Life in Toronto
Weather
Parks, Gardens and Beaches
Festivals and Events
Toronto has as broad a climate as almost anywhere in the world, with four distinct seasons. To check current conditions, visit Environment Canada (external link) .
Toronto is home to over 1,500 parks and 600 km of trails (external link) , making it easy for you to enjoy nature, even in the heart of the city. Visit City of Toronto’s website (external link) for further information.
Toronto offers a wide variety of festivals and events (external link) which celebrate the diversity of our people and culture. The Festivals & Events Calendar (external link) features all City-produced events alongside hundreds of events created by the community.
Public and Safety Alerts
Recreation
History, Art and Culture
When police, fire or medical emergencies occur, call 9‑1‑1. Trained emergency call takers will provide you with the information and assistance you need. See Public Safety & Alerts (external link) for more information and resources.
The City provides recreational programs (external link) during the summer and winter months. Search for a program (external link) and register on the Program Registration and Facility Booking (external link) website.
The city provides museums, galleries, public art, exhibits, campus and poetry. Visit the City of Toronto (external link) for more information.
Sports
Toronto is home to a number of professional sports teams and boasts a passionate fanbase!
- Toronto Raptors (external link) - National Basketball Association (NBA) - 2019 NBA Finals Champions
- Toronto Blue Jays (external link) - Major League Baseball (MLB)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (external link) - National Hockey League (NHL)
- Toronto Argonauts (external link) - Canadian Football League (CFL)
- Toronto FC (external link) - Major League Soccer (MLS)
- National Bank Open (external link) (formerly Rogers Cup) - Tennis
- TMU Rams (external link) (new name in process) - Visit a local game at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, free with your OneCard.
Food and Shopping
The PATH (external link) has over 30 kilometres worth of shopping, services and entertainment. According to the Guinness World Records, it’s the largest underground shopping complex in the world and it belongs in downtown Toronto! It (PDF file) links (external link) the city’s major tourist, entertainment, and business attractions!
There are many convenient places to get a bite to eat nearby, such as:
- Salad King (external link) : 340 Yonge Street
- Basil Box (external link) : Student Learning Centre
- Loblaws (external link) : Carlton & Church
- The Urban Eatery (external link) : Eaton Centre, Yonge & Dundas
The campus cafeteria, the Hub Café on the main floor of the (PDF file) Podium Building offers a wide variety of food options.
The two student unions on-campus operate both a café and a pub. Oakham Café (external link) offers coffee, pastries and light meals at affordable prices in the historic Oakham House. The Met Campus Pub (external link) is the on-campus pub and regularly hosts free activities and events. As you can imagine, it’s one of the most popular student hangouts on-campus.
Two coffee shop chains, both offering coffee and food, Tim Hortons (external link) and Balzac’s (external link) have locations on-campus.
In the mood for something outside the campus area? Visit yelp.ca (external link) ! Or do you want to order in? Visit SkipTheDishes (external link) and Uber Eats (external link) .
For fresh produce and meat, there are several areas, markets and shops in and near the downtown area:
- Toronto Chinatown (external link) : a number of shops, restaurants, activities, historic monuments and spas located at Spadina and Dundas
- Kensington Market (external link) : located at Kensington and Baldwin, this diverse neighbourhood provides, restaurants, shopping, art and much more!
- St. Lawrence Market (external link) : home to 120 vendors, merchants and artisans, located at Front and Jarvis
There are also a number of grocery store chains near Toronto Metropolitan University:
- Metro (external link) : Gould and Mutual, College Park at Yonge and College
- No Frills (external link) : 449 Parliament Street and 555 Sherbourne Street
- Loblaws (external link) : Carlton and Church
- The Kitchen Table (external link) : Atrium-on-Bay at Yonge and Dundas
- Longos: Dundas and Elizabeth
- Sobeys (external link) : College Park at Yonge and College
Whether you are hunting for an outfit, grabbing a bite to eat, or looking for an escape from bad weather, there are plenty of shopping malls in Toronto!
Yorkdale Shopping Centre (external link) : This North York (external link) mall regularly starts off with a stressful experience trying to secure a parking spot. However, once you're finished that battle you have access to 250+ stores.
Scarborough Town Centre (external link) : This Scarborough (external link) mall is for shoppers more interested in variety. It's a mix of major chains, big box retailers and independent shops.
CF Sherway Gardens (external link) : This Etobicoke (external link) mall services west-enders with plenty of upscale choices. Sherway Gardens is best known for its iconic tented roof, is the city's best for a day of relaxed window shopping.
CF Shops at Don Mills (external link) : This outdoor complex has brought highbrow shopping to what was once a humble neighbourhood (external link) .
CF Fairview Mall (external link) : this North York (external link) shopping centre manages to pack a lot - books, booze, small appliances, toys and fashion for every age and budget - into a manageable space.
Pacific Mall (external link) : Considered the "Largest Chinese Indoor Mall in North America," this Markham (external link) destination is home to nearly 500 shops.
CF Toronto Eaton Centre (external link) : The CF Toronto Eaton Centre is located conveniently for the TMU community in the heart of downtown Toronto, featuring more than 250 shops. CF Toronto Eaton Centre attracts almost 50 million visitors annually and ranks as one of North America’s best performing centres.
Vaughan Mills (external link) : This outlet mall (external link) delivers bargains and outlet versions of almost every major shoe store, as well as nostalgic entertainment.
Bayview Village Shops (external link) : As one of Toronto's pricier malls, you’ll find high end shops.
Square One Shopping Centre (external link) : This Mississauga (external link) mall is a mix of independent, chain and big box retailers.