Toronto Tourist Destinations
As the largest city in Canada, Toronto sees an incredible number of visitors to the city each year. There is something in Toronto for everyone, including cultural areas, historic landmarks and neighbourhoods, amusement, and live entertainment. Here is a quick look at some of the more popular attractions in the city of Toronto.

Canadian Culture

Toronto is home to one of the six original hockey teams in the National Hockey League, and perhaps the most storied of them all. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at the Air Canada Centre, and fans of hockey from all over have to catch at least one game here when they visit, even if they are rooting for the visitors.

Toronto is also appropriately the home of the Hockey Hall of Fame, which moved to a new building in 1993. This is sacred ground for any serious hockey fan, showcasing the very best players in the world and including displays such as memorabilia and of course the Stanley Cup. Visitors can also take part in the many interactive displays the Hall has to offer.

Queen Street is located within one of the most attractive neighbourhoods in Toronto for tourists. The entire street is generally hopping during the week, as people take in the architecture and unique shops that Toronto has to offer. Anchoring the display is the CHUM building, which houses many of Canada’s hippest television networks, including MuchMusic. If you’re lucky, the building might be hosting one of the network’s famous Intimate and Interactive specials with a good musical guest; they always include street portions in these shows as well as live performances.

History and Landmarks

Toronto is home to some of the most amazing buildings in Canada, each with a story, some of which go back to the creation of the nation. One of the best places to go of course are the Provincial Legislature Buildings, located at Queen’s Park.

Other landmarks in Toronto include the huge Casa Loma, which is located just off Spadina Road. This incredible structure was actually built to be the largest residence in Canada, but the excesses of building eventually caused the investor, Sir Henry Mill Pellatt (who also developed historic neighbourhoods such as Rosedale) to go into bankruptcy. Another historic building is Union Station, a transportation hub, on Front Street.

Toronto is also the home of several museums. The Royal Ontario Museum is undergoing renovations, and houses several unique displays that all visitors will find appealing, including art, dinosaurs, and visual displays of aspects of Canadian and European history. Toronto also offers a unique experience for those who like footwear at the Bata Shoe Museum.

These are just a few of the many tourist hot spots that can be fond in Toronto. Canada’s Wonderland, just a few miles north, Ontario Place, and Centre Island are all great places that offer opportunities for entertainment in the summer months. In short, Toronto is a place that is guaranteed to keep tourists of all tastes busy for their entire trip.

Negotiations

Negotiations can seem as complex as physics, and in fact, peoplego to college to study the science of negotiating just as theywould the laws of nature. At the same time, negotiation is likean ancient art form, some sort of Zen mental jujitsu. Whenneither the Zen nor the science works, though, no one wins.

Just ask any hockey fan out there. The recent lockout andcancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL season is a perfect example ofpoor negotiating. Both the players’ union and the league ownersbroke all of the rules when it came to brokering an agreement onplayer contracts. The result are hockey rinks across NorthAmerica that are so quiet that you can hear a pindrop—unfortunately, not a puck. In dollar terms, professionalhockey is missing out on television contracts, advertising fees,and tons of ticket sales.

Of course, you won’t lose billions in revenue if you fail at thelatest negotiation at your favorite online classified or auctionsite. But you could let a treasure slip through your fingers.Success in deal making, on the other hand, could land you thatrookie Bobby Orr card, signed Stanley Cup puck, or whateverother fantastic item you’re bidding on.

Plus, proper negotiations and compromise can ensure that you getthe item for its fair value, including a good price on shippingand taxes. This increases the profitability of the trade forboth you and the seller. The deal gets closed without nastydisputes, blow-ups, or hip checks. And both of you are left todo business again in the future.

To score all of these benefits, and avoid your own mini lockout,follow these simple tips on negotiating that will net results atonline classified sites. As you’ll see, victory isn’t so much anexact science or a mystic sixth sense. It’s more about simpleknow-how and common sense.

Warm up. Don’t jump into a negotiation cold. Before you evenface off with your opponent, figure out for yourself what wouldcount as a victory. What do you exactly want out of thetrade—and at what price?

Consider a truce. It may not even be worth dropping the puck atall. In other words, negotiations, like hockey games, can end ina loss for the home team, you. So weigh this risk before youstart. If the item at hand is a dream buy, you may not want toendanger your purchase with a drawn-out negotiation.

Know when to pass. On the other hand, if the item is far fromdreamy—and you’re pretty sure something better may come alonglater—you could pass on negotiations. Or go for the score. Offera lowball price. If you win, you won’t be out too much, and ifyou lose, it won’t leave a mark either. But be certain if youplay this game. You could miss this opportunity without aguarantee of future prospects.

Know your enemy. Coaches and players spend hours before gameswatching films of their impending competition to study theirtendencies. You need to take the same approach when it comes tomaking a deal. Try to read your opponent’s mind. What is his orher goals in the negotiation?

Does he or she have any strengthsthat they can use against you? Are there any weaknesses that youcan use against them?

Spot all of your passing lanes. During your research, you mayfind that this particular vendor isn’t the only one in the gamewith what you’re looking for. Using these other vendors, andtheir prices, to your advantage can help you skate circlesaround your competitor.

Practice before you play. Also, research the item before youmake a play on it. This knowledge, such as the going price andquality markers, can work as leverage during the negotiating,too.

Translate thought into action. Your strategy can become morecomplicated and unpredictable—and effective—once you’re in theheat of battle. Just remember to think on your feet and rememberall that you learned in your “training.” For instance, if youknow that the vendor has other items for sale besides yourtarget, agree easily to one of these other purchases. Go for theeasy one first. That will lure them into trusting you and givingyou an easy pass on future, and more important, deals.

When it comes down to it, negotiation is all about this kind ofgive and take. It works out best when both parties get what theywant out of the deal, without feeling ripped off as if they gavetoo much for too little.

That brings you to the one “don’t” of negotiating. Don’t fear astandoff. They are part of the art and science of trading, sodon’t be tempted to cave in just to break the deadlock. Instead,let your opponent make the first move. They will. They want toclose the deal, too, don’t forget. You both will be better offfor this in the long run. And you won’t end up like the NHL, theNo Hockey League.

About the author:Donald Lee is the public relations manager forBuysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classifiedlisting services for individuals and businesses to market theirproducts and services online. For global and localizedclassifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds