Second North American ATLAS Physics Workshop 2005
University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
August 1-3, 2005

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Travel

Entry into Canada what's required?

  • Traveling from the United States:
    • U.S.-born citizens should carry a passport or a birth certificate plus photo I.D. It is recommended that all US attendees carry a passport. While it is not required for entry into Canada, or for returning to the United States, it will make entry back into the United States faster and smoother due to increased airport security regulations.
    • Naturalized citizens require naturalization certificates with photo I.D.
    • Permanent residents (who are not citizens) require an alien-registration card
  • Traveling from other countries:
    • In general, passports are required however visitors from countries other than the U.S. should call for further information about visas:
      1-800-992-7037 (outside Canada) or 1-888-242-2100 (within Canada) or check online at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html
    • Contact the Consular Section of the Canadian Embassy or Consulate near your location to determine how to apply and the likely time required to complete the visa application process. A list of consular offices is available online at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/world/embassies/menu-en.asp

Getting to the Workshop

By Air:

Pearson International Airport (Code: YYZ) is located 27 kms (16 miles) from downtown Toronto and is the main airport for international visitors. There is also a small city airport Toronto City Centre Airport (YTZ) which services the local Canadian area. Pearson is accessible by public transit but there is no direct subway line to the airport (there is a bus that connects to the subway - see below). The best options are a limousine or taxi, or the airport shuttle. Rush hour in Toronto extends from 06:00-09:30 or so and from 15:00-19:00 in the evening. The area around Pearson is quite congested during rush hour, so you generally need to allot extra travel time if you are arriving or departing during those times.
Taxi/Limo:
A taxi or limo ride from the airport to the vicinity of the campus will cost CND$46-51 and will take approximately 30-45 minutes (depending on traffic). Both have fixed fare bases depending on destination (Taxi rate map/Limo rate map). Limos and taxis are available upon exiting the baggage claim areas at the terminal. There may be a line-up, depending on time of day.
Airport Shuttle Service:
Airport Express provides shuttle service to some of the major hotels downtown (including the Delta Chelsea Inn) every 20-30 minutes. Note that the Intercontinetal Hotel Centre listed is downtown on Front Street and not the hotel closer to campus on Bloor Street. Go to the booth on the curb (outside the terminal) with the Airport Express sign. The cost is CND$15.50 each way. Estimated travel time is 1-1.5 hours, depending on traffic. Tickets can be purchasd online.
By Public Transit:
By far the cheapest, albeit longer, option is public transit. One way fare is CND$2.50 (exact change is needed on the bus). It involves a bus and one or two subway rides (depending on the hotel you select) and would probably take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.
The best route is to take the 192 Airport Rocket from outside the terminal - Terminal 1 (Ground Level), Terminal 2 (Arrivals Level) or Terminal 3 (Departures Level). The bus runs 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., seven days a week, once every 15-20 minutes (see the bus schedule from the airport).
The bus takes you to the Kipling station on the Bloor Street West subway line (about a 20 minute bus-ride with only one or two stops along the way). Get a transfer from the bus driver. Take the subway east to the centre of town (about 20 minute ride, 15-16 stops). The subway map is at http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/pdf/subway_rt.pdf.

By Road:

Several highways, including 2, 401, 407 and the Queen Elizabeth Way, link surrounding cities to Toronto. The nearest Canada-U.S. border crossings are at Niagara Falls, Fort Erie/Buffalo and Windsor/Detroit. Route to the university campus
Route map to the university (93 kb)
Travel from Points North-East and East of Toronto
  • Take Hwy 401 to Don Valley Parkway (Hwy 404)
  • Travel south on the Parkway to the Bloor Street exit
  • Follow Bloor Street West to St. George Street.
  • Turn South (left) onto St. George and pass the second set of traffic light to reach the Bahen Center, which will be on your right, just after Russell street.
Travel from Points West and North-west of Toronto
  • Take Hwy 401 to Hwy 427
  • Travel south on Hwy 427 to the Q.E.W. (Queen Elizabeth Way)
  • Follow Q.E.W. East until it connects with the Gardiner Expressway
  • Exit the Expressway at the "Spadina Avenue" exit (North)
  • Travel approx. 3 miles north along Spadina through Chinatown
  • Once past the intersection of College and Spadina, turn right on to Russell Street
  • The Bahen centre will be on the right at the corner of Russell and St. George streets.
Travel from Points South and South-west of Toronto
  • Take the Q.E.W. (Queen Elizabeth Way) east until it connects the Gardiner Expressway
  • Exit the Expressway at the "Spadina Avenue" exit (North)
  • Travel approx. 3 miles north along Spadina through Chinatown
  • Once past the intersection of College and Spadina, turn right on to Russell Street
  • The Bahen centre will be on the right at the corner of Russell and St. George streets.

Local Area Map (487 kb)

By Rail:

Toronto's Union Station, servicing VIA Rail and AMTRAK, is located centrally downtown and connects to the underground subway.

Currency Conversion

The conversion between US Dollars and Canadian Dollars is approximately USD1 = CND1.25 or USD0.80 = CND1.00. For a more precise conversion, check out the XE.com Personal Currency Assistant UCC

Taxes and Tax Rebates

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a seven per cent tax that is charged on most goods and services sold or provided in Canada. Foreign visitors to Canada can apply for a rebate on the GST that is paid on accommodation (up to 30 nights per visit), and on goods purchased in Canada and exported within 60 days of the purchase. For more information, visit the website of the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency at http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/visitors, or call them at 1-800-668-4748.

In addition to GST, Ontario charges a (non-refundable) Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 8% on purchases.

Local Travel Information

For more information on the Toronto area, please check out the Local Information page.

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Comments/questions to Leslie Groer
Last update: Saturday, 02-JULY-2005 16:45 EST