479. Multicultural Doors Open May 24 & 25, 2014

 

Ruth writes: For people who hesitate to just walk into a building of another religion or cultural group, here’s your once-a-year opportunity. The City of Toronto organizes a weekend of visits to buildings whose inhabitants are expecting outsiders to come. Most will have a human guide inside to answer questions.

This year there are 155 opportunities to enter many of Toronto’s buildings. Of these, several illustrate Toronto’s multiculturalism. It’s impossible to visit more than four or five a day so one has to plan carefully. Many but not all are open 10am-5pm. Visits are free of charge.

For fans of our diverse city, I would suggest that you consider: The Bosnian Islamic Centre, Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre (Islam), Canadian Turkish Islamic Heritage, Omni Television (multicultural), Columbus Centre (Italian), First Narayever Congregation (Jewish), Hare Krishna Temple (Hindu), Islamic Foundation, Islamic Information and Dawah Centre, Japan Foundation, Jing Yin Temple (Chinese Buddhist), Masjid Toronto (Islam), Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, Native Child and Family Services (for the long house and sweat house), Parkdale Collegiate (Tibetan and Roma students), Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple, St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, and The Real Canadian Portuguese Museum.

For more information about each including picture-taking policies, tours, maps, directions, etc. click on the photos at: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=0d0bfa2cd4a64410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextfmt=defaultkeep .

For people who are a little more adventurous, please keep in touch with www.torontomulticulturalcalendar.com . Here you will find events like festivals that you can join without a personal invitation. For our experiences at many of these events, please continue to read these Blogs and subscribe for notices of future ones.  And we look forward to hearing about your adventures.