Backpacking Toronto

Bloor Street, Toronto. All of it. (19.6 km)

**Attendance policy is enforced for this hike**. See below for details. Back by popular demand, we're doing a mega hike along Bloor Street in Toronto. We'll trace the entire Bloor subway line and beyond. See how the landscape densifies from golf courses to strip malls to parks to gentrified neighbourhoods as we approach the Don Valley. The restaurants along the way highlight the cultural diversity of Toronto from 5 continents. You need to be in decent shape and have a voracious appetite to do the entire route. However, as with other hikes, you are free to join and leave at any point. Those who complete the entire route will be eligible to buy a commemorative T-shirt (expected price \~$23). There are several restaurants to choose from at the end of the hike: Japanese ramen, Mexican tortas, Egyptian koshari, and Brazilian steaks. Further on at Chester station are even more options: Iranian, Indonesian, and Greek grilled meats. We're not making reservations, so find a group of like-minded people and grab a table. For reference, here's a [map of all our past hikes](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1_FpYriQNv5okUB-oiCODi56uiRDgPGI&usp=sharing). We've covered a large chunk of Toronto and neighbouring cities. **Highlights** Segment 1: Markland Wood 1. Markland Wood Golf Club (depart 12:30pm) 2. Mississauga-Toronto border / Start (or end) of Bloor Street 3. Bloordale United Church 4. Matt's Burger Lab 5. Highway 427 6. Stari Grad / Zayzoun / Frenchie’s Doughnuts (depart 1:45pm) Segment 2: The Kingsway 1. Bonimi 2. Kingsway Fish & Chips 3. Old Mill 4. Chebureky House / Momo Ghar / Janchenko's Bakery (depart 3:05pm) Segment 3: Bloor West Village 1. The CakeSmith 2. Former Runnymede Theatre 3. Marvelous By Fred 4. Ohana 5. Andrea's Cookies 6. Thai Nyyom 7. 9 Mile Jamaican Cuisine / Momoheart / Chito's / Ruru Baked (depart 4:25pm) Segment 4: Bloorcourt Village 1. Bakerbots Baking 2. Komi Banh Mi Bar 3. Nosso Talho 4. Szechuan Noodle Bowl 5. Ambassador Pizza 6. Filosophy / Levant Pizza 7. La Bella Managua / Lalibela / Vit Beo 8. Christie Pits Park 9. PAT Central 10. Hodo Kwaja / Dessert Fox 11. Pizzeria Fornace / JJIN Toast 12. Eva's Original Chimneys / Cong Caphe (depart 5:45pm) Segment 5: Downtown 1. Souper Hot Pot / Myeongdong Gyoza Kalguksu 2. Trinity-St. Paul's United Church 3. Woojoo Bunsik / Zaad / The Daily Dumpling Wonton Co 4. University of Toronto 5. Koerner Hall / Royal Ontario Museum 6. Eataly 7. One Bloor 8. Yuzuki 9. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company / Rogers HQ 10. Church of St. Peter and St. Simon 11. Prince Edward Viaduct 12. End (or start) of Bloor Street at Broadview Ave (arrive 6:55pm) **Neighbourhoods** Markland Wood > Bloordale Gardens > Eatonville > Islington - City Centre West > The Kingsway > Bloor West Village > High Park North > Junction Triangle > Bloordale Village > Bloorcourt Village > Christie Pits > Koreatown > The Annex > Yorkville > Upper Jarvis > St. James Town > Playter Estates **Map** [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ESqH0dQk3idaJYpGztKGE8UVoR5wFX8&usp=sharing](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ESqH0dQk3idaJYpGztKGE8UVoR5wFX8&usp=sharing) **How it works** Hike starts punctually. Late or can't join at the beginning? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints. We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way. The end of the hike is the only time when we can enjoy a leisurely meal. **Attendance policy** Please check in with an organizer when you arrive. 24 hours before the hike, we'll note down who is on the confirmed list. Those that don't show up will be marked as no-show. Repeat offenders will be banned. Please change your RSVP if you can no longer attend. If you got off the waitlist less than 24 hours before the event, you won't be considered a no-show.

Midweek morning hike - Earl Bales

Winter Potluck for Hiking Asylum Inmates

November Trek Alert | Desert Canyons & Epic Views

November Trek Alert | Desert Canyons & Epic Views Think: Red rock canyons Cool November weather Wide open trails Zero crowds, zero chaos We’ll be hiking Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon at a comfortable, steady pace — with time to breathe, pause, and actually enjoy where we are. If you’ve been craving: ✔️ A reset ✔️ Nature over noise ✔️ Movement with meaning Motel 6 1322 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, 89101, United States

Feedback | An Open Mic Comedy Show @ Backroom Comedy Club

Ticket Link: **[https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1974279855193](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1974279855193)** Welcome to **Feedback \| An Open Mic Comedy Show** at the **Backroom Comedy Club**! Get ready for a night filled with laughter, jokes, and good vibes. Whether you're a seasoned comedian or just looking for a fun night out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy some live comedy. Come join us on **Sundays** at **10:00 PM** for a hilarious evening that you won't forget. Talented and non-talented lineups of comedians will be taking the stage to entertain you and keep you laughing all night long, and if they fail, owners Ariel Kagan & Brandon Sobel will offer feedback on sets at the request So grab your friends, grab a drink, and get ready to have a great time at the **Backroom Comedy Club**. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience some of the best or worst comedy in town!

Hike Leaders’ Meeting at Marjan’s Trail ✅

Our hike leaders are getting together to share ideas, plan future hikes and adventures and help our community continue to grow. Thank you to all our volunteers and members for making every hike a great experience. 🥾🥾

Comedy Dojo: A 4-Week Stand-Up Comedy Program (Live Feedback + Showcase)

**Ticket Link: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980656124787](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980656124787?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **WHAT IS COMEDY DOJO?** Comedy Dojo is a 4-week stand-up comedy program designed for new comedians (0–2 years) and beginners who want real reps, real feedback, and real stage time, not vague motivation. This is not a lecture. This is not therapy. This is work. You’ll write, test, and refine a 3–5 minute stand-up set with live feedback from club owners, producers, and working comedians, then perform it in a public showcase at Backroom Comedy Club. **WHAT YOU GET** ✔ Weekly Sunday Workshops (6:00–7:45 PM) Hands-on sessions focused on: * Joke structure & fundamentals * Writing efficiently * Reading a room * Curation your own audience * Understanding how comedy rooms actually operates ✔ Live Feedback; Not Notes You’ll receive direct, honest feedback from: * Club owners * Producers * Professional, working comedians ✔ Guaranteed Stage Time Participants receive guaranteed access to open mics every Wednesday & Friday during the program (optional but strongly encouraged). ✔ Public Showcase / Initiation Ceremony All participants perform in a public showcase the following month; where everything comes together. ✔ Access to the Backroom Ecosystem Graduates gain pathways into the Backroom ecosystem (stage time, barking, show running, bar support, and more). No promises. Just access—and what you do with it. **WHO THIS IS FOR** * Brand new comedians * Comedians with 0–2 years experience * People who feel “stuck” and want structure * Anyone serious about learning stand-up properly No experience required. **WHO THIS IS NOT FOR** * People looking for a “safe space” * People who want praise instead of feedback * People unwilling to get on stage * People treating comedy casually This program is respectful, professional, and honest. **DATES** 🗓 Choose your cohort at checkout: * February 1 – February 22 * March 1 – March 22 * April 5 – April 26 🕕 Sundays: 6:00–7:45 PM (Wednesday & Friday mics run separately) **PRICING** 🎫 $300 Full Pay 🎟 Payment Plan: $150 deposit + 2 × $100 payments ($350 total) Capacity: 14 participants per cohort No refunds. Transfers to a future cohort may be considered. **LED BY** Brandon Sobel & Ariel Kagan Club owners, producers, and working comedians at Backroom Comedy Club. Comics who’ve come through this room now signed at Yuk Yuk’s, Absolute Comedy, The Corner, and beyond, including a Kill Tony Golden Ticket winner. **FINAL NOTE** Comedy Dojo is not about becoming famous. It’s about learning how stand-up actually works, from the inside of a working club. If you’re ready to put in the reps, welcome.

Exploring Mount Nemo

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/mt-nemo-fall-26)** **Mount Nemo is one of the best parts of the Niagara Escarpment and it's only a short drive from the city!** We'll follow the Bruce Trail for about 7 km along the top of the ridge, through old forest that grows right up to the cliff’s edge. Within a few minutes, while immersed in this UNESCO biosphere reserve, Toronto feels a lot further away than it is. This isn't a simple stroll but it is accessible for anybody wanting to get into hiking. The ground is broken up in the best way, with rock, roots and the odd scramble, and the route keeps changing character as we go. November is a good month to do it. The trail is quieter than in peak fall colour season, and depending on the year some leaves may still be hanging on. Most people arrive not knowing anyone, and by the time we're back at the cars you'll likely have a few new trail friends. **Accessibility** Wilderness Union is committed to making our adventures as accessible as possible. If you wish to make an accommodation request relating to a disability or provide feedback, please do so by sending an email to info@wildernessunion.com **Highlights** **Close to the City:** It's an hour drive from Toronto, which makes this one of the easiest ways to get onto the escarpment. **Views:** Whatever colour is left in the forest, set against the dark green of the cedars. Bare branches also mean longer sightlines across the valley. **Meet Your Crew:** A day on the trail with fellow members of the WU crew, and a few new people to plan the next hike with. **Itinerary** **10:00** \- Shuttle leaves from near Keele Station **10:00 - 11:00** \- Drive to trail head **11:00 - 15:30** \- Hike the trail with a stop for lunch along the way **15:30 - 16:30** \- Drive back to Toronto **Event cost: $55+HST. $40 optional transport also available. Please register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/mt-nemo-fall-26)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

🍜 Asian Background Social: Lounge Asia Toronto (Easy English) @6pm

🌏 Make new international friends in Toronto. Come alone, practise your English, and enjoy a relaxed social night. 😊 A friendly meetup for networking, language exchange, and real conversation — open to everyone. Why People Love Lounge Asia 🍜 **Asian-focused event** 🤝 Many guests come alone 💬 No need for perfect English 🌏 No games or forced introductions — just enjoy the conversation Lounge Asia began within the Asian community, so people from Asia often feel comfortable and at home here. At the same time, everyone is welcome — locals, expats, travellers, students, returnees, digital nomads, and globally minded people. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Join 1️⃣ Tap "RSVP" on this page 2️⃣ Show your Meetup QR code at reception 3️⃣ Collect your name tag and start meeting people ✅ Entry: CAD 7 when you RSVP at least 48 hours before ✅ Limited capacity — please RSVP early Many people attend alone, so don't worry if it's your first time. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Find Us 📍 Venue Madison Avenue Pub 14 Madison Ave, Toronto, ON M5R 2S1, Canada ⏰ Start Time — **Toronto Local Time** **6pm** ⚠️ Important: This is the local time in Toronto. Meetup may display Brisbane time or another time zone, so please follow the local time shown above. 🚶 Getting There Please use your preferred map app for directions to the venue. Our Lounge Asia organisers will be there to welcome you 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━ 🍺 Please Support the Venue This event is free or low-cost because the venue supports our community. Please purchase at least one drink during the event. Your support helps us keep organising events at great venues. ━━━━━━━━━━ 💚 Please Be Respectful Lounge Asia is a friendly social event where everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. 🚫 This is NOT a pickup or dating event. Anyone who makes others uncomfortable may be removed immediately. Not allowed: harassment, unwanted attention, MLM / crypto / religious recruitment, or anything that makes others uncomfortable. Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or ask anyone to leave. 🪪 A valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required for entry. No photo ID, no entry. Driver's licences must be issued by the government of the country where the event is held. 📸 Photos and short videos may be taken for community and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let an organiser know when you arrive. ━━━━━━━━━━ Lounge Asia is already growing in Australia and is now expanding across Asia — Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Our goal is simple: More friendship, more understanding, and more genuine connections across cultures. 📱 Instagram: @_lounge_asia 🎥 Watch Event Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNak_cu9CXw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNak_cu9CXw) 👉 GET VIP ACCESS: [https://forms.gle/t6GXAjTNFECetVuZ8](https://forms.gle/t6GXAjTNFECetVuZ8) ━━━━━━━━━━ 🌏 Come say hi! Hey, come hang out! 来一起玩吧！ 一起來聊天吧！ 気軽に遊びに来てね！ 편하게 놀러 와요! มาเจอกันนะ! Tới chơi nha! Tara, sali ka na! Yuk, gabung! လာပြီး အတူပျော်ကြရအောင်! មកលេងជាមួយគ្នាណា! ມາພົບກັນເດີ້! Хамтдаа цуглацгаая! Komm einfach vorbei! Jom join kita! See you at Lounge Asia!

Intro to Survival Skills: Shelter, Fire and Knots

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/survival-skills/intro-survival-skills)** **Spend a Saturday becoming someone who knows what to do.** Join us for a hands-on beginner day in Copeland Forest with Kyle, a survival instructor with over a decade of experience. You'll pitch a shelter, light a fire without matches, carve with a knife and tie the knots that hold it all together. This class is open to any adult, member or not. Come on your own or bring a friend. Most people at our classes arrive solo. Total beginners are welcome: Kyle starts from zero, and there's no hiking, just short walks into the trees to gather wood. **Kit provided:** Tarps, saws, hatchets, loaner ferro rods and knives to borrow, plus your own tinder kit and a printed handout. Want your own ferro rod (+$10) or Mora knife (+$40) to keep? Add one when you book. **Getting there:** Add the bus for $50 and we'll pick you up at Keele Station at 8am and drop you back around 6pm. Or drive yourself to the P1 parking lot in Copeland Forest, near Horseshoe Valley, about an hour and a half north of Toronto. No membership needed. After you book, we'll email you the waiver to sign and your plan with directions, timings and a packing list. **Accessibility** Wilderness Union is committed to making our adventures as accessible as possible. If you wish to make an accommodation request relating to a disability or provide feedback, please do so by sending an email to info@wildernessunion.com **Highlights** **Put a roof over your head:** Learn to pick a good spot and pitch a tarp two ways, the A-frame and the plow point, so you know how to stay dry when the weather turns. **Light a fire without matches:** Catch a ferro rod spark on fluffed jute, build up through twigs to logs, split wood by batoning and carve feather sticks. **Knots, knife work and a tripod grill:** Learn the taut-line hitch, slip knot and bowline, carve your own chopsticks, spoon or spatula, then lash a tripod and grill over the fire. **Itinerary** **08:00** \- Bus leaves Keele Station \(if you've added it\) **10:00** \- Meet at location\, for a welcome\, safety talk and knife handling **Late morning** \- Tarp shelters: the A\-frame and the plow point **Lunch** \- Bring a packed lunch and eat around the fire **Afternoon** \- Fire without matches: ferro rod\, jute\, batoning and feather sticks **Late afternoon** \- Knots\, bush cutlery and a tripod grill **16:00** \- Wrap up and head home **18:00** \- Bus arrives back at Keele Station **Event cost: $135+HST. $50 optional transport also available. Please register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/survival-skills/intro-survival-skills)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

Lion’s Head Lookout Hiking Trip

Portlands: Moonlight shining toward us (6.1 km)

Biidaasige Park has become the top urban park in Canada in barely more than a year. The play area is impressive with ziplines and water works. Biking and walking paths wind through tranquil, restored wetlands and scattered artworks. Design thinking is evident in the placement of amenities and trail layout. If you haven't visited it already, go during the day. This hike happens at night, when you can see the park in a different light (or lack thereof). The park is a key development in the Portlands area, which will transform into Toronto's newest neighbourhood in the next decade. This hike will start at the eastern end, follow the coastline to Cherry Beach and swing up to the park. Most of the area is still industrial. The only good place to eat is at the end, a local favourite for barbecue. **Highlights** 1. Leslie Lookout Park (depart 6:30 pm) 2. Hearn Generating Station 3. Waterfront Trail 4. Cherry Beach Life Guard Station (depart 7:13 pm) 5. Bridges of Port Lands 6. Atlas Crane 7. Lassonde Art Trail 8. Views of Toronto skyline 9. Ziplines at Biidaasige playground 10. Giant snow owl, beavers, raccoons, and other critters 11. Cherry Street Bar-B-Que (arrive 8pm) **Neighbourhoods** Port Lands > Lower Don Lands **Map** [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1EJACCyOoX-EdS2UE7Kpnic7P6rtmvac&usp=sharing](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1EJACCyOoX-EdS2UE7Kpnic7P6rtmvac&usp=sharing) The trail from the start to Cherry Beach has no lighting but is wide and flat. You will be walking in the dark, perhaps with moonlight or city lights illuminating some of the way. Headlamps or torches can be helpful. Recommended to bike, walk, or take a TTC bus to the start point because it's troublesome to return there in the dark. **How it works** Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints. See our [home page](https://www.meetup.com/hike-to-eat/) for more info.