CHECKLIST Before you arrive Receive an informal invitation by

a Ryerson professor Sign a formal contract with your

Ryerson supervisor Contact the nearest Canadian

consular office and apply for the appropriate visa if necessary Obtain health insurance and

send a copy to RI

Once you arrive Apply for OHIP (and send a copy

to RI) if applicable Apply for a SIN (and inform RI) if

applicable

K

EY

PO

IN

TS

In order to come to Ryerson as a visiting research student you must be invited by a Ryerson professor who agrees to supervise your research at Ryerson If you do not yet have such a professor at Ryerson you have two main options for finding one

You may contact your professors at your home university to ask if they have a contact at Ryerson in your field of study who may con-sider hosting you

You may contact Ryerson professors directly to ask if they are willing to host you For a list of all Ryerson programs click here

Your Ryerson supervisor is your main contact throughout your time at Ryerson HeShe is responsible for getting you access to Ryerson facili-ties and identification and ensuring that you have a pleasant and reward-ing experience

In order to come to Ryerson as a visiting research student you need a contract Please ask your Ryerson supervisor to contact Ryerson Interna-tional (RI) at rihelpryersonca to begin the process RI is your secondary contact at Ryerson Aside from facilitating the draft-ing of your contract this office will provide pre-arrival information (as found in this guide) and can answer questions about non-academic matters such as accommodations getting around Toronto etc

Your contract with your Ryerson supervisor is conditional upon you be-ing granted legal entry into Canada and in many cases upon being issued a work permit It is your responsibility to contact the nearest Canadian consular office to enquire and if necessary apply for the relevant travel documentation You are also responsible for paying any consular fees

As stipulated in your contract with your Ryerson supervisor you are re-quired to obtain comprehensive health insurance for your stay in Cana-da You must obtain this before you travel to Canada Please send RI at rihelpryersonca a copy of your health insurance policy If you reside in Canada for more than 6 months you and your spousedependents may be eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP a tax-payer funded insurance plan) Coverage under OHIP only begins after a waiting period of 3 months During the waiting period you must be covered by comprehensive health insurance You can apply for OHIP during the waiting period Click on the following hyperlinks to learn more about eligibility the 3 month waiting period and Service Ontario locations where you can apply for OHIP

If you receive payment from or through Ryerson during your research visit once you arrive in Toronto you will need to get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) which is used for pay and tax purposes To apply for a SIN please go to a Service Canada Centre The closest centre is at City Hall at 100 Queen Street West Make sure you bring your passport work permit and contract with your Ryerson supervisor Please provide RI at rihelpryersonca with your SIN once you have applied

HEALTH INSURANCE

YOUR CONTRACT

YOUR SUPERVISOR

GETTING A VISA

GETTING A SIN

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Enquire about what documenta-

tion (visa and otherwise) you need to enter Canada Make copies of all documents Plan to arrive about a week early Plan your trip from the airport to

your accommodationsRyerson Arrange meetings with your su-

pervisor and with RI

Once you arrive Meet with your supervisor Meet with RI

A

ND

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ET

TO

RY

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N

You are encouraged to arrive about a week before your contract be-gins This will give you time to prepare for your time in Toronto

To meet with your supervisor

To attend a brief orientation at RI (details below)

To attend training courses to use labs equipment etc if necessary

To get Ryerson ID and access to facilities

To become familiar with the campus

To secure accommodations

To open a bank account andor get a SIN if necessary

To settle in before the busy period of research begins

Upon entry into Canada you should have the following documents ready to assist the immigration officer

Your passport

Your Ryerson contract

Any documentation you may have from a Canadian consular office The following documents may also be necessary

Proof of health insurance

Proof of adequate finances to cover your stay in Canada

Proof of accommodations arrangement When contacting a Canadian consular office to enquire about visa require-ments be sure to ask about what additional documents you should bring to enter Canada It is a good idea to keep photocopies of all your documents with you separate from the original documents and to leave copies with a trusted one at home Canadian customs permits you to bring along all your personal items such as clothes books a laptop etc There are however restrictions on the amount of alcohol tobacco and currency allowed and on importing agriculture produce

You will likely be landing at Pearson International Airport when you come to Canada There are 3 travel options from Pearson to Ryerson 1 Public Transportation (the TTC) 1 bus + 2 subways Get off at Col-

lege or Dundas Station About 75-90 minutes $3 (exact change) 2 Airport Express Bus About 45-60 minutes About $25 (student

rate) Get off at Delta Chelsea Hotel or Bond Hotel 3 Airport Taxi About 30-45 minutes About $50 Call 18004653434

toll-free from any payphone at Pearson You may also be arriving to Billy Bishop Airport (regional flights only) or Union Station (trains) which are both relatively near Ryerson and a short trip by the TTC You may also be arriving to the Toronto Coach Terminal (bus) which is within walking distance of Ryerson

Before arriving in Canada you should arrange two meetings for your first day or two in Toronto 1 Arrange a meeting with your supervisor so that you can discuss

important issues such as your research schedule during your visit the research and reporting expectations training requirements etc

2 Arrange a meeting with RI at rihelpryersonca for a brief orien-tation of Ryerson the Ryerson documentation you need to get the services available to you on- and off-campus etc

GETTING TO RYERSON WHEN TO ARRIVE

AT RYERSON

ENTERING CANADA

ON-CAMPUS ID As a member of the Ryerson community yoursquoll have two forms of identi-fication (ID) a physical form and a digital form Your Ryerson OneCard is your physical form of ID and can be used in several different ways

It is your official identification on campus

It is your Ryerson Library card

It gives you access to some buildings offices and labs

It can be used to purchase discounted Metropasses (subway) at the Ryerson Student Union

To get your OneCard please visit the OneCard Office at JOR-02 in the lower level of Jorgenson Hall Make sure to bring your

Passport

Contract

OneCard Request form (provided by RI filled out by your supervi-soracademic department)

Your Ryerson Online ID is composed of both a username and a pass-word Your Online ID can be used to access several resources

Your Ryerson email account (see section on email)

On-campus computers

On-campus Wi-Fi To get your Online ID please speak to your supervisoracademic depart-ment They can create a guest user ID by

Logging into myryersonca

Clicking on lsquoManage My Online Resourcesrsquo

Selecting and completing the lsquoGuest User ID Request Formrsquo Once your supervisoracademic department has completed the Guest User ID Request Form you will receive an email after which you can activate your account You may choose to or your supervisor may request that you use a Ryerson email address (ryersonca)

Until October 2012 Ryerson used RMail exclusively Since then it is also offering Google Apps (including Gmail) to its community members A few things you should note

You must first activate your Online ID to use Ryerson email

RMail is the default email system you can login at mailryersonca

Rmail is a good basic email system but you may choose to use the Gmail platform to learn more please visit wwwryersoncagoogle

For help with any questions or concerns related to your Online ID and the services accessed with this ID please contact

4169795000 x6840

helpryersonca The library offers a wide variety of resources on-campus and online The library also offers access to online journal databases Simply select the Research Databases tab on the Library webpage

Other useful library services include

Laptop rentals amp computer labs

Printers and photocopying machines

Quiet study floors and meeting rooms

Workshops For all library-related questions please visit the Library or check online

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Nothing

Once you arrive Ask for your OncCard Request

Form to be completed Get your OneCard Ask for a Guest User ID Request

Form to be completed Set up your online ID Set up your laptop tablet andor

phone for on-campus Wi-Fi

C

OM

MU

NIC

AT

IO

NS

RYERSON EMAIL

RYERSON ONLINE ID

RYERSON LIBRARY

Ryerson Security and Emergency Services is an on-campus service to protect and aid Ryerson community members To reach Ryerson Security in an emergency

Call 4169795040 from your cell phone

Call 80 from a campus phone

Push the red button on an on-campus pay phone

Find an emergency blue phone (several located on-campus)

Pull an emergency blue alarm (located near washrooms) To reach Ryerson Security for a non-emergency

Call 4169795040 from your cell phone

Call 5040 from a Ryerson phone

Push the yellow button on an on-campus pay phone

Email securityryersonca In addition to emergency response Ryerson Security offers a wide variety of non-emergency services including

Walk safe program

Self defense courses

Safety tips and guidelines

Environmental Health amp Safety (EHS) provides services and resources to keep Ryerson community members safe You may be required to complete training with EHS prior to beginning research Ask RI for details

Ryersonrsquos Office of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Ser-vices works with members of the Ryerson community to promote a study work and living environment free of discrimination and harassment Its services include

Information and a resource room

Workshops seminars and speakers

Investigation and conciliation of complaints

Crisis intervention

English Language Support provides free services and non-credit pro-gram to support students who use English as an additional language Both staff and student-staff offer assistance with

Writing papers academic language

Speaking conversation pronunciation presentation

Reading

Listening

The Access Centre facilitates and supports accessibility and inclusion through education and academic accommodation for the diverse mix of students with disabilities in order for each to fully participate in hisher aca-demic experience Its many services include but are not limited to

Note-taking

Sign language interpretation

Accessible format materials

The Ryerson Studentsrsquo Union (RSU) offers a many socialentertainment and cost saving (including on Metropasses) services Ryerson Athletics has 2 on-campus facilities for individual and group sports (see Ryerson Affiliate fee) It is also home to the Ryerson Rams

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Contact RI regarding require-

ments for training with EHS Contact the Access Centre if you

require its services during your visit (keep your supervisor and Ryerson International informed) Contact English Language Sup-

port if you require its services while at Ryerson

Once you arrive Visit the athletic facilities to see if

you want to get a membership Drop by the RSU to take ad-

vantage of their discounted ser-vices and tickets and the campus pub Do not hesitate to contact any

other service They are there to help you stay safe healthy and O

N-C

AM

PU

S

S

ER

VIC

ES

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SECURITY

SAFETY

ACCESSIBILITY

OTHER

HUMAN RIGHTS

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Visit your doctor for a check-up Prepare any medication needed Ask RI about RISExC Introduce yourself to RISExC Register with Embassii Research which student groups

on-campus might interest you Read up on Canada to better

prepare for culture shock

Once you arrive Go to RISExC amp Embassii events JoinForm an intramural sports

team if interested Join a student group if interested Be proactive in adapting to the

new environmentculture Recognize and cope with culture

shock Be aware of available resources

A

ND

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D A

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The Ryerson Medical Centre is open to all members of the Ryerson community You can make an appointment by calling 4169795070 Other medical centres nearby include The Doctorrsquos Office and the Toronto Walk In Clinic (neither requires an appointment) The Ryerson Centre for Student Development and Counselling pro-vides emergency counselling services in a professional and friendly environment Click on the link above or call 4169795195 Health Promotion at Ryerson is a group of your peers trained to help you deal with a wide variety of health and wellness issues It can pro-vide information awareness resources and referrals to community agen-cies Click on the link above or call 4169795000 x4295 Telehealth Ontario is a free confidential telephone service for general health advice and information from a Registered Nurse They can as-sess your symptoms and help you decide your best first step The service is offered in English and French with translation support for other lan-guages Click on the link above or call 18667970000 (toll-free) In all EMERGENCIES always call 911 (off-campus) or 4169795040 (on-campus) Do not call Telehealth Ontario in a medical emergency

The Ryerson International Student Exchange Committee or RISExC is group of Ryerson students who organize activities and discounted eventstrips for exchange students at Ryerson (September to April) They are also a great source of Toronto information Visiting research students are more than welcome to join just ask RI for a link to their facebook group Similarly Embassii is a group that operates off-campus There are numerous student groups on-campus organized around com-mon ancestry religion nationality interest etc Please feel free to join them They often organize group events and activities and are a great way of meeting Ryerson students who have similar interests as you Ryerson Athletics organizes a variety of classes and intramural sport tournaments for soccer basketball volleyball dodgeball etc Tourna-ments begin in September and January and last about 3 months There is an addition fee for classes and intramurals on top of the membership fee

What we consider to be ldquonormalrdquo is something that is largely informed by the culture we are brought up in The experience of living in another cul-ture can therefore be challenging This is referred to as culture shock Culture shock has three stages

Honeymoon novelty and adventure

Culture shock this is NOT the way things are meant to be

Acceptance finding ways to cope Some common symptoms of culture shock are

Feelings of withdrawal

Feeling angry over minor inconveniences

Sudden feelings of intense loyalty to home

Changes in appetite or energy level

Depression or unexplainable crying Strategies for coping with life abroad

Keep in touch with the familiar emails letters videos magazines and news from home can shorten the distance

Keep a journal this can help put things in perspective

Get active get involved exercise is a great stress reliever

Find out more the more you know the less strange Canada will seem

Make friends with other exchange international and local students

Recognize what yoursquore going through and learn more about it

If you feel the need to consult a counsellor please do not hesitate to contact the Centre for Student Development and Counselling

CULTURE SHOCK

STUDENT GROUPS

HEALTH RESOURCES

S

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CHECKLIST Before you arrive Research your accommodation

options Secure long-term accommoda-

tions if possible and desired Reserve short-term accommoda-

tions if necessary Know how to get to your accom-

modations from the airport

Once you arrive Secure long-term accommoda-

tions if not already done

It is your responsibility to arrange your own accommodations while at Ryerson RI cannot find accommodations for you but can offer advice on locations and resources On this page yoursquoll find a lot of good resources We encourage you to research your accommodation options well in advance of arriving in Toronto You may even be able to secure accom-modations before arriving If you do not secure something before arriving (many students do not) please ensure that you have a few days when you first arrive to dedicate primarily to finding accommodations It is possi-ble to find suitable accommodations when you first it just requires time and effort

Ryerson is located downtown where you will also find numerous short-term accommodations options such as hotels hostels and bed amp breakfasts (BampBs) Do your research before making a booking as quality varies greatly be-tween different establishments Many visitors find tripadvisorca (or simi-lar websites) to be a good source of reviews on local accommodations You can also use travel review websites to find listings of nearby hotels hostels and BampBs There is also a dedicated website to BampBs in Canada with a specific page on BampBs in Toronto If you require short-term accommodations upon arrival in Toronto we en-courage you to make a reservation before arriving and to research how you will get there from the airport After a long trip you do not want to have to figure out accommodations in an unfamiliar and foreign city When making your reservation consider not only the price and the reviews but also the location and what is (not) included in the price

Ryerson has limited on-campus accommodations These are only available to Visiting Research Students during the summer months To find out more please visit Ryerson Conference Services and Lodging

Most Visiting Research Students stay off-campus There are many op-tions including independent residences private apartments houses etc Independent Student Residences Neill-Wycik

Positive nearby very affordable lively furnished numerous facilities

Negative building showing wear and tear roommates may be untidy Primrose

Positive nearby single amp private rooms meal plan

Negative expensive meal plan has generally poor reviews Campus Co-op

Positive good neighbourhood near transit affordable meal plan

Negative buildings showing wear and tear a bit further from campus Tartu College

Positive newer building affordable near transit meal plan optional

Negative a bit further from campus fewer Ryerson students Many students choose to rent an apartment To get started read Ryerson Housingrsquos resources and frequently asked questions then check out the links below If you have questions ask RI or Ryerson Hous-ing

Ryerson Off-Campus Housing Registry

Craigslist (online classified advertisements)

Kijiji (online classified advertisements)

SabbaticalHomes (suitable for mature Masterrsquos and PhD students)

OFF-CAMPUS

ON-CAMPUS

ACCOMMODATIONS

SHORT-TERM

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Budget for your exchange and

include an emergency fund Arrange your financial aid if any Determine how you are going to

access money while in Canada Get Canadian currency to pay

for initial transportation accom-modations food and other costs

Once you arrive Find a convenient bank and open

a student account if needed Familiarize yourself with Canadi-

an money amp payment methods Remember a 13 sales tax is

added to most prices in Ontario

M

ON

EY

If you are receiving any funding from Ryerson or another Canadian source then you will likely wantneed to open a Canadian bank account If you are not receiving any Canadian funding then you must decide what suits you best The first thing you should do to decide what is best for you is to contact your home bank and enquire about the costs associating with using your bankcredit card in Canada There are always costs involved These costs will likely determine if you will rely only on your bankcredit card while in Canada or if you will open a Canadian bank account If you decide to get a Canadian bank account you will need the following documentation when you first open the account (get a student account)

your passport

your OneCard and contract

proof of Canadian address (eg a lease) There are 5 major Canadian banks that all offer similar services and fees (including international money transfers) They all have branches throughout Canada Listed below are their locations closest to Ryerson

Bank of Montreal (BMO) Yonge amp Gerrard Branch 382 Yonge Street

Bank of Nova Scotia (ScotiaBank) Queen amp Church branch 79 Queen Street East

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Bay amp Dundas Branch Atrium-on-Bay lower ground

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Yonge amp Grenville Branch 468 Yonge Street

TD Canada Trust Bank (TD) Carlton amp Yonge Branch 21 Carlton Street

For many students the determining factor between these 5 is which one is most convenient ie which bank has a branch andor an ABM (automated banking machine) closest to campus or to their accommoda-tions (use the lsquoFind a Branchrsquo tool) With a bank account you will get a bank (debit) card with which you can

access banking services at any branch

withdraw money from an ABM (enquire at your bank about the fees of withdrawing from an ABM of another bank)

pay at stores displaying the Interac sign

Each lifestyle needs a different budget However on top of one-time costs like a flight and insurance yoursquoll need at the very minimum $1000month for accommodations food transportation etc Most students spend more than this on basics (+ travelling) As such it is critical you budget accordingly and also have an emergency fund available You will likely not use it the fund but if you do yoursquoll be very grateful for it Previous visitors have had challenges accessing their financial aid This can be very stressful and distract you from your stay Prior to leav-ing your country arrange any and all financial assistance yoursquore receiv-ing You may find it difficult to access funds from communicate with or complete paperwork for your financial aid office while in Canada When you arrive in Canada yoursquoll notice the coins are named (the first 4 are nearly identical to their American counterparts and share the same name in fact itrsquos not uncommon to use them in Canada) A 1cent coin is a Penny (no longer used but they still have value) A 5cent coin is a Nickel A 10cent coin is a Dime A 25cent coin is a Quarter (lots of designs in circulation) A $1 coin is a Loonie A $2 coin is a Toonie The pennyrsquos removal affects how much you pay when you buy some-thing See here for details Canada is also phasing in new bank notes Banks offer currency exchange services as do currency exchange agen-cies Consider shopping around for the best rates and lowest fees

BUDGETING amp MONEY

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Plan how you will get from the

airport to your accommodations Plan how you will get from your

accommodations to Ryerson Arrange auto insurance and your

(international) driverrsquos license if necessary

Once you arrive Familiarize yourself with your

various transportation options Look into renting a bike mdash even

for a day mdash to see Toronto in a whole different way

T

OR

ON

TO

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a city-wide efficient and safe public transit system complete with underground subways light rapid transit streetcars and buses (see maps)

A single adult fare costs $3 or $265 if you buy tokens (there is no student discount for single trips) One fare takes you in one direction only (regardless of the distance) Be sure to get a transfer from the TTC oper-ator or at your departure subway station to transfer during your trip If you will be using the TTC on a regular basis you may want to consider getting a Metropass (monthly pass) You can buy a regularly priced Met-ropass at any subway station With your OneCard you can buy a slightly cheaper Metropass from the Student Campus Centre Be sure to get it a few days before the beginning of the month when the queues are shorter and there are still Metropasses available (they tend to sell out) The TTC has an online trip planner and Google Maps also incorporates TTC schedules into the directions it gives for public transit trips

Much of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) ie the City of Toronto and the numerous suburban cities to the east north and west is beyond subway and even TTC reach Your best option for reaching many locations in the GTA is by GO Transit

Cycling is an affordable efficient and environmentally friendly way of getting around downtown Toronto On some downtown streets there are designated bicycle lanes (including a segregated lane on Sherbourne Street) However please note

ice and snow on winter roads can make cycling rather risky

TorontoCanadian motorists are not particularly lsquobicycle awarersquo please be cautious and wear a helmet (cycling safety tips)

For bicycle rentals visit BIXI or for used bicycles visit Kijiji or Craigslist

The PATH is downtown Torontos underground walkway linking 28km of shopping services and entertainment (see map) Follow the PATH and youll reach your destination easily in weatherproof comfort

Taxis fares are standardized and begin at $4 as soon as you step into the taxi (a fare description is found in most taxis) Tipping (7-10) is a customary practice but not mandatory You can get a taxi by calling 416TAXICAB (416824222) You can also call taxi companies directly Two popular downtown taxi companies are

Beck Taxi at 4167515555

Diamond Taxi at 4163666868

To drive in Canada you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driverrsquos license from your country For visits longer than 3 months an in-ternational driverrsquos license is needed (see Ministry of Transportation) Please note than car rental companies do not rent vehicles to drivers younger than 21 and often charge an additional fee to those under 25 It is important to always have sufficient auto insurance to follow the traf-fic rules and to wear a seatbelt Above all never drink and drive

SUBURBAN RAIL

THE PATH

CYCLING

TAXIS

DRIVING

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Research your phone options

You may want to have your cell phone unlocked before coming to Canada Bring clothing appropriate for the

seasons in Canada

Once you arrive Shop around for the cell phone

plan best suited to your needs Research your different long-

distance calling options Check the weather regularly and

protect yourself from extreme weather as necessary

A

ND

TH

E W

EA

TH

ER

First please remember that cell phone costs are generally higher in Can-ada that in most other countries Second do not sign a 3-year contract The best deals in Canada are of-fered with a long-term contract definitely not what a visiting student wants Third there are numerous cell phone providers in Toronto (and Canada) so itrsquos important to shop around

Bell

Fido

Koodo

Mobilicity

Rogers

Telus

Virgin Mobile

Wind Mobile Fourth keep a few things in mind when shopping around

Cell phone Which features do you want

Coverage Does it cost extra to use outside of Toronto

Daytime minutes How many do you have

Evenings Are calls free

Sending texts How many are included

Receiving texts Is this free

Data Do I need this How much data is included per month

Canadian long-distance calling how much does it cost

International callingtexting how much does it cost

Roaming how much does it cost to use in the US

Signing up are there any connections fees

When you leave Canada How do you cancel your plan Fifth ask your fellow visiting research (and exchange) students for advice (try the RISExC facebook page) Chances are they have also been search-ing and may have found a good deal

Canada employs a local and long-distance calling system Local calls (City of Toronto and some nearby suburbs) are free from land-line phones 50cent from payphones and will cost from your cell phone The rate is set by your provider Many cell phone plans offer a limited number of free daytime minutes for local calls and unlimited evening local calls Long-distance calls (Torontorsquos further suburbs and beyond) will cost you from a landline or a cell phone The rate is set by your provider Call-ing cards and Skype are two popular methods for saving money The same applies for international calls Remember to make an international call you first have to dial 011 Calling cards can be purchased at conven-ience stores Make sure to inspect closely the rates and service charges

Toronto has as broad a climate as almost anywhere in the world with 4 distinct seasons To check current conditions visit Environment Canada

Spring (April amp May) and Fall (September amp October) are usually mild with temperatures between 10-20C but extremes are possible

Summer (June-August) temperatures are often between 20-35C July is especially hot and humid Be aware of both the humidex and the UV index Light clothing and lots of sunscreen are appropriate

Winter (November-March) days are often between -10C and 5C (some days and most other Canadian cities are much colder) Watch the windchill factor Several layers of warm clothing are appropriate

CELL PHONES

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Budget for your food expenses

both eating in and out

Once you arrive Locate your grocery store options Explore Torontorsquos many ethnic

neighbourhoods

A

ND

EA

TIN

G O

UT

For fresh produce and meat there are several areas markets and shops that are innear downtown Main Chinatown Spadina amp Dundas East Chinatown Broadview amp Gerrard Kensington Market Kensington amp Baldwin St Lawrence Market Front amp Jarvis Church Wellesley Village Church amp Wellesley There are also numerous grocery store chains near Ryerson including Metro Gould amp Mutual and College Park at Yonge amp College No Frills 449 Parliament Street and 555 Sherbourne Street Loblaws Carlton amp Church The Kitchen Table Atrium-on-Bay at Yonge amp Dundas Longos Dundas amp Elizabeth Metro and The Kitchen Table are closest Loblaws offers the best selec-tion and is also very close No Frills is a bit further away but cheaper

The campus cafeteria The HUB Market on the main floor of the Podium Building offers a wide variety of food options including pizza soups pas-tas pitas salads sandwiches snacks drinks coffee etc The two student unions on-campus operate both a cafeacute and a pub Oak-ham Cafeacute offers coffees pastries and light meals at affordable prices in the historic Oakham House The Ram in the Rye is the on-campus pub and regularly hosts free activities and events As you can imagine itrsquos one of the most popular student hang-outs on-campus Two coffee shop chains both offering coffee and food Tim Hortons (a fixture of Canadian cultural) and Balzacrsquos have locations on-campus

There are many convenient places to get a bite to eat nearby such as

Salad King (Thai restaurant) 340 Yonge Street

Loblaws Carlton amp Church

The Urban Eatery Eaton Centre Yonge amp Dundas

On top of the many restaurants near Ryerson Toronto has a number of ethnic districts where you find authentic restaurants specialty food items and other products that may not be available in your local grocery store

Greek Greek Town is located on Danforth Avenue (commonly called the lsquoThe Danforthrsquo) between Chester and Pape This area has clothing boutiques lots of great cafes andGreek restaurants

Chinese and Vietnamese the areas to be in are Chinatown cen-tred on Spadina amp Dundas and East Chinatown at Broadview amp Gerrard These areas are well known for two things fresh produce and authentic ChineseVietnamese restaurants

Indian amp Pakistani Little India is located at Gerrard Street East west of Coxwell In addition to restaurants there are fabric stores and spicedry food stores

Caribbean check out Eglinton Avenue West between Dufferin and Marlee for jerk chicken roti and more Caribbean flavours

Korean amp Japanese check out Bloor Street between Christie and Bathurst subway stations

Italian College Street around Bathurst has come to be known as Little Italy A great place not only for a meal but a lively spot to enjoy an espresso or take in a soccer game with a noisy crowd A second smaller Italian neighbourhood called Corso Italia is found on St Clair Avenue West between Lansdowne and Westmount

Portuguese Little Portugal is in Torontorsquos west end around Os-sington and Dovercourt on Dundas Street West

Polish Roncesvalles near Torontorsquos wonderful High Park is the centre of Polish culture and business in Toronto

OFF-CAMPUS FOOD

ON-CAMPUS FOOD

GROCERY OPTIONS

NEARBY EATERIES

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Visit Tourism Toronto to begin

planning what to do and see Visit torontocom to see what

major concerts sporting events and festivals will be in town (tickets may sell very quickly) Research a suitable place of

worship if interested

Once you arrive Experience Torontorsquos many cul-

tural offerings Explore Torontorsquos markets shops

and entertainment options Locate your place of worship or

faith group if interested

S

HO

PP

IN

G amp

PL

AC

ES

OF

WO

RS

HIP

Toronto is a culturally rich metropolis with a huge variety of entertain-ment options The city is home to

diverse cultural festivals

several great museums

a handful of major sports teams

a number of musical productions

a symphony orchestra (cheap tickets for under-35s available)

a world-famous film festival (and many more smaller ones)

an opera company

and countless concerts and independent theatre groups Torontorsquos Entertainment District is where yoursquoll find many of these op-tions as well as Torontorsquos clubbing scene There are several websites magazines and newspapers to help you stay up-to-date with whatrsquos hap-pening in Toronto

The City of Toronto event and festival calendar

Torontocom is the cityrsquos largest online source for entertainment

Tourism Toronto is the official source for all tourism information

NOW Magazine (free) is North Americarsquos most widely-read independ-ent weekly and features extensive entertainment listings infor-mation and reviews along with political commentary

The Eyeopener (free on campus every Wednesday) is Ryersonrsquos independent student newspaper and offers general news and on-campus and some off-campus entertainment information

Xtra offers a mix of news entertainment art and opinion for Torontorsquos large and vibrant gay and lesbian community

The Grid (free) is a weekly focusing on news culture and entertain-ment happening in Torontorsquos many distinctive neighbourhoods

Torontorsquos newspapers also provide some entertainment information Toronto Star Toronto Sun The Globe and Mail National Post

Ticketmaster is the primary source for tickets to concerts and events

On campus visit the RSU to buy discounted tickets to the cinema comedy clubs amusement parks events etc

Some of the downtown shopping hot-spots are Bloor-Yorkville is located on Bloor Street West from Yonge Street

to Avenue Road This area offers high-end boutique shopping with numerous designer stores and restaurants

Yonge Street from Bloor and extending past Queen is another pop-ular area for parting with the contents of your wallet The Eaton Centre downtownrsquos largest mall is steps from Ryerson

Queen Street between Yonge and Bathurst Streets offers an excit-ing mixture of stores cafes bars and street life

Kensington Market just northwest of Spadina amp Dundas this multi-cultural neighbourhood offers a wide range of eclectic shops cafes and street markets

There are several large shopping malls in and around Toronto and they are easy to get to by TTC

Toronto is considered among the worldrsquos most multicultural cities and as such all the major faiths and many smaller religions are represented here You can click here for a list of many places of worship in Toronto or you can try using a search engine In addition the Ryerson Student Union is home to many student groups including faith-based groups Religious and other discrimination is unacceptable in Canada The Office of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services at Ryerson is there to support students who have experienced discrimination

SHOPPING ENTERTAINMENT

PLACES OF WORSHIP

CHECKLIST Before you arrive Become informed of the environ-

mental impacts of travelling Budget for your travels within

Canada the US and elsewhere

Once you arrive Make efforts to increase your

positive travel impacts and reduce your negative travel impacts When possible plan trips in ad-

vance to get the best deals Explore beautiful Canada

C

AN

AD

A

Once yoursquore settled in your new home you might find the idea of travelling around Canada appealing The country is a very large and beautiful one with thousands of sights to see and activities to do However getting around can be a bit expensive so make sure you budget and plan ac-cordingly Below are the most common ways of travelling in Canada Buses Travelling by bus is among the cheapest ways to get around Canada and the US The Toronto Coach Terminal is located near Ryerson at Bay and Dundas The two largest bus networks operating from here are

Megabus

Greyhound Rail Rail is a more comfortable method of travel than bus however prices are often a little higher Torontorsquos regional and national rail services operate out of Union Station on Front Street GO Transit is the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with routes extending to communities around Lake Ontario including Niagara Falls For trains to destinations further afield see Via Rail Be sure to enquire about youthstudent discounts Flying With North Americarsquos vast distances flying is often the quickest and best option However please note that flying in Canada is more expensive than in much of the world There are two airports in Toronto

Billy Bishop Airport (regional flights)

Toronto Pearson Intrsquol Airport (regional national and intrsquol flights) There are 3 major Canadian airlines operating from these airports as well as many other carriers

Air Canada (both airports)

WestJet (Pearson only)

Porter Airlines (Billy Bishop only) Tour Operators Tour operators provide packages combining travel accommodations and activities and so are a hassle-free way of exploring the country Different operators cater to different interests Both Moose Network and ISX offer a variety of tours and activities focused on students

Many Canadian cities are within a reasonable distance to Toronto and can be easily reached for a weekend trip

Hamilton mdash 69 km 1 hour 20 min by GO Train Known as the ldquoSteel Cityrdquo because of its famous steel production in-dustry Hamilton is also home to museums and botanical gardens

Niagara Falls mdash 128 km 2 hours 15 min by Go Bus One of the worldrsquos natural wonders Niagara Falls is a definite sight to see There are also a host of activities to do in the city itself

Stratford mdash 150 km 2 hours by Via Rail Famous for its annual Stratford Festival this picturesque town is also home to a Victorian downtown district

Wasaga beachCollingwood mdash 134 km 3 hours by Greyhound Popular year-round Collingwood is home to Ski Blue Mountain as well as golfing swimming and hiking activities

Ottawa mdash 449 km 1 hour with Porter Airlines The capital of the country Ottawa is home to the famous Parliament Buildings and many different events and festivals

Montreacuteal mdash 542 km 5 hours 45 min by Megabus This city has both historic sights and a great entertainment district

We encourage you to consider the impact of travelling While tourism pro-motes development it can also lead to cultural and environmental destruc-tion Please read more about how to increase your positive travel impact

WAYS TO GET AROUND