What could be more Canadian than drinking beer,eh? Especially good British Columbia craft brew! Join us for an afternoon of laughs, lagers and fun stories of how Vancouver was built on the tops of whiskey barrels. (No, not literally.)

You’ll enjoy the most unique view of Vancouver on a guided tour (the inside of a pub) and will have an opportunity to sample some local flavours.

When:

• New Winter Schedule:
Sunday December 18th
Sunday January 8th
Sunday January 22nd SOLD OUT
Sunday January 29th
Sunday February 12th
Sunday February 26th

•Tour starts at 1:30pm and lasts approximately 3 hours

Where it starts:

Gassy Jack Square, corner of Water & Carall Streets. Click here for a map. This is only a few blocks from Waterfront Station. Please do not drive to this tour.

Where it ends:

Mahoney & Sons Pub, located at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Click here for a map.

Cost: $40. Includes craft brew samples at each of the pubs and an amazing guided tour

NOTE: You must be 19 years of age or older with valid government issued photo identification to take part in this tour. A group minimum is needed to make this tour run. Please confirm your reservation the day of the tour.

Our incredible partners:

Food always tastes better outdoors, especially on a sidewalk! Experience the best of Vancouver street food culture on this fun, full of life tasting tour.

You’ll sample some international flavours alongside some good ol’ fashioned Canadian classics. Along the way we’ll introduce you to some of the interesting tidbits about historical and recent happenings surrounding food in this lively city of ours. By the time you’re done, you’ll be an expert in “street meat”.

Don’t just see Vancouver, taste it on this incredible street food adventure.

When:

•Every 2nd Friday beginning December 2nd

•Tour starts at 1:30pm and lasts approximately 2 hours

Where it starts:

Centennial Fountain in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, corner of Georgia Street & Hornby Street. Look for the Tour Guys guide with a name tag & sign.  Click here for a map.

Where it ends:

Granville & Robson (for a map click here)

Cost: $32. Includes samples at each of the food carts, an amazing guided tour and some money saving coupons! 

Wanna see what this tour is all about? Check out a video here.

Featured Businesses (click to go to their website)

On this 90 minute easy-walking tour we give a complete overview of downtown Vancouver and venture into some of the city’s historic buildings. Starting from the Vancouver Art Gallery, this tour explores Vancouver’s oldest church, visits one of the most famous skyscrapers, discusses our public art, street food scene and much, much more!

Our unique style of combining history with pure entertainment, stories & jokes has made us one of the most popular walking tour companies in Canada!

Highlights:

• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Hotel Vancouver
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Street Art
• Canada Place
• Jack Poole Plaza
• Olympic Cauldron

When:

• Every Friday starting December 2nd
• Tour starts at 11:00am and lasts approximately 90 minutes

Where it starts:

Centennial Fountain in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, corner of Georgia Street & Hornby Street. Look for the Tour Guys guide with a name tag & sign.  Click here for a map.

Where it ends:

This tour ends at the Olympic Cauldron, at the foot of Thurlow Street at Canada Place Way. Your guide at the end of the tour they will be happy to provide directions to wherever you are headed. (click here for a map)

Cost:

FREE! There is no charge for the tour itself, but our guides work very hard for tips. Because you choose what you pay, you are guaranteed you’ll have a GREAT tour!

Starting from the Vancouver Art Gallery, this fun, interactive tour moves North along Granville Street to introduce you to the history of neon signs in the entertainment district, visits the site of one of Vancouver’s biggest protests, introduces you to our railroad history and takes you for a stroll down the infamous Blood Alley.

On this 90 minute easy-walking tour we give a complete overview of downtown Vancouver and venture into some of the city’s historic buildings. Our unique style of combining history with pure entertainment, stories & jokes has made us one of the most popular walking tour companies in Canada!

Highlights:

• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Neon signs of Granville Street
• Sinclair Centre
• Waterfront Station
• Gastown’s famous Steam Clock
• Blood Alley & Gaoler’s Mews
• Vancouver Public Library

When:

• Every Saturday
• Tour starts at 11:00am and lasts approximately 90 minutes

Where it starts:

 Centennial Fountain in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, corner of Georgia Street & Hornby Street. Look for the Tour Guys guide with a name tag & sign.  Click here for a map.

Where it ends:

This tour ends in Gastown at the Steam Clock approximately 1.5 hours later. If you ask your guide at the end of the tour they will be happy to provide directions to wherever you are headed. (click here for a map)

Cost:

FREE! There is no charge for the tour itself, but our guides work very hard for tips. Because you choose what you pay, you are guaranteed you’ll have a GREAT tour!

Our graffiti tour begins with a brief introduction to the subject and covers the primary types of graffiti – from “tags” to “throw-ups” to “pieces”. Afterwards, your guide will take you through two areas of downtown Toronto with a reputation for having some of the best examples of street art in the city: Kensington Market and Rush Lane (a.k.a. “Graffiti Alley”).

While strolling and viewing the graffiti your guide will discuss the many sides of the graffiti issue and viewpoints of property owners, the police, the City of Toronto, the general public, and the graffiti artists themselves. This tour encourages debate and discussion – it’s more than just looking at painted walls. Even “haters” will agree that much of the art on this tour is incredible!

This tour is also available as a school trip or private group tour.

Highlights:

• History of graffiti
• Graffiti vocabulary and styles
• Kensington Market art
• Chinatown art
• Toronto’s famous “Graffiti Alley”
• Controversy around graffiti in Toronto

When: By reservation request only! Tour is approximately 3 hours in duration, but can be shortened by request.

Where to meet: In front of the El Macombo (464 Spadina Ave) under the big palm tree sign.

Click for MAP

Cost: $30/person (HST incl) based on minimum of 4 people on tour. Minimum number (4) or minimum charge of $120 applies.

For group tours (8 or more people), please refer to our Tour Guys Groups section.

Discover the tragedies and triumphs that have punctuated Canada’s history on this Toronto walking tour. Set off from under the bright lights and electronic billboards of Yonge-Dundas Square. Walk down a section of the world’s longest street and into the financial district. Head below ground where the subway rumbles past. Learn more about Toronto’s best and worst moments, then enjoy a complimentary beer at Steam Whistle Brewery near the CN Tower!

Highlights:

• Yonge/Dundas Square
• Toronto Stock Exchange
• Royal York Hotel
• Union Station
• Toronto Sports Teams
• Waterfront and Queen’s Quay
• Steam Whistle Brewery
• Optional Brewery Tour (additional cost)

When: This tour runs every day (except Mondays) at 10:00 AM.

Where to meet: The tour starts beside the T.O. Tix Booth at Yonge/Dundas Square

Where it ends: This tour ends at the Steam Whistle Brewery at the base of the CN Tower and lasts approximately 3.5 hours

Cost: $37 per person

Online booking closes 24-48 hours prior to the tour start. If you are trying to book within that timeframe, contact jason@tourguys.ca or call 647.230.7891 to see if you can join the next tour.

*based on a minimum of 20 students – and includes taxes

The Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (LKTYP) has teamed up with Tour Guys to offer a day-trip package to school groups. It’s grounded in the curriculum, it lasts from approximately 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and fits into your school day if you are a group from the Toronto area, or can easily fit into your Toronto trip if you are visiting from outside the area. Lunch can be brought from home, purchased at the nearby St Lawrence Market, or arrangements can be made for a group meal at a nearby restuarant.

• The Walking Tour (90 minutes)
  Tour Guys specializes in student groups – it’s how we began – and have developed a walking tour that covers the early history of Toronto and key events like the War of 1812, The Rebellion of 1837, and the Cholera epidemics of 1832 and 1834. Using stories and teaching techniques to engage the students and draw them into the history Tour Guys is more than your average walking tour company. We’re the #1 rated tour company in Toronto according to Trip Advisor!
• The Theatre Performance (60 – 90 minutes)
  The Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (formerly Young People’s Theatre) has been putting on professional theatre productions aimed squarely at children and youth for decades. It is a Canadian institution and this year’s productions continue the tradition of quality and relevance – dealing with topics and issues that young people are confronted with and interested in. As part of this package, your group would see a matinee performance. 2011 Season
• The Backstage Tour – $2 extra (30 minutes)
  After the performance, the group will be given a tour behind the scenes. Costume and wardrobe departments, the workshop, and backstage are all accessible and the students will learn about how the theatre operates, a little history of the building it now occupies, and see what goes on behind the curtains and in the shadows. Below is a sneak peek:

Location:
165 Front St E, Toronto ON – MAP

2011 Performances:

Alice in Wonderland / March 1 – 19 / Grades 1-5
I Think I can /April 4 – May 5 / Grades 4-12
As You Puppet / April 10 – 21 / Grades 1-6
The Shape of a Girl / May 11 – 19 / Grades 7-12

Reservations:
Class trips can be booked by telephone only through LKTYP.
Please call Lilya at 416.363.5131 ext 241

Booking, Billing and Payment:
A non-refundable deposit of 25% is required within 5 business days of the date the order was placed. The balance of your payment is required 4 weeks prior to the date of your performance. Cheques should be made payable to Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People and be sent along with a copy of your invoice or the order confirmation number. LKTYP also accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express or cash.

LKTYP mailing address:
Box Office
Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People
165 Front Street East, M5A 3Z4
Toronto, Ontario

Walk this way: Tour Guys’ business takes off
Vancouver Sun
Fri Sep 3 2010
Page: A9
Section: Westcoast News
Byline: Todd Coyne
Source: Vancouver Sun

Bus and trolley tours often leave something to be desired for those yearning to get a sense of the city life beyond what they see from a moving bus seat and hear through a crackling overhead speaker.
Sometimes you want to pound the pavement and drink with the locals.
That was the initial rationale behind Tour Guys, a collective of five dedicated twenty-something tour guides in Vancouver who offer “free” walking tours of the city’s most popular, and some lesser known, destinations.
Call it “free” because at the end of the 2½-hour treks which, depending on the day, include West End-Granville Island, Downtown-Gastown, or Stanley Park, tour guests are invited to pay what they feel when their guide eventually passes the hat.
“When we first started doing this we were getting mainly backpackers and independent travellers but now we’re getting a lot of families and retired couples that really want something different from riding around on a trolley or a bus,” said Steve Woodall, chief Tour Guy and the business’s co-founder.
Part guide, part raconteur, but all character, Woodall is one of two full-time Tour Guys in Vancouver, a business he “accidentally” started with Toronto Tour Guy upstart and longtime friend, Jason Kucherawy.
With virtually no overhead costs aside from a pair of well-worn American Eagle sneakers, Woodall said his now bustling, six-days-a-week, five-employee company evolved out of something he’d been doing for free anyway.
A true urban explorer and storyteller at heart, Woodall got his start in the guide business years ago while working for a company that gave tours of Ottawa to field-tripping school kids.
As of this week, Woodall’s own Tour Guys Vancouver is rated second on the TripAdvisor travel website’s 190
“Things To Do in Vancouver,” just behind Stanley Park and ahead of the Sea to Sky Highway.
In Toronto, they’re ranked first.
Because of all this online word-of-mouth recognition, Woodall said, business for the cooperative has been booming this summer.
“I started doing tours in May and would have maybe three to five people show up on a tour. Now we’re getting 20 to 40 to 50 people,” he said.
And on a drizzly Thursday afternoon, after we 18 “tourists” strike out on foot from the Vancouver Art Gallery, our numbers have already swollen to 24 when we cross West Georgia Street and enter the HSBC Bank’s lobby art gallery.
From there we explore such unorthodox tour topics as popular protest spots, street-food vendors, notorious murders, an all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet, pet hotels and the city’s most despised architecture.
“In North America, there’s only a handful of cities you can actually do this in,” said Woodall, noting that in Europe, pay-what-you-want walking tours are commonplace.
“Vancouver, Toronto, these are both very walkable cities, whereas most North American cities, because they were built after the car, they tend to be sprawling and the neighbourhoods so spaced out.
“But in Vancouver you can walk from one end of downtown to the other in 20 minutes.”
Woodall said that, in time, he plans to expand the Tour Guys co-op to other walkable cities, including his old stomping grounds in Ottawa.

tcoyne@vancouversun.com