Toronto has museums and galleries for all tastes

Toronto, where I spent several enjoyable days in August, is one of the best cities in North America for lovers of museums and art galleries.

The biggest city in Canada and the capital of the Canadian province of Ontario, it has a wide range of museums and galleries including the [Ice] Hockey Hall of Fame, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Bata Shoe Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art

The Art Gallery of Ontario has a large and distinguished art collection, while the Hockey Hall of Fame has the world's largest collection of hockey gear and historic artefacts including including NHL masks, hockey sticks, championship rings.

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, AGO houses an expansive collection embracing classical masterpieces to contemporary works, while the Bata Shoe Museum showcases over 1,000 shoes and related artefacts from a collection of nearly 15,000 objects that span 4,500 years of history. 

It is housed in Raymond Moriyama’s award-winning building displaying everything from Chinese bound-foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut-crushing clogs and glamorous platform shoes.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) hosts a rotation of exhibitions of artists of the 21st century. Central to the museum’s ethos is the impact of colonisation in modern Canadian life. 

Fort York Historical Park, meanwhile, is preserved as a 43-acre archaeological park on the site of the 1812 Battle of York battleground.

# The writer was a guest of Novotel Toronto Centre. See https://novoteltorontocentre.com/

He flew via Doha with Qatar Airways. www.qatarairways.com   

# Image: Winsor Dobbin  

Meet a Toronto hotel with an ideal location

 

Toronto is one of the biggest cities in North America, with an urban population of well over 3 million and a metropolitan area with more than 7 million residents.

So if you want to check out highlights like the CN Tower, St Lawrence Market and [Ice] Hockey Hall of Fame then you will want to stay where the action is: the downtown city core within walking distance of Union Station.

You certainly don't want to find yourself staying in the Toronto equivalent of Blacktown or Werribee and spending half your time commuting.    

Let me introduce the Novotel Downtown Centre, a superbly located medium-sized hotel that delivers on location, facilities and friendliness. There are 232 rooms over nine floors but there is still a boutique feel. 

Unlike some of its bigger, brasher American-brand rivals there is a cosmopolitan/European vibe here, with multicultural staff and a collective smile. There are some funky public areas, too. 

Sports lovers will be able to walk in just a few minutes to watch either the high-flying Toronto Blue Jays baseball team in summer, or the Toronto Maple Leafs ice hockey team in winter. The Raptors basketball team and Toronto FC also call the city home.

Their venues, the Rogers Centre and the Scotiabank Arena, also host regular concerts and events. Over the few days I was in town acts included Neil Young, Oasis, Nine Inch Nails and the Jonas Brothers.

Toronto is a big city with big city attractions. It currently boasts 109 skyscrapers (with another 30 planned).

Fortunately for tourists there is a well-connected transport system with underground railway, bus and streetcar systems well linked to take you to destinations like Chinatown, the massive Eaton Centre shopping complex and the waterfront.

The Novotel is in a great location for foodies - with the renowned St Lawrence Market just a two-minute stroll away. From maple syrup and Canadian bacon to cheeses from around the world, to fresh fruit and vegetables, this is one of the great gourmet destinations. Take away, or dine in, or al fresco,

I popped by for lunch one day and enjoyed a delicious clam chowder followed by a freshly made spicy calamari po' boy sandwich.

Around the corner is a legal cannabis shop, should that be your bag.  

The hotel itself offers very comfortable rooms with fridges, fast wifi and excellent showers.

The bar has a happy hour from 4-8pm with local beers and wines for $5 and reduced price cocktails (think an $8 Aperol Spritz), while on-site restaurant, Cafe Nicole Bar & Bistro, serves copious buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners and also has an ice cream parlour on the streetside patio for an afternoon treat.



From soups and salads to fish and chips, burgers and chimichurri striploin steak, and sun-dried pesto fettuccine, the menu showcases popular favourites.

Next to the reception desk there is a 24-hour mini market selling everything from toiletries and travel adaptors to sandwiches, crisps and ice cream, as well as a wide range of drinks, should you need a canned cocktail at 3am.

There is a well-equipped fitness centre (which I studiously avoided) and an indoor swimming pool and sauna; and you are in a safe area to go for a run or jog.

Rooms have huge TVs, wireless charging clock radios, pillow top mattress, fridge, coffee maker and  kettle, in-room safe and complimentary water.

Across the road from the Novotel you'll find a number of eating and drinking options, including The Old Spaghetti Factory, Scotland Yard, a  busy and friendly English-style pub, an Indian restaurant and a craft brewery. All well within staggering distance to your room.

A fun place to stay. Room prices vary seasonally. See https://novoteltorontocentre.com/ 

# The writer was a guest of Novotel Toronto Centre.

He flew with Qatar Airways from Melbourne to Toronto with one stop in Doha. Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for the ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards. Qatar flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to Doha, with global onward connections. Starlink wifi is free on Starlink-equipped aircraft), gate-to-gate. See https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/homepage.html? 

Top chef takes on a new challenge

 

The Hunter Valley's loss is Lake Macquarie's gain with chef Emerson Rodriguez revealing a new venture. 

Just weeks after shutting the doors to Hunter favourite Emerson's Restaurant in Lovedale, he has announced Emerson's on the Lake Restaurant & Events.

The new restaurant will be located at the Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto with Rodriguez taking over both the upstairs restaurant (formerly Toronto Bay Bistro) and Mariners function room downstairs.

He has been given free rein to choose the styles of cuisine as part of a three-year deal.

"We have one of the best views on lake situated right on the water's edge at Lake Macquarie," the chef says, while admitting there is "a lot of work to be done before opening".

Kitchen renovations with new equipment, and new tables and chairs are part of the plans.

Rodriguez, formerly of Peppers Guest House, says he will be sourcing menu items from Shane's Seafood at Carey Bay - just two minutes down the road.

The club has operated at its current location since 1927, except when closed during World War II. The opening date will be February 28. 

I just hope he signs up a sous chef called Palmer. Then we'd have Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

That gold must be somewhere: massive heist at Toronto airport

Toronto's Lester Pearson Airport was a complete shambles when I was unfortunate enough to use it last year.

So it comes as no surprise to hear that millions of dollars worth of gold and other-high value goods went missing at the airport - and no one has a clue how it happened.

Canadian police are investigating the theft of at least $20 million in gold from a container that was being shipped through the airport, Travel Mole reports.

The entire container apparently disappeared without anyone noticing.

“Our investigators have got their eyes opened to all avenues - we’re looking at all angles on how this item was stolen,” said Peel Regional Police Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn.

“What I can say is that the container had a high-value shipment. It did contain gold but was not exclusive to gold and contained other items of monetary value.”

Local media reported that more than 1,600kg of gold was in the container.

Police said there was no impact to normal airport and passenger operations.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority said the thieves accessed the cargo holding area via an adjacent company which has its entrance outside secure areas of the airport.

No arrests have been made yet. 

Toronto gourmets have a cause for celebration

There is much excitement in multicultural Toronto, with local gourmets celebrating the news that the city is the first Canadian destination to get a Michelin Guide. 

Destination Toronto and Mayor John Tory made the announcement.

Mayor Tory says he hopes the Michelin Guide will help spread the word about Toronto as a culinary destination to travellers around the world. 

"This is an exciting moment for our city as Toronto will become the first Michelin Guide destination in Canada," Tory said. 

"This further bolsters our reputation as a world destination for food and cuisine. Our diverse city, along with the many renowned chefs who call Toronto home, have helped us get to this point and to be able to showcase all of the wonderful restaurants." 

I'll be visiting Toronto soon and hope to check out a couple of the city standouts. 

"For the first time in its history, the Michelin Guide lands in Canada, and our inspectors are excited to experience the impressive culinary landscape of Toronto," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides.

The inaugural edition of the Michelin Guide Toronto will be released during Canada's autumn 2022, with a selection of restaurants receiving honours.

# Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney. From June 6 to September 5 (Monday, Thursday and Saturday), Air Canada will increase its service to twice daily from Sydney to Vancouver. 

From July 3, Air Canada's Brisbane-Vancouver direct flights will resume four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. 

Internal flights are available throughout Canada from all major cities, in addition to Via Rail train service.

For more details on visiting Canada, see www.keepexploring.com.au