The Art Gallery of Ontario – http://www.ago.net – and the Royal Ontario Museum – http://www.rom.ca – are TORONTO’s two largest art galleries and museums. But several medium-sized galleries dot the cityscape. They’re either free or charge a miniscule admission or donation.

Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, one of only two shoe museums in the world – http://www.batashoemuseum.ca or 416-979-7799.

Toronto Police Museum, 40 College Street, open Monday to Friday, free, http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/museum

The Market Gallery, St. Lawrence Market, Jarvis at Front Street East, http://www.toronto.ca/culture/the_market_gallery.htm

Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Street, permanent collection contains more than 12,000 artifacts and spans almost 2,000 years and 200 world regions – http://www.textilemuseum.caSOME OTHERS:
**** BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Heritage Museum, 61 Clairville Drive, 416-798-2277, http://www.toronto.baps.org **** Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Drive in High Park, a monument to the founders of High Park, http://www.toronto.ca/colborne **** Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Arts, 111 Queen’s Park, ceramics exhibits, great gift shop and restaurant, fine architecture, http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca  **** Mackenzie House, 82 Bond Street, the last of home of TORONTO’s fist mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, http://www.toronto.ca/museums  **** Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Road, house and gardens, once home to the Austin family, http://www.toronto.ca/spadina  ETC.

The Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay West, is Canada’s leading public gallery devoted exclusively to conemporary visual art. Admission is free. 416-973-4949, http://www.thepowerplant.org