Earth Hour last year in Toronto was remarkable. By turning out the lights for only 1 hour, demand was reduced by 8.7%, removing 262 Megawatts from the grid which is the equivalent of 150,000 homes or 5.8 million 60 Watt light bulbs. Learn more about Earth Hour in Toronto.

The International Centre, located at 6900 Airport Road in Mississauga, will be the scene of one of Toronto’s favourite events – the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show – from March 20 to March 22. You must be 19 years of age to attend. The show hours are:
•    Friday, March 20th from 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
•    Saturday, March 21st from 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
•    Sunday, March 22nd from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

The Toronto Wine & Cheese Show is a fantastic experience for foodies and wine lovers alike featuring a selection of international wines for tasting and for sale, cuisine from renowned restaurants, seminars, food demonstrations, and live music. Show highlights include:
•    Live Cooking Shows by famous Food Network hosts
•    Free Kitchen Demonstrations
•    Cheese Tasting Seminars by the Dairy Farmers of Canada
•    Wine Appreciation Seminars
•    Live jazz in the Smooth Jazz Wine Garden
•    Vintages Classics Collection Tasting
•    Motts Caesar School
•    Pure Luxury Pavilion

Tickets are $18 at the door or $16 online. However, in order to sample any alcohol, sampling tickets must be purchased. They are $1 each and can be purchased before you enter the show at the main entrance, or on the show floor. Cash only will be accepted. The amount of tickets required for a sample will be determined by the exhibitor and will vary from booth to booth.

The International Centre is accessible by Mississauga Transit or by GO Transit. Please don’t drink and drive. Leave the car at home or appoint a designated driver.

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement of like-minded people around the world who are committed to fighting global warming. They ask you to join and support this movement by uniting as one and turning off your lights for one hour on Saturday, March 25th from 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM, local time. So far 1,508 cities and towns in 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour 2009. The goal for this year is to reach the target of 1 billion participants. The numbers of people participating in Earth Hour will be tabulated as a vote against global warming and presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009 where official government policies will be established to take action against global warming, replacing the Kyoto Protocol.

The WWF is hoping that Earth Hour will be a rallying point and a catalyst for change. Turing off your lights for 1 hour is a symbolic gesture that will hopefully increase awareness and encourage us to make other small changes, that when added up, amount to a significant difference – leave your car at home and take public transit when ever possible, turn off lights when you leave a room, unplug unused electrical appliances, wash your clothes in cold water, and hang clothes to dry instead of using a dryer when possible.

Earth Hour last year in Toronto was remarkable. By turning out the lights for only 1 hour, demand was reduced by 8.7%, removing 262 Megawatts from the grid which is the equivalent of 150,000 homes or 5.8 million 60 Watt light bulbs. Learn more about Earth Hour in Toronto.

Toronto has many exciting events and activities to keep kids of all ages busy during March break. For parents who can’t take the time off work, March break can present certain challenges, but there are plenty of programs designed to keep the kids active and challenged.

• Working parents will appreciate the wide variety of March Break Day Camps that offer sports, arts, and adventure. Browse this comprehensive list

• Take the kids on an outing to Riverdale Farm, located at 201 Winchester Street. It’s an actual working farm which is a real treat for urbanites and it’s absolutely free. For more information call 416–392–6794 or visit the City of Toronto website.

• Visit over 5,000 exotic animals at the Toronto Zoo, located on Meadowvale Road North of Highway 401. The Zoo is TTC accessible. Take the subway to the Kennedy Subway Station and then take the 86A Bus to the Zoo or the 85A Bus from the Don Mills Subway Station. For more information visit the Toronto Zoo website .

• The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) will be extending its hours to 8:30 PM from March 14 – March 22 for March break (except for Sunday, March 22 when the ROM will close at 5:30 PM) and there will be half price admission from 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM. The ROM is conveniently located at 100 Queen’s Park and is accessible by subway at either the Museum stop or the St. George stop. Visit the ROM’s website  for information on special March break programming.

• Take the family to Wizard World, an indoor fun park, located at The Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, 195 Princes’ Boulevard (Dufferin Street & Lakeshore Boulevard West) from March 15 – March 22. There will be rides, wild animals, a petting zoo, magic shows, live entertainment, arcades, and an interactive area. For more information visit the Wizard World website .

• Ontario Place is hosting a March Break Film Festival from March 16 – March 22. There are two films being featured – Bolt and High School Musical 3. Bolt will be shown daily at 11:30 AM and High School Musical 2 will be shown daily at 2:00 PM. Admission is $8.00 per person. The Ontario Place Cinesphere is located at 955 Lakeshore Boulevard West and is TTC accessible. Take the 509 Harbourfront Streetcar at Union Station and exit at Exhibition Place. Walk south through the grounds and go over the Lakeshore Bridge to Ontario Place. For more information visit the Ontario Place website.

Ontario is now attempting to pass legislation that would allow the province to sue the tobacco companies directly for the expenses for smoking related health care costs. This is hardly ground breaking legislation. In fact health care cost recovery litigation was first pursued by 4 four U.S. states in the mid-1990s. Since then several Canadian provinces have already passed health care cost recovery legislation. Ontario is actually quite late in jumping on the bandwagon. The impetus for Ontario to pursue this course of action now may be that JTI-Macdonald is under bankruptcy protection and if Ontario waits too long they may miss their chance to sue them. It is estimated that a successful lawsuit against all of the tobacco manufacturers could net the province as much as $60 million.

The government says smoking costs taxpayers in Ontario about $1.6 billion annually. Studies have clearly demonstrated that smoking is the number one

cause of preventable disease and death in Ontario and that there is no safe level of cigarette use. Tobacco use accounts for the deaths of about 13,000 Ontario residents annually.

Even if Ontario does successfully sue the tobacco manufacturers, and there is no reason to believe otherwise, this is not a quick process. It will likely take years until there is any resolution, let alone payment. Ontario’s auditor general had an interesting comment when he stated in December that the province misses out on $500 million in lost tobacco taxes from the sale of illegal cigarettes in Ontario and he blamed “a lack of political will to deal with the issue”.

Let me preface this by saying that I am a non-smoker and I am anti smoking. What I don’t understand is that the tobacco manufacturers are legal enterprises, yet we are treating them like criminals. We are not suing the alcohol companies or the LCBO for increased auto insurance rates and health care costs as a result of drunk driving. If we believe that the tobacco shouldn’t be sold, then pass legislation to declare them illegal enterprises and shut them down, but don’t take legal tax money from them and then force them out of business with more and more punitive laws.

It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside. At Canada Blooms the flowers and gardens are a refreshing glimpse of spring and summer. Taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building located at 222 Bremner Boulevard from March 18 – 22, Canada Blooms is the largest flower and garden festival in Canada. The proceeds from Canada Blooms go right back to the community supporting projects that promote horticulture and enhance our landscapes.

There are over 6 acres of professionally landscaped gardens created by some of Canada’s best. Increase your knowledge and pick up some great tips at over 200 hours of gardening demonstrations. Some of the highlights of the show include:

• The Home Depot Inspired Outdoor Living Centre
• Miracle-Gro Garden Boxes
• The Heart & Stroke Pulse Garden
• Wine Tasting at the Niagara Wine Garden
• Pick Ontario Avenue on the 600 Level
• City of Toronto’s 175th Anniversary Garden
• The Bienenstock Natural Playground
• The Marketplace featuring garden products, decorations, structures and services

Purchase tickets at the Canada Blooms Booth located on the 600 Level of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, at any Sobeys store in Ontario for $18, or online at the reduced rate of $16. After 5:00 PM you can purchase tickets at the Ticket Booth for only $12.

Show hours are:

Wednesday, March 18^th from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday, March 19^th from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Friday, March 20^th from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday, March 21^st from 2009 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday, March 22^nd from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Parking is available at several parking lots on Queens Quay, although it is not necessary to take your car. The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is easily accessible by public transit to Union Station. Walk west on Front Street and enter through the North Building or you can take the CN Tower - Canada Blooms Shuttle Bus that runs daily from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM with pick up at Queens Quay Parking Lots and Union Station and drop off at Canada Blooms and the CN Tower.

Music is such an important part of our everyday lives – we listen to radio, purchase music, download music, and attend concerts – that we tend to forget that it is an industry. Canadian Music Week is the time that the music industry comes together to celebrate, educate, congratulate, and entertain. This year they will be gathering at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. There are many facets to Canadian Music Week and whether you are a music lover or a music industry insider, you will want to attend this exciting event.

• The Conference offers interesting and thought provoking sessions on Digital Media & Music Summit, Radio Active, Executive Music, and Tuneup Music. The keynote speaker is none other than Gene Simmons, of KISS and star of his own reality show called Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

• Canadian Musicfest features 500 artists at 45 venues in 5 nights. Here is a complete list of artists. Tickets and wristbands are on sale now.

• The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards, Canadian Radio Music Awards, The Crystal Awards, and the Indie Awards will be presented. They are ticketed events.

• The Trade Show will be taking place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Thursday March 12^th from 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM, Friday March 13^th from 9:45 AM - 6:00 PM, and on Saturday March 14^th from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

• The Film Festival will take place at the NFB Cinema, National Film Board of Canada, at 150 John Street on Saturday, March 14th.

• The International Marketplace has been designed as a place for Canadian and international delegates to network with each other.

• Attend one of the special events that showcase talent in songwriting, bands, and music for film.

Attend this important convention and explore all of the possibilities that Canadian Music Week offers.

Don’t just get angry, do something about it. The Say No to Parking Fees Petition has been created in response to the Toronto Transit Commission eliminating free Metropass parking as of April 1, 2009. And, unfortunately this is not an April Fool’s Day joke. Instead of free parking, Metropass holders will be charged a daily rate between $3 and $12 per day. This is the same rate as anyone else who parks in the lot. Being a Metropass holder will no longer have its privileges.

It has been estimated that approximately 5% of Metropass users will be affected by this new policy. The question really is whether charging Metropass holders for parking will make public transit costs prohibitive and actually make it more economical for commuters to drive instead, particularly with gas prices down. And if that is the case, will the TTC actually be making any money from charging Metropass holders for parking, or will they lose money in the long run? A TTC report estimated that the new parking policy could cost the TTC between $2.5 million and $3.5 million in lost fare revenue.

The TTC says that it has no plans to reconsider the policy and that the money is needed to maintain the parking lots. New equipment is being installed in the parking lots allowing patrons to pay with credit cards instead of cash only. Free parking will still be available at the TTC’s parking lots after 3:00 PM daily and on weekends and holidays. However, that won’t do anything to help the poor, beleaguered commuter. If you feel strongly about the issue, sign the petition and call your city councilor.

St. Patrick’s Day is on Tuesday, March 17^th, but the festivities begin on Sunday, March 15^th with Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade . Steeped in tradition, the Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade is now in its 22^nd year. Beginning at noon from Bloor and St. George Streets, the parade will continue along Bloor Street, down Yonge Street, and end on Queen Street at Nathan Philips Square. This is a great family event. Arrive early to stake out the best viewing locations. Some of the participants in the Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade are the Irish County Associations, Irish Dancers, St. Swithun’s Society, Toronto EMS, Celebrity Judges, Toronto Firefighters, York Lions Steel Band, and the Toronto Police Pipes & Drums.

Now that you’re in the spirit, come out and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of many Toronto events.

• On March 17^th there is a special exhibit at the Irish Tollkeeper’s Cottage from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The tollkeeper’s cottage is located in The Tollkeeper’s Park (formerly Davenport Square Park) on the northwest corner of Davenport Road and Bathurst Street. Admission is $5 and includes tea, authentic Irish soda bread and marmalade, and a tour of the cottage.
• On Saturday, March 14^th and Sunday, March 15^th come out to PawsWay , located at 245 Queens Quay, North Building for A Touch of the Irish. Dog lovers will have the opportunity to meet and greet Irish breeds of dogs - Kerry Blue, Irish and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Irish Setter, and more. Dress your dog in a St. Patrick’s Day costume and your dog could win a prize. Irish singers, dancers, and story tellers will be on hand to amuse and entertain.
• Head out to one of the fantastic Irish pubs in Toronto and hoist a pint of green beer. A list of Irish pubs can be found in this comprehensive guide.
• Alexander Keith’s is hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in pubs across Toronto. Check out their website for the location closest to you.
• The Chieftans will be performing Celtic music at Roy Thomson Hall on March 17^th. For information on tickets go to the Roy Thomson Hall website.
• Bring the family to a St. Patrick’s Day event from 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM on March 17^th at Montgomery’s Inn, located at 4709 Dundas Street West in Etobicoke. Prices are $5.31 plus tax. For more information call 416-394-8113.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

The City of Toronto wants to qualify for the Blue Flag program , an international standard that declares whether or not water is safe enough for swimming. Achieving the Blue Flag designations means that the beach meets high standards with respect to water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety and services. And in order to do this, they have declared war against dogs and their owners. Last fall the city declared Woodbine, Ward’s Island, Hanlan’s Point, Gibraltar Point, Centre Island and Cherry Beach areas restricted to dogs and have been handing out $300 fines if our 4-legged friends have been seen in these areas, even if they are leashed. The next areas on the City of Toronto’s hit list are Kew and Balmy beaches, both of which the city is hoping to have certified with the Blue Flag designation before the summer season.

Dogs have been targeted because apparently dog poop gets mixed with the sand and causes contamination. However, it appears that dogs are not really the problem; it is geese. However, the City of Toronto needs someone or something to blame that can be controlled and fined and since no one it seems can control the geese or fine them, dogs have become number 1 on the hit list. Lou Di Gironimo, general manager of Toronto Water, stated that it is not dogs causing the majority of E. coli problems in the city’s waters but the waterfowl - geese and gulls. They have determined this scientifically with genetic fingerprinting that pinpointed Canada goose and seagull poop as major source of E. coli in the lake’s waters.

The new Beaches Plan was endorsed by Toronto city council by a 33 -3 margin and dog owners are supposed to be satisfied that two off-leash dog areas near Kew and Balmy beaches will still be available. As off late April dogs will no longer be frolicking on Kew and Balmy Beaches. And, all of this will be for not because dogs are not the problem. The City of Toronto as usual has its head in the sand and refuses to deal with the real problem – geese and gulls.

There are many world records and firsts held by Toronto and Torontonians. Some were medical breakthroughs of enormous magnitude that had a major impact on humanity and actually made the world a better place. Others are ridiculous beyond belief, but they did manage to get people into the record books. There have been many world records set by Torontonians in athletics, but unfortunately those records are quite fleeting and are usually eclipsed quite quickly. Here are 25 world records and firsts held by Toronto and Torontonians that may amaze you and amuse you.

1.    Edward Rogers Sr. invented the world’s first alternating current (AC) radio tube in 1925
2.    Frederick Banting and Charles Best were the first to discover insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921
3.    Dr. John A. Hopps was the first to discover the pacemaker at the University of Toronto in 1950
4.    Highway 407 is the world’s first fully electronic toll highway
5.    The world’s first permanent AIDS memorial was erected in Cawthra Park, Toronto in 1993
6.    The revolving restaurant in the CN Tower has the world’s highest wine cellar
7.    The CN Tower also has world’s highest glass-floor elevator
8.    Toronto’s PATH system, 27 km long, is the world’s largest underground retail complex
9.    Nick Calderaro created the largest jawbreaker in the world, weighing almost thirteen kilograms
10.    Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes and participants at the Hummingbird Centre, hold the world record for the longest single line of people performing a kick line
11.    Arulanantham Suresh Joachim and Tiffany Lesko won the world record for the longest dance marathon by a couple, finishing at a time of 31 hours and one minute
12.    Michal Kapral holds the world record for running a marathon 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 43 seconds while pushing a baby buggy
13.    Michal Kapral also holds the world record for joggling - juggling three beanbags while he jogged a distance of 10 km without dropping any of them
14.    Peel Region employees walked together through the Bramalea City Centre to set a new world record for simultaneous walking
15.    Jagjit Singh holds the world record for Longest Drumming Marathon
16.    Yonge Street holds the world record as the longest street in the world - 1,896 km (1,178 miles) from the lakeshore in Toronto, north to Rainy River, Ontario, at the Minnesota border
17.    The world record for the world’s biggest dance class was taught by instructors from the local Shiamak Davar Indo Jazz Dance Movement at the CNE
18.    Pete Czerwinski of Toronto holds the world record for latke eating -  46 latkes in eight minutes
19.    Suresh Joachim of Toronto holds the world record for the longest time spent watching TV - 69 hours and 48 minutes
20.    Suresh Joachim also holds the world record for impersonating Elvis -55 hours
21.    Suresh Joachim also holds the world record for watching movies – 123 hours
22.    Suresh Joachim also holds the world record for leading a music band – 42 hours and 52 minutes
23.    Toronto holds the world record hold for the amount of food donated by a city over 24 hours - 119,068 kilograms
24.    Luke Sauder holds the world record for the most vertical miles skied in a 24 hour period
25.    The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts has the world’s longest free-spanning staircase