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There’s always something happening! Check out our upcoming events and activities.

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The Downtown Yonge BIA is a not-for-profit organization. Learn more about who we are here.

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Is your business located in Downtown Yonge? Find all our member resources here.

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New webinars and trainings available to Downtown Yonge BIA members.

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Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028

The Downtown Yonge BIA is excited to launch a new strategic plan, one that outlines the priorities, actions, and ambitions for the organization over the next five years.

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Shaking the Foundations New Exhibit Celebrates Women Trailblazers in Toronto Music

04-21-2025

Presented by Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area at Friar’s Music Museum, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 8:00 am Fri, Apr 04 @ 8:00 am Sat, Apr 05 @ 8:00 am + 16 more dates and times

Sun, Apr 06 @ 8:00 am Mon, Apr 07 @ 8:00 am Tue, Apr 08 @ 8:00 am Wed, Apr 09 @ 8:00 am Thu, Apr 10 @ 8:00 am Fri, Apr 11 @ 8:00 am Sat, Apr 12 @ 8:00 am Sun, Apr 13 @ 8:00 am Mon, Apr 14 @ 8:00 am Tue, Apr 15 @ 8:00 am Wed, Apr 16 @ 8:00 am Thu, Apr 17 @ 8:00 am Fri, Apr 18 @ 8:00 am Sat, Apr 19 @ 8:00 am Sun, Apr 20 @ 8:00 am Mon, Apr 21 @ 8:00 am - less dates and times

Toronto’s vibrant music scene has been built by scores of remarkable women whose contributions...

[more+]

Toronto’s vibrant music scene has been built by scores of remarkable women whose contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued. Shaking the Foundations: Women Trailblazers in Toronto Music is a groundbreaking new exhibit at Friar’s Music Museum, opening on March 21 2025, that will honour and highlight many of these influential artists.

Shaking the Foundations is a Downtown Yonge BIA initiative, presented in partnership with Toronto Music Experience and curated by longtime music writer Mary Dickie. As the first-ever exhibition to spotlight the creative and cultural impact of Toronto women in music, it highlights the artists whose unique attitudes, traditions, and histories have shaped the city’s musical landscape across virtually every style and genre.

[less-]
Tags:   Music, Free

Continuing retrospective of work by Floyd Kuptana

04-18-2025

Presented by Gallery Arcturus at Gallery Arcturus, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 12:00 pm Fri, Apr 04 @ 12:00 pm Sat, Apr 05 @ 12:00 pm + 9 more dates and times

Tue, Apr 08 @ 12:00 pm Wed, Apr 09 @ 12:00 pm Thu, Apr 10 @ 12:00 pm Fri, Apr 11 @ 12:00 pm Sat, Apr 12 @ 12:00 pm Tue, Apr 15 @ 12:00 pm Wed, Apr 16 @ 12:00 pm Thu, Apr 17 @ 12:00 pm Fri, Apr 18 @ 12:00 pm - less dates and times

Thanks to JP Albert for the generous loan of work that led to this retrospective of Floyd...

[more+]

Thanks to JP Albert for the generous loan of work that led to this retrospective of Floyd Kuptana's career.

-

The ongoing display of stone carvings throughout the gallery began as a memorial to master sculptor Floyd Kuptana after he passed away in May 2021.

-

In 2022 the gallery staged a major exhibition of Kuptana's paintings, pastels and sculptures with the contribution of many pieces belonging to the artist's longtime collaborator and friend, Jean-Paul Albert. At the time curator deborah harris wrote: "It is still hard to imagine that [Floyd] is not here with us, working, laughing, growling. We miss him."

-

Since then many of the sculptures have remained on display in multiple rooms throughout the four-floor gallery building, becoming part of the changing installations devised by harris. See below for a list of our individual spaces as well as our Eventbrite profile for current shows.

-

Floyd Kuptana was born on February 14, 1964 at Cape Parry, Northwest Territories. The arctic landscape ran through him as did the concrete shoreline of Lake Ontario, and the city streets he walked on. He made his home where he was. He left behind an extraordinary wealth of creatures some of which you can see displayed at Gallery Arcturus, a regular destination of the artist during the latter part of his career.

-

Here Kuptana engaged with other artists which often resulted in unusual collaborations or mutual challenges to work in new media including paint, pastel and collage. Much of this work is recorded in books published by the gallery and available for sale or free viewing on our websites.

-

We invite you to spend time with the sculptures [as well as the books available in our libraries] and to meet Floyd through his work. On view in the main floor gallery is "prayer for creation", the latest installation by the curator.

-

Voyage through nine exhibit spaces from Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 5:30pm. All areas require stairs to access.

Supported by the Foundation for the Study of Objective Art

--

The Genesis Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/genesis/

Up North Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/north/

Ascending Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/ascending/ mobiles, paintings, pastels

Collage Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/collage/ rotating works

The Library: https://arcturus.ca/library/ Kuptana sculptures from the permanent collection + an indoor garden

The Drawing Room: https://arcturus.ca/drawing-room works by D Hanequand, O Kassian, D Sapp & EJ Gold

The Dark Room: https://arcturus.ca/darkroom/

The Photographic Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/photographic-gallery

The Studio: https://arcturus.ca/studio/come to the lower level working space

--

Subscribe to our email lists:

Gallery events via info@arcturus.ca

Or get more frequent images and text by signing up at https://www.dailyartblog.ca/

[less-]
Tags:   Art,  Culture & Heritage,  Free,  Media & Design

Heist at the Nine-Nine

04-06-2025

Presented by Trivia Escape Rooms at Trivia Escape Rooms, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 1:00 pm Fri, Apr 04 @ 1:00 pm Sat, Apr 05 @ 1:00 pm + 1 more dates and times

Sun, Apr 06 @ 1:00 pm - less dates and times

Buy Tickets

Every year, the 99th Precinct has their annual Heist to decide who is the Ultimate Human/Genius....

[more+]

Every year, the 99th Precinct has their annual Heist to decide who is the Ultimate Human/Genius. Choose your team and work together to take the crown as the Ultimate Squad of Geniuses in this limited time escape theme.

Solve puzzles and utilize your knowledge on everything Brooklyn Nine-Nine to defeat all others in obtaining your target within 60 minutes. HOT DAMN!

Trivia Escape Rooms is a Black-Owned, artist-run business that twists trivia events by fusing it with escape games in artistic, immersive, set-like rooms! Utilize your knowledge of pop culture in order to crack codes, solve puzzles and find your way out of the rooms.

Each theme is available for a limited time and we are excited to introduce “Heist at the Nine-Nine” in which players are transported to the 99th Precinct and only have 60 minutes to escape to win or they declare themselves losers of the heist! Be transported to the world of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and play as if you were in an unaired episode of the show.

[less-]
Tags:   Kids & Family, Festivals & Special Events

Seven Short Farces

04-03-2025

Presented by Performance at The Creative School | Toronto Metropolitan University at Performance Studio Theatre, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 7:30 pm
Buy Tickets

Before Chekhov wrote any of his great full-length plays he wrote short plays that he called...

[more+]

Before Chekhov wrote any of his great full-length plays he wrote short plays that he called vaudevilles. When he was writing these shorts he wrote "I don't much care for theatre, but I do enjoy vaudevilles." This production will stage some of his greatest short plays including The Bear, The Dangers of Tobacco, The Festivities, The Wedding Reception and Swan Song.

Join Performance at The Creative School from March 26th to April 4th for two classic performances: Seven Short Farces by Anton Chekhov and The Marriage by Nikolai Gogol. 3rd year Performance Acting students work with guest director Peter Pasyk and Performance faculty member Cynthia Ashperger while Performance Design and Production students across all years bring together the vision of these two stories.

The Marriage by Nikolai Gogol and directed by Cynthia Ashperger onstage March 27th & 29th, April 2nd & 4th at 7:30pm in the Performance Studio Theatre.

Tickets available at torontomu.universitytickets.com

[less-]
Tags:  Stage

Springworks

04-05-2025

Presented by Performance at The Creative School | Toronto Metropolitan University at The Creative School Chrysalis, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 7:30 pm Fri, Apr 04 @ 7:30 pm Sat, Apr 05 @ 7:30 pm + 1 more dates and times

Sat, Apr 05 @ 2:00 pm - less dates and times

Buy Tickets

SPRINGWORKS is an annual mixed-bill program by guest choreographers featuring third and fourth...

[more+]

SPRINGWORKS is an annual mixed-bill program by guest choreographers featuring third and fourth year Performance Dance students.

With guest choreographers Pulga Muchochoma, Hanna Kiel & Ryan Lee.

Onstage at The Creative School Chrysalis, April 3rd-5th.

Tickets available at torontomu.universitytickets.com

[less-]
Tags:   Stage

Arts and Letters Club - Members' Spring Exhibition Open House

04-04-2025

Presented by The Arts & Letters Club at The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Fri, Apr 04 @ 4:00 pm

Please join us for our open house, enjoy pleasant hour, meet Club members, and tour the...

[more+]

Please join us for our open house, enjoy pleasant hour, meet Club members, and tour the Club.

Public Opening:  Friday April 4, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

The show runs from March 29 – April 24, and can be viewed by non-members by appointment only.  For more information, please contact the club at 416-597-0223 Ext 3.

[less-]
Tags:   Art

Shaking the Foundations New Exhibit Celebrates Women Trailblazers in Toronto Music

04-21-2025

Presented by Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area at Friar’s Music Museum, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 8:00 am Fri, Apr 04 @ 8:00 am Sat, Apr 05 @ 8:00 am + 16 more dates and times

Sun, Apr 06 @ 8:00 am Mon, Apr 07 @ 8:00 am Tue, Apr 08 @ 8:00 am Wed, Apr 09 @ 8:00 am Thu, Apr 10 @ 8:00 am Fri, Apr 11 @ 8:00 am Sat, Apr 12 @ 8:00 am Sun, Apr 13 @ 8:00 am Mon, Apr 14 @ 8:00 am Tue, Apr 15 @ 8:00 am Wed, Apr 16 @ 8:00 am Thu, Apr 17 @ 8:00 am Fri, Apr 18 @ 8:00 am Sat, Apr 19 @ 8:00 am Sun, Apr 20 @ 8:00 am Mon, Apr 21 @ 8:00 am - less dates and times

Toronto’s vibrant music scene has been built by scores of remarkable women whose contributions...

[more+]

Toronto’s vibrant music scene has been built by scores of remarkable women whose contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued. Shaking the Foundations: Women Trailblazers in Toronto Music is a groundbreaking new exhibit at Friar’s Music Museum, opening on March 21 2025, that will honour and highlight many of these influential artists.

Shaking the Foundations is a Downtown Yonge BIA initiative, presented in partnership with Toronto Music Experience and curated by longtime music writer Mary Dickie. As the first-ever exhibition to spotlight the creative and cultural impact of Toronto women in music, it highlights the artists whose unique attitudes, traditions, and histories have shaped the city’s musical landscape across virtually every style and genre.

[less-]
Tags:   Music, Free

Continuing retrospective of work by Floyd Kuptana

04-18-2025

Presented by Gallery Arcturus at Gallery Arcturus, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 12:00 pm Fri, Apr 04 @ 12:00 pm Sat, Apr 05 @ 12:00 pm + 9 more dates and times

Tue, Apr 08 @ 12:00 pm Wed, Apr 09 @ 12:00 pm Thu, Apr 10 @ 12:00 pm Fri, Apr 11 @ 12:00 pm Sat, Apr 12 @ 12:00 pm Tue, Apr 15 @ 12:00 pm Wed, Apr 16 @ 12:00 pm Thu, Apr 17 @ 12:00 pm Fri, Apr 18 @ 12:00 pm - less dates and times

Thanks to JP Albert for the generous loan of work that led to this retrospective of Floyd...

[more+]

Thanks to JP Albert for the generous loan of work that led to this retrospective of Floyd Kuptana's career.

-

The ongoing display of stone carvings throughout the gallery began as a memorial to master sculptor Floyd Kuptana after he passed away in May 2021.

-

In 2022 the gallery staged a major exhibition of Kuptana's paintings, pastels and sculptures with the contribution of many pieces belonging to the artist's longtime collaborator and friend, Jean-Paul Albert. At the time curator deborah harris wrote: "It is still hard to imagine that [Floyd] is not here with us, working, laughing, growling. We miss him."

-

Since then many of the sculptures have remained on display in multiple rooms throughout the four-floor gallery building, becoming part of the changing installations devised by harris. See below for a list of our individual spaces as well as our Eventbrite profile for current shows.

-

Floyd Kuptana was born on February 14, 1964 at Cape Parry, Northwest Territories. The arctic landscape ran through him as did the concrete shoreline of Lake Ontario, and the city streets he walked on. He made his home where he was. He left behind an extraordinary wealth of creatures some of which you can see displayed at Gallery Arcturus, a regular destination of the artist during the latter part of his career.

-

Here Kuptana engaged with other artists which often resulted in unusual collaborations or mutual challenges to work in new media including paint, pastel and collage. Much of this work is recorded in books published by the gallery and available for sale or free viewing on our websites.

-

We invite you to spend time with the sculptures [as well as the books available in our libraries] and to meet Floyd through his work. On view in the main floor gallery is "prayer for creation", the latest installation by the curator.

-

Voyage through nine exhibit spaces from Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 5:30pm. All areas require stairs to access.

Supported by the Foundation for the Study of Objective Art

--

The Genesis Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/genesis/

Up North Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/north/

Ascending Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/ascending/ mobiles, paintings, pastels

Collage Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/collage/ rotating works

The Library: https://arcturus.ca/library/ Kuptana sculptures from the permanent collection + an indoor garden

The Drawing Room: https://arcturus.ca/drawing-room works by D Hanequand, O Kassian, D Sapp & EJ Gold

The Dark Room: https://arcturus.ca/darkroom/

The Photographic Gallery: https://arcturus.ca/photographic-gallery

The Studio: https://arcturus.ca/studio/come to the lower level working space

--

Subscribe to our email lists:

Gallery events via info@arcturus.ca

Or get more frequent images and text by signing up at https://www.dailyartblog.ca/

[less-]
Tags:   Art,  Culture & Heritage,  Free,  Media & Design

Heist at the Nine-Nine

04-06-2025

Presented by Trivia Escape Rooms at Trivia Escape Rooms, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 1:00 pm Fri, Apr 04 @ 1:00 pm Sat, Apr 05 @ 1:00 pm + 1 more dates and times

Sun, Apr 06 @ 1:00 pm - less dates and times

Buy Tickets

Every year, the 99th Precinct has their annual Heist to decide who is the Ultimate Human/Genius....

[more+]

Every year, the 99th Precinct has their annual Heist to decide who is the Ultimate Human/Genius. Choose your team and work together to take the crown as the Ultimate Squad of Geniuses in this limited time escape theme.

Solve puzzles and utilize your knowledge on everything Brooklyn Nine-Nine to defeat all others in obtaining your target within 60 minutes. HOT DAMN!

Trivia Escape Rooms is a Black-Owned, artist-run business that twists trivia events by fusing it with escape games in artistic, immersive, set-like rooms! Utilize your knowledge of pop culture in order to crack codes, solve puzzles and find your way out of the rooms.

Each theme is available for a limited time and we are excited to introduce “Heist at the Nine-Nine” in which players are transported to the 99th Precinct and only have 60 minutes to escape to win or they declare themselves losers of the heist! Be transported to the world of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and play as if you were in an unaired episode of the show.

[less-]
Tags:   Kids & Family, Festivals & Special Events

Seven Short Farces

04-03-2025

Presented by Performance at The Creative School | Toronto Metropolitan University at Performance Studio Theatre, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 7:30 pm
Buy Tickets

Before Chekhov wrote any of his great full-length plays he wrote short plays that he called...

[more+]

Before Chekhov wrote any of his great full-length plays he wrote short plays that he called vaudevilles. When he was writing these shorts he wrote "I don't much care for theatre, but I do enjoy vaudevilles." This production will stage some of his greatest short plays including The Bear, The Dangers of Tobacco, The Festivities, The Wedding Reception and Swan Song.

Join Performance at The Creative School from March 26th to April 4th for two classic performances: Seven Short Farces by Anton Chekhov and The Marriage by Nikolai Gogol. 3rd year Performance Acting students work with guest director Peter Pasyk and Performance faculty member Cynthia Ashperger while Performance Design and Production students across all years bring together the vision of these two stories.

The Marriage by Nikolai Gogol and directed by Cynthia Ashperger onstage March 27th & 29th, April 2nd & 4th at 7:30pm in the Performance Studio Theatre.

Tickets available at torontomu.universitytickets.com

[less-]
Tags:  Stage

Springworks

04-05-2025

Presented by Performance at The Creative School | Toronto Metropolitan University at The Creative School Chrysalis, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Apr 03 @ 7:30 pm Fri, Apr 04 @ 7:30 pm Sat, Apr 05 @ 7:30 pm + 1 more dates and times

Sat, Apr 05 @ 2:00 pm - less dates and times

Buy Tickets

SPRINGWORKS is an annual mixed-bill program by guest choreographers featuring third and fourth...

[more+]

SPRINGWORKS is an annual mixed-bill program by guest choreographers featuring third and fourth year Performance Dance students.

With guest choreographers Pulga Muchochoma, Hanna Kiel & Ryan Lee.

Onstage at The Creative School Chrysalis, April 3rd-5th.

Tickets available at torontomu.universitytickets.com

[less-]
Tags:   Stage

Arts and Letters Club - Members' Spring Exhibition Open House

04-04-2025

Presented by The Arts & Letters Club at The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, Toronto
Upcoming Dates: Fri, Apr 04 @ 4:00 pm

Please join us for our open house, enjoy pleasant hour, meet Club members, and tour the...

[more+]

Please join us for our open house, enjoy pleasant hour, meet Club members, and tour the Club.

Public Opening:  Friday April 4, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

The show runs from March 29 – April 24, and can be viewed by non-members by appointment only.  For more information, please contact the club at 416-597-0223 Ext 3.

[less-]
Tags:   Art

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Yonge Street Looking North, Taken from South of Dundas. Pedestrians on sidewalk and cars on road.

Located in the heart of Toronto, the Downtown Yonge neighbourhood is a vibrant melting pot of arts and culture and history, showcasing a diverse business mix of restaurants, retail, services and more!

Member Businesses

Pedestrians Annually

Residents

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Since

2001

A world leading downtown neighbourhood renowned for its culture, commerce, opportunity and liveability.

The Downtown Yonge B.I.A has been working to ensure our members thrive by strengthening the culture and economy of the neighbourhood through our programs, partnerships and advocacy.

community

Our Values

Responsive

We recognize and prioritize the challenges that are imminent & time sensitive with targeted programming and collaboration.

Collaborative

We recognize the need to develop partnerships that focus on addressing key challenges affecting the local area.

Inclusive

We represent the needs of diverse people & businesses. We convene conversations that balance these perspectives.

Innovative

We are creative and forward-thinking in our approach to solving challenges, building partnerships, and developing strategies.

Results-Oriented

We focus on delivering services and solutions that are effective, measurable, and scalable.

 

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