Itinerary — a clear plan, kept flexible.

Current draft route: Toronto City Hall → Sculpture: Tembo, Mother of Elephants → Consulate General of Portugal area → Kensington Market. Open the Google Maps walking route. From Kensington, the current idea is bus pickup, a welcome dinner, and transfer to the hotel.

• 1. Congress Welcome Office — 130 King Street West — Monday morning sign-in, welcome-bag pickup and tentative luggage coordination.
• 2. Tembo, Mother of Elephants — short landmark stop using the linked map pin.
• 3. Portuguese Consulate area — exterior stop along the walking route only; no visit inside the Consulate is scheduled.
• 4. Kensington Market — casual destination and bus pickup point.
• 5. Members-only welcome dinner, Guest of Honour & DJ — reception items, dinner and music are planned for Congress members. Guests of Honour: Ana Luísa Riquito, Consul-General of Portugal in Toronto, and Laurentino Esteves, Councillor for the Portuguese Communities. Monday is not open to the general public.
• 6. Hotel transfer — bus continues to the hotel after dinner.
• 7. Luggage coordination — organizers will try to arrange a secure location, such as the bus or an office, to hold luggage during dinner and may coordinate delivery to the hotel.

Copy Google Maps route link Click the map to open the route.

Tuesday includes lunch at LIUNA Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton. Arrival is at 11:00, with lunch at 11:30. A short walk via Immigration Square and James Street North may follow, subject to coach coordination, before continuing to Days Inn & Suites Niagara Falls Centre Street.

• 1. LIUNA Station arrival & lunch — arrival at 11:00; lunch at 11:30. Coach departure and walking arrangements will be coordinated.
• 2. Hamilton walk — 17 min / 1.2 km route from the former rail station area to Tim Hortons, via Immigration Square and James Street N.
  3. Set pickup point — Tim Hortons, 35 King St E, Hamilton, ON L8N 1A1.
• 4. Proceed to Niagara Falls — after pickup, the group continues to the Niagara Falls overnight area for check-in and orientation.

Hamilton stop visual

Reference photo for the former rail station area used in the Tuesday stop planning.

Short walk & timed pickup

Walking route: LiUNA Station / Hamilton Canadian National Railway Station → Immigration Square → via James Street N → Tim Hortons, 35 King St E. Approx. 17 minutes / 1.2 km.

• Start near LiUNA Station / Hamilton Canadian National Railway Station at the set departure time.
• Cross to Immigration Square, 360 James St N.
• Continue via James Street N toward King Street E.
• Set pickup point: Tim Hortons, 35 King St E, Hamilton, ON L8N 1A1; then proceed to the Niagara Falls hotel.

Open station Open Immigration Square Open 17 min route Open Tim Hortons pickup

Route shown is the current working route: approx. 17 minutes / 1.2 km via James Street N. Departure and pickup times can be inserted once confirmed.

Thursday begins with checkout and the included Al Mac’s breakfast/lunch buffet in two seatings, followed by the Jackson-Triggs tasting from noon to 1:30 p.m.. The proposed shuttle plan brings the first group to the winery early and the second around noon. Early access is awaiting the winery’s confirmation. Shopping / free time at Outlet Collection follows, then both groups travel together to Mississauga. The possible evening group dinner / pizza remains to be confirmed and at participants’ own expense.

• 1. Hotel checkout & Al Mac’s buffet — two seatings before the winery; seating start times and hotel/luggage pickup arrangements to be confirmed.
• 2. Proposed transfers & noon tasting — Group 1 leaves Al Mac’s at 10:20 a.m., arriving around 10:50; Group 2 leaves at 11:30, arriving around noon. Journey times are estimates and the shuttle schedule is subject to transport confirmation. Early access to the grounds, vineyard views and shop is awaiting the winery’s approval. Everyone joins the booked noon–1:30 p.m. tasting.
• 3. Outlet Collection at Niagara & return to hotel — planned shopping / free-time stop at 300 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Group / coach arrangements and any available group offers will be explored, then the coach continues to the Congress hotel area in Mississauga / Toronto West.
• 4. Possible group dinner / pizza — a casual group meal is being explored after hotel arrival. Details, location and cost are still to be confirmed; until confirmed, dinner remains at the participant’s own expense.

Friday is the main congress day for all attendees, with the morning Congress / General Assembly meeting, light breakfast-style refreshments, a flexible lunch window on your own, and the evening Main Gala Dinner included in the Congress program.

• 1. Morning congress / General Assembly — all attendees gather at Renaissance by the Creek; agenda page linked above.
  

  Community Supporter Sponsor

  Santander is supporting the morning Congress / General Assembly event at Renaissance by the Creek.

• 2. Afternoon break — time for rest, hotel movements, or preparation before the evening.
• 3. Main Gala Dinner — included in the Congress program (published value: $120 CAD per person); reception at 17:00, dinner service at 19:00, six-hour open bar, cultural program, international delegations, and black tie / formal attire.

Main Gala Dinner

Official Gala on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Renaissance by the Creek, 3045 Southcreek Road, Mississauga. Included in the Congress program; published dinner value: $120 CAD per person.

Guest of Honour

We look forward to welcoming Charles Sousa to the Main Gala Dinner on Friday, October 2.

Local sponsors & community support

LIUNA Local 837 — Gala Table Host sponsor. Thank you for supporting the 53rd World Congress.

Gala cake — Nova Era Bakery

Our Gala cake is generously provided by Nova Era Bakery. Thank you for helping us celebrate together.

Reception: 17:00 / 5:00 PM

Dinner service: 19:00 / 7:00 PM

Included in the Congress program · Published value: $120 CAD per person

Six-hour open bar

Black tie / formal attire

Live music: Karma Banda Toronto

Open venue map

Saturday is intended as a flexible Toronto day. To make planning easier, the suggested activities below are grouped by time of day, with rough pricing where useful. If many people choose the same activity, the organizers may try to coordinate it as a grouped option.

Morning / daytime suggestions

Afternoon suggestions

Evening suggestions

Medieval Times — optional Saturday evening experience

Venue: Exhibition Place area, Toronto
Experience: Dinner and live tournament-style show
Selected show: 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 3

Group package (15+) · Adult: $73.96 Child: $53.62

This is an optional Saturday activity and is not included in Congress fees. The 4:00 PM show is available. For groups of 15 or more, the published group package is $73.96 per adult and $53.62 per child, including the group discount, tax and gratuity. If at least 15 participants are interested, the organizers can provide the participant names for the group arrangement.

• Family-friendly dinner show with knightly tournament entertainment
• Group seating is guaranteed for 15+ guests, with a complimentary group announcement
• General seating is furthest back; Preferred seating is closer, but not the closest section
• Google Maps link provided in the option above

Santoinho — optional Saturday evening cultural event

Date: Saturday, October 3
Doors open: 4:30 PM
Venue: Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, 40 Titan Road, Etobicoke

Own expense · Pre-sale: $55 At the door: $60 Children: $30

A lively Portuguese arraial minhoto with sardinhas, caldo verde, bifanas, broa, and the famous champarrião, plus bombos, desfolhada na eira, marches, and folkloric performances.

• Food, music, and traditional Minho atmosphere
• Possible alternative to Medieval Times for groups that prefer a Portuguese cultural evening
• Google Maps link provided in the option above

Santoinho Facebook event