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Let’s Get You Toronto-Ready!
Let’s Get You Toronto-Ready!
A little Toronto History
A little Toronto History
Set on the north shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto was created on March 6, 1834, when the settlement of York was renamed Toronto, the Mohawk word for "meeting place."
Toronto Fun Facts
• Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario, and is the largest city in Canada.
• Toronto is the 4th-largest city in North America, after Mexico City, New York, and Los Angeles.
• Yonge Street, known as the longest street in the world, is the main north-south road and divides the city into east and west.
For more information visit www.toronto.com. Another source of help is www.211toronto.ca.
Languages Spoken
Languages Spoken
There are two official languages in Canada – English and French. One of the most multicultural cities in the world, Toronto is home to more than 80 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages, and is marked by the diversity of distinct neighbourhoods, cultures and communities.
Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhoods
Toronto is a city made of many neighbourhoods with several distinct areas such as: Little Italy, Queen Street West, Entertainment district, Fashion District, High Park, Roncesvalles, Leslieville, Beaches, Greektown, Little India, the Distillery District, Kensington and Chinatown. There are also major shopping centres (Scarborough Town, Yorkdale, Eaton Centre) and downtown - underground malls with food courts. Most of the neighbourhoods have public community centres with free access to pools and courts.
For such a large city – you may be surprised to find that Toronto is a very safe, clean city with friendly, helpful people. Most neighbourhoods are family-oriented. It is very common to find lots of trees and parks, bike and walking trails. Many people live in houses with gardens and many people also own pets.
Since Toronto is so large, it is very common to take the bus or subway to travel. Some students can expect to have to travel up to 1 hour to go to or from school.
Public Transit
Public Transit
Presto cards can be purchased at all subway stations and Shoppers Drug Marts. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the name of the public transportation system. The safe and easyto-follow system includes subway, bus and streetcar routes. Payment on the TTC is done by PRESTO card. PRESTO cards cost $4.00 and then students load the card with money to be deducted each time they use bus or subway. It is possible to load a monthly pass onto the PRESTO card for $156. This gives the student UNLIMITED travel for the entire month however, the month must begin on the 1st of the month until the end of the month.
Students travelling in a group to CES, may have the PRESTO cards included in which case the cards will be given at the airport and will be pre-loaded. If a student loses their PRESTO card, they will be responsible for buying another one. For more information visit www.ttc.ca
Note: Drivers cannot give change nor do they sell tickets, so you must have the exact fare or a token/ticket/Presto to enter any TTC vehicle. If you are taking two buses or any combination of bus, streetcar and the subway, you will need a paper “transfer” ticket from the driver or machine where you first pay. This transfer can only be used at corners where you disembark one vehicle and board a different one, moving in one direction.
MANNERS WHILE USING THE TTC:
MANNERS WHILE USING THE TTC:
• When getting on the subway, please make sure to stand to the side and let people OFF the subway first before getting on
• If you would like to listen to music while on transit, please use headphones instead of playing it out loud
• Please refrain from having loud conversations or yelling on the TTC- Toronto Transit is a quiet space
• Please refrain from swearing or using bad words in your conversations on the TTC
• If you are not sitting in a seat, please do not engage in “horseplay” or move around the bus and subway
• Blue coloured seats are reserved for the elderly, pregnant women and disabled people. Please do not use these seats. If you are using one, please offer the seat if someone who needs it enters the subway or bus
• It is general good practice to offer any seat you have (either red or blue) to elderly people or children when there are no other seats available on the bus or subway
• If someone is trying to leave the bus or subway and you are blocking their way, please move aside so they do not miss their stop
• You cannot smoke at TTC bus stops or outside of TTC subway stations. There is a monetary fine associated with this
Safety
Safety
Although Toronto is very safe compared to other large cities in North America, certain precautions should still be taken while using public transit.
• At night, after 9:00 pm, bus drivers will let passengers travelling alone to disembark at requested en-route locations between stops.
• Stay behind the yellow line on subway platforms.
• All subway platforms have Designated Waiting Areas, which are monitored by videocameras and have alarm buttons and a voice-link to the attendant. Look for the DWA sign.
Currency - CAD
Currency - CAD
Currency used in Canada is the Canadian Dollar ($C). Paper bills come in $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, and $1,000 denominations.
• The two larger coins are the $1 gold-coloured coin, commonly called a "loonie" (the loon is the bird engraved on one side), and the $2 silver- and gold-toned coin (the "toonie” ).
• Commonly used small coins are the 5-cent ("nickel"), 10-cent ("dime") and 25- cent ("quarter") pieces.
To see current currency exchange rates, you can visit www.xe.com/ucc.
Tax - 13%
Tax - 13%
Tax On most purchases, the harmonized sales tax (HST) of 13% is applied. There is no HST on most grocery items, but restaurant meals are taxed. HST is not charged on reading materials.
No Smoking / No Vaping
No Smoking / No Vaping
All public buildings in Toronto are non-smoking. Smoking is not permitted on bar and restaurant patios. The minimum age to legally buy tobacco/vaping products in Ontario is 19.
No Alcohol
No Alcohol
The legal drinking age in Ontario, and therefore Toronto, is 19 years old. You cannot purchase alcohol at stores or in restaurants without valid identification that shows you are older than 19. Drinking is prohibited by all participants of the Teen Activity Program at CES Toronto.
Voltage - Electricity
Voltage - Electricity
In Canada the voltage is 120V and it is a 3-prong outlet. You may require an adapter to use any electrical equipment you bring with you. Visit www.voltagevalet.com for help.
Business Hours
Business Hours
Most office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Most shops are open 10 a.m. to 5:30 or 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Many store hours are extended to 8 or 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and most stores are open Sundays 12 noon to 5 p.m. CES school hours are 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Time Zone
Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During Daylight Savings Time (DST), March to November, clocks are turned ahead one hour.
• If it’s 6:00 pm in Paris – it’s 12:00 pm (noon) in Toronto
• If it’s 6:00 pm in Sao Paulo – it’s 7:00 pm in Toronto
• If it’s 12:00 pm (noon) in Tokyo – it’s 11:00 pm in Toronto
Telephone
Telephone
Toronto has two area codes: 416, 647 and 437. Local calls require 10-digit dialing: the area code followed by the seven-digit phone number.
• The emergency number for all health, safety and crime emergencies is 911.
• Dial 411 for an operator to aid with locating a number. Dialing 0 will also get you an operator for general assistance.
Contacting friends and family at home through your regular cell phone plan can become expensive. To reduce costs, you may want to consider purchasing a local SIM card. At any shopping centre you will be able to find Canada’s cell phone service providers; Bell, Rogers, Telus and Freedom Mobile. You will be able to purchase a local SIM card from these providers.
Seasons in Toronto
Seasons in Toronto
Situated on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is one of the southernmost cities in Canada. In fact, its latitude is very close to that of northern California. As a result, Toronto has a surprisingly moderate climate – with the warmest springs and summers in Canada.
Check out www.weathernetwork.ca before your departure to see what the weather will be like.
Summer Packing Checklist
Summer Packing Checklist
For the summer season, you will want to bring the following:
Clothes:
A light jacket
A zip-up hoodie for layering
A Light Sweater
Α Sweatshirt
T-shirts
Shorts
Capris/Ankle pants/jeans
A bathing suite
Running shoes/sneakers
Sandals/flip flops
Other:
Phone & Charger (portable charger)
Umbrella
Sunscreen
A towel for the beach/swimming
Pens and pencils (important for classes)
A notebook (important for classes)
Toiletries:
Deodorant
Shower soap
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Shampoo
Lotion/Moisturizer
Razor and shaving cream
Jet Lag
Jet Lag
The feelings of disorientation encountered as a result of crossing time zones are known as jet lag. Although jet lag occasionally lasts for a week or more, travelers usually return to their normal sleep-wake pattern after a day or two. Jetlag can be mainly avoided by sleeping in the plane and by adjusting to your new time zone.
Suggestions for jetlag self care include:
• If you are flying westward, try to go to sleep as late as possible for two to three days before you leave. This will make it easier to adapt to the new location.
• When you sleep on the plane, try to plan sleep as if the time is that of the destination.
• Wear an eye mask.
• Maximize comfort with a pillow supporting your neck and head.
• Bring earplugs and blindfolds to reduce noise and light while sleeping.
Suggestions on adjusting to your new time zone include:
• Expose your body to daylight to help 'reset' your body clock.
• Drink caffeinated drinks in moderation during the day.
• Avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks for a few hours prior to sleep at night.
• Try to mimic your usual bedtime routine.
• Use relaxation techniques.
• Avoid heavy exercise close to bedtime.
Students who have booked an airport pick-up
Students who have booked an airport pick-up
Before leaving home make sure:
your flight is confirmed and the school has your latest flight information
you have your Homestay address and phone number with you
you have the emergency phone number for homestay +1-416-888-9282 (you can use WHATSAPP in the airport with airport wifi)
Arriving in Toronto
Go through Customs- keep the paper you receive from the machine
Pick-up your luggage
Hand the paper from the machine to the officer
Look for the WELCOME TO CES sign. Your greeter/driver will be holding it.
If you can not see the sign, please ask an Airport Representative at the information desk to call 416-888-9282. The number will be on your homestay confirmation.
Also, call the number if:
you missed your connecting flight
you have been delayed by immigration
you cannot find your luggage after looking for 30 minutes
you cannot see your driver at the airport
When you call the emergency number, please:
Say and spell your name. (“My name is… It’s spelt…”)
Tell us why you are calling. Examples:
“I have missed my connecting flight. I will be late.”
“I have been delayed by immigration.”
“I cannot find my luggage”
“I cannot find my driver.”
If you cannot call the emergency number by yourself, please ask someone to help you. For example:
Ask the airline staff or an airport official (information booth)
Phone your agent to pass on the information
If you have not arranged airport pick-up
If you have not arranged airport pick-up
When you arrive, proceed to the limo /taxi area. One of the commissionaires will help you find a driver to take you into the city or be able to show you where to take public transit. Please note that public transit may involve taking a subway, bus and/or streetcar which could be difficult if you have a lot of luggage.
NOTE: It is against Canadian law for airlines to give passenger information to third parties. As a result, without proper flight updates, we will not know which flight you are on. If students are not found after their flights clear, they will need to take a taxi at their own expense to their homestay. The airport reception fee will not be refunded.
See you in Toronto!
See you in Toronto!
FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING ACCOMODATION
FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE JUNIOR PROGRAM:
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