THE CENTRE OF THE WORLD
Get connected with a whole world of sights, sounds and flavours at Harbourfront Centre
Toronto is a diverse and multicultural city, and there’s no better place to meet and mingle with the city’s many communities than Harbourfront Centre. The 10-acre site not only connects city dwellers with the great outdoors, it also delivers the sights, sounds, and flavours of the world to the shore of Lake Ontario.
Harbourfront Centre is a Canadian charity operating the 10 prime acres of Toronto’s central waterfront as a free and open public site, and is a microcosm of everything Toronto has to offer:
It’s accessible — 70 percent of its events are free — thanks to the support of donors and sponsors. Now that the Queens Quay revitalization is complete, it’s easy to get to by car or public transit.
Its stirring lakefront is just one of its many charms. With balmy breezes and views of sailboats silently gliding by, Harbourfront Centre is like an oasis in the heart of a bustling city. Every year, the non-profit arts and culture hub attracts more than 12 and a half million visitors. Generations of families have made it a tradition to attend its many festivals or explore its roster of artists, artisans and culinary masters from diverse cultures.
It’s this spirit of connection and interactivity that makes Harbourfront Centre such a global leader in contemporary arts and culture, home to internationally recognized events such as World Stage, the Summer Music in the Garden, The Power Plant and the International Festival of Authors.
Another important, globally recognized event at the Harbourfront Centre is Planet IndigenUS.
This 10-day, contemporary-focused, multidisciplinary arts festival — held in partnership with Brantford, Ontario’s Woodland Cultural Centre — explores the unique culture, language, spiritual framework and environment of indigenous people from around the world. Its mission is to build a crosscultural dialogue by looking back on history and promoting voices, stories, and cultures that are largely absent from the Canadian narrative.
Planet IndigenUS also looks forward by connecting communities through education, outreach, youth projects, professional development for artists and their communities, and internships throughout Ontario and the rest of Canada. Highlights of this year’s festival include performances by Buffy SainteMarie and stand-up comedian Don Burnstick and appearances by artists Kent Monkman, Kevin Lamure, and Kelly Greene.
Sharing culture — whether through food, art, dance, music, or theatre — is a powerful way to build bridges of understanding, collaboration and cooperation among people of diverse backgrounds and traditions. For the general public, participating as an audience member, artist or volunteer is an amazing opportunity to become a part of this larger cultural community.
By attracting a broad range of artists, audiences, students, teachers, employees, volunteers and board and committee members, Harbourfront Centre has become a model for arts programs around the world.
The lakeside venue is soothing and picturesque, a haven and a draw for tourists and locals alike. It’s no wonder that, in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, this venue has something for everyone.