Exploring the Financial District and City Halls

Name: Exploring the Financial District and City Halls
Brand: VoiceMap
SKU: 1785
Price: 8.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (21 reviews)
Author: Jane

(21 reviews)

Toronto audio tour: Exploring the Financial District and City Halls

This is a 1.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Toronto

Canada

$8.99

Access all 24 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

Toronto has been an economic hub since the 1850s. Come take a journey through the heart of its Financial District. You will gain insight into the architectural and commercial evolution of Toronto, along with the innovations that enabled the construction of the modern high rise city. Learn about the buildings that helped change the face of Commerce in this ever-changing cityscape. Along Queen Street, we'll stop to view both Old and New City Halls, where we will deepen our understanding and appreciation of these important landmarks.

Tour Producer

Jane Herman

3 tours

I'm the founder of On the Town Tours in Toronto. Since 2013 we've offered an eclectic menu of tours that highlight Toronto's history, architecture, and culture. 50% of Torontonians (including me) were not born here. As a non-native, I've always been driven to understand how Toronto became the city it is today. My curiosity and love of learning have led me to study our city's history, architecture and culture in a deep and serious way, and in turn share my passion for our urban fabric and its treasures with visitors and curious residents alike. I offer bespoke, customized in-person and live-streamed tours for individuals and groups. Since 2022 I have been an instructor at the LIFE Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, offering a series of popular walks exploring Toronto through its public art, architecture, and literature. Come join me!

Preview Location

Location 1

Introduction - Bank of Montreal

You should now be standing on the northeast corner of Yonge and Front.
Across the street in front of you is the decorative Bank of Montreal. This Beaux-Arts building is more than one hundred and thirty years old now, and it served as the bank's headquarters for more than fi... You should now be standing on the northeast corner of Yonge and Front.
Across the street in front of you is the decorative Bank of Montreal. This Beaux-Arts building is more than one hundred and thirty years old now, and it served as the bank's headquarters for more than fifty years, from 1886 to 1949. Today, it's the Hockey Hall of Fame.

My name is Jane and I'm the founder of On the Town Tours. Today we're going to explore Toronto's Financial District and iconic City Halls.

Toronto's commercial district first took shape in the Old Town, about 1km east of here.

East is behind you, by the way.

As the city grew, the commercial district moved westward. When it arrived here, and this building opened, it was considered appropriate for the head office of a bank to be palatial like this, with ornate carvings symbolizing the social pillars of commerce, science and culture.

Work on the Bank of Montreal building started before the development of the steel skeleton in 1885 and the passenger elevator in 1887. These paved the way for modern skyscrapers.

At first, there was resistance to taller buildings. But in 1905 the City approved a 15 storey tower a few blocks to your right, up Yonge Street, and the modern high rise city began.

Banks competed to build the tallest tower and over the years buildings height's kept increasing, offering ever greater floor space and ever larger incomes. The styles of skyscrapers changed with the times, reflecting evolving technologies and new modes of design. The story they tell is the story is the story of Toronto's evolution into Canada's commercial and financial capital.

As we walk through this district together we'll learn about the architects who have left their mark and see how Toronto became the city it is today.

Let's get going. Cross Yonge Street towards the bank, and then keep going. You'll walk past a sculpture of hockey players. It's the work of a Hungarian-Canadian artist named Edie Parker and is titled "Our Game."

VoiceMap uses GPS to play audio automatically at each location on the tour. So put your phone away, enjoy the narrative and just follow my directions to the next location point. There will be occasional silence, but don't worry, this just means we are in between locations. If you get lost, you can always look at the in-app map on your phone.

Keep going straight. I'll meet you just outside the entrance to Brookfield Place, near the door marked 10 Front Street. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

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Major Landmarks

Brookfield Place
Hockey Hall of Fame
Toronto Dominion Centre
Commerce Court West
Toronto Old City Hall
Toronto City Hall

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
101 King St E Unit 1, Toronto, ON M5C 2B5, Canada
Total distance

2km
Final location
100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N3, Canada
Distance back to start location

818.79m

Directions to Starting Point

Start at the northeast corner of Yonge and Front. You should be facing the Bank of Montreal, now the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Show Directions

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Hockey Hall of Fame; Marche, PATH, The Bay, Nathan Phillips Square/City Hall

Best time of day

The weekend is nicest if you prefer a quieter streetscape; this area is bustling Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00.

Precautions

This is a generally safe area, but always be alert and use common sense.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”