Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In Canada

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On the shore of Lake Ontario, Canada’s most populous city is also its most multicultural. Fly with Brussels Airlines in codeshare with Jet Airways to take in the sights

The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal Building, Royal Ontario Museum was designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind

The Ontario Place Cinesphere, built in 1971, is the world’s largest IMAX theatre

After a stormy morning, a flock of birds fly across the sky with Toronto’s CN Tower in the background

James Kevin Mac Goris finds out what to do in Toronto before tucking into some local vino

Check in

Le Meridien King Edward, 37 King Street East Toronto, tel. (416) 1, www.lemeridien.com/kingedward

Set on King Street, in the middle of the Financial District, the King Eddy as it is known to locals, is convenient not only for its proximity to the subway station (the Yonge line is about 3 minutes from the front door), but also the King Street streetcar right outside. St. Lawrence Market is a 5 minute walk away and there are a couple of pretty exciting Mies van der Rohe buildings next door on the way to the CN tower which looks like it’s just next door, but it’s actually about 15 minutes’ walk away.

The hotel is hard to miss, with its stately architectural details and huge, blue awning. Built at the turn of the century (last century), by an industrialist called Gooderham, it was originally both the tallest and the most easternmost building in the city – now of course it is dwarfed by the lofty skyscrapers that surround it.

The hotel itself is the epitome of grande dame style. Passing through the gigantic revolving door, the grand and airy lobby sports Ionic columns aplenty, and helpful, smiling staff eager to serve you.

Rooms are quite big for North American standards, with the décor option a little quaint.

The beds, however, are sumptuous and a definite guarantee for a good night’s sleep. For afternoon tea aficionados, the downstairs lobby is the scene of a sumptuous English-style afternoon event, complete with scones, jam and clotted cream, as well as about 15 different types of tea. Go for the house blend, it’s well worth it.

Drink out

Tasting Canadian wine is a must

It comes as a surprise to most Europeans that Canada, and Ontario specifically, has a thriving home-grown wine industry that even produces Canadian originals such as the aptly named ice wine – a wine whose grapes are picked only in February, and only when the temperature is between -8°C and -14°C. The actual wine-growing region is just across Lake Ontario and well worth a visit if you’re taking in the Niagara Falls as well. But if you don’t have the time you can get your tasting down at the Vineyard Estate Wines’ flagship store, at the Harbourfront on Queens Quay West for the finest of Ontario’s wines, back vintages, rare releases and hard-tofind wine accessories. Call ahead to organise a tasting. www.vineyardestatewines.com

Eat up

St Lawrence Market is a haven for foodies

St Lawrence is one of the 25 best markets in the world, according to Food & Wine magazine – it’s certainly a foodie heaven with over 120 merchants and vendors proving why Toronto is considered one of the most culturally mixed cities in the world. Russia, China, South-East Asia, Greece, Italy, Ukraine, Central America, South America and even good old Ontario are all represented by the stalls that sell the best, freshest and most exciting mix of foods you’re likely to see. Check out the Carousel Bakery for a “pea-meal bacon on a bun” sandwich, a Canadian tradition. www.stlawrencemarket.com

Insider tip

Bruce Bell is the man to know in Toronto

It sounds like a cop-out, but in Toronto’s case you really are better off getting a guide to show you round – and Bruce Bell is the city’s self-appointed best. With so much history either buried under parking lots or confined to dusty history books hidden on the top shelves of libraries, Bell uses his wealth of knowledge and experience to show visitors what secrets are held in Toronto’s much overlooked colonial and 19th century past. www.brucebelltours.ca

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