Upcoming Events
Call for Tour Guides
Application deadline: February 23, 2020
Looking to share your love for Toronto and lend your skills to furthering the public’s appreciation and understanding of Toronto’s built environment? Come join us as a volunteer TSA tour guide!
Now entering its 11th season, the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA)’s walking tours program is among the Society’s largest public outreach programs. We offer a variety of high-quality, educational and entertaining tours exploring Toronto’s modern and contemporary architecture and landscapes while touching on issues of design and city building.
Our TSA guides are skilled ambassadors and educators, serving as interpreters of Toronto’s built environment. Our tour guides come from all walks of life, but they share a few common traits. All our volunteer tour guides are curious, reliable and self-motivated. They are also flexible, open to feedback, and enjoy interacting with people from all over the world. Most importantly, they are passionate about architecture and Toronto and want to share this passion with others.
What is expected of a TSA Tour Guide?
New TSA tour guides commit to giving a minimum of 2 public tours per month (approximately 8-10 tours during the season) during their first year of service. After that, a tour guide is expected to give a minimum of 6 tours a year. All tour guides are also expected to assist in training new guides and participate in the training sessions in April and May each year. Each guide must learn at least two different tours.
Training involves both in-class and outdoor components. During their first year, new tour guides will be paired with existing guides for further on-the-job training.
Tour season runs from the first weekend after the Doors Open (May 30- 31, 2020) to the weekend of Nuit Blanche (October 3-4, 2020). Tours happen Saturday, Sundays and Holiday Mondays. Private tours are sometimes also provided during regular business hours on weekdays, based on tour guide availability.
Important Dates for 2020
- Application Deadline | February 23, 2020
- Information Session | February 8, 2020 or February 13, 2020
- Interviews | February 29, 2020
- Orientation and Initial Training | March 28 and April 4, 2020
- Training through Practice Tours during April & May
- Regular Tour Season Begins | May 30, 2020
- Regular Tour Season Ends | October 4, 2020
Application and Selection Process
Ready to apply? Send your name, contact information, resume and a short paragraph of why you want to volunteer as a tour guide to tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca. Deadline to apply is February 23, 2020 at midnight. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Questions?
Have more questions about this or other TSA volunteering opportunities? We will be offering two information sessions (Saturday, February 8 10:00 – 11:30 AM and Thursday, February 13 6:30 – 8:00 PM) to answer any questions you might have! Please send an email to tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca to reserve your spot and get additional details about these sessions.
About the Toronto Society of Architects
Established in 1887, the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) is a non-profit volunteer-based organization dedicated to the promotion, celebration and public appreciation of architecture and design in Toronto. Comprised of over 1600 members, TSA brings together architects, professionals from sister disciplines, students, and everyday Torontonians passionate about our built environment.