Pre-Trip in Toronto, Ontario Canada

Tuesday, August 30th - Thursday, September 1st, 2022

Very Limited Room Left

Join us before heading north for the extended weekend for our JOE 2022 and spend a couple of days in Toronto. 

Toronto is one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Often called “A City Within a Park,” you will have a wonderful time in this dynamic, diverse, energetic, and friendly city.  

Below is the current suggested schedule which is subject to change. 

On this Page:

Toronto Sign at night

Hotel:

Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown

Schedule: 

Sunday to Tuesday

Explore Toronto on Your Own: Come Sunday or Monday and stay in the same hotel to explore Toronto at your own pace, taking time to see many sights. While no organized activities are planned until Tuesday evening, there are many activities you can do on your own.  Contact Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org if you need more ideas. In addition, Mosaic will advise you of other early participants if you desire to coordinate activities amongst yourselves.

Tuesday Evening  

Arrive any time at the hotel after 3:00 pm for check-in, and your host Francine Dick will be there to greet you between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm.   

 7:00 pm Dinner:  We'll head out from the hotel at 6:30 sharp and walk down Yonge St. to enjoy dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory on The Esplanade, where you can select from a dozen different entrees.   After Dinner, we can take a stroll back to the hotel, stopping by City Hall to take a group photo by the iconic Toronto sign.  

7:00 pm Dinner (Kosher): We will offer a Kosher option for those in need at one of the restaurants in the Forest Hill area. Cost: $20 CA / $16 US

Click HERE to see menu

Cost: Tuesday Night dinner is included in the price of the Pre-Trip (excluding alcoholic beverages). There will be a $31.50 CA / $24.50 US discount for those who will not attend. The discount will only apply if pre-selected prior to Mosaic giving final numbers to the restaurant (about two weeks prior). There will be no last-minute refunds.

Wednesday

Morning Options: 

Toronto Island PaddleSpend the morning at charming Toronto Island. It’s a ferry ride away from the city but a world away from the hustle and bustle. People still live on the island, but it is mostly parkland. A stroll along the boardwalk takes us to busy Centre Island, and then we continue past a historic lighthouse, an arts centre and even a clothing-optional beach before catching the ferry back to the city. A total of about 5 km. Walking.

Cost: $9.00 CA / $7.20 US Adult or $6 CA / $4.60 US Senior (65+)

Take a harbour cruise and then spend some time exploring Harbourfront, with its arts centre and Queen’s Quay for shopping.

Cost: $36.50 CA / $29 US Adult or $33.50 CA or $26.50 US Senior (65+)

Distillery DistrictVisit the historic Distillery District and Cabbagetown.  Mosaic’s own Jeffrey Kay will lead you through some of the oldest parts of Toronto with fascinating architecture and history. Do not forget to ask him why it is called Cabbagetown! 

Explore the Martin Goodman Trail on your own. Please pick up a bike from Bikeshare Toronto (we will provide the maps) and ride at your leisure along the 20 km. Lakefront trail. There is plenty to see and do from the Beach in the east to Humber Bay in the west. We hope to have a volunteer from the Ontario club to accompany you.

Cost: $7 CA first half hour, $4 CA every extra half hour – pay for yourself

Join a guided tour with Toronto Bicycle Tours to explore Toronto on two wheels. This 3.5-hour tour takes you to all of Toronto’s major attractions and then some. Guide, bike rental, helmet rental, water and snack are included in the fee.

Cost: $90 CA / $71 US (Tip not included)

Afternoon Options:  

Kensington MarketAfter lunch, we will meet up at Kensington Market to explore the Jewish roots of this once-thriving food market, which today is an eclectic collection of stores and restaurants. We'll also visit the Anshei Minsk and Kiever historic synagogues.

Cost: Bring money for SNACKS to LUNCH. We'll eat lunch there before the tour.

Explore Toronto on your own. Wednesday morning, pick up a bike from Bikeshare Toronto and explore the Martin Goodman Trail.  

Costs: Bikeshare Toronto: $7 CA first half hour, $4 CA every extra half hour. Pay on your own

Boating enthusiasts might want to rent a canoe or kayak to explore the waterfront from Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre. Not for novice paddlers. Opens at Noon. Mosaic will help make group reservations if there is enough interest. 

Costs: $84.75 CA for two hours for a canoe, $50 CA solo or $70 CA tandem for two hours on a kayak. Pay on your own.

Humber River Voyageur Canoe TourExplore the lower Humber River on a Voyageur canoe. Perfect for beginners and experienced alike, this 1.5-Hour 11 Passenger Voyageur Canoe History & Wildlife Guided Tour is a wonderful way to explore the beautiful history of the Humber River as it slowly meanders through Toronto. These 22 ft Voyageur Canoes are super stable and hold up to eleven. No paddling experience is required as the experienced staff will teach you the basics of paddling before embarking on your scenic paddling adventure. The tour leaves at 3:00, and participants need to be there by 2:45. Accessible at Old Mill subway station in Toronto’s west end.

Cost: $27 CA / $21 US

Evening 

Wednesday evening you can choose from:  

Enjoy the outdoor theatre at The Dream in High Park as you watch Shakespeare's As You Like It under the stars. We’ll enjoy a picnic supper together before settling in to enjoy the show. A Toronto tradition since 1983.

Cost: $25 CA / $20 US For picnic supper. Admission is pay as you wish, so bring some cash to donate to the arts. 
Click HERE to see menu

Spend the evening exploring the Canadian National Exhibition (like a country fair on steroids). There are the usual games (including a casino) and rides, but also wonderful exhibitions, buskers, concerts, and more — an end-of-summer tradition in Toronto since 1879.

Cost: ~$20 CA. Pay your own. Bring extra spending cash

Thursday

Morning 

CN Tower

Ripley's Aquarium features nine different galleries, including sharks swimming over your head. Truly state of the art and well worth the price of admission! 

Cost: $45 CA / $35.55 US Adult or $30 CA / $24 US Senior (+65)

Visit the Royal Ontario Museum followed by a stroll along tres chic Bloor St.  The ROM is natural history at its best, and Bloor St. is shopping at its finest. Bring your credit card if you feel inclined to shop at Chanel, Hermes, Dolce, and Gabbana. Window shopping is free.

Cost: $27.50 CA /22 US Adult or $21.50 CA / $17 US Senior (65+) base price (Note: extra costs for special shows not included)

Art Gallery of Ontario with a walk along trendy Queen St. Toronto’s artistic crown jewel features art from around the world throughout the ages. It includes a wonderful display of the Group of Seven Canadian artists.

Cost: $26.50 CA / $21 US

Walking tour of government and education with Mosaic’s David Golberg as your guide exploring Toronto as the seat of government and education. You will start by visiting Toronto’s iconic City Hall, completed in 1965 (right next door to Old City Hall). Then walking up University Avenue, past hospitals and historic buildings, takes us to Queen’s Park, the seat of the Ontario Provincial Government. Finally, you will finish on the grounds of the University of Toronto.

BE BACK AT THE HOTEL BY 12:45 pm to catch a ride to camp for JOE 2022. 

Afternoon 

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Transportation 

Arrival to the Pre-Trip  

Plane 

Toronto has two major airports to choose from: 

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

Toronto Pearson Airport

From Pearson Airport, catch the Union Pearson (UP) Express Train directly to Union Station. See TTC Trip Planner for options once you are at the Union Station via Streetcar, Subway, Bus, or Walking (in order of shortest to longest amount of walking). The hotel is 1.2 km / 7/10 mile from Union Station, about a 20-minute walk.

Trains leave the airport about every 30 minutes. Total travel time from Airport to Hotel is between 40 to 80 Minutes pending connections/method.

Cost of Public Transit: $12.35 CA Adult / $6.20 CA 65+ for the UP Express from Airport to Union Station+ $3.20 CA for Streetcar, Subway, or Bus

Average Cost Pearson Airport to hotel: Taxi ~$55 CA / Uber or Lyft: ~$40 CA (25 Minute)

Average Cost Union Station to hotel:    Taxi ~$7-10 CA / Uber / Lyft ~$8 CA (5 Minute)

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)

Check Transportation Page for more details about flights to/from this airport.  

Billy Bishop AirportPublic transportation from Billy Bishop Airport takes about 45 min > 1 Hr.  from terminal baggage claim to hotel. Once you get your bags in the terminal, look for the ferry or underwater pedestrian walkway from Toronto Island (where the airport is located) to the mainland. Check out Google Map for options once you are on the mainland. 

Average Cost Billy Biship to hotel: Taxi ~13 CA / Uber or Lyft ~$13 CA (10 Minute)

Car

Please note a $30 CA per day parking fee if you park your car at the hotel. The hotel is in the middle of the downtown area, and we will be using public transit for the duration of the Pre-Trip. Once parked, you most likely will not need your car again until you are ready to leave for camp on Thursday.   You can find more info on directions from the hotel to camp on the Attendee page

Public Transit

Street CarWe will be using public for most, if not all, transportation for the duration of the Pre-Trip. Included in your base price of the Pre-Trip is a Convention Pass card, which will get you around on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system. What is a Convention Pass?

 

Mosaic Shuttle from Pre-Trip to Main Event 

The Mosaic shuttle will leave promptly for camp on September 1st at 1:32 pm. Please meet outside the lobby with your luggage by 1:15 pm. The Shuttle WILL NOT WAIT FOR ANYONE who is not ready for pickup when the Shuttle departs on time from the hotel. Anyone left behind because they were not waiting for the Shuttle at the appointed time will need to arrange their transportation to camp and forfeit the cost of the Mosaic Shuttle. 

Cost of Mosaic Shuttle: Round trip $90 CA / $70 US Round Trip or 50 CA / $40 US One-Way. (Round trip will return you to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) after the main event.) 

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Costs 

Base Price 

  • $324 CA / $270 US person - Double or Couples Occupancy 
  • $211 CA / $176 US per person – additional for Single Occupancy upgrade 

Base Price Includes: 

Single Occupancy on Sunday or Monday

  • $228 CA / $178 US Extra per day 

Must pay for Single Occupancy for the duration of Pre-Trip 

Double Occupancy for Sunday or Monday 

  • $120 CA / $94 US per person Extra per day

Must pay for Double Occupancy for the duration of Pre-Trip 

 **Note: We can only guarantee room rates until July 30th. Any rooms booked after July 30th will be based on the hotel's availability, and prices may increase.  

No Hotel Option

  • $126 CA / $105 US Tues - Thur

No Hotel Option Includes: 

  • Preloaded Convention Pass for Wednesday and Thursday  
  • MOSAIC administration fees. 
  • Tuesday night's dinner 

Note: An additional Mosaic administration surcharge of $60 CA / $50 US on top of the No Hotel Option to anyone who books their own room at the Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown, and attends the Pre-Trip. 

Parking

$30 CA Per Day at the Hotel - Pay on your own

 

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Registration 

Please register for the Pre-Trip while registering for the Main Event on the Registration Page. You must participate in the Main Event to attend the Pre-Trip. 

Contact 

Pre-Trip Chair-People: Francine Dick at Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org  

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