Breathing deep in the Big Smoke (or: Questions and answers about Toronto)     Crossing the border     Directions     Accomodations and car rentals     TO-do

The 3rd Annual Mars Society Conference will be hosted by Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto. Ryerson Polytechnic University is located near the intersection of Yonge and Dundas streets. Sessions are currently scheduled to begin at 9 AM (0900 EDT) on Thursday, August 10; the Conference ends on the 13th at 6 PM (1800 EDT).
Pre-registration for the Conference is at Pitman Hall (160 Mutual St., south of Gerrard; see map), from 6 PM to 9 PM on Wednesday, August 9. Registration begins at 8 AM on Thursday in Ryerson's North Hub (Jorgenson Hall).
It is recommended that those using automobiles to come to the city or move about in it do not attempt to park in the downtown. Parking space is somewhat scarce and expensive, and unlike other cities, Toronto was not designed or extensively modified for the automobile. The overwhelming majority of Toronto Chapter members use public transit to come to meetings, including your Webmaster. The core of the city is well-served by the Yonge, Bloor and University/Spadina subway lines, as well as the streetcars.
Expect very warm weather (30 degrees Celsius or more - in excess of 80 degrees Fahreinheit for our American neighbors) in the city for the Conference; tales of travellers unfamiliar with the climate of southern Ontario, arriving at Pearson International with parkas and skis in the midst of horrendous humidity, are, sadly, not urban legends.

Questions about the information on this page can be directed to Carmen.

Earth's Longest Border

In order to enter Canada, you must be able to prove your citizenship. Your best and most reliable means of doing so is with a passport. United States citizens can USUALLY get into Canada with a notorized copy of their birth certificate or citizenship papers, but a passport is still the best choice. It must be stated that when entering Canada, it is up to YOU to prove your citizenship, and not up to the border guards to prove that you are NOT a citizen of your purported country.
If you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you do not need a passport or visa to be admitted to Canada. However, you should carry evidence of citizenship, such as a certificate of birth abroad, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, or a state birth certificate. If these documents do not contain a photograph, you may also be asked for a driver's licence or other identification. Permanent residents of the United States who are not citizens should carry their Resident Alien Card (I-151 or I-551).
If you are a temporary resident of the United States who carries a Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688) or Employment Authorization Card (I-688A or I-688B), you are not considered to be a permanent resident of the US. You need a passport for travel to Canada, and you may also need a visitor's visa. Visas must be obtained at a Canadian embassy, consulate, or mission outside Canada - they are not available at the border.
If you are a foreign student, temporary worker in the US, or visitor in the US who wants to return to the US after visiting Canada, you may encounter difficulties entering Canada without your passport or Canadian visitor's visa. Because your status in the US does not confer any status in Canada, or necessarily give you the right to re-enter the US, you should check with an office of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service before leaving the U.S. to make sure you have all the necessary papers to return to the US.
If you are from a country other than the US and are not a US citizen or legal, permanent resident of the US, you need a valid passport or travel document. Citizens of some countries also need visas to enter Canada. Visitors should ask about visa requirements and valid travel documents at the Canadian embassy, consulate, or mission in their home countries before leaving.

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration maintains the list of countries whose nationals require visas to enter or transit Canada. Citizens of many countries (including the US) generally do not require visas.

Canada has laws and regulations to protect children and to reduce abduction by parents or others. If you will be travelling with a child, you should carry:

• identification, similar to that mentioned below, for children of all ages
• a letter of permission from the child's parent or legal guardian when travelling with a child who is not legally your own; and
• copies of legal documents regarding custody rights if you share custody.

Navigating the Big Smoke

City Notes
For those first-time visitors driving in the city: when attempting to pass a streetcar, please ensure that no passengers are embarking or exiting before continuing. Attempting to pass a streetcar at an intersection busy with pedestrian traffic marks one as a boorish foreigner.

"The Airport" refers to Lester B. Pearson International Airport, usually referred to as "Pearson", Toronto's major port of entry. While there are airports on one of the Islands (Toronto City Centre Airport, a short ferry ride from Downtown) and just north of the city (Buttonville Airport, in the suburbs of Markham), they do not accomodate major international flights.
The Airport Express bus system carries passengers from the Airport to selected subway stations and major downtown hotels

See the subway map below. Ryerson is located just northeast of Dundas station, on the right side of the downtown loop.
The primary hotels which are served directly from the airport, are The Westin Harbor Castle, Royal York, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton Centre, Colony Hotel, Metropolitan Hotel, and the Delta Chelsea Inn.

The secondary hotels are served by connections at two of the primary hotels. From the Royal York, you can get a ride to the Renaissance, Holiday Inn on King, Global Village, Hostelling International Hotel, and the Novotel Toronto Centre. From the Delta Chelsea, you can get a ride to Toronto Marriot Eaton Centre, Bond Place Hotel, Primrose hotel, Days Inn Carlton, and the Mariott Courtyard. Also note that the Ryerson residence is only a very short walk from the Delta Chelsea.

Children under 11 ride for free.

Information on the TTC can be found at the City's Toronto Transit Commission pages. Prices are set for one-way trips between any two points; no additional fees are imposed for connecting trains, buses, or streetcars, although one most likely must obtain a transfer from the driver to enter a downtown subway station. Fares cost $2.00 for adults, $1.40 for seniors and 50¢ for children. A Day Pass (unlimited use for one day) costs $7.00.

Roadmaps to and from the airport can be found at:

http://www.gtaa.com/gettinghere/

The most direct route (by highway) from Pearson to Downtown is to travel southbound on Highway 427, then eastbound on the Gardiner Expressway (named "Queen Elizabeth Way" west of the city), exiting at Yonge St. or Jarvis St. (Jarvis being the wiser choice). Be aware that highway construction crews seemingly love to occupy entire lanes in sweltering Ontario summers...

Reckoning by the subway map above, Ryerson is located immediately to the right (east) of the Yonge subway line, between Dundas and College stations (corresponding to the intersections of Dundas and College streets with Yonge street). Dundas station (NOT to be confused with Dundas West) is the nearest station.

Habs and Rovers

The following hotels are listed, in order descending, by proximity to the Ryerson campus (circa Gould Street, just north of Dundas Street on the east side of Yonge). The first telephone number listed is local (Area Code 416). All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.

^*The Sheraton Centre will be hosting the Conference banquet.

If you have a group of people you can probably get a reduced rate.

Where can I rent a car, and at what cost?

Lockheed Martin engineers take note: All distances in Toronto, Ontario and Canada are cited in metric units. The path to Mars is metric... the path to Mars is metric... the path to Mars is metric...

On-Airport Car Rental Companies

Company	Full Size Rate Max Km	Compact Rate Max Km
Aviscar Inc.	$235/4-day rental unlimited KM	$203/4-day rental unlimited KM
Budget Car and Truck Rental	$59.95/day 200 KM/day	$47.95/day 200 KM/day
Hertz Canada Ltd.	$55.97/day unlimited KM	$47.95/day unlimited KM
Thrifty Canada Ltd.	$287.70/week 1600 KM/week	$227.70/week 1600 KM/week

Off-airport Car Rental Companies

Company	Full Size Rate Max KM	Compact Rate Max KM
Alamo Rent A Car	$61.99/day Unlimited KM	$55.99/day unlimited KM
Enterprise Rent-A-Car	$45.07/day (if rented for 5 days)	$33.99/day (if rented for 5 days)

Notes:

• Contact information for each company can be found at: http://www.gtaa.com/travellerinfo/car_agencies.asp
• Rates do not include taxes and airport surcharges.
• All rates are in Canadian dollars and are valid if car booked on Feb. 14, 2000 and may increase if booking closer to August.
• On-airport agencies present in all three terminals; off-airport companies have shuttle buses but pickups must be arranged in advance.

The City

What is there to do and see in Toronto?

Toronto is a city of (distinct) neighborhoods, of grand civic visions, of civilized living and quirks. A city that prefers streetcar tracks and subway lines over elevated expressways, where four major dailies compete in newspaper wars elsewhere a feature of bygone days, Toronto straddles the roles of first Canadian metropolis, Great Lakes hub (Chigago and Detroit have nothing on us), and home to a remarkably diverse range of cultures of Earth. The provincial capital, Toronto is well-situated for those wishing to sample the delights of southern Ontario.

Aye, and there's that big tower, too. (It's a great deal taller than the Sears Tower, le Tour d'Eiffel, the Space Needle, or the Empire State Building, but other Canadians are too humble to note this. Truly. Why, 't'is considered bad taste to mention it...)

The City (municipal)

Tourism Toronto

Torinfo

The City (commercial)

U of T's city guide

What is the dollar's exchange rate?

Try the universal currency converter at:

http://www.xe.net/ucc/full.shtml