Summit is coming to Toronto, and we asked CBRC’s Communications Coordinator, Saadia Khan, to share their recommendations for things to do in the city. While there will be plenty to see and do at this year’s conference (October 29-November 1, in case you haven’t registered), you will definitely want to step outside The Westin Harbour Castle and explore Toronto. 

Welcome to Toronto! I’m excited to share with you my recommendations for nightlife, arts and culture, and queer spaces around the city — plus what to do around the Summit venue and tips for getting around.

Nightlife — the Village and elsewhere

The most obvious place I would recommend for 2S/LGBTQIA+ people who have never been to Toronto before is the Church-Wellesley Village. Remember, Summit is from October 29-November 1 this year, with Halloween falling on the Saturday, so this is actually a great time for you to be coming into town! Halloween on Church happens every year — the street closes down to become a pedestrian-only block party. Make sure to go in costume (you’re welcome to premiere it at Summit, too)!

While there are currently no shows lining up with Summit dates, you can also check out Buddies in Bad Times theatre for their nightlife events. Buddies is a beloved queer theatre (the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre, in fact!) that hosts parties as well as plays.

If you’re looking to venture outside the Village but still want to patronize a queer bar, check out Three Dollar Bill in Parkdale.

There are so many more queer-friendly bars and event venues within and outside the Village that I could list, but to make my life (and yours) easier, I’ll just have you check out YOHOMO for parties, drag events, and other queer cultural offerings in Toronto.

(If bars or parties aren’t your thing, but you still want to experience Toronto’s Village, why not try a cafe? Understory Cafe is a recently opened, trans-owned establishment. More cafe recommendations follow below!)

Books and archives

Let’s talk bookstores! Glad Day Bookshop (considered the oldest queer bookshop in the world!), Another Story, and A Different Booklist are the top ones I’d recommend. Researchers might enjoy perusing the ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives — make sure to reach out to them to book an appointment in advance if you want to see their collections in-person.

Museums and art

One of my favourite museums in Toronto is the Textile Museum of Canada. I would admit to being biased, seeing as I’m a textile hobbyist, but this museum is truly one of a kind! Something I love doing there is weaving on their floor looms (and I know there are textile enthusiasts at Summit every year… I have proof!!!).

The Textile Museum’s Always in Fashion exhibit explores Indigenous design and fashion, and includes my colleague and incredible drag artist Jaylene Tyme’s finale runway dress from Season 5 of Canada’s Drag Race! And I’m particularly looking forward to their Retracing Tatreez exhibit, which will be on in time for Summit.

On the topic of Indigenous art, I highly recommend checking out the Native Arts Society, if your time in Toronto lines up with their hours. They are an Indigenous Two-Spirit, queer and trans-led gallery.

401 Richmond is also a great place to get your art fix. This space houses many different galleries and studios — one of my favourites is Tangled Art + Disability, centering work by Disabled artists. Their latest exhibition, Tangled’s Tenth, will be on in time for Summit.

The Toronto Biennial of Art, a city-wide art exhibition that happens every two years, will also be on while you’re here for Summit. (More art near the Summit venue — keep reading!)

Must-see neighbourhoods

Toronto is known as a “city of neighbourhoods,” each one distinctly identifiable with its own unique character and charm.

If you’re on your first trip to Toronto, I highly recommend Kensington Market, a wonderful, walkable neighbourhood that’s home to many arts spaces, secondhand and vintage stores, and other shops and restaurants. Some of my Kensington favourites are: Arch Cafe and Pamenar (coffee shops by day and bars by night), Fika Cafe, Wu Wei (known for their matcha), Gus Tacos, and Sleepy Pete’s (I love a good breakfast sandwich). If you’re a comic book fan, check out The Beguiling. You can easily combine an outing to Kensington with nearby Chinatown — my favourite Chinatown restaurants are Magical Taste of China and Yummy Yummy Dumplings, while SPC member Hanako Smith, recommends Rol San.

My coworkers, Alex and Andy, recommend the following neighbourhoods:

• Ossington: Easy to spend a whole evening there with dinner, drinks, and wandering around. Lots of good options without having to plan every stop.

• West Queen West: Easy to pair with Ossington for shopping, cafes, bars, galleries, etc.

• Parkdale: Great area for anyone who wants something less touristy than Ossington.

• Geary Avenue: A good choice if you want something more local/current.

• St. Lawrence Market & Distillery District: Great if you’re visiting Toronto for the first time, and easy to get to from the Summit venue.

Around the Summit venue

Summit 2026 is happening at the Westin Harbour Castle, right on Toronto’s Harbourfront. There’s lots to do in this part of the city. Because we’ll be near the water during the fall, it will feel chilly, so make sure to pack layers!

Grab a coffee, go for a stroll along the boardwalk, and see some art for free — The Power Plant is a nearby contemporary art gallery that used to be a coal-burning powerhouse. They will have new installations starting October 24 (just in time for Summit!) and admission is free.

You can also hop on the 114 bus and explore Biidaasige Park on the island of Ookwemin Minising (“sunlight shining toward us” and “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin, respectively), about a 10-15 minute ride. Opened just last year, the park features a playground with a zipline (that Hanako says is fun for adults too!) and walking paths right along the water. In the park is also the Lassonde Art Trail, a series of public art sites spanning four kilometres of park paths.

End off with a lakeside dinner at one of the many restaurants along the water. Queen’s Harbour is my favourite, and Hanako recommends Pearl Harbourfront Chinese Cuisine for dim sum.

(Also, the Summit venue is right next to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, which takes inland Torontonians to the Toronto Islands. In late October, I would skip the islands as it will be quite cold and many things are closed in the off-season, but you might enjoy the ferry ride there and back for views of the Toronto skyline!)

Getting around in Toronto

Airports

If you’re coming from either Pearson Toronto Airport or Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, you can easily grab a cab or rideshare (e.g., Uber or Lyft), but you may want to take public transportation as a cheaper option:

• Pearson: The UP express comes straight from the airport to downtown Toronto’s Union Station. The Westin Harbour Castle is about a 10-minute walk from Union.

• Billy Bishop: Take the 509 streetcar (usually only about a 15-minute trip).

Train

If you’re coming in by VIA Rail, the train will drop you off at Union Station (again, only a 10-minute walk to the hotel). You can also get on the 509 or 510 streetcars to and from Union — more on that below.

Subways, streetcars, and buses

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) connects the city via subway, streetcar, and bus routes. We will be in a well-connected part of the city during Summit — the 509 streetcar route runs along the Harbourfront, while the 509 and 510 streetcars will take you to Union Station (also within walking distance), as will the 114 and 202 bus routes.

Union Station is where you will go to access the subway system. On this map of the Toronto transit system, you will see that Union Station is at the bottom of a U-shaped loop. This means that the subway only goes north from Union, but on different sides of the “U.” If you’re using the subway to get somewhere, make sure you’re on the correct side of the loop! Consult in-station maps, and use Google Maps or the Transit app to plan your trips.

Paying your fare

The easiest way for out-of-towners to pay transit fares is by tapping a debit or credit card on the readers. If you want to know more about fares, click here.

When you tap on to a TTC vehicle, a two-hour transfer is automatically applied to your card. This means that when you tap on to additional trips on subways, streetcars, and buses within that two-hour window, you will not be charged. Make sure you tap with the same card each time you transfer!

Biking

If you’re a bike rider and want to explore the city that way, make use of Bike Share to borrow bikes at low costs. (Fun fact — I only learned how to ride a bike this summer. I’m still too scared to bike on Toronto roads, but trails and parks are my jam.)