Toronto Zoo welcomes the birth of Grevy's zebra foal

Photo Credit: C. Thompson, Toronto Zoo

TORONTO, ON, Thursday, August 18, 2016 : The Toronto Zoo is pleased to announce that Tori, a six year old female Grevy's zebra  (Equus grevyi), gave birth to a filly on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 2:49 pm.  This birth is important for Grevy's zebra conservation as the species is currently listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and, there are only approximately 2,000 left in the wild. This is the second filly Tori has given birth to at the Toronto Zoo, the first being, Leia, in January of 2014 with Jake. This little filly began to walk ten minutes after she was born, which is an important milestone in her development. Both mom and filly are doing well and she is already starting to develop her own strong and confident personality, according to her Zoo Keepers.

What's Happening: September on the Bloor St. Culture Corridor

(News Release)

The Bloor St. Culture Corridor, Toronto's most diverse arts and culture district, kicks off September with the launch of performance seasons, spectacular museum and visual art exhibitions, films, Open Streets TO activities, and tops the month with the Bloor St. Culture Corridor hub of Culture Days. 

The Bloor St. Culture Corridor hub of Culture Days, a weekend jam-packed with free arts and culture activity, kicks off with the third installment of Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and Bloor St. Culture Corridor's Culture Workers Unwind series, a professional development and networking event for workers in the arts, culture and non-profit sector, on Friday, September 30 at 4pm.

Guest speakers include moderator Brett Hendrie, Executive Director, Hot Docs; along with panelists Sara Diamond, President, OCAD University; Adrian Fung, Vice President of Innovation, Toronto Symphony Orchestra; and Ravi Jain, Associate Artistic Director, Soulpepper Theatre Company. Also on Friday September 30, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Alliance Française de Toronto, and others present the European Day of Languages starting at 5:30pm, where people can sample language courses, games, prizes and live music with EUROPAPHONI, all for free! Alliance française also presents a screening of Le Petit Prince, the animated movie by Mark Osborne, on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 2pm.

ROM welcomes global thinker Jameel Jaffer for 11th annual Eva Holtby Lecture on Contemporary Culture

Constitutional lawyer and civil liberties advocate talks about “Going Dark”

November 15, 2016 at 7:00 pm

TORONTO, August 23, 2016—The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) will present its annual Eva Holtby Lecture on Contemporary Culture on November 15, 2016 at 7:00 pm featuring Jameel Jaffer, Executive Director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.  In his talk, Going Dark, Jaffer will explore the phenomenon of official secrecy and the legal, political, and social repercussions of allowing democratic governments to withhold information about national security policy from the public.

Since 9/11, the impulse to protect “national security” has led democratic governments to become increasingly secretive. With many of their most consequential decisions—about war, interrogation, detention, and surveillance—being made behind closed doors, democratic governments are “going dark.”  Should we accept official secrecy as a necessary response to new security threats—or has official secrecy itself become a threat?  With new wars abroad, and new surveillance programs at home, the question is more pressing than ever. 

Teen trips that are 'cool and awesome' in Hamilton, Halton and Brant

   One-Tank Trip for Aug. 20/16

   (c) By Jim Fox

   There are many good things that can be said about day tripping around Hamilton, Halton and Brant.

   Tourism officials say there’s knockout nature, history and heritage, a vibrant arts and culture scene, awe-inspiring attractions, fantastic festivals and distinct downtowns.

   Outdoor adventures and cultural escapes are close to home and there’s the Niagara Escarpment, Bruce Trail and Grand River in the “Heart of Ontario.”

Use your smartphone at phone inventor Alexander Graham Bell’s homestead in Brantford. (Jim Fox photo)

   But, more than that there are many “teen-approved ways to spend the day,” says the Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association.

   “Day trips are a great option for sneaking in some time with your busy teen during these last few weeks of summer,” said Maria Fortunato, association executive director.

   “We’ve got some really fun and unexpected ways to spend the day in Hamilton Halton Brant before heading back to school,” she added.

Going to the dogs, apes . . .

   One-Tank Trip for Aug. 13-16

   (c) By Jim Fox

   These hot and sultry dog days of summer just can’t keep a good canine down.

   Hot diggity, the “haute dogs” are returning to Toronto, while Woofa-Roo Pet Fest takes over Amherstburg.

   Haute Dog at Queen’s Quay Terminal, Aug. 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the Toronto waterfront is fun for both canines and their human companions.

   “Sign up your dog and strut down the Haute Dog red carpet where the ‘pawparazzi’ will be waiting to snap the perfect shot of your best friend,” says publicist Peter Ashworth.

The height of dog fashion is at Haute Dog.

   “We encourage dog owners to dress up their best friend and drop by the photo booth to have their dog’s picture taken and then spin the wheel for a chance to win great prizes,” added Queen’s Quay Terminal’s Ana Carreira.

Life's a beach this summer along the Lake Erie shore

   One-Tank Trip for Aug. 6-16

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Life’s a beach, especially this summer with the hot, sunny weather.

   Ontario’s Southwest tourism wants to help you “find your best beach.”

   The agency has “developed ‘Beach Cheat Sheets’ for some of the top spots, said Jen Moore, marketing manager.

   They are packed with tips to help plan a beach escape with information on why you will love a certain beach, what to do, where to eat and stay while you’re there,” she added.

For many visitors, Port Dover is a day at the beach. (Barbara Fox photo)

   So, hang on and catch a wave as we unveil five Lake Erie “gems.”

   They’re called “one of the best-kept secrets” of Ontario beach lovers since they can be reached without the usual cottage-country traffic hassles.

Eat up! Summer's here

   One-Tank Trip for July 30-16

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Ah, summertime and the eating is easy.

   Festivals and events revolve around a variety of tasty treats and refreshing cool beverages.

   Food aficionados can travel the world through many multi-cultural offerings without leaving Toronto.

   Upcoming tastes include Caribbean, Greek, Pan American and African while food trucks and vendors will be rolling into Woodstock for the annual street festival.

At your service at JerkFest.

   Do the jerk

   Jump up, mon for JerkFest at Centennial Park in Etobicoke, Aug. 5 to 7.

   The 15th annual Grace Jerk Food Festival is called “a fusion of jerk food, pulsating music, family friendly entertainment and good vibes, highlighting the Caribbean culture under the hot Toronto sun.”

   For food lovers, JerkFest is about the “unique tastes, mysterious flavours and captivating aroma of jerk cuisine,” said Anthony Plummer, executive director.

Hot and spicy foods featuring jerk chicken are a tradition of JerkFest.

   Along with the tantalizing tastes and array of jerk dishes – from chicken, pork and beef to lamb, seafood, vegetables – it’s a celebration of culture.