Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and it is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. Hugging the border between Canada and the United States, it shares many of the same landmarks as the northern-most American states. Toronto has a bustling metropolitan area and many skyscrapers and other marks of a modern-day city. It is a hub for financial and commercial services.
Undisputed is the fact that the population of Toronto has exploded, seen mostly through the 20th and 21st Century. Standing previously at 1.3 million, 2006’s census noted that the population had increased to over 2.5 million people. In 2016, this number grew to nearly 3 million full-time residents of Toronto. The population of Toronto is projected to grow to 8 million by the year 2030.
The city is a diverse one, often referred to as cosmopolitan. This is because there was an influx of immigrants after WWII that led to a very culturally diverse population. This cultural blend continues today, with many ethnic neighbourhoods within Toronto, and with many of the services of the city, including health services, translated in up to 12 languages.
Home to people of all ages, Toronto is popular for seniors mostly because of the number of amenities available. Led by access to great health services, there is also a bustling public transport system and many senior-oriented facilities that make quality of life easy and safe for those who are transitioning in their life. So much so that the population of seniors, currently at 16%, is predicted to grow to 19% by 2030.
There are many landmarks in Toronto. The most famous one is the free-standing CN Tower. Other popular ones include the Eaton Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, Massey Hall, the beautiful Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Royal Ontario Museum, and the Toronto-Dominion Centre.
One of the most famous landmarks is Casa Loma. Looming over the city, it throws an archaic and beautiful traditional piece of architecture smack in the middle of firmly modern day Toronto!
Home to many green spaces, considering its focus on being a solid metropolitan space, Toronto’s biggest is High Park, which covers an impressive 400 acres. There is a lot to do in Toronto as it is home to many festivals, events, indoor trade shows and carnivals that make it easy for residents to have an active, full and interesting lifestyle. There are many areas to explore, restaurants to try and events to participate in.
Overall, the city itself covers 632 sq km with both skyscrapers and integrated suburban neighbourhoods, each featuring different personalities to help many find their new home in a neighbourhood that appeals to their personal tastes and wants.
Historical relevance
Toronto has a long, well-documented history, dating back to its settlement in 1750 as Fort Rouille, to its establishment in 1793 as York. It was incorporated in 1834 as Toronto, and then grew from there to be named the City of Toronto in 1998 as surrounding municipalities of Scarborough, East York, Etobicoke, York and North York, were amalgamated and renames as part of the “new” City of Toronto.
One of its most talked-about historical features is that French settlers who came to live in Toronto with other Europeans, teamed up with the First Nations people who had previously inhabited the area. In contrast to many European settlers who were seen as destructive to the First Nations people, the French saw them as powerful allies, namely for the fur trade routes that were so valuable at the time.