The 2007 Telus Toronto International Dragon Boat Race
Photo: Courtesy of the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
1. R.B.C. Canadian Open
Over the weeklong 2007 Canadian Open, 91,000 spectators watched Jim Furyk defend his 2006 title and snare the $900,000 (U.S.) top prize. With R.B.C. secured as title sponsor, the stage is set for the PGA Tour’s only Canadian stop, July 21 to 27 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville.2. Rogers Cup
The recently retired Justine Henin won the 2007 Rogers Cup title as more than 100,000 fans viewed the action at York University’s Rexall Centre. The tournament’s rotating schedule brings the best men’s players to town this year to compete for a share of the $2.45 million in prize money. The ATP tour stops in Toronto from July 19 to 27.
3. Telus Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
More than 120,000 visitors attended last year’s festival as 5,000 paddlers from 180 teams competed in 100 races. Organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Community, the two-day event includes multicultural performances and an international food pavilion. The 2008 festival is slated for June 21 and 22 on Centre Island.
4. Queen's Plate
North America’s oldest thoroughbred horse race is also the first jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. In 2007, Emma-Jayne Wilson, riding 15-to-1 long shot Mike Fox, became the first woman jockey to win. The 12,000-seat Woodbine Racetrack will host the 149th running of the Plate on June 22.
5. Toronto Marathon
Toronto’s oldest marathon attracted more than 10,000 runners in 2007, who ran the 42-kilometre route from Mel Lastman Square to Queen’s Park in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. This year participants can feast on healthy fare at the Brunello Carbo Dinner at the Toronto Hilton the night before the October 19 run.
6. Baycrest International Pro-Am Hockey Tournament
Seventy teams skated in the 2008 tournament in an effort to top the $2 million raised for Alzheimer’s research in 2007. The event, which took place May 1 to 3 at York University’s Canlan Ice Sports, started with a party organized by Solutions With Impact in which former NHL pros were drafted to play on each team.
7. C.I.S. Desjardins Vanier Cup
The 2007 C.I.S. Desjardins Vanier Cup saw the Manitoba Bisons claim the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football championship by doubling the Saint Mary’s Huskies 28-14 before 26,787 fans at Rogers Centre. The 2008 cup will be held November 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.
8. Wakestock World Series
Wakestock—the world’s largest wakeboarding, action sports, and music festival—is Toronto’s primo counterculture summer bash. For the 2007 event, produced by SBC Events Inc., a record crowd of 39,000 turned out for four days of wakeboarding, extreme athletic displays, and live music. The 2008 event takes place July 24 to 27; this year’s venue has not been confirmed.
9. NCAA International Bowl
The International Bowl brings the excitement, pageantry, and marching bands of U.S. college football to Toronto. This year’s game, held on January 5 at Rogers Centre, saw Rutgers University defeat Ball State University 52-30 in front of almost 31,500 boisterous fans, up from the crowd of just under 27,000 who took in 2007’s inaugural event.
Over the weeklong 2007 Canadian Open, 91,000 spectators watched Jim Furyk defend his 2006 title and snare the $900,000 (U.S.) top prize. With R.B.C. secured as title sponsor, the stage is set for the PGA Tour’s only Canadian stop, July 21 to 27 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville.2. Rogers Cup
The recently retired Justine Henin won the 2007 Rogers Cup title as more than 100,000 fans viewed the action at York University’s Rexall Centre. The tournament’s rotating schedule brings the best men’s players to town this year to compete for a share of the $2.45 million in prize money. The ATP tour stops in Toronto from July 19 to 27.
3. Telus Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
More than 120,000 visitors attended last year’s festival as 5,000 paddlers from 180 teams competed in 100 races. Organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Community, the two-day event includes multicultural performances and an international food pavilion. The 2008 festival is slated for June 21 and 22 on Centre Island.
4. Queen's Plate
North America’s oldest thoroughbred horse race is also the first jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. In 2007, Emma-Jayne Wilson, riding 15-to-1 long shot Mike Fox, became the first woman jockey to win. The 12,000-seat Woodbine Racetrack will host the 149th running of the Plate on June 22.
5. Toronto Marathon
Toronto’s oldest marathon attracted more than 10,000 runners in 2007, who ran the 42-kilometre route from Mel Lastman Square to Queen’s Park in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. This year participants can feast on healthy fare at the Brunello Carbo Dinner at the Toronto Hilton the night before the October 19 run.
6. Baycrest International Pro-Am Hockey Tournament
Seventy teams skated in the 2008 tournament in an effort to top the $2 million raised for Alzheimer’s research in 2007. The event, which took place May 1 to 3 at York University’s Canlan Ice Sports, started with a party organized by Solutions With Impact in which former NHL pros were drafted to play on each team.
7. C.I.S. Desjardins Vanier Cup
The 2007 C.I.S. Desjardins Vanier Cup saw the Manitoba Bisons claim the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football championship by doubling the Saint Mary’s Huskies 28-14 before 26,787 fans at Rogers Centre. The 2008 cup will be held November 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.
8. Wakestock World Series
Wakestock—the world’s largest wakeboarding, action sports, and music festival—is Toronto’s primo counterculture summer bash. For the 2007 event, produced by SBC Events Inc., a record crowd of 39,000 turned out for four days of wakeboarding, extreme athletic displays, and live music. The 2008 event takes place July 24 to 27; this year’s venue has not been confirmed.
9. NCAA International Bowl
The International Bowl brings the excitement, pageantry, and marching bands of U.S. college football to Toronto. This year’s game, held on January 5 at Rogers Centre, saw Rutgers University defeat Ball State University 52-30 in front of almost 31,500 boisterous fans, up from the crowd of just under 27,000 who took in 2007’s inaugural event.
