Museums and Culture

Clay wall reliefs by Toronto ceramicist and sculptor Keenan O'Toole that link drawing and sculpture, using spirals, grids and loops that suggest a mix of map, diagram and object. In the East Vitrines of Harbourfront Centre's Main Building. Open Monday to Thursday and Sunday 9 AM to 6 PM, Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 9 PM, until March 15, 2027. Free, no tickets required.

Ceramics by Marina Van Raay, a Canadian Japanese artist from Hamilton, that pile up colour, pattern and surface, drawing on everyday adornment, Japanese decorative culture and Heisei retro style. The title means "more, more" in Japanese. Shown in the Big Vitrine of Harbourfront Centre's Main Building, open for viewing 24/7 until March 15, 2027. Free, no tickets required.

An artist run gallery for photography, film and contemporary image based art, on St. Helens Avenue in the Junction Triangle. It shows changing exhibitions by Canadian and international artists in a relaxed ground floor space with ramp access. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is always free.

Toronto Public Library's treasure trove of historic children's books, on the 4th floor of the Lillian H. Smith branch. Walk in to see the exhibits, such as the 40th Anniversary of Franklin in the Dark display running to January 3, or ask to view items in the reading room. Open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 8:30 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM. Free; viewing items needs a short form plus ID or a library card.

Toronto Public Library's special collection of science fiction, fantasy and speculative writing, on the 3rd floor of the Lillian H. Smith branch. Walk in to see the exhibits or browse rare books, comics and art; the current exhibit is Love, Lust and Lore (November 15 to January 31). Open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 8:30 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM. Free; viewing most items needs a short form plus ID or a library card.

A free self-guided City of Toronto urban walk past culturally important National Historic Sites, including Massey Hall, the Studio Building where the Group of Seven worked and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Plan on one to two hours; the 506 College streetcar is the closest transit. Download the route map and see the outsides of these landmarks at your own pace. Free, no booking.

A free self-guided audio walk, hosted by Nora Young, to the downtown places tied to media thinker Marshall McLuhan, with interviews from people who knew him. It takes one to two hours; St. George and Bay stations are the closest. Download the City of Toronto route map and listen as you walk. Free, no booking.

A free self-guided audio walk through the Annex, the neighbourhood where urban thinker Jane Jacobs lived from 1968 to 2006. Listen as you go and learn about the area's history and the city ideas she championed; it takes one to two hours. Start near Spadina subway station with the City of Toronto route map. Free, no booking.

The Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans has several exhibition spaces in one building, including the City of Ottawa's Trinity Art Gallery, the Ottawa School of Art Orléans Campus Gallery, Promenade Arteast and the LaLande + Doyle exhibition space. Together they show work by local and regional artists in many media. Admission to the galleries is always free; call the box office at 613 580 2700 for current hours.

Âjagemô is the Canada Council for the Arts exhibition space on the ground floor of 150 Elgin Street, showing contemporary Canadian art, often from the Canada Council Art Bank collection, along with performances and events. It is an easy cultural stop between Confederation Square and City Hall. It is open daily from 7 AM to 9 PM and admission is free.

SAW is an artist run centre for contemporary art inside Arts Court, at the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue in downtown Ottawa. Its exhibition spaces show bold new work by Canadian and international artists, and the whole centre is wheelchair accessible. Exhibitions are open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and admission is free and open to all (events at Club SAW are often ticketed).

A lively bronze group by Jules Lasalle (2015) showing Marcelle Mallet, founder of the Sisters of Charity of Québec, surrounded by orphans and an elderly woman, her hand held out as a sign of unconditional love. It stands on a small plaza between avenue Honoré-Mercier and rue des Sœurs-de-la-Charité, a short walk from Parliament Hill and Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Outdoors, free at any time.