THE TOUR INCLUDES: - Premium Top Category seats for 8 performances as listed - 7 nights deluxe accommodations at the premier hotels in each city, all within walking distance of venues (Toronto: Royal York; Niagara: Prince of Wales) - Full breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 1 reception, High Tea and 1 dinner - 3 custom (private) tours (Toronto city tour, McMichael Gallery, Niagara tour) - private Airport-Hotel transfers - on-site tour direction - a comprehensive tour guidebook containing travel info, performance synopses and a detailed daily itinerary Cost: $4475 US Single Supplement: $875 US Deposit: $1500 Balance due: February 23, 2008

OPTIONS FLIGHTS We will be happy to make any flight arrangements, including reward travel with your preferred carrier, for $75 per person. Inbound flight should be booked to arrive Toronto early afternoon on May 23; the outbound flight should depart from Toronto early afternoon or later on May 30. AIRPORT-HOTEL TRANSFERS We include airport-hotel transfers (group) on the published tour dates. Transfers are not included for early arrivals or extended stays, although we can easily make these arrangements for you. TOUR ADDITIONS The itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and desires. Please call us to discuss any changes or amendments you wish to make. INSURANCE We strongly recommend that all tour members purchase cancellation insurance upon registration. We can assist you with this, though you are welcome to purchase a policy at your own discretion. If you would like information on the policies offered by our supplier, please contact us for details, or click HERE for an insurance brochure and application.

Due to the popularity of our 2007 Ontario programme, we will offer a spring tour in 2008 in addition to the original autumn itinerary. This tour brings you to one of the most charming towns in North America, as well as to Canada's cultural heart. Along the way, you will stay at the finest hotels in each city, enjoy exquisite meals in some of Ontario's top restaurants, and witness performances by Canada's premier opera company as well as one of the finest theatre companies in North America.

Toronto, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, is the largest of Canada's vibrant urban centres. It is the hub of the nation's commercial, financial, industrial, and cultural life, and is the capital of the Province of Ontario. People have lived here since shortly after the last ice age, although the urban community only dates to 1793 when British colonial officials founded the 'Town of York' on what then was the Upper Canadian frontier. That backwoods village grew to become the 'City of Toronto' in 1834, and through its subsequent evolution and expansion Toronto has emerged as one of the most liveable and multicultural urban places in the world today. And of course, it is home to the Canadian Opera Company, the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The company enjoys an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation, and now has a new home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, often called the loveliest town in Ontario, has a long and distinguished history. Site of the old Neutral Indian village of Onghiara, it was settled at the close of the American Revolution by loyalists coming to Upper Canada. In 1792, Newark - as it was named by Governor Simcoe, became the first capital of the newly-created colony of Upper Canada. American forces all but destroyed the town by fire during the war of 1812, but it was soon rebuilt and became an active commercial centre, with a busy shipping and ship-building industry, as well as many shops and warehouses. Today, over two hundred years after its founding, Niagara-on-the-Lake hums with a different kind of traffic. Its many attractions include historic sites - Fort George and the Historical Society Museum, the marina, a lovely heritage business district, golf courses, parks and beautiful farmland, agricultural markets and world famous Niagara wineries. And of course, the Shaw Festival with its three theatres is based here.

The Shaw Festival was founded in 1962 by Niagara-area lawyer and playwright Brian Doherty. During the summer, Mr. Doherty organized eight weekend performances of Don Juan in Hell and Candida by Bernard Shaw under the title “Salute to Shaw”. For this event, the Assembly Room in the historic Court House on Queen Street was converted into a small theatre. Today the Festival produces 10 to 12 plays each season, with over 800 performances in 3 theatres, to audiences totalling about 300,000 people.

THE ITINERARY

Friday, May 23...Departure for Toronto
Departures for Toronto (be certain to schedule your inbound flight so that you arrive early afternoon). Those wishing to arrive earlier in the week will be accommodated. Please call for details. Upon arrival at Pearson International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the deluxe Fairmont Royal York, four blocks from the opera house. This grand landmark is located in the heart of Canada's largest metropolis, amidst the city's most important cultural attractions. In the early evening we gather for introductions and a Welcome Reception in the hotel's cozy Library Bar. Afterward, we transfer to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for a performance of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro: Rodion Pogossov, Rosina: Enkelejda Shkosa, Almaviva: Blagoj Nacoski, Bartolo: Patrick Carfizzi, Basilio: Burak Bilgili, Ambrogio: John Kriter, The Officer: Jason Nedecky; Conductor: Miguel Harth-Bedoya).

Saturday, May 24...Toronto
This morning we meet and depart for a guided tour of Toronto, featuring the history and architecture of the city. We will see the world's first flatiron building, City Hall (Old and New), St. Lawrence Market, Casa Loma, St Michaels Cathedral, the Yorkville area, the Royal Ontario Museum, Queen's Park and the University of Toronto. Afterward, we enjoy lunch at the elegant and understated Far Niente, close to the hotel. This evening, we gather in the hotel lobby before transferring to our performance of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande at the Four Seasons Centre, featuring a stellar cast (Mélisande: Isabel Bayrakdarian, Pelléas: Russell Braun, Golaud: Pavlo Hunka, Arkel: Richard Wiegold, Geneviève: Barbara Dever).

Sunday, May 25...Toronto
Enjoy the morning at leisure in Toronto. We highly recommend a visit to the Distillery District, a reclaimed warehouse area that is now a charming pedestrianized neighbourhood filled with arts and crafts shops, galleries, cafés and excellent brew pubs and restaurants. In the afternoon, we meet and depart by private coach to the charming town of Kleinburg, 25 miles north of Toronto, for a guided tour of the McMichael Gallery. Renowned for its devotion to collecting and exhibiting only Canadian art, the McMichael permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Inuit and other artists who have made a contribution to Canada's artistic heritage. This is truly an excellent gallery experience in an absolutely beautiful and peaceful setting. Afterward, you will have time to stop in at the gallery shop or enjoy the beautiful gallery grounds before we return to our hotel, where the evening is at leisure. (left: Pic Island, Lawren Harris, 1924)

Monday, May 26...Toronto — Niagara-on-the-Lake
Late morning, we check out and depart by private coach for Niagara-on-the-Lake, stopping first in the tiny town of Jordan for an unforgettable meal at Inn on the Twenty Restaurant, part of the Cave Spring Cellars winery. After our stellar repast, we continue to Niagara where we enjoy a guided tour along the Niagara Parkway, featuring Niagara Falls, the Floral Clock, Queenston Heights, the whirlpool rapids, and finally, a stop at one of Niagara's best wineries for a quick sample of the region's signature distillate—icewine. Upon arrival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, check in at the elegant Prince of Wales Hotel, in the heart of town. Once settled into our deluxe rooms, the evening is at leisure.

Tuesday, May 27...Toronto — Niagara-on-the-Lake
This morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, we gather and depart for a matinée performance of J.B. Priestly's An Inspector Calls at the Festival Theatre (2 pm curtain), after which we enjoy High Tea at the Prince of Wales. The evening is at leisure.

Wednesday, May 28...Niagara-on-the-Lake
After a morning at leisure, we gather and make the short walk to our matinée at the Royal George Theatre, Shaw's Getting Married. Following the performance, dinner is at leisure. This evening, we attend a performance of Githa Sowerby's The Stepmother at the Court House Theatre.

Thursday, May 29. .Niagara-on-the-Lake
Enjoy the final morning at leisure before our matinée performance of Wonderful Town (music by Leonard Bernstein) at the Festival Theatre. Afterward, we enjoy an elegant Farewell Dinner at the Charles Inn. We then make our way to the final performance of the tour, Lilian Hellman's The Little Foxes at the Royal George Theatre.

Friday, May 30. .Niagara-on-the-Lake — Departures
Following breakfast, transfers to Pearson International Airport in Toronto (70 minutes) are included. Be certain to schedule your outbound flight for early afternoon or later if possible.