continues to provide Ontario’s most recognized and popular tours from Toronto’s Ontario Place Adventure Island Helipad and also offers breathtaking tours over Niagara Falls. Make National Helicopters an exciting part of your next travel vacation! www.nationalhelicopters.com

Recently announced year-round additions to the Porter route map include two new destinations. One daily non-stop flight connects Sudbury and Toronto, with service already underway. Two daily roundtrips will be available between Toronto and Moncton from June 25 until September 7. A year-round program of four weekly flights remains in place thereafter. After three successful winter seasons, Porter is also offering summer flights to Mont Tremblant and Halifax. www.flyporter.com

Now in its 6th year of supporting local talent, The Rage houses work by over 100 independent Toronto clothing and accessories designers and artists. The energetic magenta coloured art and design playground resides in Toronto’s legendary Kensington Market and carries one-of-a-kind works made of primarily recycled and repurposed materials. The outdoor front space is open to its artists for selling, workshops and demos, and features a monthly outdoor Karaoke party for the neighbourhood and passersby. More community oriented than fashion conscious, The Rage stands for personal empowerment and style. www.ragetoronto.ca

Real Sports Apparel is 9,000 sq ft of the most authentic sports retail experience outside the locker room. It’s a destination for sports lovers everywhere. Inside and on the shelves, shoppers will find authentic gear and memorabilia for: Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Marlies. In addition to the brag-worthy selection of exclusive team products, 250+ styles of headwear and Real Sports Collectibles, Real Sports Apparel also boasts merchandise from the 2010 World Cup National teams, NFL teams, Mixed Martial Arts, Golf Apparel and select NHL, NBA, and MLB Teams. At Real Sports Apparel, real fans don’t just feel pride; they wear it. www.Realsports.ca

No trip to Toronto is complete without visiting one of the natural wonders of Canada, Niagara Falls. ShopDineTour Niagara features a highly trained Tour Guide and a Driver on a comfortable climate controlled luxury highway coach. Tours include full historic narration, the famous Maid of the Mist boat ride, a souvenir shopping experience, free time to explore Niagara Falls and a regional wine tasting visit, which includes Canada's own Ice wine. ShopDineTour Niagara is the only tour offering a lunch at the Peller Estates Winery Restaurant where sweeping vineyard views and Winery Chef/CityLine Television personality, Jason Parsons, will awaken your palate with an evolving seasonal menu creating a truly memorable meal. For the ultimate adventure and spectacular views of the Falls, you can add a Niagara Helicopter Tour to your itinerary. Niagara Sightseeing will give you a rush of adventure, history and entertainment that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a splash of fun. www.niagarasightseeingtour.com

Square One Shopping Centre has officially been given Tourist Designation status and will be open on statutory holidays. Effective May 24, 2010, Square One will extend its hours and be open its doors during the following statutory holdays: Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, New Year’s Day and Family Day. shopsquareone.com/events

Tourism Toronto has gone overseas with its website! Now available in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish and German, the new sites adapt the content from SeeTorontoNow.com to lift efforts in other languages to a level comparable with the main site. Log on and check out Toronto’s diversity that continues to grow with endless opportunities for its visitors. www.SeeTorontoNow.com

EVENTS and FESTIVALS
Now in its 16th year, NXNE 2010 has five key components: music, film, interactive, conference and charity. It puts 625+ international and local bands on 50 stages, screens 40+ films, populates Conference Village sessions with groundbreaking keynotes and inspired panel discussions, and breaks ground in the interactive media arena. From small intimate shows to stages at Lester B. Pearson International Airport and Union Station, to free open-air concerts in the heart of the city at Yonge-Dundas Square, and a rock n’ roll charity soccer match for Right to Play, the NXNE experience permeates Toronto over festival week (June 16-20), making it essential on the annual calendar. For more information, visit www.nxne.com.

The Shaw Festival’s 2010 season, April through October, includes ten productions, two of which are by the Festival’s namesake, presented on the Festival’s four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages: the Festival Theatre, the Court House Theatre, the Royal George Theatre and the Studio Theatre. In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond. www.shawfest.com

New this year to the youDiscover series is a comedy component to take place alongside the popular “Battle of the Bands” style music competition. All together, 24 independent music artists and 24 comedians will be selected to compete at Niagara Park’s historic Oakes Garden Theatre. The top four music and comic acts will then compete in the Grand Finale show where a panel of celebrity judges will pick the Grand Prize winners. The last band remaining earns a chance to win a recording contract from Orange Lounge Recordings, receive a band makeover and will become the opening act on the nationally broadcast New Year’s Eve show in Niagara Falls. The last comic standing will also win a deal including writing clinics and the chance to perform on the nationally broadcast New Year’s Eve Show, here in Niagara. www.youDiscover.ca

INNOVATION
Innovation meets the environment in new digital touch screens promoting Green. Toronto based L Squared Networks has spent nearly one-million dollars in developing state of the art information systems known as black boards. The units themselves are stand alone kiosks providing an attractive aesthetic quality to hotel lobbies, including the Delta Chelsea in downtown Toronto. Black Boards are being deployed nationally under all brands and provide user's with instant access to relevant information including a multi-lingual interface, airline info, directions from the hotel to any chosen location and a large database of local options all while promoting green initiatives. www.lsquarednetworks.com

The Printing House Limited™ (TPH®)is introducing Elephoto photobooks! TPH® has been a trusted Canadian printer for business across the country for almost 50 years and now they have produced something new for consumers and business alike. With the rise of digital photography, Canadians are taking more pictures than ever, but many of those pictures get hidden away on hard drives or posted en-masse to social media sites. Elephoto photobooks helps you tell your story through the power of touch. An elegant, professionally bound photobook that you design is the perfect way to combine the photos of your favourite moments with the memories and story about them. You choose the story you want to tell and let Elephoto photobooks help you capture those memories and share them for years to come. www.elephoto.ca


ABOUT TOURISM TORONTO
Tourism Toronto, Toronto’s Convention and Visitors Association, is an industry association of more than 1,200 members established to sell and market the Greater Toronto Region as a remarkable destination for tourists around the globe. www.SeeTorontoNow.com