Canada with Michael and Amy - Toronto Part Two

It is a little bittersweet writing about this. Our time in Toronto and in Vancouver was spent on the assumption that we would be returning regularly. But we did not know that the Canadian government had other ideas. Michael and Amy’s work visa was not renewed, and they had to leave. It is all a little sad. and it makes our time there in 2023 even more special.

Friday morning Michael, Bonnie, and I set off by train to explore the Royal Ontario Museum. Expensive. But a really cool building. The have dinosaurs!

The highlight for me was the Being and Belonging: Contemporary Women Artists from the Islamic World and Beyond exhibition. Some really provocative pieces, some of which you can see here.  It reminded me of the power of art to break open your perspective and to allow other voices you might hear to speak into your life. It was an amazing exhibition. There was also a permanent gallery of the world’s indigenous cultures which featured 1,400 rarely seen artifacts, including some Māori carving. But the map of the world seemed to not have us on there at all. Bonnie as outraged and voiced a complaint to some poor guy on our way out. We had a great time there and looked forward to going back. But it turns out that won’t be happening. Sad face.

That night we went out with friends of Michael and Amy’s to a Georgian restaurant. What a feast of different flavours and combinations using lots of walnut meal. A delightful night of great conversation and wonderful food.

Amy wasn’t working on Saturday – they gave her some days off, and she led a walking tour through the University she worked at. Michael had taken us to some of this before, but it was great having Amy show us around. We watched a group of Mounted Police riding slowly down the street, maybe on a training ride. We found a bookstall in one of the University buildings and spent some time finding little treasures. I think we all found a book or two. I found one on a guy called Francis of Assisi. It looked interesting and I bought it.

There are at least two statues of homeless Jesus around Toronto. They are by Timothy P. Schmalz. The original sculpture was installed in 2013 at Regis College, a theological college federated of the University of Toronto on its St. George campus. Numerous copies of the statue have been installed in several other locations with over 50 copies were created and placed around the world. St Stephens In the Field Anglican Church has Jesus begging. Bonnie thought it was a woman begging but I was pretty sure it was Jesus. I’ve since looked it up. The one we went passed was by a church which was hosting a tent city for homeless people. We were surprised to see a number of these – places where homeless people set up a tent and had somewhere to sleep. It was a little confronting to see so much poverty.

We went back to one of the markets we had already been to as Michael was looking for a particular gift for his big sister who was having a birthday with NO family around – her 35^th birthday. We had to make an effort to show we had not forgotten her.

Amy took our books home, and we went to TFC Stadium to watch Toronto FC play. Their supporters were loud and fun. The team did not play great football, and you could see why they were coming last in the MLS Regular Season. It didn't help that I had been to see Liverpool play at Anfield just over two months earlier - a team known for fast counter-attacks. I'm not even sure that Toronto knew what attack was. As it was the last game there were a few farewells including their captain who were well acknowledged. WE then caught a double decker train to Union Station – which we had a quick explore of, in part to see where the airport train would be going from.

Sunday morning and Bonnie and I were let out on our own. Bonnie was keen to go to Grace Church on-the-Hill, which Google Maps took us to easily with our two trains and then a walk up the wee incline. During Lent in 2023 I preached about people who lived hope persistently. I began with Dorothy Day. A few weeks later Bonnie preached in Florence Li Tim Oi – the first women in the Anglican Communion to be ordained priest, in China on 25 January 1944 to ensure Anglicans on Macau could continue to receive the sacraments. After the war she resigned her licence, but not her ordination. After surviving the Cultural Revolution she was eventually allowed to leave China, and she finished her ministry in Toronto. The Canadian Church was ordaining women but then and recognised her as a priest. She ministered among the Chinese community. She lived a life of persistent faith. Grace Church on-the Hill has a stain glass window of her that Bonnie wanted to see, along with one of Desmond Tutu. It was a really nice service with a great sermon on Covid fatigue among clergy – something I was experiencing and talked about with other priests at St Georges. It would have been nice to go back sometime. O well.

After training back to Michael and Amy’s we set off with them to the Glasshouse in the Allen Gardens. Lots of exotic plants and a pool filled with turtles climbing and sleeping on each other in little towers. 

We then carried on through some nice suburbs to the Riverdale Park and the statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese physician, revolutionary, statesman, and political philosopher and father of modern China. We would meet him again in Vancouver. It was an amazingly vibrant statue that seemed to allow his robes to flow as he walked in the wind. From there we walked to the East Archway to Chinatown - he "Zonghua Men" (Chinese Arch) is a traditional-style gate that stands for the history and contributions of Chinese Canadians. It is adorned with images of the Great Wall of China and, intricate panda engravings. Pity about the boring car park it sits on.

Michael took pity on us and we ubered back to their place to get ready to go out again for an amazing Filipino dinner – all served on a large banana leaf which covered the table and was loaded with garlic rice, BBQ meats, seafood etc. We then stuff ourselves eating with our hands, Michael eating himself into a coma just about.

Monday was our last full day with them. Amy was working so we went out on the ferry to Centre Island. A gloriously fine day, but still not warm. In summer this place is humming with all kinds of summer activities available. It was pretty quiet for us. We had a great time walking the whole Island. We got some great views back to the waterfront of Toronto City from the Island and on the Ferry. The water was mirror glass and the sky clear. Wonderful.

Our last dinner was takeaway, this time Mongolian if I remember right. it had been such a joy to have this time with Amy and Michael in the home in Toronto. We were lucky that Michael was starting a new job the day after we left so he was able to spend all that time with us. We were spoilt. Thankyou to the both of them.

The next morning Michael Ubered with us to Union Station and made sure we got on the right train. And we set off for home, stopping on the way in Vancouver. I would have to say Canadian Airlines were not great. The check in experience was slow, even in priority. they lost the Airpoints numbers and had Bonnie and I sitting separately. We were queried why we were trying to enter their not great lounge – “I’m Air New Zealand Gold!” I said. Not really much of an apology. When we landed in Vancouver Bonnie’s bag, along with quite a few others, did not come out. It was like the baggage handlers got bored and gave up. But all that was fine. We had our last few days of adventure coming up before we were heading home and “real life”.