Toronto

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Modèle:Sprotected2 Modèle:Otheruses1 Modèle:Coor title dm Modèle:Infobox City Toronto (Modèle:IPAEng, local pronunciation Modèle:IPA) is the largest city in Canada<ref>Canada, Greenwich Mean Time. Retrieved on 2007-07-08.</ref> and is the provincial capital of Ontario.<ref> History of Ontario's Legislative Buildings

. Government of Ontario  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. </ref> It is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario.<ref>Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America Retrieved on 2007-07-08.</ref> With over 2.5 million residents,<ref name="2006censuspop" /> it is the fifth-most populous municipality in North America,<ref> City of Toronto: Toronto Overview

. City of Toronto
 (2007)
   

.</ref> and the 46th most populous in the world. Toronto is at the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and is part of a densely-populated region in south-central Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe which is home to over eight million residents.<ref>Total population of the Greater Toronto Area comprises the regional municipalities of Durham (561,25Image:Cool.gif, Halton (439,256), Peel (1,159,405) and York (892,712). These population figures are taken from Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census divisions, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data

. Statistics Canada 
 
 (2007-03-13)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref><ref name=Provstat>The fact that these municipalities form the GTA is stated in Ontario Population Projections Update, 2005-2031 Ontario and Its 49 Census Divisions

. Ministry of Finance, Government of Ontario 
 
   (April 2006)
       
   
 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.

 “The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), comprised of the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel and York, ...”

</ref><ref name="2006CensGGH"> Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006: Subprovincial population dynamics, Greater Golden Horseshoe

. Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population
 (2007-03-13)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. </ref> The census metropolitan area (CMA) had a population of 5,113,149,<ref name="2006censuspop" /> and the Greater Toronto Area had a population of 5,555,912 at the 2006 Census.<ref name=Provstat/>

As Canada's economic capital, Toronto is considered a global city<ref>"What makes a global city?", (2007)</ref> and one of the top financial cities in the world. <ref>"[1]", Toronto Star (2004). Retrieved on 2007-07-08.</ref> Toronto's leading economic sectors include finance, business services, telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, media, arts, film, television production, publishing, software production, medical research, education, tourism and sports industries.<ref name=TorontoEconomy>City of Toronto (2007) - Toronto economic overview, Key industry clusters and A Diversified Economy. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.</ref><ref> ICF Consulting

       (February 2000)
       
   
 
.    Toronto Competes 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. </ref><ref> ICF Consulting

       (February 2000)
       
   
 
.    Toronto Competes 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. </ref> The Toronto Stock Exchange, the world's sixth largest, is headquartered in the city, along with a majority of Canada's corporations.<ref name=TorontoEconomy/>

Toronto's population is cosmopolitan and international,<ref name=diverse_city>Modèle:Cite book</ref><ref name=facts_of_Toronto> City of Toronto, Ontario

. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. </ref> reflecting its role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada<ref> Citizenship and Immigration Canada

       (September 2006)
       
   
 
.    Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement (electronic version) 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. </ref>. Toronto is the world's most diverse city by percentage of non-Canadian-born residents, as about 49 percent of the population were born outside of Canada.<ref name=diverse_city/><ref name=facts_of_Toronto/><ref> Citizenship and Immigration Canada

       (September 2006)
       
   
 
.    Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement (electronic version) 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. </ref> Because of the city's low crime rates,<ref name=crime> Statistics Canada, The Daily

     (2006-07-21)
   
.    Crime statistics 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-05. </ref> clean environment and generally high standard of living, Toronto is consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit<ref name=best>"

   Vancouver is 'best city to live' 
     
 " , CNN
  , 2005-10-05
 
  . Retrieved on 2007-03-05
 . </ref> and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.<ref name=quality>   Mercer Human Resource Consulting
   
 

       (2006)
     
   
 
.    Mercer 2006 Quality of Living Survey 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-05. </ref> In addition, Toronto was ranked as the most expensive Canadian city in which to live in 2006.<ref> Beauchesne , Eric

  . 
 "
   Toronto pegged as priciest place to live in Canada 
     
 " , CanWest News Service
  , 24 June 2006
 
  . Retrieved on 2007-03-05
 . </ref>

Residents of Toronto are called Torontonians. Toronto has a number of sister cities, which are selected based on economic, cultural and political criteria.

History

Main article: History of Toronto

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When Europeans first arrived at the site of present-day Toronto, the vicinity was inhabited by the Huron tribes, who by then had displaced the Iroquois tribes that occupied the region for centuries before c. 1500. The name Toronto is likely derived from the Iroquois word tkaronto, meaning "place where trees stand in the water".<ref name=etymology> The real story of how Toronto got its name

. Natural Resources Canada (2005)  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2006-12-08. </ref> It refers to the northern end of what is now Lake Simcoe, where the Huron had planted tree saplings to corral fish. A portage route from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron running through this point, the Toronto Carrying-Place Trail, led to widespread use of the name

French traders founded Fort Rouillé on the current Exhibition grounds in 1750, but abandoned it in 1759.<ref name=rouille>Fort Rouillé, Jarvis Collegiate Institute (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-08.</ref> During the American Revolutionary War, the region saw an influx of British settlers as United Empire Loyalists fled for the unsettled lands north of Lake Ontario. In 1787, the British negotiated the Toronto Purchase with the Mississaugas of New Credit, thereby securing more than a quarter million acres (1000 km²) of land in the Toronto area.<ref name=British>Natives and newcomers, 1600-1793, City of Toronto (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-08.</ref>

In 1793, Governor John Graves Simcoe established the town of York on the existing settlement, naming it after Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Simcoe chose the town to replace Newark as the capital of Upper Canada, believing the new site would be less vulnerable to attack by the Americans.<ref name=Fort York> Welcome to the birthplace of Toronto

. Friends of Fort York (2006)  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2006-12-08. </ref> Fort York was constructed at the entrance of the town's natural harbour, sheltered by a long sand-bar peninsula. The town's settlement formed at the eastern end of the harbour behind the peninsula, near the present-day Parliament Street and Front Street.

In 1813, as part of the War of 1812, the Battle of York ended in the town's capture and plunder by American forces.<ref>Battle of York Retrieved on 2007-07-10.</ref> The surrender of the town was negotiated by John Strachan. American soldiers destroyed much of Fort York and set fire on the parliament buildings during their five-day occupation.

York was incorporated as the City of Toronto on March 6, 1834, reverting to its original native name. The population of only 9,000 included escaped African-American slaves fleeing Black Codes in some states.<ref name=black>City of Toronto, Black History, City of Toronto (2002). Retrieved on 2007-07-07.</ref> Slavery was banned outright in Upper Canada in 1834. Reformist politician William Lyon Mackenzie became the first Mayor of Toronto, and led the unsuccessful Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 against the British colonial government. The city grew rapidly through the remainder of the 19th century, as a major destination for immigrants to Canada. The first significant population influx occurred with the Great Irish Famine between 1846 and 1849 that brought a large number of Irish diaspora into the city, some of them transient and most of them Catholic. By 1851, the Irish-born population had become the largest single ethnic group in the city. Smaller numbers of Protestant Irish immigrants were welcomed by the existing Scottish and English population, giving the Orange Order significant influence over Toronto society.

Toronto was twice for brief periods the capital of the united Province of Canada first from 1849-1852, following unrest in Montreal, and later 1856-1858 after which Quebec became capital until 1866 (one year prior to Confederation); since then, the capital has been Ottawa.<ref>http://www.statoids.com/uca.html Retrieved on 2007-07-10.</ref> As it had been for Upper Canada from 1793, Toronto became the capital of the province of Ontario after its official creation in 1867 and has remained so since with the Ontario Legislature located at Queen's Park. Because of its capital status, the city was also the location of Government House, the residence of the vice-regal representative of the Crown.

In the 19th century, an extensive sewage system was built, and streets became illuminated with gas lighting as a regular service. Long-distance railway lines were constructed, including a route completed in 1854 linking Toronto with the Upper Great Lakes. The Grand Trunk Railway and the Great Northern Railway joined in the building of the first Union Station in downtown. The advent of the railway dramatically increased the numbers of immigrants arriving and commerce, as had the Lake Ontario steamers and schooners entering the port and enabled Toronto to become a major gateway linking the world to the interior of the North American continent. Horse-drawn streetcars gave way to electric streetcars in 1891, when the city granted the operation of the transit franchise to the Toronto Railway Company. The public transit system passed into public ownership in 1921 as the Toronto Transportation Commission, later renamed the Toronto Transit Commission. The system now has the third-highest ridership of any city public transportation system in North America.<ref name=TTCstats>Toronto transit chief says searches unlikely (2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.</ref>

In 1954, the City of Toronto was federated into a regional government known as Metropolitan Toronto.<ref>Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act, Government of Ontario (2000). Retrieved on 2006-12-29.</ref> The postwar boom had resulted in rapid suburban development, and it was believed that a coordinated land use strategy and shared services would provide greater efficiency for the region. The metropolitan government began to manage services that crossed municipal boundaries, including highways, water and public transit. In 1967, the seven smallest municipalities of the region were merged into their larger neighbours, resulting in a six-municipality configuration that included the old City of Toronto and the surrounding municipalities of East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and York. In 1998, the metropolitan government was dissolved and the six municipalities were amalgamated into a single municipality, creating the current City of Toronto, where David Miller is the current Mayor.

The Great Toronto Fire of 1904 destroyed a large section of downtown Toronto, but the city was quickly rebuilt. The fire had cost more than $10 million in damage, and led to more stringent fire safety laws and the expansion of the city's fire department.

The city received new immigrant groups beginning in the late 19th century into early 20th century, particularly Germans, Italians, and Jews from various parts of Eastern Europe. They were soon followed by Chinese, Russians, Poles and immigrants from other Eastern European nations, as the Irish before them, many of these new migrants lived in overcrowded shanty type slums, such as the "the Ward" which was between Bay Street, now the heart of the country's finances. Despite its fast paced growth, by the 1920s, Toronto's population and economic importance in Canada remained second to the much longer established Montreal. However, by 1934 the Toronto Stock Exchange had become the largest in the country.

Following the Second World War, refugees from war-torn poor Europe and Chinese people who wanted jobs arrived as did construction labourers particularly from Italy and Portugal. Following elimination of racially based immigration policies by the late 1960s, immigration began from all parts of the world. Toronto's population grew to more than one million in 1951 when large-scale suburbanization began, and doubled to two million by 1971. By the 1980s, Toronto had surpassed Montreal as Canada's most populous city and the chief economic hub. During this time, in part due to the political uncertainty raised by the resurgence of the Quebec sovereignty movement, many national and multinational corporations moved their head offices from Montreal to Toronto and other western Canadian cities.<ref>Westward ho? The shifting geography of corporate power in Canada, Journal of Canadian Studies (2002). Retrieved on 2007-01-14.</ref>

Geography

Main article: Geography and climate of Toronto

Toronto covers an area of Modèle:Convert/sqkm,<ref name=population>Population statistics and land area, Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> with a maximum north-south distance of Modèle:Convert/km and a maximum east-west distance of Modèle:Convert/km. It has a Modèle:Convert/km long waterfront shoreline. Its borders are formed by Lake Ontario to the south, Etobicoke Creek and Highway 427 to the west, Steeles Avenue to the north and the Rouge River to the east.

Topography

The city is intersected by two rivers and numerous tributaries: the Humber River in the west end and the Don River east of downtown at opposite ends of the Toronto Harbour. The harbour was naturally created by sediment build-up from lake currents that created the Toronto Islands. The many creeks and rivers cutting from north toward the lake created large tracts of densely-forested ravines, and provide ideal sites for parks and recreational trails. However, the ravines also interfere with the city's grid plan, and this results in major thoroughfares such as Finch Avenue, Leslie Street, Lawrence Avenue, and St. Clair Avenue terminating on one side of ravines and continuing on the other side. Other thoroughfares such as the Bloor Street Viaduct are required to span above the ravines. These deep ravines prove useful for draining the city's vast storm sewer system during heavy rains but some sections, particularly near the Don River are prone to sudden, heavy floods. Storage tanks at waste treatment facilities will often receive too much river discharge causing them to overflow, allowing untreated sewage to escape into Lake Ontario closing local beaches for swimming.

During the last ice age, the lower part of Toronto was beneath Glacial Lake Iroquois. Today, a series of escarpments mark the lake's former boundary, known as the Iroquois Shoreline. The escarpments are most prominent from Victoria Park Avenue to the mouth of Highland Creek, where they form the Scarborough Bluffs. Other noticeable sections include the area near St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and the Don River, and north of Davenport Road from Caledonia to Spadina Avenue, the Casa Loma grounds sit above this escarpment. Although not remarkably hilly, Toronto does have elevation differences ranging from Modèle:Convert/LonAoffDbSoff above-sea-level at the Lake Ontario shore to Modèle:Convert/LoffAonDbSoff ASL near the York University grounds in the city's north end.

Much of the current lakeshore land area fronting the Toronto Harbour is actually artificial landfill. In the mid-19th century the lakefront was set back up to Modèle:Convert/km further inland than it is today. Much of the Toronto harbour (the quays, formerly known as wharves) and adjacent Portlands are also fill. The Toronto Islands were actually a landspit until a storm in 1858 severed its connection to the mainland, creating a channel later used by shipping interests to access the docks.

Climate

Toronto's climate is moderate for Canada due to its southerly location within the country and its proximity to Lake Ontario. It has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa), with warm, humid summers and generally cold winters, although fairly mild by Canadian and many northern continental U.S. standards. The city experiences four distinct seasons with considerable variance in day to day temperature, particularly during the colder weather season. Due to urbanization and proximity to water, Toronto has a fairly low diurnal temperature range, at least in built-up city and lakeshore areas. At different times of the year, this maritime influence has various localized and regional impacts on the climate, including lake effect snow and delaying the onset of spring and fall like conditions or seasonal lag.

Toronto winters sometimes feature short cold snaps where maximum temperatures remain below Modèle:Convert/C, often made to feel colder by wind chill. Snowstorms, sometimes mixed with ice and rain can disrupt work and travel schedules, accumulating snow can fall anytime from November until mid-April. However, mild stretches also occur throughout winter melting accumulated snow, with temperatures reaching into the 5 to 14 °C (40 to 57 °F) range and infrequently higher. Summer in Toronto is characterized by long stretches of humid weather. Daytime temperatures occasionally surpass Modèle:Convert/C, with high humidity making it feel oppressive during usually brief periods of hot weather. Spring and Autumn are transitional seasons with generally mild or cool temperatures with alternating dry and wet periods.

Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but summer is usually the wettest season, the bulk falling during thunderstorms. There can be periods of dry weather, but drought-like conditions are rare. The average yearly precipitation is Modèle:Convert/cm, with an average annual snowfall of about Modèle:Convert/cm. Toronto experiences an average of 2,038 sunshine hours or 44% of possible, most of it during the warmer weather season.<ref name=climate>Canadian climate normals for 1971 to 2000, Environment Canada (2004). Retrieved on 2006-12-17.</ref>

Cityscape

Architecture

Main article: Architecture in Toronto

Modèle:See also

According to some prominent residents of the city and some important architects who've designed buildings here, Toronto has no single dominant, architectural style. Lawrence Richards, a member of the faculty of architecture at the University of Toronto, has said "Toronto is a new, brash, rag-tag place—a big mix of periods and styles.” Mark Kingwell, a well-known professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto has said that much of the city is best described as having "too much context, not enough monument. Low-rise nothingness. We’ve allowed a potentially beautiful city to become plain at the centre and positively ugly at the periphery.” Daniel Liebeskind, architect of new addition to the Royal Ontario Museum has added: "The city is not static, but the architecture implies that." <ref>http://www.where.ca/toronto/article_feature~listing_id~95.htm Retrieved on Dec. 19th 2007.</ref>

Defining the Toronto skyline is the CN Tower. At a height of 553.33 metres (1,815 ft, 5 in) it is the world's second tallest<ref>Dubai building surpasses CN Tower in height, CTV Television Network (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.</ref> freestanding structure, an important telecommunications hub, and a centre of tourism in Toronto.

Toronto is a city of high-rises, having over 2,000 buildings over 90 metres (300 ft) in height, second only to New York (which has over 5,000 such buildings) in North America. <ref>http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/ma/ci/ Emporis list of cities by high rise building.</ref> Most of these buildings are residential (either rental or condominium, where as the Central business district contains the taller commercial office towers). There has been recent media attention given for the need to retrofit many of these buildings, which were constructed beginning in the 1950s as residential apartment blocks to accommodate a quickly growing population. Many of the older buildings are shown to give off high concentrations of CO₂ and are thought to be a significant contributor to the urban heat island effect, in addition to the aesthetic concerns as many of the buildings are viewed by many as urban blights often surrounded by limited landscaping and concrete parking lots without integration with the surrounding neighbourhoods.

In contrast, Toronto has also begun to experience an architectural overhaul within the past 5 years. The Royal Ontario Museum, Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Art Gallery of Ontario are just some of the many public art buildings that have undergone massive renovations.<ref>Toronto’s Cultural Renaissance, City of Toronto (2005). Retrieved on 2007-11-09.</ref> The historic Distillery District, located on the eastern edge of downtown, is North America's largest and best preserved collection of Victorian era industrial architecture. It has been redeveloped into a pedestrian-oriented arts, culture and entertainment neighbourhood. Modern glass and steel highrises have begun to transform the majority of the downtown area as the condominium market has exploded and triggered widespread construction throughout the city's centre. Trump International Hotel and Tower, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts are just some of the many high rise luxury condominium-hotel projects currently under construction in the downtown core.

Neighbourhoods

Modèle:Seealso

The many residential communities of Toronto express a character distinct from that of the skyscrapers in the commercial core. Victorian and Edwardian-era residential buildings can be found in enclaves such as Rosedale, Forest Hill, Cabbagetown, the Annex, the Bridle Path and Moore Park.

Wychwood Park is historically significant for the architecture of its homes, and for being one of Toronto's earliest planned communities. The Wychwood Park neighbourhood was designated as an Ontario Heritage Conservation district in 1985. The Casa Loma neighbourhood is named after Casa Loma, a castle built in 1911 that had an elevator, secret passages, and bowling alleys. Spadina House is a 19th century manor that is now a museum.

The City of Toronto encompasses a geographical area formerly administered by six separate municipalities. These municipalities have each developed a distinct history and identity over the years, and their names remain in common use among Torontonians. Throughout the city there exist hundreds of small neighbourhoods and some larger neighbourhoods covering a few square kilometers. Former Municipalities include East York, Etobicoke, North York, Old Toronto, Scarborough, and York.

Old Toronto

The Old City of Toronto covers the area generally known as Downtown. It is the historic core of Toronto and remains the most densely-populated part of the city. The Financial District along Bay Street contains the largest cluster of skyscrapers in Canada, including the First Canadian Place, Toronto Dominion Centre, Scotia Plaza, Royal Bank Plaza, Commerce Court and Brookfield Place. From that point, the Toronto skyline extends northward along Yonge Street. Old Toronto is also home to many historically wealthy residential enclaves, such as Yorkville, Rosedale, The Annex, Forest Hill, Lawrence Park, Lytton Park, Moore Park, and Casa Loma, most stretching away from downtown to the north. These neighbourhoods generally feature upscale homes, luxury condominiums and high-end retail. At the same time, the downtown core vicinity includes neighbourhoods with a high proportion of recent immigrants and low-income families living in social housing and rental high-rises, such as St. James Town, Regent Park, Moss Park, Alexandra Park and Parkdale. East and west of Downtown, neighbourhoods such as Kensington Market, Leslieville, Cabbagetown and Riverdale are home to bustling commercial and cultural areas as well as vibrant communities of artists with studio lofts, with an increasing proportion of middle and upper class professionals that mix with the working poor or those on some form of government assistance. Other neighbourhoods in the central city retain an ethnic identity, including two Chinatowns, the popular Greektown area, the very trendy Little Italy, Portugal Village, and Little India along with others.

Inner suburbs

The inner suburbs are contained within the former municipalities of York and East York. These are mature and traditionally working class areas, primarily consisting of post-World War I small, single-family homes and small apartment blocks. Neighbourhoods such as Crescent Town, Thorncliffe Park, Weston, and Oakwood-Vaughan mainly consist of high-rise apartments which are home to many new immigrant families. Recently, many neighbourhoods have become ethnically diverse and have undergone gentrification, as a result of increasing population and a housing boom during the late 1990s and 2000s. The first neighbourhoods affected were Leaside and North Toronto, gradually progressing into the western neighbourhoods in York. Some of the area's housing is in the process of being replaced or remodelled.

Outer suburbs

The outer suburbs comprising the former municipalities of Etobicoke, Scarborough and North York largely retain the grid plan laid before post-war development. Sections were long established and quickly growing towns before the suburban housing boom began and the advent of Metro Government, such as Mimico, Newtonbrook and West Hill. Suburban development grew quickly after the second war to include such upscale neighbourhoods as the Bridle Path in North York, the area surrounding the Scarborough Bluffs in Guildwood, and most of central Etobicoke, such as Humber Valley Village, and The Kingsway. One of largest and earliest "planned communities" was Don Mills, parts of which were first built in the 1950s.<ref>"Plan town of 45,000 on Don Mills farms; Will cost $200,000,000," Paul L. Fox, Toronto Star, March 12 1953, p. 3. Retrieved on 2007-05-02.</ref> Phased development mixing single-detached housing with higher density apartment blocks became more popular as a suburban model of development. To some this model has been copied in other GTA municipalities surrounding Toronto, albeit with less population density. More recently, North York Centre that runs along Yonge Street and the Scarborough City Centre have emerged as secondary business districts outside the downtown core. High-rise development in these areas have given North York and Scarborough distinguishable skylines of their own and a more downtown feel with high-density transit corridors serving them.

Industrial

One of Toronto's most unusual neighbourhoods, the Distillery District contains the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America. A national heritage site, it was listed by National Geographic magazine as a "top pick" in Canada for travellers. Large tracts of industrial land still exist particularly in Scarborough and Etobicoke, although not to the extent that they once did.

Public spaces

Nathan Phillips Square, a city square that forms the south entrance to Toronto City Hall, is also undergoing a major redesign by PLANT Architect Inc., Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners, Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architecture Inc., and Adrian Blackwell (winners of the International Design Competition in 2006/2007).

West 8, a Dutch architecture firm, won the Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition in 2006 to redesign the central part of the Toronto waterfront.<ref> West 8 Wins Waterfront Corp. Design Competition

. City of Toronto: News releases
 (2006-06-02)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref><ref> du Toit Allsopp Hiller

.    The Multiple Waterfront 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref>

In the summer of 1999, Downsview Park initiated an international design competition to realize its vision of creating Canada's first national urban park. In May 2000, the winning park design was announced: "TREE CITY", by the team of Bruce Mau Design, Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Oleson Worland Architect and Inside/Outside.

Culture

Main article: Culture in Toronto

Modèle:Seealso Toronto is a major scene for theatre and other performing arts, with more than fifty ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, and two symphony orchestras. The city is home to the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Notable performance venues include the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Roy Thomson Hall, the Princess of Wales Theatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Massey Hall, the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres and the Hummingbird Centre (formerly the "O'Keefe Centre"). Ontario Place features the world's first permanent IMAX movie theatre, the Cinesphere,<ref>The World's First Permanent IMAX Theatre Retrieved on 2007-05-02.</ref> as well as the Molson Amphitheatre, an open-air venue for large-scale music concerts. Each summer, the Canadian Stage Company presents an outdoor Shakespeare production in Toronto’s High Park called "Dream in High Park". Canada's Walk of Fame acknowledges the achievements of successful Canadians, with of a series of stars on designated blocks of sidewalks along King Street and Simcoe Street.

The Distillery District is a pedestrian village containing boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, artist studios and small breweries, including the well-known Mill Street Brewery. A new theatre in the district, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, is the home of the Soulpepper Theatre Company and the drama productions of nearby George Brown College.

The production of domestic and foreign film and television is a major local industry. Many movie releases are screened in Toronto prior to wider release in North America. The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most important annual events for the international film industry. Europe's largest film studio, Pinewood Studios Group of London, is scheduled to open a major new film studio complex in west-end Toronto, with five sound stages, with the first two to open by fall 2008.

Toronto's Caribana festival takes place from mid-July to early August of every summer, and is one of North America's largest street festivals.<ref name=Caribana>Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival 2006, WORD Magazine (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-11.</ref> For the most part, Caribana is based on the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, and the first Caribana took place in 1967 when the city's Caribbean community celebrated Canada's Centennial year. 40 years later, it has grown to attract one million people to Toronto's Lake Shore Boulevard annually. Tourism for the festival is in the hundred thousands, and each year, the event brings in about $300 million.

Pride Week in Toronto takes place in mid-June, and is one of the largest LGBT festivals in the world. It attracts more than one million people from all over the world, and is one of the largest events to take place in the city. Toronto is major centre for gay and lesbian culture and entertainment, and the gay village is located in the Church and Wellesley area of Downtown.

Tourism

Main article: Attractions in Toronto

Modèle:Seealso Toronto is currently ranked 14th in the world with over 4 million tourist arrivals a year <ref>[2], (2007)</ref>. Toronto's most prominent landmark is the CN Tower, which currently stands as the second tallest free-standing land structure in the world at 553 metres (1,815 ft). To the surprise of its creators, the tower held the world record for over 30 years, before losing its title to the Burj Dubai in 2007.<ref name="Emporis">

  Chamberlain , Edward 
       
   
  . 
 "
   CN Tower Marks 30 Years At The Top 
     
 " , Emporis Buildings
  , 2006-12-08
 
 . </ref>

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a major museum for world culture and natural history. The Toronto Zoo, one of the largest in the world,<ref name="aboutzoo"> About the Toronto Zoo

. Toronto Zoo  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-10-11. </ref><ref name="zoo"> Buhasz , Laszlo

     (2003-05-07)
   
.    Uncaging the zoo 
. Globe and Mail 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-10-11. </ref> is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 460 distinct species. The Art Gallery of Ontario contains a large collection of Canadian, European, African and contemporary artwork. The Gardiner Museum of ceramic art which is the only museum in Canada entirely devoted to ceramics and the Museum's collection contains more than 2,900 ceramic works from Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The Ontario Science Centre always has new hands-on activities and science displays particularly appealing to children, and the Bata Shoe Museum also features many unique exhibitions. The Don Valley Brick Works is a former industrial site, which opened in 1889, and has recently been restored as a park and heritage site. The Canadian National Exhibition is held annually at Exhibition Place, and it is the oldest annual fair in the world. It is Canada's largest annual fair and the fifth largest in the world, with an average attendance of 1.3 million.<ref>CNE - About Us, Canadian National Exhibition (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-29.</ref>

The Yorkville neighbourhood is one of Toronto's most elegant shopping and dining areas. On many occasions, celebrities from all over North America can be spotted in the area, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival. The Toronto Eaton Centre is one of North America's top shopping destinations, and Toronto's most popular tourist attraction with over 1 million visitors per week.<ref>City of Toronto, Attractions, City of Toronto (2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-07.</ref>

Greektown on the Danforth, is another one of the major attractions of Toronto which boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per kilometre in the world. It is also home to the annual "Taste of the Danforth" festival which attracts over one million people in 2 1/2 days.<ref>Welcome to the Taste of the Danforth Retrieved on 2007-07-07.</ref> Toronto is also home to Canada's most famous "castle" - Casa Loma, the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man. Other notable neighbourhoods and attractions include The Beaches, the Toronto Islands, Kensington Market, Fort York, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Sports

Main articles: Professional sport in Toronto, Amateur sport in Toronto, and List of sports teams in Toronto

Toronto is the only Canadian city with representation in six major league sports through National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Lacrosse League, National Basketball Association, Canadian Football League and Major League Soccer teams. The major sports complexes include the Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre (formerly known as SkyDome) and BMO Field.

In addition to team sports, both thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing are conducted at Woodbine Race Track in Rexdale.

Toronto is home to the International Bowl, an NCAA sanctioned post-season football game that puts a Mid-American Conference team against a Big East Conference team. Beginning in 2007, the game is played at the Rogers Centre annually in January.

Historic sports clubs of Toronto include the Granite Club (est. 1836), the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (est. 1852), the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club (est. pre-1827), the Argonaut Rowing Club (est. 1872), the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club (est. 1881), and the Badminton and Racquet Club (est. 1924).

Toronto was a candidate city for the 1996 and 2008 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Atlanta and Beijing respectively. The Canadian Olympic Committee is currently considering a Toronto bid for the 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympics.<ref>Third time lucky for T.O. Games bid?, TheStar.com, 2007</ref> Toronto played host to the 95th Grey Cup in 2007.

Media

Modèle:Seealso Toronto is Canada's largest media market,<ref>Media Job Search Canada Media Job Search Canada (2003). Retrieved on 2007-05-08.</ref> and the fourth largest media centre in North America (behind New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago), with four conventional dailies and two free commuter papers in a greater metropolitan area of about 5.5 million inhabitants. The Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun are the prominent daily city newspapers, while the national dailies The Globe and Mail and the National Post are also headquartered in the city. Toronto contains the headquarters of the major English-language Canadian television networks, including the English-language branch of the national public broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the largest private broadcaster CTV, and the flagship stations of Citytv and Global. Canada's premier sports television networks are also based in Toronto, including The Sports Network (TSN), Rogers Sportsnet and The Score. The bulk of Canada's periodical publishing industry is centred in Toronto including magazines such as Maclean's, Chatelaine, Flare, Canadian Living, Canadian Business, and Toronto Life.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Toronto

Toronto is a major international centre for business and finance. Generally considered the financial capital of Canada, Toronto has a high concentration of banks and brokerage firms on Bay Street, the city's main financial street. The Toronto Stock Exchange is the world's sixth-largest stock exchange by market capitalization.<ref>Market Statistics Toronto Stock Exchange (2006). Retrieved on 2007-05-11.</ref> All of the Big Five banks of Canada are headquartered in Toronto.

The city is an important centre for the media, publishing, telecommunications, information technology and film production industries; it is home to Thomson Corporation, CTVglobemedia, Rogers Communications, Alliance Atlantis and Celestica. Other prominent Canadian corporations in Toronto include Four Seasons Hotels, the Hudson's Bay Company and Manulife Financial.

Although much of the region's manufacturing activities take place outside the city limits, Toronto continues to be an important wholesale and distribution point for the industrial sector. The city's strategic position along the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor and its extensive road and rail connections help support the nearby production of motor vehicles, iron, steel, food, machinery, chemicals and paper. The completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 gave ships access to the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean.

Demographics

. City of Toronto Archives

 

. Statistics Canada
 (1971)
   

. Statistics Canada
 (1976)
   

. Statistics Canada
 (1981)
   

 (pdf)
. Statistics Canada
. City of Toronto 
 
 (2003)
   

 (pdf)
. Statistics Canada
. City of Toronto 
 
 (2003)
   

. Statistics Canada 
 
 (2001-04-17)
   

 (pdf)
. Statistics Canada
. City of Toronto 
 
 (2003)
   

. Statistics Canada  
 

 

 (pdf)
. Statistics Canada
. City of Toronto 
 
 (2003)
   

 (pdf)
. Statistics Canada
. City of Toronto 
 
 (2001)
   

</ref>

. Statistics Canada 
 
 (March 17, 2007.)
   

Main article: Demographics of Toronto

The last complete census by Statistics Canada estimated there were 2,503,281 people residing in Toronto in June 2006.<ref name="2006censuspop" /> The city's population grew by 4% (96,073 residents) between 1996 and 2001, at an annualized rate of 0.8%. Persons aged 14 years and under made up 17.5% of the population, and those aged 65 years and over made up 13.6%. The median age was 36.9 years. Foreign-born people made up 49.9% of the population.<ref name="2006diversity">A city of unmatched diversity, The Toronto Star, December 5, 2007</ref>

As of 2001, 42.8% of the residents of the city proper belong to a visible minority group,<ref name=religion>Community Highlights for Toronto, Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> and visible minorities are projected to comprise a majority in Toronto by 2017.<ref name=minorityprojection>Canada's visible minority population in 2017, Statistics Canada (2005). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> According to the United Nations Development Programme, Toronto has the second-highest percentage of foreign-born population among world cities, after Miami, Florida. Statistics Canada's 2006 figures indicate that Toronto has surpassed Miami in this year.<ref name="2006diversity">x</ref> While Miami's foreign-born population consists mostly of Cubans and other Latin Americans, no single nationality or culture dominates Toronto's immigrant population, making it the most diverse city in the world.

In 2001, people of European ethnicities formed the largest cluster of ethnic groups in Toronto, 57.2%,<ref> 2001 Community Profile for Toronto: Ethnicities

. Statistics Canada
. Statistics Canada 
 
 (2001)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-06-15. </ref> mostly of English, Irish, Scottish, Italian, and French origins, while the five largest visible minority groups in Toronto are Chinese (10.6%), South Asian/Indo-Caribbean (10.3%), Black/Afro-Caribbean (8.3%), Filipino (3.5%) and Latin American (2.2%).<ref name=origin>Population by selected ethnic origins for Toronto, Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> This diversity is reflected in Toronto's ethnic neighbourhoods which include Little Italy, The Junction, Little Jamaica, Little India, Chinatown, Koreatown, Greektown, Portugal Village, Corso Italia, Kensington Market, and The Westway.

Christianity is the largest religious group in Toronto. The 2001 Census reports that 31.1% of the city's population is Catholic, followed by Protestant at 21.1%, Christian Orthodox at 4.8%, and other Christians at 3.9%. Other religions in the city are Islam (6.7%), Hinduism (4.8%), Judaism (4.2%), Buddhism (2.7%), Sikhism (0.9%), and other Eastern Religions (0.2%). 18.7% of the population professes no faith.<ref name=religion>>Community Highlights for Toronto, Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref>

While English is the predominant language spoken by Torontonians, many other languages have considerable numbers of local speakers, including French, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tagalog, and Hindi.<ref name=lan3>Various Languages Spoken - Toronto CMA, Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2007-01-02.</ref> Italian is the second most widely spoken language at work.<ref name=lan>Language used at work by mother tongue in Toronto CMA, Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref><ref name=lang2>Language used at work by mother tongue (City of Toronto), Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> As a result, the city's 9-1-1 emergency services are equipped to respond in over 150 languages.<ref name="911service"> City of Toronto: Emergency Services - 9-1-1 = EMERGENCY in any language

. City of Toronto  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-01-05. </ref>

Government

Main article: Municipal government of Toronto

Modèle:Further

Toronto is a single-tier municipality governed by a mayor-council system. The structure of the municipal government is stipulated by the City of Toronto Act. The Mayor of Toronto is elected by direct popular vote to serve as the chief executive of the city. The Toronto City Council is a unicameral legislative body, comprising 44 councillors representing geographical wards throughout the city. The mayor and members of the city council serve four-year terms without term limits. (Prior to the 2006 municipal election, the mayor and city councillors served three-year terms.)

At the start of the 2007 term, the city council will have seven standing committees, each consisting of a chair, a vice-chair and four other councillors. The Mayor names the committee chairs and the remaining membership of the committees is appointed by City Council.<ref name="committees"> City Council names Speaker and members to Standing Committees, Agencies, Boards and Commissions

. CNW Group 
 
 (2006-12-06)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref> An executive committee is formed by the chairs of each of standing committee, in addition to the mayor, the deputy mayor and four other councillors. Councillors are also appointed to oversee the Toronto Transit Commission and the Toronto Police Services Board.

There are about 40 subcommittees, advisory committees and round tables within the city council. These bodies are made up of city councillors and private citizen volunteers. Examples include the Pedestrian Committee, Waste Diversion Task Force 2010, and the Task Force to Bring Back the Don.<ref> Directory of committees, task forces and round tables

. City of Toronto  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref> Additionally, the city has four community councils that make recommendations on local matters to the city council, but possess no final authority. Each city councillor serves as a member on a community council.

Toronto had an operating budget of C$7.6 billion in 2006.<ref> 2006 City Budget

. City of Toronto 
 
   (2006)
     
   
 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref> The city receives funding from the Government of Ontario in addition to tax revenues and user fees, spending 36% on provincially-mandated programs, 53% on major municipal purposes such as the Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Zoo, and 11% on capital financing and non-program expenditures.<ref> 2006 Operating Budget

. City of Toronto 
 
   (2006)
     
   
 

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. </ref>

Education

Main article: Education in Toronto

Toronto is home to a diverse range of public and private educational institutions. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) operates 451 public schools and 102 secondary or high schools. This makes the TDSB the largest school board in Canada. Additionally, the Toronto Catholic District School Board manages the city's publicly-funded Roman Catholic schools, while the Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest and the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud manages public and Roman Catholic French-language schools. There are also numerous private university-preparatory schools, such as Upper Canada College, Crescent School, Toronto French School, University of Toronto Schools, Havergal College, Bishop Strachan School, Branksome Hall, and St. Michael's College School.

The University of Toronto, established in 1827, is the oldest university in the province of Ontario and a leading public research institution. It is a worldwide leader in biomedical research and houses North America's third largest library system, notably after Harvard University and Yale University. In addition, York University, located in the north end of Toronto, houses the largest law library in the Commonwealth of Nations. The city is also home to Ryerson University, Ontario College of Art & Design, and the University of Guelph-Humber.

There are five diploma-granting community colleges in Toronto: Seneca College, Humber College, Centennial College, Sheridan College and George Brown College. In nearby Oshawa -- usually considered part of the Greater Toronto Area -- are Durham College and the new University of Ontario Institute of Technology. The Royal Conservatory of Music, which includes The Glenn Gould School, is a major music school located in downtown. The Canadian Film Centre is a film, television and new media training institute founded by filmmaker Norman Jewison. Tyndale University College and Seminary is a transdenominational Christian post-secondary institution and Canada's largest seminary.

The Toronto Public Library is the largest public library system in Canada, consisting of 99 branches with more than 11 million items in its collection.<ref>"Toronto Public Library contributes 63 millionth record" OCLC (2006-02-03). Retrieved on 2007-07-08.</ref>

Infrastructure

Health and medicine

Main article: Health in Toronto

Modèle:Seealso

Toronto is home to at least 20 public hospitals, including the Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, North York General Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Princess Margaret Hospital, as well as the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine.

Toronto's Discovery District<ref name=district>Toronto Discovery District FAQ, Toronto Discovery District (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> is centre of research in biomedicine. It is located on a 2.5 square kilometre (620 acre) research park that is fully integrated into Toronto’s downtown core. It is also home to the Medical and Related Sciences Centre (MaRS),<ref name=mars>Medical and Related Sciences Centre, Medical and Related Sciences Centre (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref> which was created in 2000 to capitalize on the research and innovation strength of the Province of Ontario. Another institute is the McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine (MCMM).<ref name=mole>McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine (MCMM), McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.</ref>

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Toronto

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the third largest public transit system in North America after the New York City Transit Authority, and Mexico City Metro.<ref name=TTCstats>Toronto transit chief says searches unlikely (2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.</ref> The TTC provides public transit within the City of Toronto. The backbone of its public transport network is the subway system. The TTC also operates an extensive network of buses and streetcars.

The Government of Ontario also operates an extensive rail and bus transit system called GO Transit in the City of Toronto, as well in its suburbs. With thirty-eight trains, and seven train lines, GO Transit run 179 trips, and carry over 160,000 passengers in the Greater Toronto Area every day. An additional 288 GO buses feed the main rail lines.

Canada's busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport (IATA: YYZ), straddles the city's western boundary with the suburban city of Mississauga. Limited commercial and passenger service is also offered from the Toronto City Centre Airport, on the Toronto Islands. Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport in Markham provides general aviation facilities. Toronto/Downsview Airport, near the city's north end, is owned by de Havilland Canada and serves the Bombardier Aerospace aircraft factory.

There are a number of freeways that serve Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. In particular, Highway 401 bisects the city from west to east, bypassing the downtown core. It is one of the busiest highways in the world.<ref> Ontario government investing $401 million to upgrade Highway 401

. Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 
 (2002-08-06)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.

 “Highway 401 is one of the busiest highways in the world and represents a vital link in Ontario's transportation infrastructure, carrying more than 400,000 vehicles per day through Toronto.”

</ref><ref> Brian Gray

     (2004-04-10)
   
.    GTA Economy Dinged by Every Crash on the 401 - North America's Busiest Freeway 
. Toronto Sun, transcribed at Urban Planet 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.

 “The "phenomenal" number of vehicles on Hwy. 401 as it cuts through Toronto makes it the busiest freeway in the world...”

</ref> The square grid of major city streets was laid out by the concession road system.

References

Further reading

• Modèle:Cite book
• Modèle:Cite book
• Modèle:Cite book
• Careless , J.M.S.

.    Toronto 
. The Canadian Encyclopedia
. Historica Foundation of Canada 
   

. Retrieved on 2005-12-03.

• Toronto

. Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles.
. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE. 
 
   (2003)
     
   
 

. Retrieved on 2005-12-03.

• Toronto's Economic Profile

. City of Toronto  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.

• Ultimate Inline Skating Guide to Toronto v1.5

 (Google Earth)
   (2007)
     
   
 

. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.

• The novel "In the Skin of a Lion" by Michael Ondaatje depicts Toronto in the 1920s, giving prominence to the construction of Toronto landmarks, such as the Prince Edward Viaduct and the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, and focusing on the lives of the immigrant workers.

</div>

Modèle:Sisterlinks

External links

• Toronto.ca, The official City of Toronto Web site
• Ultimate Toronto, Toronto Resource Guide & Business Directory
• Torontoisms, travel and city guide to Toronto.
• Tourism Toronto, by the Toronto Convention & Visitors Association
• Wikitravel Toronto, travel guide at Wikitravel
• Modèle:Wikia

Modèle:Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way)

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