Trending Kensington Market

Trending.Info is excited to announce that we have launched Trending Kensington Market, Toronto! Kensington Market is located in the urban center of Toronto and is known for it’s eclectic and funky environment.  Kensington Market is one of the oldest areas of Toronto as it was a primary destination for immigrants coming to live in the city. The high density and diversity of immigrants living side by side has created a cultural mosaic, a hot spot for great food, vintage shops, art stores, and much more!

The area that is commonly referred to as “Kensington Market”, is surrounded by the streets; College Street, Bathurst Street, Dundas Street, and Spadina Street. If you are going to visit Kensington Market don’t plan on driving through the area as the streets are very narrow and during the busy times in the summer, they tend to be used more as walking paths then roads.

Below is a map of the market provided by, Toronto Tourism:

Interesting Facts About Toronto’s Kensington Market:

1. Kensington Market is home to more then 30 different cultures and is known as a ‘mini Toronto’ because of it’s ethnic diversity, religions and cultures from all over the world that come to this community and thrive in a harmonious environment.

Image from- Photos courtesy of Library and Archives Canada (R3133-0-6-E), and Liz Gallin.

2. Mel Lastman, the first mayor of the amalgamated city of Toronto, was born and raised in Kensington Market.

Image from- www.toronto.ca

3. Starting around 1910, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia, followed by Italians moved into the area and created a village-like community that was almost self-sustaining. This was known as the Jewish Market. Further into the 20th century, immigrants from troubled homelands settled into the area bringing more diversity to the market.

4. Every December 21, Kensington Market hosts the “Festival of Lights”, a colorful candlelit parade to celebrate the solstice. It starts at sunset and the parade features, fire breathers, musicians, masked performers, and stilts walkers.

Image from-http://redpepperspectacle.wordpress.com/kensington-winter-solstice/

5. If you go to http://www.trending.info/kensingtonmarket/, you can listen to stories by people who have lived in Kensington Market.

6. In 2006 Kensington Market was declared a National Historic Site of Canada.

7. Kensington Market features very unique sculptures through its streets, one being the “Community Vehicular Reclamation Project”, commonly known as the garden car. This car has been stripped of its insides and has become a giant planter for vegetables, weeds and flowers.

Image from-http://lookatflower.tumblr.com/page/2

Sources:

http://www.ststephenshouse.com/kensingtonalive/his_diversity4.html
http://www.kensmarket.com
http://www.toronto.com/things-to-do/kensington-market/

Trending Peterborough

Trending Peterborough is live to showcase the natural beauty and culture that are combined in Peterborough, situated in the famed Kawarthas region. Nicknamed the 'Electric City', as it was the first town in Canada to use electric streetlights, this smaller city illuminates throughout the seasons. The Summer Festival of Lights allows spectators to enjoy musical concerts, fireworks and parades of lighted boats. George Street is filled with distinctive galleries and shops as well as the famous Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

Water transportation is very important to Peterbourgh's history. A wonder of engineering is the Peterborough Lift Lock, reported as the world's highest hydraulic lift lock. The city also is known as the "canoe building capital" and has the Canadian Canoe Museum, where visitors can explore the world's largest collection of canoes and kayaks.

About Peterborough (from the City of Peterborough website )

With a population of approximately 135,000 (increases substantially in the summer season) the Greater Peterborough Area is the regional centre for East Central Ontario and draws from a market population of 350,000. Peterborough's proximity to major markets in Canada and the northeastern United States, combined with an effective transportation system that includes the largest commercial airport between Toronto and Ottawa, and four-lane access to the Greater Toronto Area, makes Peterborough an unparalleled setting as a business location.

Location
On the Trent-Severn Waterway in the heart of the Kawarthas tourism region. One hour to Canada's largest market (Toronto). Six million people reside within a 320km (200mi) radius. Approximately 60% of Canada's population and 40% of the United States' population live within a 800km (500mi) radius.

Transportation
A four-lane divided highway to Toronto (Hwy 35/115) serviced by major trucking companies, full rail service capabilities, and a municipal airport.  Peterborough Airport has two runways and many recent upgrades.  The main runway is 7000 ft. paved and lit, and the crosswind runway 2000 ft paved. Toronto's Pearson International Airport is 140km (90mi) from Peterborough.

Population
74,600 (City of Peterborough)
135,000 (County and City of Peterborough)
This information is an excerpt from the Community Profile document issued by the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation.

9 Interesting Facts about Peterborough (from the Ptbo Webdsign.ca website)

1. The Peterborough Lift Lock is the highest hydraulic lock in the world
2. Peterborough, ON became the first city in Canada with electric street lighting (May 24th, 1884)
3. Peterborough has the oldest public cemetery in Canada
4. Canada’s first nuclear power generator was designed and built by Canadian General Electric in Peterborough
5. Quaker Oats invented rolled oats at its Peterborough headquarters
6. The Peterborough Petes (Ontario Hockey League Team), has sent more players to the NHL than any other minor league franchise in Canada
7. In 2009, Money Sense Magazine named Peterborough as one of the Top 10 Places to Live in Canada 2009
8. Wayne Gretzky played three games for the Peterborough Petes, and never scored a goal.
9. Jim Balsillie, the co-founder and CEO of Research in Motion, was born and raised in Peterborough.

              sources: Wikipedia & Peterborough.ca

Trending Ottawa

Trending Ottawa showcases the abundance of attractions that happen year round in Ottawa. Take in the city’s wealth of historic landmarks — from the Parliament Buildings to the Rideau Canal — which are all within its downtown core; appreciate the architectural wonders of national museums and galleries, and experience the natural beauty while going on an outdoor adventure. All these things and more, for all ages, depending on what you would like to do and see.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the fourth largest city in the country. Founded in 1826 as Bytown and incorporated as "Ottawa" in 1855, the city has evolved into a political and technological centre of Canada.

35 Fun, Weird and Interesting Facts About Ottawa (from www.hikebiketravel.com)

Here are another 35 fun, weird, interesting and potentially useful facts about Ottawa.

• Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
• Ottawa is the fourth largest city in Canada.
• Ottawa was originally called Bytown named for Colonel John By, the engineer who oversaw construction of the Rideau Canal.  In 1855 Bytown was incorporated and became Ottawa.
• In 1857 Queen Victoria chose Ottawa to be the capital of Canada.
• The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word adawe – which means to trade.
• Ottawa is located on the banks of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers.
• Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital in the world. Others that are colder include in order of coldest first are Ulaan-Baatar in Mongolia, Astana in Kazakhastan, Moscow, Russia, Helsinki in Finland, Reykjavik, Iceland and Tallin in Estonia.
• In 1970-71 a record 444.1 centimeters of snow fell over the winter. The average annual snowfall in Ottawa is 236 centimeters (92.8 inches).

Incredible snowbanks along my street in 1971 (Photo credit: My neighbour – Mike Ratz)

• The hottest day on record in Ottawa was 37.8 C (100 F) though humidex readings often go above 40C.
• The lowest temperature ever recorded in Ottawa was -36.1 C (-33 F) on February 15, 1943.
• Ottawa receives an average of 2061 hours of bright sunshine a year. Compare that to Calgary that gets 2405 hours of sunshine per year – the highest of any major Canadian city.
• On the summer solstice the sun rises at 5:14 am and sets at 8:54 pm. On the winter solstice the sun rises at 7:39 am and sets at 4:23 pm.
• The metro Ottawa area population is 1,236,324. Of those, 920,000 live on the Ontario side of the river.
• About 25% of Ottawa residents were born outside of Canada.
• Nearly half the population is under the age of 35 – making it one of the youngest cities in the country.
• Ottawa is a multilingual city. Approximately 50% of people speak English, 32% French and the rest a mix of other languages including Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
• There are 35 major festivals in Ottawa. The Canadian Tulip Festival, held every May, is one of the most famous.
• The Ottawa Capital region welcomes more than 7.3 million visitors annually.
• Ottawa ranks as the most educated city in the country.
• Ottawa is the fourth cleanest city out of 300 major cities ranked around the world – at least according to Forbes.
• Moneysense ranked Ottawa for the third consecutive year as the best city in Canada to live in.
• The Federal Government is the city’s largest employer.
• Ottawa is the agricultural center of eastern Ontario and has more farmland than any other city in Canada.
• Ottawa is home to over 1,800 technology companies – employing more than 76,000 people.
• Ottawa has more scientists, engineers and PhD’s per capita than any other city in Canada.
• There are five universities and two colleges in Ottawa.
• Ottawa boasts a UNESCO World heritage site – the Rideau Canal. It is the best preserved example of a slackwater canal built in North America. It remains operational along its’ original line with most of the structures from the early nineteenth century still intact.
• The Rideau Canal becomes a 7.8 kilometer (4.7 miles) skating rink as it winds its way through downtown Ottawa. Rent skates, and pick up hot drinks and beavertails along the route. One of the best times to go is during Ottawa’s annual Winterlude festival – which in 2013 will be from February 1-18th.

Skating on the Rideau Canal

• Ottawa has 247 neighbourhood outdoor skating rinks.
• Every Sunday morning – from 9 am until 1 pm-  in the summer only,  the Capital area parkways are closed to cars. You can run, walk, cycle or skate. On the Gatineau Parkways you can do the same thing from 6 am until noon. This has been going on for as long as I can remember and well before it became trendy for cities to embrace the biking culture. All told there are now 65 kilometers of car free roads available on a Sunday morning.
• There are seven downhill ski resorts within easy driving distance of Ottawa.

Ottawa Parkways closed to cars on Sundays in the summer

• Ottawa is home to 14 National Museums – Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canadian Children’s Museum, Canadian Postal Museum, The National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Laurier House, Royal Canadian Mint, Library and Archives Canada, Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum, Canadian Science and Technology Museum, and the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.

Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings in the winter

• The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the most visited museum in Canada.
• The Ottawa Little Theater is Canada’s oldest amateur theatrical group.
• Famous people from Ottawa include Paul Anka, Lorne Greene, Alanis Morissette, Dan Ankroyd, Adrienne Clarkson, Tom Green, Peter Jennings, Rich Little, Sandra Oh, Matthew Perry, Shelagh Rogers (who was head girl at Lisgar Collegiate when I was there) and even Tom Cruise  - who went to my high school – but only for a while.

Trending San Francisco

San Francisco is a unique and breathtaking community which can now be visited using Trending San Francisco in real time. Famous icons like the Golden Gate Bridge, exquisite art galleries at SFMOMA; this City takes pride in its attractions, renowned museums, and its unique neighborhoods. 

Discover the variety of sites, shops, and restaurants that reflect the community's ethnic and cultural makeup at Trending San Francisco.

Come visit San Francisco with our unique social media experience and see what is happening right know. Below are some fun facts and trivia about this fabulous community.

25 Things You Didn’t Know About San Francisco (posted on Mental_Floss.com)

You know your bays and bridges, but here are 25 unreal facts you might not have known about the Golden City. 

1. The Chinese fortune cookie was invented by a Japanese resident of San Francisco.2. And Irish coffee? It was perfected and popularized in the City by the Bay.
3. Lombard Street gets all the love, but Filbert St. between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets is the steepest—31.5 degrees!
4. San Francisco was part of Mexico until the Mexican-American War in 1848.
5. During the Depression, not a single San Francisco-based bank failed.
6. Business was so good, the city constructed the Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge during the Depression.7. When Al Capone was held at Alcatraz, he gave regular Sunday concerts with the inmate band, the Rock Islanders. He played the banjo.
8. In 1901, the city outlawed burials. Most of its cemeteries are in Colma, Calif. There, the dead outnumber the living by over 1000 to 1.
9. The “Summer of Love” actually started in the winter. The January 1967 Human Be-In at Golden Gate Park kicked it off.
10. Speaking of seasonal confusion, Mark Twain wasn’t as down on San Francisco’s weather as some people would have you believe. Twain never uttered the quote, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
11. The neighborhoods of Marina, Mission Bay, and Hunters Point are all built atop a landfill.
12. The first bubonic plague epidemic in the continental US broke out in SF’s Chinatown in 1900.
13. As historical beginnings go, the United Nations Charter was drafted and ratified in San Francisco in 1945.14. And as historic endings go, the Beatles gave their last full concert at Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966.
15. San Francisco was huge on the mid-century treaty circuit. In 1951, the Treaty of San Francisco officially ended Japanese hostilities from World War II.
16. When prospectors caught gold fever and hightailed it to California, San Francisco’s port became packed with abandoned ships. With demand to build the city booming, the ships were torn apart and repurposed into banks, businesses, and homes.
17. Decades later, in 1906, three quarters of the city was destroyed by an earthquake and fire.
18. Contemporary reports of the fire note that an unlikely hero helped save the city: Redwood trees. When fire hit buildings made of redwood, which has low resin content and a porous grain that takes in lots of water, they didn’t go up in smoke.19. In September 1859, San Francisco’s favorite eccentric resident, Joshua Abraham Norton, declared himself America’s emperor.
20. Emperor Norton had a following: Nearly 30,000 people later packed the streets for his funeral.
21. The bear on California’s state flag is modeled after a California grizzly named Monarch, who was held at Golden Gate Park.22. The U.S. Navy originally planned on painting the Golden Gate Bridge black with yellow stripes. The famed “International Orange” color was supposed to be a sealant.
23. In 1867, San Francisco instituted America’s first “ugly law,” which prohibited unsightly people from showing their faces in public. (It’s since been repealed.)
24. The city’s cable cars are the only National Historical Monument that can move.
25. The Liberty Bell once vacationed in San Francisco! When San Francisco hosted the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, America’s most famous bell made a national train tour to be part of the fun. After the exposition ended, it returned to Philadelphia, where it’s stayed ever since. Once you’ve seen San Francisco, why travel anywhere else?