Fall Colours at the Bluffs and Guild Park Scarborough

It's the perfect one-two punch destination along the water's edge in Toronto's east end, first Bluffer's Park and the Scarborough Bluffs then second, the art in Guild Park and Gardens further to the east. Add in the beautiful fall colours along the vertical parkland and boom, what a visit.

One of the floating walkways has flipped in the water control area using a multi-cell system 

Now the bluffs aren't made of low-eroding Canadian Shield rocks, they are made from the deposits of sand and clay deposited from the advancing and retreating glaciers between the colden days (combo of old and cold!) of 70,000 to 12,000 years ago. This stuff erodes on a daily basis and you can compare pictures over the years and see the changing face of the bluffs and note the piles of materials that fall to the ground. There are relatively few piles of the gray soils at the base of the cliffs because they keep getting washed away by the currents of Lake Ontario, taken toward the Toronto Islands which were formed by the deposit of soils far from the bluffs.

A lone abandoned sailboat, the Genetic Drifter, sits along the rocky western beach of Bluffer's Park, pounded by the waves. 

Toronto has eleven parks along a 15km stretch of Scarborough Bluffs starting from the Eastern Beaches and proceeding east to East Point Park. The pull of gravity combined with wind and water have created the exposed cliffs which are fascinating and make a great backdrop for exploring the areas. Bluffer's Park has parking (free during weekdays prior to 5pm), bathrooms, beaches and pathways along with a marina (with real live-in house boats). Summer weekends can get a little crowded and often results in traffic restrictions and Brimley Road is a little more vertical than pedestrians or bicyclists would like, especially with narrow roads lacking in pathways. The park itself was built in the 1970s and 80s with about 2.6 million cubic metres of fill poured into the lake.

Then just a quick 20 minutes away to the east you can find Guild Park and Gardens which is a sculpture and architectural component sanctuary in a large park running along the bluffs along with an inn and lots of history. Lately the park has been upgraded and banquet facilities have been bookended to the inn and it really has become home and support for the artist community.

Built in 1914 the Guild Inn was a mansion for a war hero before being purchased and turned into a residence and centre for arts and artists. Then it was taken over for a number of years during World War II by the Canadian Government before returned to the owners in 1947. The art continued to expand after the war but was split from the property and made into a City Park in 1978, while the hotel continued in operation until finally closing in 2002.

Now the park is open for exploring and special events as well as the annual art festival "Guild Alive with Culture Arts Festival" as well as the Guild Festival Theatre operating in the Greek Theatre (the one with all the columns) during the summer.

The outdoor stage Greek Theatre

Toronto Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show 2025

I woke up to frost today so it is a great time to start thinking about your next sled at the annual Toronto International Snowmobile,  ATV and Powersports Show. It's on October 24-26, 2025 in Halls 1 and 2 of the International Centre and the parking is free.

In addition to snowmobiles and atvs you can find motorcycles, toy haulers, representation from race tracks and recreational trails - from from snow to mud they say.  Sadly there is no extreme sports this year, no young men flying through the air with the greatest of ease.

From the show's website, "If you’re into snowmobiles, ATVS and an all around Powersports enthusiast, this is the show for you! As soon as you step foot on the show floor, you’ll be blown away with the incredible roster of exhibitors and the feature events taking place around the show. The enormous Outdoors Event Centre with Live test drives and Freestyle Shows featuring snowmobiles, ATVs, motocross and street bikes. You’ll find huge Manufacturer Displays showcasing all of the new snowmobile and ATV line-ups. This show has more corporate manufacturer displays than any other snowmobile and/or ATV show across North America. All of the new machines under one roof, over one weekend, you can’t miss it! We guarantee it will be worth the drive to get here."

See more of the show and hours after the jump.

Toronto Outdoor Rinks expected to open in late November

The City of Toronto operates over 50 outdoor rinks and a popular spot is right downtown in Nathan Phillips Square when the pond is emptied in mid-October and they wait for colder weather to start making ice at City Hall. You can rent skates at the square and washrooms are nearby.

Typically the rinks operate from late November into March before closing for the season, as well as any weather events such as snowfalls where it takes a bit to clear off the ice.

From the City's website, "Sometimes on warm days, the City has to close some rinks temporarily until the weather cools down. This is due to the size and type of a rink’s refrigeration system and its ability to keep ice hard and smooth when temperatures rise above zero degrees Celsius. To check if a rink is open on a warm day, check the rink status or call 311. Rinks are maintained by being flooded on a regular basis but schedules are adjusted daily to accommodate inclement weather, staffing issues, equipment breakdowns, permits/programs and heavy traffic conditions."

Mono Cliffs Park in Fall

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is full of beautiful forests, ponds and trails, including part of the famous Bruce Trail, and with fall colours it really pops.  You can walk along the cliff top or take a stairs and a boardwalk through breaks in the cliffs. The park is open year round and requires a day use parking pass.

Parking entrance is through an automated gate which scans a bar code which you need to buy online, preferably before you get to the park because cars can stack up waiting to buy online at the park and there is not much of a driveway while you wait. The pass can be bought up to five days in advance and you have to pick your time, four hour blocks ($8.50) or an all day pass ($18.00).

Mono Cliffs is just over an hour north-west of Toronto, just past Orangeville.

Take the stairs on the north-west side of the cliff top/Bruce Trail to go down into the cracks and crevices of the escarpment cliffs

The park map

See more photos of the park after the jump.

Toronto Royal Horse Show and Royal Winter Fair return November 2025

Fall fairs across Ontario have been leading up to the famous Royal Horse Show and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to take place in Exhibition Place, Toronto from November 7 to 16, 2025. The Fair started in 1922 and was awarded the Royal designation by King George of England, now it is the "largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world".

As the country comes to the city, the Royal takes over Enercare Centre and the Royal Coliseum (now Coca Cola Coliseum) for the ten day show which features excellence in livestock, crops, food and of course the beautiful horses. You can buy tickets separately for the Winter Fair and the Horse Show, or if you buy tickets to the Horse Show your entrance into the Winter Fair is included.

From the Agricultural Winter Fair, "The Royal’s nine food competitions (Cheese & Butter, Ready-To-Eat Meats, Ice Cream, Jams & Jellies, Pickles, Honey, Maple, Hot Sauce, and Butter Tarts) will take place in late October 2025. You can expect to see the Royal Champions in all these competitions integrated into various restaurants, hospitality and digital initiatives at this year’s Fair."

And the Royal Horse Show, "International show jumping is the highlight of The Royal Horse Show, featuring the $280,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto, presented by Ecclestone Horse Transport, on closing night, Saturday, November 15. The world’s best will be in attendance, including Daniel Coyle (IRL) and McLain Ward (USA), both currently in the top 10 on the Longines World Rider Rankings. Alex Matz (USA) will be back to defend his Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto title and faces stiff competition from 2023 winner, Daniel Bluman (ISR), as well as Irish stalwarts Conor Swail and Shane Sweetnam."

You can find plenty to see and do at the shows from displays, specialized vendors and food and drink available for all tastes. It's hard to take in all that you want to see in one day, so come back for a few days! Some of the highlights of the shows are described below.

On November 8 see the Farmers versus First Responders Royal Challenge as the teams go head to head for a victory of strength, skill and stamina.

Take in the Animal Theatre with Super Dogs and horse demonstrations.

Watch horse jumping from the World's best competitors.

Enjoy the large horses like the powerful Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales.

Amber Marshall, the star of CBC’s Heartland, returns to the Royal.

Be amazed by the horse and dog K9-Equine competitions.

Heritage Court will have live music and entertainment on the OLG Entertainment Stage.

Learn to cook by booking a Chef’s Table presented by Milk offers daily cooking classes.

Watch the judging competitions in the ring of excellence including the Grand Champion beef and dairy winners.

On the final day of the show watch the entertaining Royal Rodeo qualifier and finals featuring the Canadian Cowgirls.

An amazing butter sculpture

Competitions in the Ring of Excellence

Fair Hours
Sun. 9 AM - 6 PM
Mon. 9 AM - 6 PM
Tues. 9 AM - 8 PM
Wed. 9 AM - 8 PM
Thur. 9 AM - 8 PM
Fri. 9 AM - 8 PM
Sat. 9 AM - 8 PM

Win Tickets to Toronto Snowmobile ATV & Powersports show 2025

Buckle up because winter is coming and the best way to have fun in the cold is to embrace the outdoors and buy a new sled! The Toronto International Snowmobile ATV & Powersports show is coming to the International Centre from Friday, Oct 24 to Sunday, Oct 26, 2025 and you could win tickets to check out the World's largest Snowmobile and ATV show. I have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the show and you can enter by making a comment on this post or by sending me an email to jmhcet@gmail.com.

From the show's website, "If you’re into snowmobiles, ATVS or are just an all around Powersports enthusiast, this is the show for you! As soon as you step foot on the show floor, you’ll be blown away with the incredible roster of exhibitors and the feature events taking place around the show, not to mention the enormous Indoor Event Area with Test Drives and Freestyle Shows. You’ll find huge Manufacturer Displays showcasing all of the new sled and ATV line-ups. This show has more corporate manufacturer displays than any other across North America. All of the new machines under one roof, over one weekend, you can’t miss it! We guarantee it will be worth the drive to get here."

Show hours and don't forget the parking is free at the International Centre.

Friday October 24: 1pm – 8pm
Saturday October 25: 10am – 6pm
Sunday October 26: 10am – 4pm

It's the long night of Toronto Nuit Blanche 2025

The adventure begins at 7pm on Saturday, October 4, 2025 when Toronto explores the art offerings of Nuit Blanche Toronto, spread throughout the city and waiting for an appreciative or critical audience. The all night art party runs till dawn, people thinning out as the early hours approach, and no matter if good or bad, the hunt for interesting art is the fun part. In the photo at top an art installation sits under the Gardiner Expressway in Bentway Park as part of the 2024 event, I think it is a model of Superman's artic headquarters.

Signals of the City: Crossing Paths by Afaf Naseem

The artist behind the green figure while a visitor holds her hand

I will be heading first to Humber College Lakeshore Campus, a concentrated hub of exhibits out in the east end, then I plan to park in Exhibition Place and explore the event on my lite-bike as I explore Bentway Park, Harbourfront and into the city centre. With reduced funding there are fewer large projects and less happening at Nathan Phillips Square so have fun and see you around town.

Function by Noor Khan

Toronto's website says, "Translate the city through art. October 4 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Join in a free all-night celebration of contemporary art that transforms Toronto’s public spaces into unexpected landscapes and animates cultural sites throughout the city. Featuring three exhibitions located in North York, Etobicoke and downtown and more than 85 works by local, national and international artists, the city becomes a living book created not just with words, but through sights, sounds, movements and shared spaces. Dive deeper into the ideas and creative processes behind the works through a series of talks and workshops – offered before and after October 4. This year’s theme, Translating the City, invites you to consider how art can translate the complexities of cities and the role we all play within them. Why not reimagine the possibilities a city can hold?"

For the Youth by Alexis Nanibush-Pamajewong

Update: In the aftermath of the 2025 show I hear a lot about Nuit Blanche was crap, too little art, too spread apart and sometimes I can relate, but overall I think that the hard work, creativity and uniqueness of the night makes the event special. Art is subjective and sometimes video installations can be a little over abundant, but there are usually a handful of really out there pieces that make the night, plus meeting people out on the street until the early morning hours is really cool.

I didn't start the night's tour until midnight and picked Humber's artistic hub because it is a cool place with it's concentrated art displays, then moved into the City Centre. I picked the late time to avoid massive earlier crowds which make viewing some pieces very difficult, however it doesn't leave enough time to see all that I wanted and I didn't even try to get to North York. By 4am some of the events weren't even running anymore (like Sankofa Square and 401 Richmond) so that was also disappointing.

Unless they get more funding, the shrinking of the event will carry on, which will be too bad. Nuit may join the decline in Toronto festivals all feeling the pinch of the purse strings and lack of support, which will be very sad. Hopefully I will see you out there during next year's event.

My lite-bike by the Eaton Centre. I made my way around the city on bicycle to cover more territory and want to say thanks to everyone that complemented me on the lights during the long night. PS my white coat had lights as well.

See more of Nuit after the jump.

World Press Photo 2025 in Brookfield Place

Beautiful and haunting photographs are on display in Toronto's Brookfield place as part of the World Press Photo Exhibition from September 22 to 16 October 16, 2025.

Gabriel Medina During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

by Jerome Brouillet

From their website, "Presenting the results of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, the annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year. The winners were chosen by an independent jury made of 31 professionals from around the world who reviewed more than 59,320 photographs entered by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries."

See more of the entries after the jump.