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Toronto

Hotspot: Canada’s Wonderland

Hot On The Street - Canada's Wonderland - Backlot Stunt Coaster - Sarah Prince

 
I covered most of Toronto’s tourist attractions while growing up in the city, but it’s fun to return to your favourite spots with a new perspective as an adult. I recently went to Canada’s Wonderland to experience the thrill of riding roller coasters and escape city life for the day.
 
My favourite ride is definitely The Fly. It’s slower than the Backlot Stunt Coaster, which I also liked, but fast enough to feel like a mini adventure. Thunder Run comes at a close second, while the wooden ride Wild Beast was too shaky for me. Next time, I’d love to ride in a log on Timberwolf Falls.

Hot On The Street - Canada's Wonderland - Drop Tower - Sarah Prince
 
The highlight of my day at Wonderland was crossing something off my bucket list: riding Drop Tower, formerly known as Drop Zone. The short line didn’t give me much time to think about what I was about to do. I went on it with an open mind. When we got to the top, I had a few seconds to enjoy an incredible view of the park and the surrounding area in Vaughan. After that, we quickly plunged back to the bottom and then it was over. I did it! And I was proud of conquering my fear.
 
Beyond the rides, I noticed how many food franchises have opened at Wonderland since my last visit. In addition to Pizza Pizza, they now have SUBWAY, Starbucks and Manchu Wok to name a few. Thankfully their website clearly lists peanut-free dining options so I knew where I could safely eat upon arrival.
 
Hot On The Street - Canada's Wonderland - The Rage - Sarah Prince
 
Going to Wonderland was a lot of fun, but I don’t think I’ll necessarily return next summer. Now that I’ve been to Las Vegas a few times, I prefer the thrill of gambling. It’s a different kind of risk with a different kind of reward, but if you’re smart with your bets then you can make your money last for awhile.
 
That said, Wonderland is an awesome place to take kids and I had a lot of fun when I used to have a season pass. If nothing else, Wonderland is a great place to enjoy Toronto’s summer weather where you can be free to channel your inner child. No matter how hard they try though, they can never compete with Disney World.
September 4, 2015 by

Coffee With Michael Bregman

Hot On The Street - Sarah Prince and Michael Bregman

A few months ago, I wrote about drinking tea with Carly Rae Jepsen. We didn’t meet at DAVIDsTEA to catch up like old friends; we simply posed at a meet and greet. Drinking coffee with Second Cup’s chairman Michael Bregman was kind of similar. It wasn’t a one-on-one information interview, but rather a breakfast event where he spoke and young professionals listened intently.

In hindsight, Michael’s talk was similar to Annie Young-Scrivner’s keynote at QMAC 2013. At the time, Annie was President, Starbucks Canada and now she is President, Teavana. On both occasions, Michael and Annie succinctly shared their views on coffee consumption, inspired advice-hungry audiences and left enough time for questions.

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July 6, 2014 by

Happy Birthday Tim Hortons

TIM HORTONS - Tim Hortons recreates 1964 at Yonge-Dundas Square

“It’s like Mad Men around here.”

Even though Tim Hortons never had a chance to work with Don Draper, they’ve done quite well in the last 50 years. According to Marketel, Tim Hortons is Canadian women’s favourite brand and it ranks high on my list too.

To celebrate its 50th birthday, Tim Hortons threw a huge bash at Yonge & Dundas Square today. Actors wearing vintage garments created a vibrant scene set in the 60s, featuring parents with a baby carriage and a police officer who was delighted to put people in his black and white cop car. They put on quite a show and a caffeinated audience ‘ate it up,’ as my grandmother likes to say.

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May 15, 2014 by

How Gastropost Unites Food Lovers

After hearing speakers from Mondelez and Starbucks at QMAC, I started thinking about how fun it would be to promote food and drinks as your day job. Chris Tindal, co-founder of Postmedia Labs, does the next best thing; he oversees the operations of Gastropost.

Since Gastropost’s Toronto launch in May 2012, it has expanded to Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary, and it now has over 10,000 members. Recognizing its success, I was excited to hear Tindal speak about the content strategy behind Gastropost’s growth. Tindal explained that his team’s goal is to inspire people to love their city by encouraging community members to share their expertise.

Gastropost

Gastropost offers anyone with an internet connection and camera the opportunity to share pictures of food with a large audience. The main incentive to participate in Gastropost’s weekly missions is the chance to see your name and photo in National Post. Each mission has a different theme, such as holiday treats or Father’s Day BBQs. Some themes are created based on brand partnerships between Gastropost and CPG brands, such as Kraft.

Anyone can become a self-proclaimed foodie. Gastropost, however, differentiates amateur food photographers by featuring a selection of food lovers online and in the newspaper every week. 50 likes on your Facebook photo of a fancy appetizer doesn’t qualify as a claim to fame in the same way that being in the National Post does.

Gastropost proves that print newspapers still have value, authority and credibility. There’s no doubt about how exciting it is for a photo of your dinner to be featured in one of Canada’s most popular newspapers. Even though Gastropost doesn’t offer any monetary compensation, the personal validation members receive is evidently sufficient motivation to keep the #gastropost hashtag and community alive. “Every week we send people an email to do something and they do it,” said Tindal. How many email marketers can say that?

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December 9, 2013 by

This Place Is Like A Zoo

Sign

After having so much FOMO as a Western student, I’m on a mission to explore Toronto like a tourist in my own city. So far, I’ve gone to TIFF, Honest Ed’s, City Hall and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and I’m just getting started!

One of my favourite tourist destinations is the Toronto Zoo and it’s nice to go back with a digital camera and reminisce about childhood memories. Without the temptation to buy stuffed animals and toys at every gift shop, there’s a lot more time to explore. If you don’t mind braving the cold, add this outing to your to-do list. It’s a beautiful place to see the leaves changing colour!

Elephant

I convinced my friend Sarah to go back with me so we could see the elephants before they were transported to California. Elephants have always been my favourite animal. Now that they’re no longer in Toronto, I want to return to African Lion Safari for another elephant ride!

We spent about six hours at the zoo and it went by fast. It was frustrating to see signs for seasonal attractions that are closed in the fall and winter, but there was still plenty to see. Aside from watching the elephants one last time, another highlight was the panda exhibit, which opened in the spring. The pandas are named Er Shun and Da Mao and they’re quite adorable.

Panda

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November 2, 2013 by