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It's stinking hot - time for Parks Canada Celebration

That's what someone just told me - it's stinking hot out, hot, hot, hot. And I think grab your bathing suit and head down to the sparkling, crisp waters of Lake Ontario. Parks Canada is having their Centennial Celebration on Centre Island today (July 16, 2011) from noon to 8:30pm. For most people heading to the Islands means riding the Toronto Ferries. PS the new Island Ferry ticket booths have been rebuilt, see the photo at top.

You can enjoy concerts starting at 4pm with The Skydiggers, Serena Ryder and Sarah Harmer.

Also planned are a number of activities including meeting historic characters, take souvenir snapshots, see mascot Parka the Beaver, visit a wetland discovery centre, sit still for face painting or hand tattoos and have a picnic or get some food from vendors. There is plenty of stuff to do on Centre Island - you can also go to Centreville Amusement Park after the celebration and have some more fun.

MEC Toronto Paddlefest 2011

The annual Mountain Equipment Co-op MEC Toronto Paddlefest returned to Sunnyside Park for their June 11-12, 2011 celebration of small watercraft. Canoes, kayaks, surf boards in brilliant colour filled the beach in preparation of all the paddling that will happen.

Hopefully no one will fall in because the water is probably a little cool still. More pictures after the jump.

There was also a photoshoot going on in the pavilion - at first I thought it might have been a lovely vampire picking out her next victim.

Toronto Ferry and the Islands

A magical place exists across Toronto's harbour on the Islands that grew up from the sand of the Scarborough Bluffs. The collections of Islands are full of excitement with the Centre Island Centreville Amusement Park, the yachts and other big boats in the marinas and the many beaches (including that clothing optional nude beach known as Hanlan's Point Beach). The Islands are so much fun to roller blade, bike or walk that you forget the fun of riding the ferries that run between the various islands and the City of Toronto Ferry Terminal at Harbourfront's Queens Quay ("half the fun is getting there!). The view of the city's skyline is fabulous.

The ferry service runs from the mainland to Centre Island (in the middle), Hanlan's Point (west) and Ward Island (east) and the adult ticket only costs $6.50 (return included for free!). The ferries run 7 days a week, generally from 30 minutes to an hours between each trip (times are different on the weekends and weekdays). The islands are connected so you can start on one side and travel through to the other side - you can even rent bikes on the islands.

See more pictures after the jump.

Beaches of Toronto

Sunday is just what summer should be - sunny and warm. The blue skies were out to bless everyone with a little kiss of sky and some exposed skin. Early morning sun fought off the fog and later in the morning rising temperatures started to warm up the sand and brought out the sun worshipers to beaches along Lake Ontario. There were also tons of boaters out, including teams of Dragon Boats practicing for a big race. Sunnyside Park has beach volleyball courts set up and there is a large patio which is just perfect for viewing the action.

This sculpture looks exactly like what you find at the bottom of a drain

Parking lots along Lakeshore are easily accessible and if you bring your bike you can travel from site to site to find the perfect combination of sand and beach. See more beaches after the jump.

The inner harbour near Ontario Place

HTO Park

Cherry Beach and their weird beach trees

Beach on Centre Island and wharf below

Entrance to Hanlan's Point clothing optional beach - there was a large turnout at the beach

Freedom Festival and March 2011

At first I thought it was going to rain in Queens Park as the storm clouds grew thick and grey. I slowly came to realize it wasn't rain clouds at all, it was the copious quantities of medicinal herb and resulting smoke that hung low to the ground during Freedom Festival 2011 (see 2010 pictures here). The pied piper, or bong smokers, drew young and old alike, but mostly young, to the north yard of Ontario's political heartland where they protested some of the current laws and their voices rang out in support of free speech. Starting before noon the venders began to set up and get the food and merchandise ready for the onslaught of festival attendees. In a little under two hours the sparse group in the park began to number in the thousands.

Streams of people came to Queens Park from bus stations, subways and other points and the park began to bulge at the seams. People seemed to be pretty mellow.

At 2:00pm an extremely large group gathered and headed out of the park (the front of the parade pictured below), north on University, then east on Bloor, south on Yonge and finally west on Wellesley. The people were well organized by orange shirt volunteers and well supported by the Toronto police.

The police mounted unit waited at Wellesley and Yonge and helped to keep the protest on track and away from the Yonge-Dundas area.

The organized march was very peaceful and and was escorted by plenty of bike police who ensured that the route would keep away from the Eaton Centre area and back to the small forest of Queens Park. Tired marchers (there was a lot of coughing) returned to the bathrooms and snacks that so many craved (for some reason) they could also listen to some great music from some local bands scheduled until 7pm.

See lots more pictures after the jump (click Read More >>, below).