Summer... hummmm

Alow!

Cada vez mais raros os posts aqui! Mas sempre tem uma novidade pra contar!

Quando se mora em um pais onde o inverno eh rigoroso, nota-se claramente a diferenca em termos de atividades e lazer. Ja ouvi muita lenda... muito terrorismo. Gente que dizia que a cidade para no inverno. MENTIRA. Pode ser que a singela cidade de Mayview, no interior de Saskacthewan pare. Mas TORONTO nao para nao. Nao falta o que fazer o inverno e os bares e clubs continuam lotadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacos!

A grande diferenca, realmente, estah nas atividades outdoors... ao ar livre. Com a chegada do verao, chegam tambem os festivais. Eh festival de rua todo fim de semana. Festival grego, festival turco, Parada Gay, festival disso, show daquilo. E Toronto e' recheaada de coisas gratuitas! Ta liso? Nao tem problema! Da pra se divertir, e muito!

Fim de semana passado, feriado prolongado aqui (Civic day - Nao faco IDEIA da razao desse feriado... um dia para celebrar a cultura e a historia do Canada... ok, ta certo!), fomos para o Ontario Place. La, desde o meio de julho, esta acontecendo o festival Through the Decades. Cada fim de semana o tema da festa eh uma decada diferente. Fomos nos anos 90

No festival rola de tudo relativo aquela decada. Show de bandas cover de grandes sucessos da epoca, telao com filmes lancados, telao com video games, show de acrobacias, pessoas vestidas a carater... muito legal!!

(As fotos a seguir nao sao minhas - Sao do http://clickgta.ca/)

Sei que foi bem legal! E tudo de gratis! Hoje tem mais! A decada do fds sao os anos 00's . Vamos para o show de uma banda chamada Sloan. Nunca ouvi falar... hahaha mas vamos que vamos!!

No domingo fomos fazer um passeio de barco que haviamos comprado em um site de compras coletivas no comeco do ano. O Harbour Front Boat Tour. Um passei pelo Harbour front (aquele lugar que eu ia patinar sempre no inverno) guiado, com direito a historinhas e curiosidades sobre o lugar, parada basica na Toronto Island e diversao garantida. Nesse passeio descobri que a CN tower foi projetada para ser indestrutivel (por causas naturais). Ela aguenta um terremoto de 8.4, furacao, e tempestade de raio... ela nao falou nada sobre tsunami, mas como a gente ta BEM longe do mar, acho que nao precisamos nos preocupar, ne? hahahaha Entao ja sabe... quando o fim do mundo chegar: CORRAM PARA A CN TOWER! 

Sei que o passeio foi bem legal! Tava um calor dos infernos! Verao aqui eh BARRA! Mas deu pra aproveitar legal!!


(Essas fotos sao minhas q= )

Na ilha tem, alem de uma vista LINDA, um parque de diversoes para os guris, uma cidade da crianca, com tudo em miniatura (igreja, delegacia, lojas, restaurante, trem, pista de carros) e muito, mas muito lugar pra fazer pic nic. Nao sei por que, mas eh proibido acampar la... entao voce pode pegar o Ferry Boat, passar o dia e voltar depois ( o ultimo sai de la 11h30 da noite) ou, se voce for pobrinho, pode ir no seu iate, passar o dia na ilha e dormir no seu barquinho... owww... pobres pessoas...

Enfim, eh um passei obrigatorio  para quem vem a Toronto.



Por falar em Toronto... to pensando seriamente em dar uma reformulada nesse blog, deixar ele so com informacoes sobre imigracao e iniciar um blog que ja estah criado, para falar sobre a vida em Toronto... dicas e curiosidades. Projeto por enquanto ta so no "papel"... falta a coragem pra coloca-lo em pratica! hahahaha

Direto do Iglu

Entao pessoas! Bom dia!

Estou aqui, eu, falando diretamente desse pais gelido chamado Cana... OI? GELIDO? RAH!

Se voce meu amigo/amiga, acha que o Canada so tem neve e gelo se prepare, pois todas as suas crencas estao por ruir.

Pois eh... eu ja andava BEM chateada com o calor que vinha fazendo nesse verao. Tava quase sempre em torno dos 28 graus (oi? que?) e eu achando que por alguma ironia do destino tinha apertado o botao errado da minha maquina de telestransporte e tinha ido bater em HELLCIFE de novo. MAAAAAAAAAS, como a lei de Murphy nao falha NUNCA, eh OBVIO que a coisa piorou! Chegou uma tal de uma onda de calor por aqui e, MEUS AMIGOS... VOCES NAO TEM NOCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAO do que eh isso nao. As portas do inferno se abriaram! Prestem atencao no FEELS LIKE:

NAOOO!! Isso nao ta photoshopado NAO! Tava quente assim mesmo! MEU DEUS! QUE UOH!

NUNCA ANTES na minha vida tinha sentido tanto calor!

Mentira, tinha... em Washington, em 1995 peguei 45 graus! O_o

Enfim... achei que ia morrer! Quando sai do trabalho achei que tava dentro da boca de um dragao! Que ia encontrar lucifer no meio do caminho, que eu tava DENTRO do Kracatoa!!

Eh muita ironia, ne? A pessoa ODEIA calor, sai de RECIFE pra vir pro CANADA e pega uma temperatura dessa! OW Ironia! Da mais phyna, por sinal!!

Eh isso meu povo!! QUERO NEVE!! QUERO NEVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

CHEGA! Parou a brincadeira! VERAO JA DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEU, HEEEEIM!!! PENICOOOOOO!!!

EFB Idiomas:Inscrições 2° semestre 2011

INSCRIÇÕES ABERTAS PARA AS TURMAS DO SEMESTRE 2011-II

50% DE DESCONTO NA MATRÍCULA PARA INSCRITOS ATÉ DIA 15 DE JULHO

NÃO PERCA!

• TURMAS INICIANTES, INTERMEDIÁRIOS, AVANÇADOS
• TURMAS DE CONVERSAÇÃO E ATELIER QUEBEC
• TURMAS SEMANAIS E AOS SÁBADOS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Para quem mora na zona norte de Recife,  to divulgando, pois estudei com Beth e assino embaixo! 
  
  

Toronto

Video postado no UOL sobre Toronto.

Muito legal! Vale a pena conferir


http://viagem.uol.com.br/ultnot/2011/05/18/um-passeio-pela-cidade-de-toronto-no-canada.jhtm

Mãe

Minha mãe sempre foi pra mim um exemplo de dedicação, de força, equlíbrio, sabedoria e amor! MUITO AMOR! Nela eu tenho muito mais do que uma mãe. Eu tenho uma amiga, uma confidente, uma psicóloga, alguém pra vibrar com cada conquista minha, alguém pra puxar minha orelha, um ombro, um porto seguro! No Blog Clube do Ninho vazio, ela postou um texto LINDO e colocou um link para um comercial da Renner em homenagem às mães. Lindo o VT, falando sobre todas as fases que a mãe passa com seus filhos. Vale a pena dar uma conferida.

Mãe, obrigada por tudo! Obrigada por ter sido a melhor mãe do mundo! (E nao adianta ninguém reclamar! A melhor mãe do mundo é a minha  e pronto!). Obrigada por todas as noites em claro, por todos os cuidados, por todos as historinha lidas na hora de dormir, por todas as conversas, por todos os conselhos, por toda a dedicação, todo o amor, todo o carinho, todos os "nãos" nas horas certas, todas as vezes que você me fez refletir, obrigada por todas as discussões, na hora no almoço sobre música, política, história, artes, filosofia, jogos, obrigada por ter me ensinado a gostar do Beatles (esse mérito dividido com meu super pai tamém), por compartilhar comigo o amor pelos livros, pelos filmes, obrigada por todas as... meu deus... podia passar um dia inteiro aqui falando de todas as qualidades, todas as coisas maravilhosas que passamos juntas nesses xx anos (minha idade não interessa).

É o segundo ano que passamos datas importantes separadas, mas é o preço que se paga quando corremos atrás dos nossos sonhos, e por isso também sou grata a você! Por compreender e apoiar o meu sonho!

TE AMO MUITO! TE AMO SEMPRE! SIMPLESMENTE TE AMO!

A Febre das compras coletivas

Os sites de compras coletivas se tornaram uma febre no Brasil. Sites como Peixe Urbano, Clikon, Wego estao engrossando o caldo das compras online.

E aqui nao eh diferente. Eu nao conheco muitos, mas tem dois que temos usado bastante. Sao eles o Groupon e o WagJag. Existem os mais variados tipos de promcao nesses sites, que vao desde tortas da BaskinRobins  ateh passeios turisticos, passando por massagens, Wine tours, etc

Ja compramos uma tarde no Paint Ball, Boliche, snowshoes, e por ai vai... ontem compramos um passeio de barco pelo lago Ontario. Coisa de turista que eu nunca fiz... moro aqui ha 1 ano e 3 meses e nao fiz os passeios mais basicos nessa cidade.

Nao sei se voces lembram, mas postei aqui uma lista de 100 coisas para se fazer em Toronto . Eu e  Diogo estamos comprometidos a realizar as 100 coisas da lista... essa eh uma delas... wish us luck!!

#ficaadica

Almoco as escuras...

Semana passada nao tive tempo de preparar meu almoco  da terca pra quarta... entao vim trabalhar com a ideia de almocar em algum lugar aqui perto. Quando se trabalha no Financial District isso nao eh um problema, pois ha uma variedade de restaurantes enorme nos arredores.

Eu tento manter uma vida saudavel aqui. Como bastante salada, frutas e evito frituras... quando preciso almocar fora (durante a semana) vou em um self-service (no peso) que tem aqui bem perto. Comida deliciosa e nao eh caro. MAS, nesse dia eu tava com AQUELA vontade de comer PORCARIA. Tava sonhando com uma batatinha frita... entao decidi deixar a razao de lado e seguir o meu estomago... me encaminhei para a Wendy's pensando em uma Batatinha frita com Nuggets e Milk shake... ai ai 

Chegando la, espero na fila por uns instantes e sou atendida em seguida... a caixa, imigrante assim como eu, se dirige a mim:

Ela: Hello

Eu Hi, I would like small french fries, chicken stripes (portion with 3) and a vanilla milkshake... (Sim, eu DISSE que queria PORCARIA. E tudo que eu faco, faco bem feito.. inclusive comer besteira)

Ela: Ok. fjdhgskjdhlskd slkfoweierkjh vfjkhdk? (Em um ingles que eu nao fui capaz de entender UMA PALAVRA)

Eu: I'm sorry?

Ela: hjsdgfs woeiwio fhskjfyiwuerfkwjhf ?

Eu: err... sorry?

Ela: skjhjdsh qwoiueyui hjklhjk06576yu? 

Eu: (ja morrendo de vergonha) Err... Ok (pra o que quer que ela tenha dito)

Ela: Cad$ 8.99 dfghDebit or esdrtfgycredit?

Eu: Debit... (Meu almoco deveria ter saido mais barato pelos meus calculos... mas tudo bem)

Paguei... e fui pra balcao ao lado pra esperar...

O outro atendente me pergunta:

Ele: gfhjkl poiuytfr yughjuk sauce?

Eu: hum... Yes... Cream Garlic, please...

Ele: gsjdk owieuiwuh kjhdewk... wueyiwu fdweuyfiwuf skjefh?

Eu: sorry?

Ele: jsdgh woieuwio jdhksjhow?

Eu: Ok (WHATEVER!!)

Ele: there you go!

Eu: Thank you and have a nice day

Ele: You too

...........

Sai de la sem fazer IDEIA do que estava levando... No fim das contas eu tinha uma batata grande... chicken stripes (porcao com 6), milkshake de baunilia e molho barbecue... 

Depois disso  cheguei a conclusao de que eu nao falo ingles... mesmo trabalhando na area de comunicacao aqui, mesmo nao tendo dificuldades para me expressar, nem dificuldades no trabalho... mesmo vendo filmes e series sem nenhuma legenda e lendo livros, jornais e revistas em ingles sem o menor problema... mesmo batendo altos papos com os canadenses nativos sem a menor dificuldade... so considero que meu ingles estah num nivel bom (PRA MIM) no dia que eu, assim como os canadenses, for capaz de entender todos os sotaques de todos os imigrantes... afinal, moro no Canada... e os sotaques fazem parte da cultura e da historia desse lugar. 

Cidades mais faceis do mundo para se viver

O novo Ranking das cidades mais "moraveis" divulgado ontem mostra 3 cidades canadenses entre as 5 primeiras. O ranking publicado pelo The Economist avaliou 140 cidades em 30 fatores, entre eles estabilidade, saude, cultura e meio ambiente, educacao, seguranca e infra-estrutura,  atribuindo notas de o-100. Vancouver manteve a mesma posicao do ano passado, em primeirissimo lugar. Toronto e Calgary sao a quarta e a quinta respectivamente.

Abaixo segue a materia na integra:

Where the livin' is easiest

Feb 21st 2011, 16:06 by A.B.

VANCOUVER remains the most liveable city in the world, according to the latest annual ranking compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Canadian city scored 98 out of a maximum 100, as it has done for the past two years.

The ranking scores 140 cities from 0-100 on 30 factors spread across five areas: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. These numbers are then weighted and combined to produce an overall figure. The top ten cities occupy the same positions as last year, with the exception of Melbourne and Vienna, which have swapped places.

The report, which some companies use to determine hardship allowances for relocated employees, explains what makes a high-ranked city:

Cities that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density. This often fosters a broad range of recreational availability without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure. Seven of the top ten scoring cities are in Australia and Canada, where population densities of 2.88 and 3.40 people per sq km respectively compare with a global (land) average of 45.65 and a US average of 32.

At the other end of the ranking, Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, is in 140th place, thanks to particularly poor scores for its stability, healthcare and infrastructure. Somewhere between the extremes sit London and New York in 53rd and 56th places. They are let down by stability scores of 75 and 70, the result in turn of poor scores for the perceived threat of terror and the rates of petty and violent crime.

 Fonte: The Economist

Visas for skilled workers set to drop

Immigrants needed as economy improves, industry groups say

Last Updated: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 | 3:44 PM ET Comments402Recommend13

By Louise Elliott, CBC News

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney boasted this week of a huge increase in immigration to Canada in 2010. But new figures show the department plans cuts to overseas visas in 2011. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Employment and industry groups are reacting negatively to a government plan to cut substantially the number of visas issued for federal skilled workers this year.

New figures obtained through Access to Information show the government will cut all economic class visas by nearly seven per cent, and federal skilled worker visas specifically by 20 per cent, in 2011.

"The notion of reducing the number of skilled workers we aim to take in 2011 is certainly a move in the wrong direction given where we expect the economy right across the country to be heading," said Elsbeth Mehrer, director of research and workforce strategy for Calgary Economic Development.

"This is a time when we need to ensure we're ramping up to meet worker demand," Mehrer told CBC News Tuesday. "And while we had some great success last year in terms of having our highest ever number of immigrants coming into the country, we need to make sure we keep the foot on the gas to meet labour demand in the future."

In question period Monday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney noted that in 2010 Canada hit a record high by welcoming "281,000 permanent residents to Canada, 106,000 more than the Liberals did shortly after they came to office and cut immigration levels."

"There are tradeoffs. And this government is focused on the priority of Canadians, which is economic growth and prosperity," he said. "Mr. Speaker we need more newcomers working and paying taxes and contributing to our health-care system. And that's the focus of our immigration sytem."And when asked about his department's cuts to another category, visas for parents and grandparents, Kenney responded by emphasizing his long-standing effort to boost economic immigration.

The problem is, the government isn't robbing Peter to pay Paul — it's robbing them both, says Richard Kurland, a Vancouver immigration lawyer.

Kurland, who obtained the target numbers through Access to Information, notes the government is not boosting economic visas overall. In fact, across all categories (including federal skilled workers, provincial nominees, Quebec skilled workers, and the Canadian experience and business classes) there will be 6.6 per cent fewer economic class visas issued this year over last.

"The 2011 targets dramatically show the substantial reduction in federal skilled workers and a slight increase in provincial selection," Kurland says. "We really should be targeting more skilled workers to make up for Canadians' inability to demographically reproduce. We need the young workers to pay the taxes to support the pensions for Canada's aging population."

Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland obtained details about planned cuts to overseas visa targets through Access to Information. (CBC)

Officials at Citizenship and Immigration caution that the targets found in the documents do not represent the final number of immigrants to be accepted this year. That's because the targets are for overseas visas only and do not include inland claims.

However, experts say the extent of the cuts — specifically to parents and grandparents and skilled worker categories — mean there will undoubtedly be significantly fewer immigrants accepted in those categories this year.

Michael Atkinson, head of the Canadian Construction Association, says the cuts to the federal skilled worker category won't affect the construction industry directly, because those companies have had trouble for years getting workers through the point system, which is heavily skewed toward post-secondary education and language proficiency.

But Atkinson is still concerned about the government's motivation for cutting the economic visas overall.

"If the motivation behind reducing those target levels is, 'Well gee, the economy is improving, we don't need as many skilled workers,' then I would suggest that is a huge mistake, given the fact that just our aging workforce, our aging population, our low fertility rate shows us and other industries that it is only going to get worse.

"We are facing bigger challenges in the future with respect to building our workforce and training them than we ever have before," Atkinson says.

He adds his industry expects to face a shortfall of 400,000 workers by 2018 if government policies — both federal and provincial — don't move with the times.

Atkinson notes the government has taken a step in the right direction by opening a review process of the point system for federal skilled workers.

The irony, according to Mehrer, is that the government has managed to reduce wait times for federal skilled workers through a new system of ministerial instruction brought in in 2008. Workers under the old system still wait for years for a decision, but new applications that fit one of a list of 29 occupations are being processed in seven to eight months.

That success is leading many employers to believe the government's current motivation is a political one, rather than a policy decision.

"It's really difficult to say, but certainly the speculation I hear from employers here is that it's based on political pressure that may be coming from other parts of Canada, where the unemployment remains higher and where the understanding of the labour market dynamics in Alberta and in much of the west are less clear," Mehrer says.

She adds that the economic recession is no argument for the cuts, as things are improving rapidly out west.

"We're already starting to see re-employment of Canadians and Albertans who lost their work during the recession," Mehrer says.

"I'm already hearing from some industries who recognize that their talent pools are shrinking in terms of the skill set they are going to need. So as much as they may not be in foreign markets right now looking for talent, we certainly expect that by the latter half of this year there will be certain skill sets we simply won't have available in the province."

Louise Elliott is the immigration reporter for CBC Ottawa. She can be reached at louise.elliott@cbc.ca.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2011/02/15/pol-visas-skilled-workers.html?ref=rss#socialcomments#ixzz1EAA5oQSP

Labs

Passando rapidinho só pra falar sobre a minha experiência de hoje.

Há 15 dias fui na minha family doctor, pois estava sentindo algumas coisas estranhas (muito cansaço) e to com muita queda de cabelo, unhas fracas e tal... dai ela pediu uma batelada de exames de sangue, pois como tenho toda uma familia com problemas de tireóide, ela resolveu não arricar. Entao pediu hormonios e vitaminas, pra ver qual é.

Na requisição ela especificou um laboratório, pois  ela falou que eles eram rápidos e já mandavam os resultados pra ela por e-mail...

Fui empurrando com a barriga, pois estava imaginando a tarde que eu ia perder... então, finalmente hoje, resolvi fazer o bendito exame...

Ao sair de casa me arrependi de não ter trazido um livro, pra ficar esperando...

Depois do trabalho, fui lá... chegando, peguei uma senha... e sentei. 1 MINUTO e meio depois a recepcionista me chama, eu preencho um papel, ela pega a requisição e meu cartão do OHIP e diz: Pode ir pra sala 1

Oi? Que? Já?

La fui eu... logo que eu entrei, entrou a enfermeira, muito simpatica - daquelas que conta a vida toda - e bla bla bla... coloca a borrachinha no meu braço, prepara os vidrinhos, pega a agulha, e TCHUM!
De primeiraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa na minha veia (coisa que nunca aconteceu antes).

Depois: pronto, os resultados serao enviados pra sua medica.
COlocou o band-aid, me deu as instruções sobre como fazer pra estancar o sangue (¬¬ ) e fui embora depois de 10 minutos que eu cheguei la!!

Toronto Bucket List - 100 Things to See and Do in Toronto

Gente, eu queria MUITO traduzir esse texto, mas a minha vontade, por maior que seja, eh menor do que a minha preguica... entao vai em ingles mesmo!!


Toronto is full of sights and events that you won’t want to miss. It can be difficult to figure out just what you should do, so we’ve compiled this Bucket List to give you the absolute best things to see and do in the city.

1. Walk the underground PATH. This underground shopping center won the Guinness World Record for being the largest in the world. There are 27 km of shopping areas with 371,600 sq. metres of actual retail space, spanning 1,200 stores.

2. Take a helicopter tour of Toronto. There are plenty of tour options in the city, but if you really want to get a good look, then a helicopter is the absolute best way to go. Soaring over the city will give you a great look at all the main attractions from a bird’s eye view.

3. Have dinner at the top of the CN tower. For the ultimate in Toronto dining experiences, you need to head to the top of this tower and enjoy an elegant dinner while rotating slowly to get a view of the entire city.

4. Enjoy a day of sunbathing “au natural” at Hanlan’s Point Nude Beach on Center Island.
5. Watch the Pride Parade with 1 million of your closest friends. It’s the highlight of Pride Week and one of Toronto’s most famous tourist attractions.

6. Tour the city on a Hippo Amphibus. A bus that is designed for both land and water allows for a very unique way to see the city of Toronto.

7. Visit the African Lion Safari. Though not technically in Toronto, this safari is worth traveling for to see African animals wandering about the reserve.

8. Play hockey with Wayne Gretzky. No trip to Toronto is complete without visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame, where you can try to score against a virtual Gretzky.

9. Eat your way through Toronto’s delicious ethnic neighbourhoods - Little Italy, Greektown, Little India, Chinatown, Little Korea, Little Portugal, and more.

10. Cheer for the Blue Jays. Toronto’s official baseball team (the only Canadian team in the Major Leagues) is something you just have to see in action while in town.

11. Make a gingerbread man. If you’re in Toronto over the holidays, it’s worth stopping by the Gingerbread Cookie Factory at Sherway Gardens with the kids or on your own.

12. Take a dinner cruise. Could anything be more romantic than an evening on a yacht with an elegant dinner served as you enjoy the brightly lit skyline of Toronto?

13. Be on TV. The Gladstone is a bar that transforms once a month to provide live television recordings with local guests that audience members can meet after the show.

14. Eat a real Montreal smoked meat sandwich at the Centre Street Deli. It’s in Thornhill, a little north of the GTA, but well worth the drive.

15. Take a tour of Ontario’s Wine Country. Though not technically in Toronto, it is only 1 hour away via the Gardiner and QEW. Ontario produces world class wines, and some of them are only for sale at the wineries. Don’t forget to bring along a designated driver.

16. Browse the St. Lawrence Market. Everything can be found here, from flea market bargains to fresh veggies, all ensconced in a historical building. Don’t forget to try an amazing veal sandwich downstairs!
17. Gape at shoes. If you love shoes or history, then the Bata Shoe Museum is the place to go. There are over 10,000 pieces of footwear from up to 4,500 years ago.

18. Don’t miss Caribana, North America’s biggest street festival. You’ve got to experience the parade for yourself - brilliantly costumed masqueraders, and dozens of trucks carrying live soca, calypso, steel pan, reggae and salsa artists all along the 1.5 km parade route.

19. The Santa Claus Parade is one of Toronto’s most beloved events. It has been a Toronto tradition since 1905. Have you seen it yet?

20. Take a tour of the Rogers Center and the world’s first fully retractable roof. It actually opens or closes in 20 minutes.

21. Visit Kensington Market, a shopper’s dream. You can find the most exotic spice in the world right next door to a fabulous vintage shop.

22. Travel back in time. The Medieval Times is a dinner theater where you can enjoy a good old-fashioned tournament while feasting on traditional medieval food.

23. Visit Black Creek Pioneer Village. It is living history. Experience how people lived in the 1800s.

24. Hike Toronto Island. The network of trails here and the ferry ride over are peaceful and enjoyable.

25. Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). It’s newly renovated and just spectacular with over 4,000 pieces of new art. There are also great programs for kids so bring along the whole family.

26. Ride the Queen Street Streetcar, the 501. It is the longest route on the TTC with 15.4 miles of double track, and is one of the longest streetcar routes in North America.

27. See the Toronto skyline at dusk. This is a truly amazing sight. Don’t forget your camera!

28. Check out Niagara Falls. It is one of the most breathtaking sites on the planet and one of the most popular honeymoon destinations for decades. It’s about 1.5 hours by car from Toronto. Don’t forget to ride the Maid of the Mist.

29. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Housing over six million artifacts, this museum is definitely one of the more impressive cultural exhibits in Canada.

30. Go skating outdoors at Harbourfront Centre or at Nathan Phillips Square.

31. Immerse yourself in theatre. Toronto ranks among the world’s best with New York and London. We have everything from major productions to small, independent theatre.

32. View native art. Ontario is alive with the history of the native people and this is very evident in galleries like the Bay of Spirits Gallery.

33. Check out the Lantern Festival. This is an annual event that brings Chinese Lanterns to life each August in an amazing display that you shouldn’t miss.

34. Enjoy a concert at the Toronto Music Garden. Here’s one of the best places to listen to music and really have a great time, either on your own or with friends.

35. Take in an event at Old City Hall. This building was built in 1899 and resembles a castle. Interesting enough on its own, Memorial Day is the best time to see this attraction.

36. Don’t miss the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. This collection is a must see if you want to know more about Canadian art history. There are plenty of paintings here from the Group of Seven.

37. Visit William Lyon Mackenzie. This famous rebel has long since gone, but his home is now a museum where you can learn more about his life.

38. Cycle the city. Ignore the hustle and bustle, mount a bike and head out on the bike paths for a leisurely tour of Toronto.

39. Stop in for a minute at the St. James Cathedral. A historical church that has been rebuilt three times, this is definitely worth a spot on your Toronto to do list.

40. Step back into the fifties. At the Rex Jazz and Blues Bar, you’ll be able to relax and listen to music in a very 50s style at very reasonable prices.

41. Go to Open Doors Toronto. Over 175 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and/or social significance open their doors to the public. Admission is free.

42. Walk down Toronto’s widest street. Not as well known as Yonge St., Spadina Avenue measures 149 feet across and hosts some impressive shopping deals.

43. Ride on the 3rd largest transit system in North America. Toronto outranks just about everyone else, except for Mexico City and New York with the size of their transit system.

44. Snap a photo in front of the Parliament buildings. This is a quintessential part of visiting Toronto.
45. Pick up some gifts. The annual Ten Thousand Villages Christmas Fair lets you buy arts and crafts from people around the world, including Latin America and Africa, among others.

46. Watch the new Miss Universe Canada be selected. This pageant is every January and is certainly one of the most popular events in Toronto.

47. Take in a film or two. Toronto is home to several independent film festivals, such as Hot Docs and the Toronto Jewish Film Festival.

48. See the lake that’s like an ocean, but not. Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes that separates the US from Canada and is famous for its size and massive storms.

49. Explore the Ontario Science Centre. Not just for kids, this science museum is fascinating and educational for all ages.

50. Excite your taste buds with vegetarian fare. The Vegetarian Food Fair occurs every September and features cooking workshops, as well as plenty of delicious food.

51. Spend a romantic evening at the Distillery. This section of the city has been restored to its original splendor and is full of great shops, beautiful architecture, as well as romantic restaurants.

52. Participate in a Mennonite quilt auction. During the annual Pioneer Festival, you can bid on handmade quilts, enjoy live music and pick up fresh veggies at the farmers market.

53. Be dazzled by Christmas lights. The Cavalcade of Lights is available to the public throughout November and December each year, lighting up the city.

54. Walk Toronto’s famous Yonge Street. This is what most people think of when they think Toronto. Yonge Street is full of restaurants and shops, everything a tourist could want.

55. Tour Casa Loma. This historic castle is truly magnificent. You can check out the secret passages and underground tunnels while listening to an audio tour.

56. Play a round of golf right in the GTA. Several courses are TTC accessible.

57. Run in the Toronto Marathon. With over 12,000 participants from around the world, you’ll be in good company!

58. Hit the Toronto Jazz Festival. For anyone who loves jazz, this festival is something you absolutely must be there to experience.

59. Learn to kayak. Lake Ontario is the perfect place to try out your newfound paddling skills and you can get a great view of the Toronto skyline.

60. Smell the roses at the Toronto Rose Festival. This annual festival attracts rose lovers from around the world and it’s a great place to meet fellow gardeners and pick up some great tips.

61. Go to a Toronto wine tasting. An annual wine tasting event is the Bloor-Yorkville Wine Festival held each May, which lasts for a week.

62. Tap a sugar maple. Each spring, when the sap starts flowing, sugar tapping is a big attraction. Turn the maple sap into maple sugar and enjoy!

63. Stay up all night for Nuit Blanche and experience a full night of contemporary art and performance in three zones across the city.

64. Visit the Campbell House Museum. This building has double importance. It’s the oldest building remaining from the city of York and was the home of Sir William Campbell.

65. See the oldest church in Toronto. The Little Trinity Church is a quaint place of worship that is an integral part of Toronto’s history. It puts on a fabulous Christmas pageant every year that delights kids of all ages.

66. Bet on a horse race. Woodbine is Toronto’s hard hitting race track where the pros go to watch racing.

67. Wander through InterAcess. While Toronto is home to many museums, this one is different with a variety of electronics on display.

68. Learn about boat making at the Pier. Despite the name, this is actually a museum where interactive displays teach you all about building boats.

69. Remember the fallen. At the Holocaust Center in Toronto, you can view memories of those who survived the Holocaust, as well as those who didn’t.

70. Take a look at the statues in Queen’s Park. Figures representing historic persons are everywhere in this park that sits in front of the legislative building.

71. For four days, every August, the most entertaining street performers from around the world gather in the St. Lawrence market area for Buskerfest and perform for Torontonians. Admission is free but a donation to Epilepsy Toronto is appreciated.

72. Find the lost side of Toronto. A Lost World tour will give you a glimpse of areas that are not on the regular tourist agenda and is certainly worth a look.

73. Buy a ticket to the Toronto After Dark Film Festival featuring new horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, animated, and cult films from around the world.

74. Visit the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. It is the first building of its kind in Canada built specifically for opera and ballet performances with the finest level of acoustics and it has the longest free-spanning glass staircase in the world.

75. The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic houses over 3,000 pieces in its permanent collection and has fabulous art classes for children and adults.

76. Listen to the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, especially at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s performances of Handel’s Messiah.

77.  Experience the textures at the Toronto Textile Museum. Whether you are interested in textile arts or not, this is a very impressive collection of techniques and fabrics.

78. Take a walk on the Boardwalk right here in the Toronto Beaches neighbourhood. Located in the east end it is famous for its Lake Ontario shoreline, funky shops, great restaurants, and Jazz Festival.

79. Wine and dine at Toronto’s Winterlicious and Summerlicious Festivals when over 150 of our finest dining establishment offer incredible 3-course meals for amazing all-inclusive prices.

80. Check out the view from Panorama Restaurant. On the 51 floor of the Manulife Centre, Panorama has 2 of the country’s highest patios.

81. Explore Fort York. These buildings built in 1812 were part of the original fort that was the beginning of Toronto and offer a glimpse of the history here.

82. Laugh yourself silly at Toronto’s Just for Laughs Festival in July. There are plenty of free events day and night.

83. Celebrate Canada Day on July 1st and take in the fireworks at Ontario Place and at Ashbridge’s Bay in the Beaches.

84. Take a look at the history of the Canadian Police Force. At the Toronto Police Museum, you’ll see a tribute to the members of the Police Force in ‘Canada.

85. The Toronto Fringe Festival is one of the best in the world and Toronto’s largest theatre festival. It hosts over 800 local and international artists performing in over 135 unique productions.

86. Peek inside the Toronto Reference Library. It might sound boring, but inside this amazing historical building you’ll find a waterfall and elegant pool that turn this bland place into a paradise.

87. Attend the National Canadian Ballet. Right in Toronto, this gives you the opportunity to cross another wonderful experience off your list. The ballet is quite lovely and well worth seeing.

88. Spend some time in Canada’s premier scream park “Screemers” if you dare! There are walkthrough attractions, a slaughter house theatre presentation, and carnival rides at the Field of Screams Midway.

89. Visit Toronto Necropolis. A historical cemetery that is well worth an afternoon spent walking through it. You’ll find quite a few famous people buried here, as well as some great examples of High Victorian Goth architecture.

90. Hike the Bruce Trail. Just north of Toronto, this is a beautiful trail that lets you see something besides the buildings of Toronto as you walk through the forest.

91.  Come out to Queens Park for Afrofest, a fabulous free celebration of African music and culture in Toronto.

92. Take in Irie Fest an exciting celebration of Caribbean culture, music, and food taking place in August at Nathan Phillips Square and Queen’s Park. 93. Enjoy yourself at Ontario Place. This is one of the best amusement parks in Ontario and you will easily be able to spend a whole day checking everything out and riding all the rides.

94. Head out to the Toronto Islands for a fantastic 2-day rock festival - The Virgin Festival.

95. Enjoy a pint or two at the Toronto Festival of Beer, Canada’s largest beer festival. This delicious event features over 250 brands of beer

96. Everyone is Greek during the Taste of the Danforth, one of the highlights of Toronto’s summer festival season. Danforth Avenue between Broadview and Jones Avenues will be closed to traffic and transformed into a fantastic street party for 3 days.

97. See the Olympic Spirit Canada museum. This museum is full of sports memorabilia and memories of the Olympic Games held in Canada.

98. The CNE, or The Ex, is a Toronto tradition founded in 1879. This 18-day fair attracts over 1.25 million people annually. It is the largest annual fair in Canada.

99. Take a drive through Cabbagetown. Originally given this name because of the large number of Irish immigrants that settled here, this area of Toronto is now one of the most impressive collections of Victorian homes around.

100. All the stars come to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and you won’t want to miss it either. Stake out a spot at your favourite star gazing patio in Yorkville and be ready with your autograph book.

There you have it, 100 things you really must do in Toronto before you kick the bucket. Whether you live in this beautiful Canadian city or are just visiting, you will certainly want to make the effort to complete this list and see and do everything important and interesting in Toronto. It’s well worth it.

Os conselheiros de Toronto (equivalente aos vereadores no Brasil) votaram essa semana o congelamento dos salarios do prefeito e dos conselheiros. Um aumento de 2.6% estava previsto, mas a votacao decidiu por 39 votos a 3 pelo cancelamento do aumento e, consequentemente, o congelamento dos salarios dos conselheiros e prefeito para o ano de 2011.

Isso eh apenas uma, entre as vaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarias coisas que me fazem ter cada dia mais certeza de que eu estou no lugar certo e que sair do Brasil foi a melhor coisa que eu ja fiz na vida. Minha saude mental agradece!

Abaixo segue a materia original:

Toronto council votes for wage freeze

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 8, 2011 | 5:24 PM ET Comments26Recommend3

CBC News

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford supported the salary freeze. (CBC)

Toronto's city council has voted to freeze the salaries of the mayor and councillors for 2011.

Council voted 39 to 3 on Tuesday afternoon to cancel a planned 2.6 per cent increase that would've given the elected officials a pay bump.

Currently councillors are paid about $99,000 per year. The mayor makes a little under $168,000.

The increases would've seen councillors salaries jump to about $102,000 per year but that has now been scrubbed.

The salary freeze was promised by Mayor Rob Ford who campaigned on a platform of economic restraint.

It is also a signal to Toronto's unionized employees that the upcoming contract negotiations between the city and its unions are likely to be tough.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2011/02/08/toronto-council-pay.html#ixzz1DTAaRYmc

WestJet adds Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa flights

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 8, 2011 | 12:04 PM ET Comments14Recommend4

CBC News

WestJet is expanding its business flights between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, part of a plan to better serve sought-after business travellers.

Westjet Airlines will expand business flights from Toronto to Montreal and Ottawa starting in May. (Larry MacDougal/Canadian Press)

Starting May 2, the Calgary-based airline will offer 10 flights each business day between Toronto and Montreal and nine between Toronto and Ottawa.

If flights on these routes are delayed more than 30 minutes, passengers will get 50 per cent off their next ticket on the Toronto-Montreal or Toronto-Ottawa route, WestJet said.

People travelling on the new flights will receive complimentary wine and beer and won't be charged any fees to take an earlier or later flight on the same day.

The new flights will be offered at "peak business times" and will depart from dedicated easy-access gates, the airline said in a statement released Monday.

"This initiative demonstrates our commitment to offer the business traveller what they need in this important market," said Bob Cummings, executive vice-president of sales and marketing.

WestJet is also making further inroads into the U.S. market. On Monday, the airline announced a partnership that will enable its passengers to easily connect with Delta Air Lines flights.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2011/02/08/westjet-toronto-montreal-vancouver.html?ref=rss#ixzz1DOYynLwy

Rapifinhas: Toronto Transit Comission

Saio de casa e caminho em direcao a parada... Tiro meu
Celular do bolso, no meio da rua - quem eh de recife sabe o que isso significa -
E olho no aplicativo do TTC a hora
Que o onibus vai passar... 1:53pm...
Olho para o relogio: 1.48pm...
... Espera... Cinco minutos depois,
Exatamente a 1.53pm o onibus chega ... Eh...

PIADAAAAAAAAA

So mais uma rapidinha... so passando aqui pra dizer que a Snow Storm foi uma piada e motivo de chacota em TODOS os jornais... Ficou conhecida como SNOWbigdeal...

Mais tarde passo pra postar os detalhes!!


AHUAUHUAHAUHAUHA

Snow Storm

Rapidinha... ta prevista uma Snow Storm aqui hoje. Ta vindo dos EUA e eh BEM gordinha...

Quem quiser ver o video dela tocando o TERROR no New Mexico

Desejem-me sorte pra sair de casa amanha e chegar no trabalho!! hahahah

Organização canadense oferece bolsa para jornalista latino-americano

Redação Portal Imprensa

A ONG Jornalistas Canadenses pela Liberdade de Expressão em parceria com o Scotiabank anunciou que abriu inscrições para que jornalistas da América Latina e Caribe concorram a uma bolsa de estudo no Massey College, Universidade de Toronto. O objetivo da organização é melhorar o entendimento do jornalismo e a liberdade de expressão nas Américas.

As inscrições vão até dia 1º de março e devem vir com um plano de estudo de qualquer tema ligado à liberdade de expressão, uma declaração sobre a experiência profissional e os planos futuros do candidato, além de trabalhos que já realizou. O período da bolsa é de 6 de setembro de 2011 a 30 de abril de 2012 e inclui taxas, passagem de ida e volta, moradia, alimentação e seguro médico.

As inscrições devem ser feitas pelo e-mail jpayne@cjfe.org ouanna.luengo@utoronto.ca
Leia mais na seção Agenda

fonte: http://portalimprensa.uol.com.br/portal/agenda/2011/01/31/imprensa40489.shtml