Toronto Thunderstorm, Queen's Park, OCAD, AGO, CN Tower, Kensington Market

A thunderstorm in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) cut short my tour of Queen's Park, OCAD (Ontario College Art and Design), AGO, the C N Tower and Kensington Market, but the rainy afternoon was offset by the lovely morning and a good lunch. (Click on image to enlarge, then click Back button to return to this page.)

Queen's Park Toronto Ontario

This historic building is Queen's Park, at University and Wellesley Ave. Queen's Park is seat of the Ontario legislature. As a seat of government, it's a magnet for protesters, though this day, the sole protester was a mother with baby in stroller, and a sign asking for support for autistic children.

OCAD 'Pencil Crayon' Supports

Toronto visitor inspects the pencil crayon-like supports for the top floors of the Ontario College of Art and Design that frame the historic towers of Fort York to the southwest.

OCAD Support Beams along McCaul Street Toronto

Pedestrians make their way around the colorful crayon supports that pierce the sidewalk along McCaul Street in downtown Toronto.

Art Gallery Ontario ( AGO ) Henry Moore Sculpture

The AGO -- Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West at McCaul -- is a short distance north of OCAD (see googlemap), and newly re-designed by Frank Gehry. Admission is free on Wednesday nights (6-8:30 p.m. - see AGO info).

NOTE AGO new Henry Moore Exhibit October 23, 2010 on the darker side of Moore. Details Toronto Star article here.

C N Tower Toronto Landmark

The CN Tower is the perfect landmark to get your bearings in Toronto (see Chinatown post for more) I took this picture from the path that links the patio area outside the entrance to the tower elevators and Union Station covered walkway. See the site at http://www.cntower.com/ for prices. With the thunderstorm already threatening this hot and humid day, we decided against going up the Tower.

The admission fees have increased since last I went up to the restaurant (360 resto), and if I remember correctly, the current adult ticket cost is about $22; However, if you order a main course at the resto, this fee is comped. The menu for 360 is posted in the patio area. Have a look before making your choice: To Dine or Not to Dine.

Kensington Market Toronto Ontario

Kensington Market is a few blocks east from Union Station, itself a few blocks east of the CN Tower along Front Street or via indoor walkway. The historic Market is typical of those in other cities ( Saint John, NB; Santiago, Chile) and a good spot to buy meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit, lunch or souvenirs of Canada, like maple syrup. Saturday mornings are the busiest time.

Wellington Street Office Towers

The office towers of downtown Toronto offer photographers interesting camera angle shots in their shape, and in their reflective windows. Keep your camera handy, and remember to look up and back to catch unusual shots.

Thunderstorm Shelter at Commerce Court Toronto

As the downpour began in earnest, I took shelter under the glass awnings outside Commerce Court on Wellington Street. This location is a block or so north of Union Station, the train and subway transit hub for Toronto.

Since I had to wait out the heaviest of the thunderstorm, I turned my camera setting to Video, and took some shots of the rain on the roads.

(See my video at Toronto Thunderstorm)

Mississauga Storm Damage Cawthra Road

While Port Credit along Lakeshore Road seems to have escaped the wrath of Saturday's storm (see post July 11), the Cawthra Road neighbourhood south of the QEW - South Service Road has been hit very hard indeed. (See Toronto Star story). The last I heard, full hydro service will not be restored for several days.

With Cawthra Road still closed to traffic, my neighbour John walked over there this afternoon to have a look for himself. He took these pictures and gave me permission to post them here.

Crews Working to Clear Fallen Power Lines

High Winds Shredded Utility Pole

I cannot imagine the burst of wind strong enough to shred this utility pole into toothpicks.

Wide Angle Shot of Downed Tree on Cawthra Road

Lucky home owner: Had this tree fallen the opposite direction, it would have been a direct hit, from the look of it. Didn't do the vehicle much good, though.

Close Up Picture of Downed Tree

The tree stump is across the sidewalk; the rest of it lies several feet away. This tree did not just fall over, it seems to have been launched like a sabre.

Tree Down on Cawthra near South Service Road

A number of city buildings -- the Mississauga Seniors Centre, Cawthra Community Centre, Cawthra Estate -- and Cawthra Secondary School are within a few blocks of this location. My mom would normally be busing down to the Mississauga Seniors Centre each day; as it happens, she is in Kamloops for a few weeks.

Another Downed Tree on Cawthra

With such graphic evidence of the force of the damaging storm winds, you have to wonder about property damage. As yet, I haven't seen any news reports of how the residents are coping, and how extensive other damages are.

Neighbour John says Cawthra is closed from Third Street to South Service, which parallels the QEW. When I drove on the QEW past the Cawthra overpass, I could see traffic still using the South Service exits, and crossing Cawthra to go to Dixie or Hurontario.

Here's a googlemap of the area:



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Anyone with more information about storm damage to this part of Mississauga, please leave a comment.