2017 Global Summit Toronto
Before you leave home
Canadian Currency
The Canadian dollar is used in Canada. Most places take credit cards but it's a good idea to have some on hand for small purchases. If you can't get any exchanged at home, you can get it at the airport.
Toronto Weather
The days will see the temperature about 15°C (50’s in F) and evenings will drop to the low single digits (30’s in F). Be sure to bring a jacket for evenings. A bit of rain is likely.
After you arrive
Travel between the airport and the hotel
Best option for YYZ Union Pearson Express The hotel is a 5 minute indoor walk from where the UP train drops you off at Union Station. You can buy a ticket beforehand online or at the station before you board. This is the fastest and most cost efficient route (just $12 CAD). You can board at Pearson in Terminal 1. When you step off the train at Union station, depending on when you arrive, you might see a volunteer to will welcome you and point you to the hotel. If not, simply exit the station, take a left and go up the escalators, walk 2 minutes down the skywalk and you'll see a door on your left to enter the hotel. There will be lots of hotel signage.
Other option for YYZ: Taxi or limo service Like most international airports, there will be plenty of taxi and limos that can take you into the city. The cost is about $50 CAD each way and most cars are equipped with credit card machines but it’s a good idea to double check when you get in if you don’t have Canadian currency.
One more option for YYZ You could also take public transit (TTC). Outside of the airport, you can hop on the 192 Airport Rocket bus, it will take you to Kipling subway station, you would ride the train east to St. George Station, then head southbound on another subway train to Union station.
One option for YTZ: A taxi ride should be between 5 and 10 minutes and cost you about $10-12 CAD.
Other option for YTZ: the free shuttle will drop you off at the Royal York hotel, which is just a 5 minute walk (outdoors) to the hotel.
One more option for YTZ You could hop on the TTC streetcar (509, Harbourfront, eastbound) for about 10 minutes.
Transit
The TTC is the local transit system, and can get you pretty much anywhere in the city through a combination of buses, streetcars and subways. Drivers are helpful, and be sure to get a transfer when you board if you're paying with cash or tokens. You may also choose to purchase a presto card at Union station if you think you'll be taking multiple rides.
If you're out and about and you feel lost, if you can see the CN Tower, keep walking towards it and you'll lead yourself back to the venue.
SIM Cards & Cellphones
If you haven't added any international roaming to your phone, you might want to pick up a temporary sim card.
7-11 has a good program: http://www.speakout7eleven.ca/ Most of the other service providers will be able to issue you one but it will be more expensive and you may need to jump through a hoop or two to get it. More info here: http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Canada and here: http://www.blogto.com/tech/2015/07/prepaid_mobile_phone_plans_in_toronto/
Summit Venue
Delta Toronto
75 Lower Simcoe Street,
Toronto ON M5J 3A6
CC Staff, scholarship recipients, and some others are also staying overnight at the same hotel.
Registration
Simply show a piece of identification to a person at the registration desk to get in. Do not lose your badge, it is how you'll access all the spaces in the hotel all weekend.
Web Information
Program: https://creativecommonsglobalsummit2017t.sched.com/
Twitter: @ccglobalsummit
Hashtag: #ccsummit
Slack channel: #cc-summit and #toronto-tips
Printing Services
There will be no printing available at the event. If you require any printed materials, you might try The Printing House nearby or another print shop.
Tourism
Food
Toronto is an amazing food city, imagine a cuisine you'd like to try and you'll find multiple options, but you don't have to take my word for it: https://www.foodism.to/guest-column-david-mcmillan-love-letter-toronto/
Some higher end restaurants require reservations, most of which you can make online.
Some food guides:
http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/
Sport
See a Toronto Marlies (AHL) game
See a Toronto Raptors (NBA) game
Stand outside a Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) game
See a Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) game
See a TFC game
Music & Culture
Thanks to Allana Mayer for putting together this list of live music over the weekend of the summit!
A great resource for more live music: http://justshows.com/toronto/
The Hot Docs Film Festival overlaps with the summit.
Visit The Royal Ontario Museum
Vist the Art Gallery of Ontario
Visit the Ontario Science Centre
Visit the Distillery District
Nature
Walk though High Park then see the cherry blossoms
Hike on the Leslie Spit
Head out to the Scarborough Bluffs
Take a boat tour of Toronto Island from the harbor at Queen Quay
Other
Visit the CN Tower
Go to Ripley's Aquarium
Hit some hip bars and shops along Queen West
Credits
Parts of this guide were borrowed from our friends the Nightingales and Mozilla (Toronto). Many many thanks to them!
