D2L Fusion 2024
Top 10 Things to Do in Toronto Besides Fusion
Each year, I put together a list of fun things to do in the Fusion host city. This year, I asked some friends and colleagues to help me out. If you’re arriving before Fusion or sticking around awhile after the conference wraps up, here are some adventures you might consider in and around the Toronto area.
By Barry Dahl, Teaching & Learning Advocate, D2L
Casa Loma
Canada’s only full-sized Gothic-style castle. Complete with hidden passages and stunning architecture, it has over 650,000 visitors per year.
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Monkey’s Paw Bookstore
Specializes in old, uncommon and hard-to-find books from the 20th century.
Monkey’s Paw Bookstore
– Andrew Bieronski, Waterloo Region District School Board and Fusion Steering Committee
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History
Drake’s new club and concert venue. The venue was announced in June 2021 when American company Live Nation Entertainment and Canadian musician Drake collaborated to open the venue later in the year. It has a capacity of 2,500 people and is expected to old up to 200 events per year, featuring general admission and seating options.
History
– Greg Sabatine, University of Guelph and Fusion Steering Committee
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Pravda Vodka Bar
Established in 2003, Pravda Vodka Bar is iconic in the downtown Toronto nightlife scene. Pravda’s warm nostalgia combined with its one-of-a-kind, glass-enclosed walk-in freezer will entice you to try one of the many different vodkas showcased from all around the world.
Pravda Vodka Bar
– Chris Cramer, CPA Canada and Fusion Steering Committee
Bata Shoe Museum
For something odd, check out the Bata Shoe Museum. You don’t merely observe different types of footwear; you witness the evolution of shoes throughout history. Currently on display is “Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear.”
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Bike Share Toronto
Grab a city bike and embark on a biking adventure along Toronto’s scenic waterfront. The route traces the shore of Lake Ontario, offering breathtaking views of the skyline, marinas, sandy shores and shimmering water. Kick-start your 3 km ride from Love Park, where you can fuel up with a Canadian sweet treat—BeaverTails. Then pedal your way to Trillium Park, where you can unwind and take amazing pictures of Toronto’s skyline.
Bike Share Toronto
– Andrea Cayon, Partner Manager, D2L
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Mira Mira
A popular East End brunch spot, with an elevated diner feel. Get the pancakes! I would recommend pairing brunch with an afternoon stroll in the local park, Kew Gardens. You can walk down to the beach boardwalk and explore a different, “beachy” side of Toronto.
Mira Mira
– Allison Sinclair, Customer Advocacy Manager, D2L
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CN Tower
I’ll take the easy one. The CN Tower is right behind the Convention Centre, where Fusion will be held. If you’re bold enough, go out on the EdgeWalk. For a mere $199 (Canadian dollars, so only a couple of bucks American 😊), you get to walk on top of the CN Tower, soak in the great views, and test your nerve. No bungee jumping allowed!
CN Tower
– Barry Dahl, Teaching & Learning Advocate, D2L
Toronto Island
I absolutely love taking a water taxi or the ferry to Toronto Island in the summer. It’s a beautiful place with many beaches, nice walks and spectacular views of the Toronto skyline, and summer is the absolute best time to go there. As a bonus, it’s also inexpensive.
Distillery District
Looking for an afternoon outing? Visit the Distillery District for a great stroll through a historic part of Toronto, filled with coffee shops, charming boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and great restaurants. This will be a memorable half-day trip. Notable restaurants are El Catrin and Mill Street Brew Pub. Don’t forget to stop by Sweetie Pie to experience the most delicious Canadian treat, the butter tart—extra deliciousness if you add vanilla ice cream to it!
Stratford Festival
Visit the Stratford Festival, North America’s Largest Classical Repertory Theater Company
Located in bucolic Stratford, Ontario, Canada, each season, we present a dozen or more productions in four distinctive venues. We produce classics, contemporary dramas and musicals, with special emphasis on the plays of Shakespeare.
The Stratford Festival is just a bus ride away from Toronto with the Stratford Direct Bus running return trips from downtown Toronto steps from the InterContinental Hotel (corner of Front and Simcoe streets). Purchase tickets online along with tickets to performances and other events.
- What’s On: The Plays
- 2024 Visitors’ Guide
- Something Rotten! (Official Teaser) Stratford Festival 2024 If you liked the sneak peek at Fusion, come see the full show!
- Stratfest@Home: Bringing the Stage to You
- Subscribe to watch award-winning films, audio plays and original programming inspired by the stage on your favourite device with exclusive digital content available at preferred rates for educators and students via Classroom Connect.
- PerformancePlus Watch King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest free of charge using our Stratford on Film productions presented alongside Shakespeare’s text.
Bonus: Rouge National Urban Park
For those who can travel 35 km from the hotel, Toronto’s own slice of paradise and Canada’s only urban national park. It is an ecologically protected zone in the Greater Toronto area that straddles the cities of Toronto, Markham and Pickering as well as the Township of Uxbridge. At a total of 79.1 square km of land, Rouge National Park is an excellent day spent out of the city to reconnect with nature.
Still looking for more things to do?
Make sure you also take advantage of the Special Passes and Offerings available for Fusion attendees to get up to 20% off of some of the city’s best attractions and experiences.
Pre-register for Fusion 2025
July 21–23, 2025 | Savannah, Georgia
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