About The Tour

Running daily from Saturday, June 15 through mid-August, the free app-guided walking tour is around 1km long and can take participants anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete.

Tour Highlights Include:

• Architectural Marvels: Discover a variety of architectural styles found in the neighbourhood, from the distinctive Bay & Gable to the elegant Queen Anne-style

• Romanesque Revival-style Church and Edwin Hough House: Explore significant historical buildings that tell a story of how Cabbagetown came to be 

• Winchester Hotel and Winchester Hall: Visit local landmarks that are part of Cabbagetown’s extensive collection of intact Victorian buildings

• Stately Homes and Historical Insights: The tour will cover the development of impressive original single-family residences and delve into Canadian history through landmarks like the Carlton House and the picturesque L’Avenue

Tour Features Include:

• An Immersive Tour Guide: Visitors can explore Cabbagetown at their own pace, thanks to the app's many features, including auto-play self-guided tours. The app uses GPS technology to deliver relevant information and engaging content as visitors move around the neighbourhood, ensuring a truly personalized and immersive experience.

• Rich Content: The Cabbagetown BIA team has enriched the sites and stories, mapped in the app, with images, audio guides and written content, ensuring that visitors receive comprehensive and captivating information about each location they visit.

• Exclusive Interviews: Tour stops will include fun interviews with the local business owners who will tell stories about how their businesses came to grow in the historic sites. 

• Special Offers from Local Businesses: Tour takers will receive special offers, highlighted in the app, for products and services from local businesses.

• Exclusive Insider Tips: Packed with exclusive tips and recommendations from local expert Gilles Huot - from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association – a partnership that ensures that Cabbagetown visitors uncover hidden gems, historical events as well as must-try products and services by local businesses.

• Accessible and Offline Access: To cater to each participant’s needs, the app will offer offline access to its content, ensuring that visitors can explore Cabbagetown even with limited internet connectivity, as well as audio guides to assist those with visual impairment.

Special Offers Exclusive to Tour-Takers Through the Driftscape App:

1. Thai Room @ 243 Carlton St. 20% off for dining and takeout (over $30). 

2. House of Dumont @ 200A Carlton St. Complimentary trim with any chemical service. 15% off haircuts.

3. Parliament Optical @ 418 Parliament St. Purchase a complete pair of eyeglasses (frame and lenses) worth $250 or more and receive a free Alpha soft touch Gel Pen.

4. Revolt Hairshop @ 244 Carlton St. 15% off all regularly-priced retail products.

5. The Epicure Shop @ 473 Parliament St. 15% off any 1 cheese purchase of $20 or more; purchase any breakfast sandwich and receive a FREE small coffee; or purchase any lunch special and receive a FREE pop or water.

6. Super Bargain @ 441 Parliament St. Super Bargain Tumbler only $4 with a drink purchase; $5 can of Amsterdam Blonde; and $10 Feature Slush.

7. St Jamestown Steak & Chops @ 516 Parliament St. Free Large Soup with a purchase of a sandwich.

8. Noushe @ 200 Carlton St. 10% of any purchase.

9. Playground Cafe @ 492 Parliament St. Croffles - Buy 1 get the 2nd 50% off.

10. 99 Frames @527 Parliament St. 15% off custom framing.

11. Rapid Photo @ 434 Parliament St. Coupon 1 : Portrait/Headshot photoshoot for $69 - 30 minutes, 5 final edited photos, 1 PERSON ONLY; Coupon 2: Premium photoshoot for $99 - 45 minutes, 10 final edited photos, 3 PEOPLE MAX.