Will the Big Red Canoe Become Toronto’s Hottest Cruising Zone?

Toronto Pride announced a bid to host the 2014 World Pride, which would see thousands of homos from around the world flood the city for weeks of partying. The Star reports that the bid has already received a letter of support from premier McGuinty who, aside from the economic benefit of a major tourist draw, is likely wanting to showcase the city in the runup to the 2015 Pan-Am Games, which the province still has its fingers crossed for. No financial commitment from the province has yet been disclosed, but organisers predict the event could cost $10 million.

Meanwhile, YMCA Metro Central patrons now a pretty new place to spot their missed connections. The Y has completed a fancy new green roof to complement its rooftop running track, and Torontoist has pictures.

Speaking of new green spaces in the city, all the papers are raving about the new park near CityPlace (South of Front between Spadina and Bathurst) overlooking the Gardiner Expressway, designed by novelist Douglas Coupland. It’s not officially open yet, but I’d be willing to bet it won’t be long before the giant red canoe becomes the latest and hottest gay cruising site listed on squirt.org. We already know Toronto gays like to have sex next to a busy three-lane freeway in Queen’s Park.

And speaking of Squirt, I’ll leave you for the weekend with the link to the new online game Squirt’s just launched to promote safer sex: Kingdom Cum. Good for a diversion.

Rob Salerno is a playwright and journalist whose writing has appeared in such publications as Vice, Advocate, NOW and OutTraveler.

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