Beautiful Ladies of Carnival

We are in the middle of the Toronto Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival and the costumes and women of the festival are amazing. The Grand Parade is upcoming on August 1st in Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm. Get ready for the "biggest Carnival party in North America." In tribute to the parade check out some of the pretty ladies in the costumes of Carnival.

"The Grand Parade continues to attract local, regional, national, and international attention by visitors and media as it is the highlight of the three-week Festival. This event continues to draw millions from all over the world to see the live performing street art year after year and on live streaming. After months of preparation, masqueraders in colourful and striking costumes wind their way from the assembly area at Exhibition Place along Lake Shore Boulevard. Admission applies to Exhibition Place where patrons have the opportunity to enjoy the parade of the Mas Bands. Masquerade bands end up in Exhibition Place where masqueraders can party until 8:00 pm. Guest bands, cultural bands and steel bands also participate in the parade. Guest bands start from the staging area within Exhibition Place and wind their way along Lakeshore Boulevard to disperse west of the Boulevard Club. Steel bands stage on Lakeshore Boulevard south of the All Stream Centre and also proceed along Lakeshore Boulevard to the Boulevard Club."

Monument to Multiculturalism back again

Now that construction has finished on Front Street and some of Union Station, the statue 'Monument to Multiculturalism' has returned to view in front of the train station.

See more of the Front Street and Union Station construction after the jump.

Panamania: Requiem of Water

An underwater photo and video exhibition commissioned by the 2015 Pan Am Games arts and cultural festival is displayed in Brookfield Place. The Allen Lambert Galleria will host the visual works from July 13 to August 14.

Large scale photographs by Meaghan Ogilvie show a series of underwater based narratives of our relationship with nature during rapid changes to the environment.

"REQUIEM OF WATER is an act of remembrance to the spirit of water that has been forgotten. Water is our life-sustaining gift, connecting all living things – without it, there is no life. Contrary to our past, today’s developed technological society has become indifferent to this source of life. The world’s natural inheritance of rivers, seas and oceans has been exploited, abused and contaminated. These narrative images embody our relationship and journey back towards honouring the waters. By exploring indigenous culture and bodies of water around the world, REQUIEM OF WATER reveals the simple and profound truth that, “Water is Life”. The goal of the exhibition is to heighten public awareness and encourage thoughtful responsibility towards our precious water sources and the role we all play in caring for them."

Badlands in jail

Missing are the gateposts and the armed security, but the Cheltenham Badlands have been locked up, fenced in and posted against trespass. The Badlands are bad to the bone and have been put away for the duration.

The closure is described as temporary while a Master Plan is being prepared for the Caledon area geographic tourist destination. There are a couple of tiny locations along the fence where you can see part of the eroded landscape. Just remember, there really is no legal place to park in the area with the new no stopping restrictions in place.

I hope that they continue to allow viewing of the Badlands - they can add platforms along the side and at the top to control access to the site. Or they can go full protection, either cover over the erosion with new dirt or enclose the site so that water and wind will no longer erode the Queenston Shale deposits. Then they should proceed to cover over the trees in fall so wind can no longer force the autumn leaves to the ground.

Because we couldn't get in from the ground we decided to take a flight from the Brampton Flight Centre and check it out from the air.

Muskets over Fort George

A weekend battle in Niagara brings the War of 1812 back to life during the 202nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort George.

Over July 11-12, 2015, in the historic military fortification at Niagara-on-the-Lake, re-enactors from all over North America replay one of the important events in the War, supplemented by musket demonstrations and cannon firings.

After bombarding the fort, the Americans unload their tall ships and push the British back from the landing towards the fort. On the second day the US take Fort George.

Posted by Joe Hamilton. Find the Event Schedule and more photos after the jump. Organizers note that lawn chairs are allowed and some activities are weather dependent.

RAM Rodeo Tour - Orangeville

Cowgirls and cowboys were practicing their trade during the summer rodeo circuit at the Orangeville Fairgrounds. They weren't always successful, but they, and their horses, tried their best during the weekend event running rain or shine, July 11-12, 2015.

The gates of the fairgrounds opened at 11 am and one of the highlights of the day was the Horespower Live! Show "a family fun horse show featuring breeds of horses, trick riding and the Ontario Equestrian Federation Showcase (OEF) Summer Showcase. The weekend even featured a concert by Beverley Mahood and Leah Daniels.

The main RAM Rodeo performance started at 2 pm each day and included bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and roping.

Posted by Joe Hamilton and James Hamilton. See more rodeo action after the jump.

Necessary Angel and bluemouth: It Comes in Waves

A new form of interactive performance entertainment comes to Toronto as part of Panamania, the Pan Am Games' arts and culture festival. Beginning with a trip to the Toronto Islands paddling a warrior canoe from Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre, the evening adventure continues on the Islands. This is a great event if you like to participate in your entertainment experience.

"It Comes in Waves is an extraordinary immersive performance about embracing the unknown…. Over the course of a transformative night we will canoe to the Toronto Island, venture through field and forest, throw a surprise party, sing a few songs, play a round of strip poker, and help prepare a man for the greatest journey of his life." Stephen O’Connell photo by Jeremy Mimnagh at top.

They tell you to bring bug spray and your sense of adventure on the evening production that starts on water and later leads you through the Islands to a party hall. This is a "hybrid of dance, opera, theatre and installation." Water taxis take you back to the mainland and the event lasts almost three hours.

Stirling Room Patio in the Historic Distillery District

The Toronto Entertainment destination celebrates five years in the historic neighbourhood with an exclusive patio launch on July 15 and opens to the public on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Stirling Room was opened in 2010 by Albert Rishes at 16 Trinity Street and has become known for the club nights on the weekend featuring DJs and club service and their private events such as TIFF, Pride and World Mastercard Fashion Week receptions. Check out Theatrical Fridays and Stirling Saturdays.

“I’m excited to be taking another step forward in Stirling Room’s development with a beautiful 900 square foot patio,” says Rishes. “When we launched the idea of an entertainment venue in the Distillery District, the concept was avant-garde and we’ve worked to continue to be an innovator in the area. Five years is a landmark in the industry and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate with an expansion.”

The patio has a capacity of approximately 100 and the decor was designed by David Craig and mixes a contemporary design with the historic interior architecture. High stools line the railing which look out onto the Distillery District, while intimate upholstered benches placed against the wall furnish a perfect place to enjoy lunch, dinner or snacks from Wednesday to Sunday.

Another look at the Flatiron building and Berczy Park

The triangular building and the adjacent park is one of my favourite places to relax in the downtown area of Toronto. You can enjoy a coffee beside the fountain and admire the large mural on the backside of the Flatiron building.

Looking towards the central core and the park's fountain

3D TORONTO sign

For those that forget what city they are in, now there is a pretty big sign right beside the reflective pool at Nathan Phillips Square. Once again the largess comes from the Pan Am purse as part of the Host City Showcase Program. This is probably for GOOGLE Earth so athletes aren't lost when doing a little online searching - bang, there is the sign, they aren't in Chicago, this is TORONTO. The three metre high, 22 metre long sign has letters that weigh about 136 kg.

Surprisingly the TORONTO sign isn't a three letter code like all the rest of the signs. Following standard Pan Am naming conventions, the sign should probably read BSC (Big Smoke City). The sign will remain at City Hall for 2015 before being moved to other locations around town.

The city says the interactive, three-dimensional, illuminated sign provides interactive fun for everyone. “The 3D TORONTO sign is a great way to showcase our city’s pride in a fun and interactive way during the Games and beyond,” said Mayor John Tory. “I encourage Torontonians and visitors to experience the various PANAMANIA activities that will take place in the square throughout the Games.” Visitors to the area are encouraged to share the sign on social media with a number of hashtags ( #share3DTO and #HostCity2015).

Toronto Carnival launch 2015

The city heats up with the start of the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival which runs from July 7 till August 9. Moving from Nathan Phillips Square, which is currently full of Pan Am stuff, the steel band and Mas dancers are at Metro Hall's David Pecaut Square.

"Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Join us as we celebrate our 48th anniversary. We’re bigger and better than ever!"

Police Chief Mark Saunders

Mas dancer with CEO Denise Herrera-Jackson

VIPs including Mayor John Tory, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Coteau, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders and Festival CEO Denise Herrera-Jackson, attended the noon hour kick off of the 2015 Carnival which was hosted by CTV Toronto host Colin D'Mello and CP24's Anchor Pooja Handa.

Members of the local Canadian Caribbean community, Salmon Cupid and the All-Stars steel pan band, calypso singers and Caribbean Dancers joined a colourful parade of Mas players to begin the 48th annual Carnival.

When: National anthem at 11:55 a.m. sharp. Speeches from 11:59 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Caribbean entertainment until 2 p.m. Entertainment resumes at 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: David Pecault Square, Metro City Hall at 215 King St. West.

The culmination of the Caribbean Festival is the Grand Parade on August 1, 2015, beginning at 9:30am and running into the night, within Exhibition Place and running along Lakeshore Boulevard. The paid event showcases steel bands and teams of masqueraders in an spectacle of beauty and music.

Grand Parade: "Good for family, couples and singles. Be prepared for the sun. The biggest Carnival party in North America! The marquee parade is the showcase of the Festival. After months of preparation, masqueraders in colourful and striking costumes and steel pan bands wine their way from Exhibition Place along a 3.5 kilometre stretch on Lakeshore Boulevard. This performance of bejewelled masqueraders continues to draw millions from all over the world to see the live performing street art year after year. With opportunities for VIP seating in designated, controlled areas, which will include upgraded seating, tents, and marketplace."

See more Mas after the jump.

Toronto and Sagamihara cherry blossoms

The Japanese city of Sagamihara, Japan honoured their Friendship City agreement with the City of Toronto today as representatives from both countries met to celebrate an ongoing Sakura cherry blossom tree planting project. Next year is the 25th anniversary of the Friendship agreement.

“Next year, we will be celebrating a milestone with the 25th anniversary of the Friendship City agreement between Toronto and Sagamihara," said Deputy Mayor Koike. "With the Sakura planting initiative as a catalyst, the City of Sagamihara would like to continue to make efforts to promote activities, initiatives and friendship between our two cities.”

Deputy Mayor of Sagamihara, Hiroaki Koike, Sagamihara's Council Chair, Yoshihiro Abe,  the Consul-General of Japan in Toronto, Yasunori Nakayama and City of Toronto representative Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic Development Committee met at the event, noting that 45 trees will be planted to mark the anniversary; 25 this spring and 20 plants to be planted in 2016. The trees will form a Sakura-namiki, or Sakura tree path, within the Birkdale Ravine in Scarborough. Councillor Thompson supported community leaders Shinichiro Matsumoto and Hisako Setoyama who proposed the project.

"Sakura trees provide a living and growing symbol of the friendship between the citizens of Sagamihara and Toronto," said Councillor Thompson. "We are delighted to continue this important tradition with our partner city of Sagamihara in recognition of our Friendship City anniversary."

Over 3,000 cherry trees from Japan have been planted in Ontario over the years as part of the Consulate-General of Japan's continued friendship initiative. These are pictures of blossoms from around the city - including the most popular location in High Park.