The Christmas Market opened 9 years ago and the popularity continues to grow every year! Last year, 675,000 people attended and that amount is estimated to increase even more this year.

The plan for this year is to limit the amount of people they have in the market at one time so that everyone will be able to enjoy the market as this plan will avoid crowding. This means there will be a longer wait to enter the grounds on busy days. The director of the market, Mathew Rosenblatt said, “We want to have the experience inside the market something where people can still stroll and still be romantic and still have that sort of magical feeling and if we put too many people in we might lose that so it might take a little bit longer to get in this year but once you get in it’s going to be Christmas magic.”

How much is it?

The market is not for profit. There is an admission fee of $6 on weekends, but it is free during the week before Friday at 5 PM.

How long does the market run for?

The market opened on Thursday, November 15th and will remain open until Sunday, December 23rd. The market is closed on Mondays.

What activities are available?

Check out the magical lighting and seasonal decor, Santa’s house, the Indigo pop-up shop, pet photos with Santa Claus, the family entertainment zone, Distillery District walking tours, 400 free performances including award-winning singers, brass bands, cultural dancers, and carolers, heated hospitality lounges for visitors to relax in and enjoy an authentic Christmas Market beverage and so much more!

Have fun and enjoy!

For more information about the Toronto Christmas Market, click here.

The post Toronto Christmas Market Now Open! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

• Improve access to and provide more affordable French testing;
• Increase the availability of services in French for new immigrants arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport;
• Increase funding for Francophone Integration Pathway, which provides settlement services; and
• Launch an expression of interest process in search of an organization to provide language training to individuals who have listed French as their preferred official language.

These initiatives form part of the government’s Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration, introduced in March 2018. One of the goals of the plan is for 4.4 percent of new immigrants outside of Quebec to be francophone by 2023.[2]

Given the importance of linguistic diversity to Canadian society, the federal government’s moves towards improved services for francophones are encouraging. It appears, however, that a different approach is being taken at the provincial level. In Ontario, where 4.1 percent of the population reported French as their first official language in 2016, members of the French-speaking community received some disappointing news last week: The provincial government intends to eliminate the position of French language services commissioner and will not be building a French-language university in Toronto.[3]

Interested in immigrating to Canada? Click here to book a consultation!
(sources)

The post Recent Announcements Affecting Canada’s Francophones first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Why choose Canada?

Many students choose to study in Canada for the opportunity to encounter different cultural and natural experiences. Canada is an extremely large country which means the landscape differs drastically from British Columbia (Western Canada) to Nova Scotia (Eastern Canada). Canada is also home to many large cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Canada is well-established among the world’s leading study destinations. Most students choose larger populated cities to study in as they are home to many of the top universities in Canada. Did you know that Canadian college and university degrees are recognized around the world? The Canadian educational system offers the development of transferable skills, such as critical thinking, teamwork, communication and uses up and coming technology and digital media practices. The government of Canada also offers a work program to students who are looking to gain work experience who have obtained a diploma from a post-secondary institution in Canada. This allows you to develop your professional skills while living in Canada. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to study in Canada! Still hesitant? Click here for more reasons!

Canada’s Top Schools:

The University of Toronto was ranked one of the best universities in the world, and the top in Canada. It ranked fifth in the world for Clinical Medicine, and eighth for Psychiatry/Psychology. The annual U.S News and World Report university rankings positioned U of T as the number 20 spot, the highest of any Canadian school. The University of British Columbia ranked 29th and McGill ranked 43rd which places them in the top 100. Canada has a total of 34 schools on the list.

The Top Universities in Canada are as Follows:

1. University of Toronto
2. University of British Columbia
3. McGill University
4. McMaster University
5. University of Montreal
6. University of Alberta
7. University of Calgary
8. University of Ottawa
9. University of Waterloo
10. University of Victoria
11. Western University
12. Simon Fraser University
13. Laval University
14. Dalhousie University
15. Queen’s University
16. University of Manitoba
17. York University
18. University of Guelph
19. Carleton University
20. Université du Québec à Montréal

To learn more about study permits, click here.

The post Why Should I Choose to Study in Canada? Here are Canada’s Top Schools first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Photon Gallery 4.0: Located near Bloor and Ossington you will find this exhibit as it features a wearable version of the video game, Frogger, which is an air-hockey table that shoots fire, a waterfall that lets you “freeze” droplets in mid air, and more!

Cavalier Noir: Located in Scarborough, this exhibit will consist of 80,000+ lego pieces which will take the form of a black child warrior mounted over seven feet tall, riding a unicorn.

International Dumpling Festival: Located next to the Eaton Centre at James and Queen, you will find Ken Lum’s International Dumpling Festival featuring dumplings from around the world!

On Flashing Lights: Located along Bay Street, DJs from Toronto’s queer, immigrant and racialized communities are set to perform against the lights of police vehicles.

For more information about Nuit Blanche, click here.

To learn more about the exhibits, please click here.

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Oakville took the top spot in the Money Sense: Best Places to Live for New Canadians 2018: Top 100 Cities ranking system! Over the past 10 years, the percentage of visible minorities in Oakville has increased from 18 per cent to 31 per cent, according to the census. It is the 35th most linguistically diverse city in the country, with about 30 per cent of residents speaking a language other than English or French.

A large reason as to why Oakville is so popular for new Canadians that want access to the Toronto-area job market is that they don’t have to pay downtown prices for housing and the commute isn’t as bad as one might think. However, Oakville is still pricey and one should be economically stable in order to live there.

The ranking system is based on economy, affordability, access to healthcare, weather, commute, crime rate, taxes, demographics, culture and amenities. However, the weightings are adjusted to reflect the needs and interests of immigrants. It awards points to cities with a large percentage of the population speaking languages other than English or French and increases the importance of a low unemployment rate, affordable rents and access to an airport.

The Top 5 Best Places to Live for New Canadians are:

1. Oakville
2. Ottawa
3. Mont-Royal
4. King
5. Toronto

To read more, click here.

The post Oakville Ranked #1 on Canada’s Best Places to Live for New Canadians 2018! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

What to do?
1. Rides and Games
2. Animal Farm, Cat Show, Reptile Show, Horse Show
3. Casino
4. Air Show
5. Delicious Food
6. Activities for kids!
7. Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show
8. Entertainment Performances
9. Shopping
10. Sports! Including Baseball, Basketball and Football

And much more!

For more information, click here! Enjoy the CNE!

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Don’t like Greek or Italian food? No problem! You can also grab a taste of many other dishes which include, Chinese, Turkish, Japanese, Jamaican, Indian, Filipino, Mexican and more! In regards to entertainment, there will be 3 stages: Celebrity State, Greek Stage and Danforth BIA Showcase stage! All entertainment is free!

Did you know that the GTA is home to over 200,000 residents of Greek ancestry, the third largest Hellenic community outside of Greece! During the 1960’s and ’70s is when Toronto saw the largest influx of Greek immigrants! At the Taste of the Danforth, visitors have the opportunity to experience being “Greek for the Day”. However, the festival is much more than the celebration of the Danforth’s Greek history, as it is also a celebration of Canada’s multiculturalism.

Click here for dates.
Click here for more information about the Danforth.
Click here for more information about the Taste of the Danforth festival.

The post Visit the 25th Annual Taste of the Danforth this weekend! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Centre Island is the largest and usually the most crowded, but for a good reason! The main area of excitement is Centreville, which is a small amusement park! There are over 30 rides and attractions and 14 food outlets. Don’t forget Far Enough Farm where you can visit ponies, rabbits, sheep, chickens, and other barnyard creatures. There are also mazes, gardens and beaches to explore!

Ward’s Island is another famous island as it is more secluded. You can walk along the board walk from Centre Island to Ward’s Island where you will be greeted with a beautiful beach. Ward’s Island is inhabited by many cottage-goers, where some live year round in their cozy cottage homes. There are two yummy restaurants available as well!

Hanlan’s Point is known for its long beach and famous haunted lighthouse! Hanlan’s Point has the largest beach on the Toronto Islands and what makes it special is that it offers a clothing optional beach! Built in 1808, the Gibraltar Lighthouse is known for guiding ships into Toronto’s harbour. It is a popular destination as it is known to be haunted by the first lighthouse keeper, J.P. Radan Muller, who disappeared mysteriously in 1815.

Check out the Toronto Islands this summer, you will not be disappointed! Click here to learn more.

The post The Toronto Islands Are Calling Your Name! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Here is a list of favourites you should check out:

iHalo Krunch: Try their famous charcoal ice cream! Located in the Queen West neighbourhood, this ice creamery is definitely one you should visit!

Butter Baker: Located by Dundas and Bay streets, the Butter Baker offers soft serve ice cream made of dairy-free strawberry purée and Tahiti vanilla, scooped into waffle cones baked fresh in-house.

WVRST: For those who don’t know, WVRST is known for sausages and beer, so who would have thought that they also serve ice cream! There are four flavours at this King West restaurant!

Pablo Cheese Tart: Located by Dundas and Bay streets you can find this famous Japanese bakery. Try their matcha cheese soft serve; both options are airy, delicious and served in waffle cones.

Tsujiri: Tsujiri specializes in matcha and is also located at Dundas and Bay streets. Try their special stone-ground green tea soft serve available in a variety of combinations.

Tom’s Dairy Freeze: In business since 1969, this Etobicoke soft serve institution is extremely well known. Try their classic soft serve ice cream with a topping or two – you will not be disappointed.

For more ideas, click here.

The post Popular Soft Serve Ice Cream in Toronto first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

1. Taco Fest: Located at Ontario Place, you will find tacos galore! Taco Fest showcases Toronto’s best chefs with an authentic Mexican twist. Taco Fest will be taking place all weekend!

2. The Beaches Rib Fest: Come for the BBQ, live music and waterfront views. Rib fest is always a good time with family and friends and is very kid friendly – including a children’s area complete with rides!

3. Taste of Little Italy: This festival takes place on College Street, in between Bathurst Street and Shaw Street, also known as Little Italy. This is when all the restaurants expand their property onto the streets and when vendors showcase their special dishes! The weekend is also filled with multicultural entertainment including performances from the Italian, Portuguese and Spanish communities.

4. Danforth’s BIA’s Thrill of the Grill: This is the ninth annual Thrill of the Grill event which means chefs of 10 celebrated businesses will be supplying their customers with their best grilled dishes!

5. Go on a walk/hike: Take a walk or hike with the father figure in your life and take this time to catch up and make memories. There are many places to go on hikes in and around Toronto, such as the Toronto Islands, Scarborough Bluffs, Dundas Peak, Bruce Trail, Rattlesnake Point and many more!

Have an amazing Father’s Day weekend!

For more ideas, click here.

The post Father’s Day Activities first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.