DOORS OPEN ON TORONTO'S WATERFRONT 

PRESENTED BY QUEEN'S QUAY TERMINAL   

Doors Open Toronto is a popular annual city-wide weekend celebration that features FREE access to more than 135 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings. Now in its 13th year, Doors Open Toronto has attracted more than two million visitors since it began. Toronto was the first North American city to launch a Doors Open event.

In commemoration of the War of 1812 bicentennial, this year's Doors Open Toronto theme is 200 Years of Building Our City. The event will take place on May 26 and May 27, highlighting the city builders of these significant buildings; the fascinating personalities who shaped Toronto's architecture and history.    

"Toronto's Waterfront played an important role in the development of our city," states Carol Jolly, Executive Director, The Waterfront BIA. "Through Doors Open on Toronto's Waterfront, visitors will be able to see and experience the excitement of the Waterfront like never before. Tour the ships docked along the water's edge and take an historical journey of Toronto on the Water, through a unique photo exhibit in Queen's Quay Terminal featuring over 100 archival images displayed publicly for the first time ever."

Experience the waterfront's most distinctive ships at Gangways Open! The charter boat business is one of the main tourism attractions at the Toronto Waterfront and has a rich history. There is no better way to experience Toronto than from the water!

All of the 15 participating ships will open their doors (and their gangways!) for FREE public dockside tours. The ships along the dock walls will be open for viewing from 10am to 5pm, subject to availability.

THE GREAT LAKES SCHOONER COMPANY FLEET     

The Great Lakes Schooner Company fleet includes Challenge, Kajama, and Obsession III.

Challenge is a stunning 96-foot, three mast clipper schooner modeled after the original 1852 ship built in Cleveland, Ohio, and was constructed as a school vessel in 1980 by the Kanter Yacht Company in Port Stanley, Ontario.  

She sailed from 1980 to 1982 as a passenger vessel on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and also in the Virgin Islands before being refitted in 1984 by her original builders. Carefully preserving the traditions and designs of the past, her seven sails are set in the unique tradition of a Grand Banks Schooner, with her three masts of equal height, all stepped on the deck at different levels.

Kajama, an historic 165-foot three-masted gaff-rigged schooner, was originally launched in Rendsburg, Germany as Wilfrid in 1930, and has undergone an ambitious restoration that has returned the ship to her former glory. Familiar in ports from Northwestern Spain through Western Europe, and as far north as Norway and Russia, Kajama had a long and successful career as a cargo carrying sailing ship. She represents one of the few remaining and highly successful Nobiskrug coastal trading schooners known for their efficiency and profitability. Kajama boasts over 7,000 square feet of sail, a large unobstructed deck, and a grand staircase leading to the below deck dining room. 

Obsession III is a 78-foot motor yacht. She has been on Toronto's waterfront since 1993 after she went through a complete rebuild from the former vessel M.V Mystique. Mystique was originally built in 1967 in New Orleans by Halter Marine Services. Obsession III is now located on Toronto's waterfront. One of the most talked about features on Obsession III is her fully retractable roof.   

Waterfront Savings Card holders receive 20% OFF all regular priced admission.   

Jubilee Cruise Lines celebrates their 25th Anniversary in the Toronto harbour this year. Their signature vessel, the Jubilee Queen, is Canada's largest river showboat. Launched in 1986, she is a replica of a luxury sternwheeler that sailed the waters in centuries past. The Jubilee Queen was built in New Brunswick and sailed into Toronto in 1988 via the Hudson River canal systems. The route from New Brunswick to New York via the coastal waterway wasn't without risk. Sailing the Jubilee with its low freeboard hull in areas exposed to high Atlantic waves required all main deck windows to be boarded and sealed to protect against wave damage and flooding.  The Jubilee's tall roof stacks were removed to clear low bridges in smaller canals originally built to accommodate river barges. The Jubilee Queen has entertained over 400,000 guests since 1988, and continues as a very popular choice for dinner cruise enthusiasts.    

 

The Ste. Marie was initially built as a small fishing vessel operating out of Sault Sainte Marie. Her keel was laid in 1964 with registration in Midland, Ontario, operating in the fishing industry until refit as a tour boat in 1986. The Ste. Marie was relocated to the Toronto waterfront in 1994 following modifications that lengthened the boat by 25 feet. A second floor open observation deck was built to permit fabulous unrestricted viewing while providing shelter from sun or rain. With her open bow and upper observation deck, along with her cozy interior forward cabin, she has become a very popular tour and small group charter vessel. 

Waterfront Savings Card holders receive 20% OFF admission to lunch and dinner cruises, except New Year's Eve.

 THE MARIPOSA CRUISES FLEET  

2012 marks the 25th Anniversary of Mariposa Cruises. Originally operating with three small boats prior to 1987, Mariposa Cruises came into being with the purchase of The Mariposa Belle in that year. The fleet includes: Captain Matthew Flinders, Klancy II, Mariposa Belle, Northern Spirit, Oriole, Rosemary and Showboat.

The Captain Matthew Flinders is the flagship of the Mariposa fleet. Built in 1984 in Port Adelaide, Australia, the 144-foot luxury ship arrived in Toronto in 1989 and boasts the largest passenger capacity (575 people) in Toronto. The ship is named after famous navigator Captain Matthew Flinders (1774-1814). In 1995, the ship sailed to Florida and operated as a floating casino. Since returning to Toronto, the ship is outfitted with new engines and was renovated in 2011. The Flinders has hosted a wide range of events including Mayors from Around the World, NBA Draft Pick, All Star Baseball Legends, and the Stanley Cup. Over the years, celebrities and musicians have enjoyed the Flinders - even Arnold Palmer hit golf balls off the outer deck of this magnificent vessel. 

The Klancy II was the most recent addition to the Mariposa fleet in 2011. Built in St. Thomas in 1989, the 68-foot Klancy is no stranger to the Toronto waterfront and holds up to 100 passengers. Last year, the Klancy was chartered by Tourism Toronto to host the Rotary Club convention bid team and played a part in Toronto winning the bid.

The namesake of the company, the Mariposa Belle, built in 1970 in Wheatley, Ontario, is an icon in the Toronto harbour. The Mariposa Belle is a 68-foot riverboat-style paddle wheeler. With her unique promenade decks, the Belle has hosted thousands of events over her colourful history, including Miss Teen Canada. She is an integral part of the Education Afloat program for many Toronto school children. This boat is steeped in Toronto's waterfront history!

The Northern Spirit was built in 1983 in Warren, Rhode Island, and was formerly the Pride of Norfolk and the Pride of Toronto. The 138-foot Northern Spirit joined Mariposa Cruises in 1994 after an extensive renovation. Like the Flinders, the Northern Spirit has the largest passenger capacity in Toronto and is Transport Canada-approved for 575 passengers. The Spirit has hosted notable events and musical acts over the years.

Built in 1987 in Port Dover, Ontario, the Oriole is a replica of a Victorian era steamship (circa 1880-1920), with a rich oak interior, wrought iron detail and unique shape design. The Oriole is used for our popular Harbour Tour program and has a capacity of 184 passengers. The Oriole is featured in a fictional period painting by Ray Davidson entitled, "The Medora at Port Carling Locks." Mila Mulroney, Nancy Reagan and the wives of G7 attendees also enjoyed a private afternoon on this boat. The Oriole has its own celebrity status having been featured in film and TV, most recently on CBC's Redemption Inc. 

One of the original Mariposa vessels, the Rosemary is the true southern belle of the fleet as she was built in Mobile, Alabama. Constructed in 1960, the Rosemary is 62 feet of style and sophistication and was completely renovated in 2008. The Rosemary has modern furnishings and still maintains her former corporate yacht appeal. A long list of celebrities have cruised aboard, including Angelica Houston, Sam Neill, Cicely Tyson, Marylou Henner and Gregory Hines.

The Showboat Royal Grace, or simply the Showboat as she is now called, is a petite version of the grand riverboats that sailed along North America's inland waterways in the 1800s.  Built in 1988 in Port Colborne, Ontario, she was a floating theatre here in Toronto for several years before joining the Mariposa fleet in 1993 and has a passenger capacity of 75.

Waterfront Savings Card holders receive 20% OFF all regular priced admission, except New Year's Eve.   

Mariposa Cruises
Queen's Quay Terminal

207 Queens Quay West,

Suite 425

416 203 0178

North America toll-free:

1 866 MAR POSA 

(627 7672)

mariposacruises.com      

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TORONTO ON THE WATER,

THE EXHIBIT  

Visitors to the Queen's Quay Terminal can trace our visually stunning waterfront history through Toronto on the Water, a photo exhibit that features over 100 archival images on loan courtesy of City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Port Authority, Toronto Star Archives and Queen's Quay Terminal. The exhibit will launch at Doors Open Toronto on Saturday, May 26 and will remain on display throughout the main level of Queen's Quay Terminal until Labour Day. Admission is FREE.

c.1908, the docks at the foot of Yonge Street were a beehive of activity as wagons hauled freight to waiting steamers and passengers lined up to board ferries for Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Grimsby Beach. Photo Credit: City of Toronto Archives/Courtesy of Toronto Star Archives

Relive memories of Toronto's vibrant waterfront at Toronto on the Water. There's a Diving Horse at Hanlan's Point in 1907 and demure bathing beauties at Ward's Island in 1908. Workers dig industrial foundations in 1917 in the seemingly ever-growing Portlands. In 1920, iceboats sit in a frozen bay that is now dominated by the Toronto Harbour Commission. Always a sports town, in 1926 baseball fans converge on Maple Leaf Stadium on the Bathurst Street flats. In 1929, the Fairmont Royal York reigns briefly as the highest building on the Toronto skyline. By the 1930s, the new Terminal Warehouse dominates the waterfront. Now Queen's Quay Terminal, the building with its stately pillars is a virtual "World Under One Roof," controlling everything from shipping and warehousing to distribution and merchandising.

Toronto's rich history comes alive before your eyes at Toronto on the Water!   

   NAUTICAL ADVENTURES  

Today, Nautical Adventures' Tall Ship the Empire Sandy is an historical treasure on Toronto's Waterfront.   She was built in England as an Englishman/Larch class deep sea tugboat and went into service in July 1943.  She sailed on war duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean Seas, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the English Channel.  In 1982, a metamorphous was complete, changing the WWII tugboat to a grand 1800-style Tall Ship.  As a Tall Ship she has sailed in all of the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Boston, New York, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba and other Caribbean seas. At 200 feet overall, 11,000 square feet of sail and 740 tonnes, Toronto's largest sailing ship the Empire Sandy offers a unique experience with an historical flare.    

Waterfront Savings Card holders receive 25% OFF all cruise vouchers for our public cruises.   

Nautical Adventures

600 Queens Quay West,  

Suite 103

416-364-3244  

nauticaladventure.com  

FEATURED BUILDINGS ON
TORONTO'S WATERFRONT:
QUEEN'S QUAY TERMINAL

 

Queen's Quay Terminal

207 Queens Quay West

416 203 0510 

qqterminal.com     

On the weekend of May 26-27, Doors Open Toronto will once again be taking place across Toronto. As part of this annual "look behind the scenes" of some of the city's landmark buildings, Redpath Sugar will again host visitors during the course of the two days. Last year over 3,000 "guests" passed through the Redpath tour programme, which will be repeated this year with some new additions and displays.   

 

Redpath Sugar plant, 1959

As well as viewing the video on the manufacturing process that runs twenty-four hours a day within the plant, there will be special displays by several departments from within the facility and the vintage "Acts of Sweetness" vehicle. In addition, the company's historical museum will be open with displays related to the history of Canada's oldest sugar company. However, probably the highlight of the tour is the once-a- year opportunity to visit the company's huge raw sugar warehouse building. This massive A-Frame building has a floor space bigger than two football fields and, when filled with the company's raw material of raw sugar, has a capacity to hold 65,000 tonnes. How much will be on display on the weekend, however, will depend upon the schedule of shipping deliveries - so there might also be the bonus opportunity to see a ship unloading as well!

 

Redpath Sugar
95 Queens Quay East 

416 366 3561 

redpathsugars.com  

TORONTO BRIGANTINE TALL SHIPS FLEET   

Toronto Brigantine has been a charitable organization since 1962. Their founding tenets were the development of leadership, discipline, and citizenship. They operate two brigantines, the 22m (72') sail-training vessel (STV) Pathfinder, which was commissioned in 1964, and the training ship (TS) Playfair, which was built in 1972 and named in 1973 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Both were built as training vessels by Francis A. McLachlan in Kingston, Ontario. Each year the ships sail over 4,000 miles, spends over 40 nights at sea, and introduce 300 trainees to the tall ship experience.

Waterfront Savings Card holders receive 10% OFF new summer program registrations.  

Toronto Brigantine 

Designed as the Toronto Harbour Commissioners headquarters and occupied by its successor, the Toronto Port Authority, 1917's Toronto Harbour Commission Building is a fine example of Beaux-Arts Classicist architecture.  Constructed of concrete and faced with Indiana and Queenston limestone, it was designed by noted Toronto architect Alfred Chapman and built out into the harbour before infill later moved the water's edge several hundred metres south.  It is noted for its exterior details, such as Corinthian columns and spandrels, as well as its beautiful, original walnut-paneled boardroom and marbled entranceway. Take a look inside this stunning building on Saturday, May 26 at Doors Open on Toronto's Waterfront! 

Toronto Port Authority 

60 Harbour Street

416 863 2000

torontoport.com