WorldStrides Heritage Performance Toronto

Location Toronto is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario. With approximately 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America. As Canada’s economic capital, Toronto is considered a global city and one of the top financial cities in the world. The Toronto Stock Exchange , the world’s seventh largest, is headquartered in the city, along with a majority of Canada’s corporations.

Location Toronto’s population is very international, reflecting its role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada, in fact 49% of the population were born outside of Canada. Because of the city’s low crime rates, clean environment, and generally high standard of living, Toronto is consistently rates as one of the world’s most “liveable” cities and is ranked 14th in the world with over 4 million tourist arrivals each year.

Sightseeing The CN Tower, located in downtown Toronto, is a communications and tourist tower that stands 1815 feet tall, the tallest free-standing structure in the Americas and the signature icon of Toronto’s skyline, attracting more than 2 million visitors each year. Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment park and seasonal amusement park located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of Exhibition Place. The Royal Ontario Museum is the fifth largest museum in North America, containing more than six million items and over 40 galleries. It has notable collections of dinosaurs, Near Eastern and African art, European history, and Canadian history. View of Toronto from the CN Tower

Sightseeing The Ontario Science Centre has several hundred science and nature exhibits. The Toronto Zoo is the third largest zoo in the world. It is home to over 16,000 animals representing over 491 distinct species. Casa Loma (Spanish for Hill House) is the former home of financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Upon its completion in 1914, Casa Loma was the largest private residence in North America. Exhibition Place is a 197-acre multi-use area features expo, trade, and banquet centers, theater and music buildings, sports facilities, and more. It hosts a wide array of activities year-round.

Entertainment The Hockey Hall of Fame is dedicated to the history of ice hockey and is both a museum and hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup. Many groups enjoy taking in a Blue Jays baseball game at the beautiful Rogers Centre. Some have been able to perform the national anthem. Toronto has more than fifty ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, and two string orchestras. It is also home to several theatres producing a wide variety of Broadway shows. (Only New York City and London produce more shows.)

Niagara Falls Excursions Many groups enjoy an excursion to nearby Niagara Falls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Province of Ontario and the State of New York. The falls are 75 miles southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York.

Toronto Awards Ceremony Medieval Times Included in the festival package, is a Saturday evening dinner show at Medieval Times. At Medieval Times, groups can participate in a four-course dinner while watching a show filled with horsemanship and an authentic medieval jousting tournament from the Middle Ages. The Heritage Festival Awards Ceremony takes place in the Medieval Times arena immediately after the show.

Canada With tightened security since September 11th, 2001, there has been much confusion in recent years regarding exact requirements for student groups crossing borders into Canada. Please use the following guidelines for planning a festival tour into Canada: Every member of your group MUST have documents to enter Canada. For U.S. Citizens: You must bring with you a valid passport OR a certified birth certificate in order to cross the border. ALSO, each student under 18 years of age needs a written letter of permission from BOTH parents and it must be notarized. For Non-U.S. Citizens: You must bring with you a valid passport from your country of origin and a U.S. Visa. Please check with Canadian Officials to see if you need a special visa to enter Canada. For Groups Flying into Canada: Every member of your group MUST have a valid passport with them on the airplane, regardless of age. ALSO, students under 18 must have a letter of permission signed by both parents and notarized.

Your Personal Team A knowledgeable and friendly Festival Selection Advisor is your first point of contact, helping you select the ideal performance opportunity and location for your group. A helpful Destination Specialist focuses on the logistical details of your festival – from making hotel reservations to arranging additional activities – so you are free to concentrate on your group’s performance. Once your festival day arrives, a courteous Host Festival Director welcomes you to the event. This person is also available in the months preceding the festival to answer any questions you may have regarding your festival, equipment needs, or performance schedule. Lynall Pitts Festival Selection Advisor Kerri Ewing Destination Specialist Kyle Naylor Host Festival Director *For the specific individuals who will work with you, please contact WorldStrides Heritage Performance.

Venues MacMillan Theatre @ University of Toronto 80 Queens Park Crescent Toronto, ON M5S 2C5 (416) 978-0492 *Venues are subject to change.

Inclusions Performance in a national music festival Positive, constructive adjudication with taped and written comments On-stage mini clinic Awards dinner and presentation Quality hotel accommodations Gift and group photo for the director Commemorative gift for each student Professional performance recording Liability, health, and accident insurance for all travelers One free participant for every 25 packages purchased Free professional development for directors Opportunity for directors to earn graduate credit Free high school academic credit for students *Inclusions may vary by festival and are subject to change.