U.S. Visitors:
By car

Crossing into Canada from the United States by car is a straightforward affair, despite the recent tightening of US borders. Most likely, drivers will enter Toronto from the west on Highway 401 or Highway 2. The Queen Elizabeth Way then leads directly into the city. If you arrive from the east via Montreal, you will also take highways 401 and 2.

By rail

Toronto is a major stop on the railroad network between the US and Canada. Amtrak’s Maple Leaf service runs between New York City’s Penn Station and Toronto every day on a 12-hour journey. From Chicago, travellers can take the International, which also takes about 12 hours. These travel times include the lengthy border crossing checkpoints and immigration. All trains arrive at Toronto’s Union Station on Front street. The central train station has direct access to the subway system. Call Amtrak for more information (tel: +1 800 872 7245).

By bus

Greyhound is the only bus company to cross the border into Canada from the US. You can reach Toronto from any city in the US and all buses arrive at the Metro Coach Terminal in the downtown area (tel: +1 800 231 2222). A handful of local Canadian bus companies service routes to destinations within the country. The bus is usually cheaper and faster than the train, but most bus lines don’t accept reservations, so you should plan to buy your ticket at least an hour before the scheduled departure time.

Visas

Please see the Canadian Government website to learn if you need a visa to visit Canada, locations of Canadian Embassies worldwide, and requirements for visas. Similarly, if you wish to make a continuing visit onwards to the U.S. (e.g. Disney!) before/after the Convention, do check out U.S. visa requirements here. Please note that the above information is provided only as a general guide and may contain errors, omissions or be outdated. For your final travel arrangements, please contact your travel agent or visit the website of the respective service provider concerned.

Insurance: Medical and Travel

As with all international travellers, it is extremely prudent to carry good travel cover when you go abroad. Medical insurance is a must, particularly in North America where a mere 1 day hospital stay can set you back $7,000! We strongly advise all visitors to the Convention to purchase medical insurance for your trip to Canada. If you are unable to obtain decent cover in your home country, very economical cover is available for Convention visitors through our Insurance Advisor Mr. Vivek Bhatt via 21st Century Insurance. Basic medical coverage of $10,000 for the Convention week, will cost you a mere approx $10! Consider larger coverage though. And do remember it is prudent to buy the cover before you enter Canada, as medical insurance always requires 72 hours to take effect. For a full rate-table, click here. You may contact Vivek directly at: vivekbhatt@sympatico.ca;
+1-416-431-0635; +1-416-458-5842