A new year brings new experiences and Toronto is no exception. Here’s a taste of the exciting events coming to Toronto this year.

Mixed martial arts fans rejoiced in December when UFC President Dana White announced that UFC 131 would be held at the Rogers Centre on April 30. The city is considered to have one of the most passionate UFC fan bases, and the event is expected to be one of the most successful live events in UFC history. Until last August, the Ontario Athletic Commission refused to sanction UFC, effectively banning events in the province.

Toronto will experience another “first” this year. The city will have the honour of hosting the 2011 International Indian Film Academy Awards. Slated for June 16 to 19, it will be the first time that the Indian version of the Oscars have taken place in North America. Over the course of the four days, the biggest stars of Bollywood will flock to Toronto for screenings, parties and the awards ceremony.

The 40th annual Juno Awards show will return to Toronto, the city where the awards ceremony was born, on March 27. Toronto rapper Drake, who won two Junos at last year’s ceremony, will host the show at the Air Canada Centre. Nominations for the 2011 awards will be announced on February 1.

2011 will see one of the world’s most successful bands pay a visit to the city. Irish rockers U2, who haven’t played in Toronto since 2009, will light up the Rogers Centre on July 11. They were originally scheduled to play in July 2010, but front man Bono’s back surgery forced the band to postpone the North American segment of their tour.

Thought to be a pest mostly eradicated in the 1940s, bedbugs are back with a vengeance. Toronto is one of many North American cities currently battling unprecedented levels of infestations. Here’s what you need to know about the pesky, biting insects.

Adult bedbugs are reddish-brown, about 5mm in length and have a flattened, oval appearance. Bedbugs do not fly or jump and are active at night, going mostly undetected in the daytime. There is no evidence that bedbug bites can cause disease or illness. A bite that has been scratched may lead to a minor infection, but the effects of bedbug bites and infestations are mostly psychological. Dealing with the pests often leaves people feeling embarrassed, alienated from friends and family, and paranoid about their homes.

Once thought of as a problem relegated to shelter and low-income housing, infestations now affect hotels, upscale condos, private homes and public spaces like offices and libraries. Bedbugs can travel from location to location by sneaking into luggage, bedding and furniture. They can also spread by migrating into adjacent apartment units or townhomes through hallways, plumbing or electric lines.

Toronto Public Health has created a list of tips to help prevent infestation. If you suspect you may have come into contact with bedbugs, put affected clothing in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Kill any bugs you find immediately. When visiting a residence, place belongings away from walls and furniture, and inspect all clothing, shoes and belongings after leaving. For more information, visit www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs.

Over a decade since the likes of Doug Gilmour and Bon Propert skated off its ice for the last time, the transformation of Maple Leaf Gardens is in full swing.

Situated at the corner of Church and Carlton Streets, Maple Leaf Gardens was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1931 to 1999, as well as host to many concerts and other sporting events. Its doors closed officially in 2002, long after it was deemed too small. In the years following, the building remained mostly vacant and its future was heavily debated.

After years of question marks surrounding who would inhabit the landmark building, it was a joint venture and compromise of space between Ryerson University and Loblaws that won out. Ryerson will occupy 150,000 square feet of space on the upper floor, in which it will construct a new student athletics facility with an NHL-sized ice rink, a fitness centre, basketball and volleyball studios, and more. Loblaws will occupy the remaining space including a 70,000-square-foot street-level grocery store and Joe Fresh Style clothing store. The refurbishing of the building is set to be completed by March of 2011.

The $60 million revitalization project is being jointly funded by the Government of Canada, Loblaws and Ryerson University. The Government of Canada will contribute one-third of the cost (up to a maximum $20 million), Ryerson will contribute $20 million through student athletic fees and will work with Loblaws to raise the remaining $20 million, including $5 million in funding from Loblaws. The original construction of the building in 1931 cost $1.5 million.

As Toronto continues to put itself on the map as a hot shopping destination, international retailers are increasingly eyeing the city as a home for their stores. Here’s a look at what’s new to the GTA and what consumers can look forward to in the future.

British retailer Topshop has long had Canadian fashionistas green with envy over their across-the-pond counterparts. Now Toronto fans are finally able to get their hands on the line that mixes affordable fashion with guest designer collections. On June 19, Ossington Avenue store Jonathan + Olivia added an 800-square-foot addition that houses a Topshop boutique, the first of its kind in Canada. The collection is restocked twice weekly and will welcome the Kate Moss collection and Topshop’s cosmetics line this fall.

Juicy Couture, the company made famous by its signature velour tracksuits, opened its first Canadian store in May after selling select product at department stores. Located in Yorkdale Shopping Centre, the store will be one of four Toronto locations as the brand plans to open additional locations before 2013.

Another iconic brand, lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret, also plans to open additional locations in the GTA over the next three years. Toronto’s first Victoria’s Secret store opens its doors at Yorkdale later this month.

Bargain hunters rejoiced earlier this year when American discount retailer Target announced that it plans to include Canada in future expansion plans. Affectionately referred to as “Tar- jay” by fans, Target stores may be in Canada by 2013.