Episode 16: Five ways to stay engaged in Toronto this summer (2019)

Episode 16: Five ways to stay engaged in Toronto this summer (2019)

Introduction

It is officially summer here in Canada (where I live). It’s finally warm and I’m over the moon excited and I want to celebrate by talking about some of my most favourite activities for staying mentally and physically engaged in the city. Since I live in Toronto, I will be sharing information about events and opportunities that take place locally; but, for anyone listening who does not live in Toronto or does not like traveling into the city, I hope that today’s episode will give you some inspiration for activities to seek out and plan in your own local area. 

When I speak to older adults about staying active and engaged in their local communities, I often hear about cost being a deterrent. So, in today’s episode, I am going to focus on FREE or low-cost activities for keeping your brain active and your body moving.

Today we’ll be talking about 5 different ways to stay engaged and active this summer in Toronto. Specifically, I’ll be talking about:

  1. How to get free passes to museums and art galleries from the Toronto Public Library

  2. Ways to soak in some outdoor entertainment

  3. How to get moving

  4. Festivals

  5. Educational lecture series

 #1 Free Passes at the Toronto Public Library: Museum + Arts Pass Program (MAP)

Free passes (called MAP) from the Toronto Public Library will get you into various places around the city, including museums and art galleries. All you need is a library card! With the MAP Pass - most venues allow access for up to two adults and four children, which means you can bring the grandkids! But, if you do get a MAP pass, be sure to check the fine print to check how many people can gain access with a given pass.

 A list of all the places you can access for free can be found online (click here).

Some of my favourite free activities offered through MAP, include:

  • Art Gallery of Ontario

  • Royal Ontario Museum

  • Ontario Science Centre

  • Toronto Zoo

The number of available passes and distribution times and method vary by library location, so be sure to call your local branch to find out how to get a pass (for more information click here). At most branches, new passes are distributed on Saturday mornings.

I visited the Toronto Reference Library to ask if there were any secret tips on getting the MAP passes, and I was told to be sure to get to the branch as early as possible when the passes are released (Saturday, 9am), because availability is limited.

There is also a MAP Performing Arts Pass that you can get through the Toronto Public Library that provides passes to performing art shows around the city (including Canadian Stage, Factory Theatre, Hot Docs, the Royal Conservatory of Music, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and others). Note – the MAP Performing Arts Pass is a pilot project which is set to end next month (in July); but, I encourage you to check it out as well (click here for more information).

#2 Outdoor Entertainment

 If you like being outside in nature (especially during the beautiful summer months), there are loads of free activities around Toronto. Below are my top four!

 a. Movies under the stars (Christie Pits):

Want to watch a movie in the park? Pack a picnic and head on over to Christie Pits (located at Christie St and Bloor – right across from Christie Subway Station) for their annual film festival which takes place this year (2019) every Sunday from June 30 to August 25. The suggested donation  at each screening is $10 or pay what you can. Bring your favourite blanket or fold-up chair for extra comfort. Many watchers opt to sit on the hill right in front of the screen; but, there is some flat ground at the back where you can place a chair (if you choose to bring one), which might be a more comfortable option for some. Movies start at sundown, so get there early to set up your seat (first come first serve)! For example, on Sunday, August 4 they will be playing Sense and Sensibility.

For all the information and movies that will be played, visit their website (click here).

 b. Shakespeare in the Park:

Another wonderful outdoor summer activity is Shakespeare in the Park. If you love live theatre like I do, Canadian Stage’s Shakespeare in the Park is running from July 4th to Sept 1 and the performances take place at the High Park Amphitheatre (1873 Bloor St W) and will be: Much Ado About Nothing and Measure for Measure. For more information, click here.

Alternatively, head on over to the Canadian Stage website (click here) and you should see a link to the Shakespeare in the Park page right there on the home page.

General admission is “pay-what-you-can” or you can reserve your premium seats online for a $30 donation.

Performances are 100 minutes long (no intermission). You can catch Measure for Measure on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays (8pm), and Much do About Nothing on Wednesdays, Fridays or Sundays (8pm).

If you are interested in taking a backstage tour (6:30pm start time), they will be taking place on several dates. For example, July 16, 23, 30 & August 6 for Measure for Measure and July 17, 24, 31 & August 7 for Much Ado About Nothing.

c. Take in an amateur sports game:

I truly enjoy watching baseball on a beautiful summer day. At Christie Pits (map link) you can sit in the bleachers, or on the grass, and watch some semi-pro baseball. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s baseball team plays their regular season home games in the Christie Pits baseball diamond from May until July. For all of the game dates – and to know when they are playing at home – check out their website by clicking here.

Admission to all home games at the Dominico field at Christie pits are free!

d. Picnic in one of Toronto’s beautiful parks

Another fun activity is heading out to one of Toronto’s beautiful parks to go for a walk, bike ride or to have a picnic with friends and family. Toronto has more than 1,500 parks with numerous open spaces and 600 km of trails. Finding parks within walking distance from your home can be a powerful tool to help boost brain health and wellness.

Just Google the [name of your city] + “parks” and see what comes up! For those of you who are living in Toronto, the City of Toronto’s Parks, Gardens and Beaches website is loaded with some great options (click here to visit their website).

#3 Get Moving

a. Riverdale Pool:

Stay physically active by heading to the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre (previously known as Regent Park Aquatic Centre; 640 Dundas St E.) – near Dundas and Sumach St. They have loads of free drop-in programming, including lane and leisure swims and aquafit that are available at various times throughout the day. To check out their drop-in programming schedule, you can head to their website by clicking here or you can call them at (416) 338-2237, if you have any specific questions.

 

b. Walking Groups:

Put on by the Royal Ontario Museum, ROMWalks are free (unless otherwise specified), guided walking tours around various Toronto neighbourhoods – including the Annex, Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Jarvis St and so much more! No need to register. The tours start from various meeting locations, and do not last more than two hours. Don’t forget your walking shoes and drinking water to stay hydrated!

Upcoming tours:

Don’t worry - there are many more walking tours taking place this summer! For more information about upcoming tours, go to (https://www.rom.on.ca/en/whats-on/romwalks), call (416) 586-8097 or email romwalks@rom.on.ca

Alternatively, if you’re interested in nature walks, check out Toronto Field Naturalists (click here to visit their website). They too host a variety of free walks (e.g., Glen Stewart Ravine, Lambton Park and the Humber).

# 4 Festivals

Enjoy one of the many festivals that take place regularly around Toronto. Festivals are a great opportunity to learn something new, taste something delicious, and/or listen to some amazing music.

Three free festivals that are still upcoming for the year and are taking place in Toronto, include the Taste of the Danforth, Summer Beaches Jazz Festival and the Toronto Jazz Festival.

 a. Taste of the Danforth

Get your taste buds and feet moving by visiting one of the many food festivals that take place around the city. One of my favourites is the Taste of the Danforth. This year (2019) it will be running from August 9-11 (click here to visit their website). It is easy to get there – simply take the TTC to Chester station, and be dropped off right at the heart of this street festival. Walk along the busy Danforth, and enjoy the smells and music. There are many food stations set up, where you can grab a small bite of Greece for a reasonable price.

b. Summer Beaches Jazz Festival 

b. The Summer Beaches Jazz Festival will be taking place July 5 to 28 in the east end of the city (click here to visit their website). They even host free workshops run by wonderfully talented artists in the evenings during the festival. This year’s workshop series runs from July 22 – 24. For more information, click here.

c. TD Toronto Jazz Festival

TD Toronto Jazz Festival (June 21 – 30, 2019). You can visit their website by clicking here.

 #5 Educational Lectures Series

There are lots of free lectures and talks that are put on by various organizations throughout the year. Of course, we are not able to share an exhaustive list here – because there are simply too many; but, below are my three go-to resources for staying up-to-date on free lectures in the city:

a. Toronto Library (health and wellness)

If you head to the Toronto Public Library’s website, click on Programs, Health and Wellness and filter by “older adult” audience or you can just click here.

They have classes on so many topics:

  • Diabetes

  • Stress relief and meditation

  • Tai chi

  • Zumba

  • Brain health & lifestyle

  • Etc…

b. Toronto Field Naturalists

The Toronto Field Naturalists hosts their free lecture series from September to May; so, there aren’t any summer lectures, but you want to keep them on your list for sure (visit their website here)

c. Ryerson’s Chang School of Continuing Education

Ryerson’s Chang School of Continuing Education hosts free events at various times throughout the year. I did a free Brain Fitness workshop for them last month (May 2019). For more information head to their website by clicking here. Or you can call them for more information: 416-979-5103 or email programsfor50plus@ryerson.ca

d. High Park Nature Centre

If you’re interested in nature, High Park Nature Centre is hosting a weekly Summer Speaker Series (suggested $2 - $5 donation). For more information, visit their website by clicking here.

e. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has a range of different events (some free, some paid) – check out the list of summer activities here.

Conclusion

Staying active and engaged in your community is a central pillar to maintaining your brain health. I sincerely hope that today’s episode - which outlined mostly free (or inexpensive) activities in Toronto - has inspired you to get out and engaged in your local area. There are so many free and fun activities happening in and around the city – so, I hope this episode got your wheels turning and gave you some useful ideas on staying mentally and physically active over the summer months.

To recap, we talked about:

  1. Engaging in the arts (e.g., museums, galleries)

  2. Taking in some outdoor entertainment

  3. Getting your body moving

  4. Attending festivals

  5. Soaking in some educational lectures

 If you have any suggestions or exciting ways that you like staying active in your local area, please let me know by either sharing a photo on social media and tagging me (@BrainShapeTO) or email me directly at andrea@brainshape.ca. I would love to share your ideas and suggestions with the BrainShape community.