- -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- -

Art--Animals--Food--Links--Lists--Map--Movies & TV--Music--Nature--Places--Performances--Souvenirs--Structures--Timeline

Friday 20 May 2022

Moose In The City

Moose In The City

   In the year 2000, Toronto mayor Mel Lastman and the founder of McDonald's Canada decided to unleash about 300 moose into the city.  Originally, businesses purchased a fibreglass moose and it was uniquely painted by an artist. Now over 22 years later these moose can still be found popping up in unexpected places.   This is a list of the moose we have managed to track down, in no particular order.  Most of them can be found in Ontario, Canada. Visit them while you can as you never know when they may be off to a new home.


1 ) World Famous Moose  (1 McDonald's Place, North York)

World Famous Moose McDona;d's Headquarters Toronto

    This moose stands outside McDonald's Canada Headquarters.  Its plaque says it is "World Famous Moose".  We think it should be called Ronald McMoose after the character it resembles.

Giant McCafe Outside McDonald's Canada Headquarters

   As an added bonus, this moose is located right next to a giant McCafe coffee cup.

2)  Lucky Moose  (393 Dundas Street West, Toronto)

Lucky Moose Food Mart Dundas Street West

    Lucky Moose stands on top of the Lucky Moose Food Mart.  The market might even have been named after the moose.  The logo on the sign however, has the horns of a cow.

3)  ATS Moose  (100 Vaughan Valley Blvd, Woodbridge)

 Moose In The City ATS Vaughan

    This all red moose stands in front of ATS Healthcare which provides temperature controlled transportation for medical purposes.


4)  Bay Street Moose  (4241 Dundas St W, Etobicoke)

Gibson's Cleaners Moose In The City

    This moose is wearing his best suit and is ready for some wheeling and dealing on Bay Street.  When the day is done he is up on the roof of Gibson's Cleaners to get his suit dry cleaned.

5)  Yellow Moose  (1900 Steeles Ave W, Concord)

Alpa Lumber Moose In The City

An all yellow moose with a few blue highlights stands out front of Alpa Lumber Group.

6)  Impact Tools Moose  (1170 The Queensway, Etobicoke
 
 Impact Tools Moose In The City

    Another all yellow moose is up on the roof of Impact Tools.  This one is wearing some sort of protective vest.

7)  Santa Moose  (50 Bonnie Dr, Simcoe, ON)
 
Simcoe Christmas Panorama Moose

   Out in Simcoe, Ontario they do a special Christmas Panorama each winter.  Santa Moose who originally stood outside Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto makes a special appearance every year.

8)  Bluewinkle Moose  (8200 Warden Ave., Unionville
 
Bluewinkle Moose IBM Canada Software Lab.
 
 
     This moose is located in the lobby area of the IBM Canada Software Lab.  This is a private company building so we were not sure if we would manage to get a visit.  We tried our luck and showed up one day.  The security guard was kind enough to let us take a few pictures.
 
Bluewinkle Moose IBM Canada.
 
    Bluewinkle even has his own IBM access badge with his name on it. 

  9)  Centreville Moose  (Centreville Amusement Park, Toronto Islands)

Centreville Moose & Touring Cars

   This moose we know is no longer where we spotted it many years ago.  We were busy taking pictures of the touring cars we enjoyed riding in as children when this moose snuck into the shot.

  10 ) CuJo Moose  (1037 Little Britain Rd, Little Britain)

Curtis Joseph Moose In Little Britain

      This moose out in the town of Little Britain is named after legendary Toronto Maple Leaf goalie Curtis Joseph.  While you are there you can get some sweet treats at the Buttertarts 'N More store.

Buttertarts N More Little Britain

11 ) Florence Moosingale  (396 Moore Ave, Toronto)

 Florence Moosingale Moose In The City

    This moose is located outside of Integracare. Integracare provides health care services.  The moose was named after Florence Nightingale who was the founder of modern nursing.  Florence Moosingale could be the founder of modern moosing.

12 ) St. Clement's Moose  (21 St Clements Ave, Toronto)

St. Clement's Private School Moose In The City

    St. Clement's is a private school for girls and at least one moose.  This moose is all dressed up in the school uniform.
 
13 ) Global Moose  (222 Bremner Blvd, Toronto)

 Global Moose In The City Metro Convention Centre

    This moose was found inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  He is wearing a nice suit with flags from around the world.
 
14 ) Mountie Moose  (430 Pine St, Waubaushene)
 
Mountie Moose Waubaushene.

     This moose used to be seen hanging around the CN Tower but has since changed locations.  He was all dressed up like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  When a beloved moose mascot named Wauby was damaged at a truck stop in Waubaushene, the Mountie was sent in to save the day. 

15 ) Angus Moose  (231 Mill St, Angus)

Moose In The City Angus Ontario

     Formerly known as Marty, this moose is now called Angus after the town where it resides.  At some point it was placed above the drive-thru of the local McDonald's.  It was repainted by local students when it moved from its original home at the Universal Studios offices in North York.

16 ) Northwest Moose  (20 Wynford Drive, Toronto)

Northwest Moose In North York

 
     This moose is blue and white and stands outside a medical centre just across the steet from the Aga Khan Museum.  

17 ) Incredible Moose  (30 St. Regis Crescent N, North York)

Incredible Printing Moose In The City

     This colourful moose is standing outside of Incredible Printing.  It has different type faces on it.
 
18 ) Zeus Moose  (169 South Rd, Devonshire, Bermuda)

     This moose is not in Ontario, Canada.  He can be found wearing his Bermuda shorts in the land that invented them.   He moved from Canada to the Bermuda Botanical Gardens, in Bermuda of course.

19 ) Sweet Molly's Moose  (352 Queen St E, Unit #1, Acton)

Sweet Molly's Moose.
    
  This moose can be found hanging out inside a British bake shop surrounded by sweet treats.
  
20 ) Canadian Crane Moose Trio  (60 Saunders Rd, Barrie)
 
Canadian Crane Moose On Roof

     These three moose can be seen on the roof of the Canadian Crane building as you head northbound into Barrie on the 400 Highway.  We haven't had a chance to get a good photo yet.  We are either speeding past headed north or distracted as we slowly stop and start headed southbound with the cottage country traffic.  Perhaps the Good Life Fitness parking lot on the west side of Highway 400 would give us a good view to finally get a picture. 

21 ) Green & Ross Moose  (3899 Highway 7, Woodbridge)

HWY 7 Green & Ross Moose In The City

     This green moose is outside of an Active Green + Ross Tire And Automotive Centre.  

22 ) Stanley Moose  (St Leonards Ave and Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto)

Mount Pleasant & St Leonards Moose in The City

     This moose can be spotted looking off of the roof of a private residence along Mount Pleasant Road.  

23 ) Police Moose  (40 College St, Toronto)

Toronto Police Museum Moose In The City.

     Police Moose is ready to serve and protect at the Toronto Police Headquarters.  He even has a moose calf with him helping to keep watch over the Police Museum.   

241 ) Kennedy Road Moose  (2 Antrim Crescent, Scarborough)

Kennedy Road Scarborough Moose in The City
 
     The Kennedy Road Business Association sponsors this moose.  The moose thanks you for supporting the many businesses located between Lawrence Avenue and the 401.
 
Thank You For Shopping At Kennedy Road.
  
25 ) Excalibur Moose  (100 Princes' Blvd , Toronto)
 
Excalibur Moose CNE Grounds

     This moose was found hiding down the hallway on the far east end of the Enercare Centre (Formerly Direct Energy Centre).  He has scenes from years of the Canadian National Exhibition painted on his body.  He also has golden antlers and wears a crown.
 
26) Cherry Shirt Moose  (1405 Denison St, Markham)

Cherry Shirt Moose In The City Denison Street
 
    This moose is wearing a cherry shirt, jean shorts and little red shoes. Also maybe too much blush?

Well, there are all the moose that we have found for you.  Only a couple of hundred more to go.  If anyone has recently found a missing moose let us know in the comments.  We will update this list if we locate any more on our travels.

Wednesday 20 April 2022

A Weekend In Paris

Paris Ontario Over The Grand River

 Location: Paris, Ontario, Canada
Address: 106 Grand River St N.
Date: March 2022
Website: www.brant.ca

    Even though travelling is a little harder these days, we still managed to get away for a weekend in Paris. Paris, Ontario that is. Paris was not named after the city in France, but named for the nearby deposits of gypsum which were used to make plaster of Paris.  Paris has often been referred to as the prettiest little town in Canada. The restaurants and other businesses on the main street look out over the Grand River. We visited on a cold weekend in the off season and still found a lot to keep us entertained.

Paris or Toronto Road Sign.

    Paris, Ontario is only about an hour and a half drive from Toronto.  As we approached the town even the street signs wanted to remind us that we were not really that far away.

Arlington Hotel in Paris Ontario

      We stayed in the Arlington Hotel which was built in the 1850s and is now a boutique hotel with themed rooms.  The hotel stands tall and proud at the corner of William Street and Grand River Street.

Mona Lisa Hangs Over Bed In Paris Ontario Arlington Hotel.
The Da Vinci Suite At The Arlington Hotel in Paris Ontario.

   Each room of the Arlington is themed for a different artist.  We stayed in the most Parisian room of them all, the da Vinci suite.  Why not have the Mona Lisa hanging directly over your bed?

TARDIS elevator Arlington Hotel Paris Ontario

    The elevator of the hotel was decorated like a TARDIS time machine from the Doctor Who television shows.  TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space.

The Grand River Flows Past Paris Ontario.

    The Grand River that flows past Paris is almost 290 kilometres long and ends its journey at Lake Erie.

Paris Ontario from The Grand RIver

   Despite the cold, we decided to walk from town and check out Penman's Dam.  We could feel the warmth of Paris calling us back.

Penman's Dam Paris Ontario

  Penman's Dam was created to run one of the mills for Penmans Limited Clothing Company.

Welcome To Paris Grand River

   The area around the dam is a launching point for some of the canoe and kayak groups in the town.

Snow Over Penman's Dam Paris Ontario

    As we were leaving the dam, it started to snow. Snow in Paris, France is a rare occurrence, but in Paris, Ontario it is quite common.

Two Dogs Walk Beside The Grand RIver In Paris Ontario

  The only other travellers we saw near the dam were a pair of dogs all by themselves.  We headed back to the warmth of our hotel.

Hiram Capron Founder Of Paris Mural

  We ventured out again to explore the town.  At the north end of town is a mural showing Hiram Capron.  Hiram was the founder of Paris and lived and died in the town he helped incorporate in 1849.

Lest We Forget Clock Great War Monument.

   At the south end of town is a clock and a war memorial.  "Lest We Forget" the men and women of Paris who were lost during war. 

Cobblestone Common Paris Ontario

  Paris is also known for its use of cobblestone in the construction of many buildings around the town.  Cobblestone Common is the name of a park located beside the river.

Charles Mitchell House

  Charles Mitchell house is a good example of cobblestone used in construction.  If you look closely you can see all the little stones mixed into the front wall.

Cobblestone Restaurant & Pub Paris

  A local pub is even called The Cobblestone in honour of all the stones used in town.  We'll drink to that!

Paris Public Library Ontario

  The rest of town has some interesting places to visit and more interesting architecture.  You can also tell stories of your trip and dream of being in Paris, France.  "I read the most interesting book in a library in Paris".

Paris Baptist Church Ontario.

    There are many different churches to see in Paris.  Nothing quite compares to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Paris Jewellers Eiffel Tower Ontario

  The Paris Jewellers had an Eiffel Tower in their window to further make you feel like you are in a different Paris.

Chocolate Sensations Paris Ontario Frog

  Frog legs have long been a delicacy in Paris, France.  Chocolate Sensations offered many sweet treats including chocolate frogs.  They are just solid milk chocolate in case you were wondering.

Paris Ontario Home Hardware.

  Just as we started to feel as if we were somewhere in Europe, we spotted a Canadian hardware chain.  The local Paris Home Hardware reminded us where we were.  Not a bad place to be.  We enjoyed great food, interesting architecture, a quirky hotel and more.  We were told we need to come back in the summertime when the city is filled with flowers and at the peak of its beauty. 


Map of Our World
Paris, Ontario
Post # 310