Toronto
64646
225835645
2008-07-15T16:54:39Z
Blackjays1
4281604
/* Crime */
{{sprotected2}}
{{otheruses1|the [[Canada|Canadian]] city}}
{{coor title dm|43|39|N|79|23|W|}}
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = City of Toronto
|nickname = [[Name of Toronto|T.O., Hogtown, The Big Smoke, Toronto the Good, T-Dot]]
|motto = Diversity Our Strength
|image_skyline = Toronto 2007.JPG
|image_flag = Toronto_Flag.svg
|flag_link = Flag of Toronto
|flag_size = 125px
|image_shield = Toronto_Coat_of_Arms.jpg
|shield_link = Coat of arms of Toronto
|shield_size = 85px
|image_map = Toronto_Location_in_Ontario.png
|map_caption = Location of Toronto and its [[census metropolitan area]] in the province of [[Ontario]]
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]|subdivision_name = {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Canada|Province]]
|subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Ontario]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Metropolitan Toronto|Districts]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[East York, Ontario|East York]]<br />[[Etobicoke, Ontario|Etobicoke]]<br />[[North York, Ontario|North York]]<br />[[Old Toronto, Ontario|Old Toronto]]<br />[[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]]<br />[[York, Ontario|York]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor of Toronto|Mayor]]
|leader_name = [[David Miller (Canadian politician)|David Miller]]
|leader_title1 = Council
|leader_name1 = [[Toronto City Council]]
|leader_title2 = [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MPs]]
|leader_name2 ={{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPs
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style =
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1=[[Carolyn Bennett]]
|2=[[John Cannis]]
|3=[[Olivia Chow]]
|4=[[Roy Cullen]]
|5=[[Ken Dryden]]
|6=[[John Godfrey]]
|7=[[Martha Hall Findlay]]
|8=[[Michael Ignatieff]]
|9=[[Jim Karygiannis]]
|10=[[Jack Layton]]
|11=[[Derek Lee]]
|12=[[John McKay (politician)|John McKay]]
|13=[[Dan McTeague]]
|14=[[Maria Minna]]
|15=[[Peggy Nash]]
|16=[[Bob Rae]]
|17=[[Yasmin Ratansi]]
|18=[[Judy Sgro]]
|19=[[Mario Silva]]
|20=[[Alan Tonks]]
|21=[[Joe Volpe]]
|22=[[Tom Wappel]]
|23=[[Borys Wrzesnewskyj]]
}}
|leader_title3 = [[Member of Provincial Parliament|MPPs]]
|leader_name3 ={{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPPs
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1=[[Bas Balkissoon]]
|2=[[Lorenzo Berardinetti]]
|3=[[Laurel Broten]]
|4=[[Michael Bryant (politician)|Michael Bryant]]
|5=[[Donna Cansfield]]
|6=[[David Caplan]]
|7=[[Mary Anne Chambers]]
|8=[[Mike Colle]]
|9=[[Paul Ferreira]]
|10=[[Cheri DiNovo]]
|11=[[Brad Duguid]]
|12=[[Monte Kwinter]]
|13=[[Rosario Marchese]]
|14=[[Gerry Phillips]]
|15=[[Michael Prue]]
|16=[[Shafiq Qaadri]]
|17=[[Tony Ruprecht]]
|18=[[Mario Sergio]]
|19=[[George Smitherman]]
|20=[[Peter Tabuns]]
|21=[[Kathleen Wynne]]
|22=[[David Zimmer]]
}}
|established_title = Established
|established_date = [[August 27]], [[1793]]
|established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2 = [[March 6]], [[1834]]
|established_title3 = [[Amalgamation (politics)|Amalgamated]]
|established_date3 = [[January 1]], [[1998]]
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref = Metric
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 630
|area_metro_km2 = 7125
|area_urban_km2 = 1749
|elevation_m = 76
|area_footnotes =<ref name="2006censuspop">{{cite web | url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=702&PR=35&S=0&O=A&RPP=25| title = Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data
|work = [[Statistics Canada]], 2006 Census of Population
|date = [[2007-03-13]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-19
}}</ref><ref name="area_and_pop_urban_area">{{cite web
|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=801&PR=0&SR=1&S=3&O=D
|title = Population and dwelling counts, for urban areas, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data
|date = [[2007-03-13]]
|work = [[Statistics Canada]], 2006 Census of Population
|accessdate = 2007-03-19
}}</ref>
|population_note =
|population_as_of = 2006
|population_total = 2503281
|population_density_km2 = 3972
|population_urban = 4,753,120
|population_metro = 5,555,912
|population_blank1_title= [[Demonym]]
|population_blank1 = Torontonian
|population_footnotes =<ref name="2006censuspop" /><ref name="area_and_pop_urban_area" />
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|postal_code_type = Postal code span
|postal_code = [[List of M Postal Codes of Canada|M]]
|area_code = [[Area code 416/647|(416) and (647)]]
|website = [http://www.toronto.ca toronto.ca]
|latd=43 |latm=39 |lats= |latNS=N
|longd=79 |longm=23 |longs= |longEW=W
|blank_name = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map
|blank_info = 030M11
|blank1_name = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] Code
|blank1_info = FEUZB
}}
'''Toronto''' ({{IPAEng|təˈrɒntoʊ}}, colloquially [[Name of Toronto|pronounced]] {{IPA|[ˈtrɑnoʊ]}} or {{IPA|[təˈɹɑnoʊ]}}) is the [[List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by population|largest city]] in [[Canada]]<ref>{{Cite web
||url=http://investincanada.gc.ca/en/explore-our-regions/ontario/toronto.aspx
|title=Toronto Quick Facts
|publisher=Government of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Investment, Science & Technology Branch
|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> and is the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provincial]] [[Provincial and territorial capitals of Canada|capital]] of [[Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=004690
|title=History of Ontario's Legislative Buildings|publisher=Government of Ontario
|accessdate=2007-07-13}}</ref> It is located on the northwestern shore of [[Lake Ontario]]. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth-most populous municipality in [[North America]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.toronto.ca/invest-in-toronto/tor_overview.htm
|title= City of Toronto: Toronto Overview
|work=City of Toronto
|date=2007
|assessdate=2007-07-09}}</ref> 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 8.1 million residents.<ref>Total population of the Greater Toronto Area comprises the regional municipalities of [[Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario|Durham]] (561,258), [[Regional Municipality of Halton, Ontario|Halton]] (439,256), [[Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario|Peel]] (1,159,405) and [[Regional Municipality of York, Ontario|York]] (892,712). These population figures are taken from {{cite web
|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=702&PR=35&SR=1&S=3&O=D
|title = Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census divisions, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data
|publisher = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = [[2007-03-13]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-18}}</ref><ref name=Provstat>The fact that these municipalities form the GTA is stated in {{cite web
|url = http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/economy/demographics/projections/2007/
|title = Ontario Population Projections Update, 2005-2031 Ontario and Its 49 Census Divisions
|publisher = [[Ministry of Finance (Ontario)|Ministry of Finance]], Government of Ontario
|year = 2006
|month = April
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
|quote = 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">{{cite web
|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/analysis/popdwell/subprov4.cfm#ggh
|title=Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006: Subprovincial population dynamics, Greater Golden Horseshoe
|work=[[Statistics Canada]], 2006 Census of Population
|date=[[2007-03-13]]
|accessdate=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 in the [[Canada 2006 Census|2006 Census]].<ref name=Provstat/>
As Canada's economic capital, Toronto is considered a [[global city]]<ref>"[http://mail.architexturez.net/+/In-Enaction/archive/msg00800.shtml What makes a global city?]", (2007)</ref> and is one of the top financial cities in the world.<ref>"[http://www.citymayors.com/economics/financial-cities.html]", ''[[Toronto Star]]'' (2004). Retrieved on 2007-07-08.</ref> Toronto's leading economic sectors include [[finance]], business services, [[telecommunications]], [[aerospace]], [[transportation]], [[mass media|media]], [[arts]], [[film]], [[television]] production, [[publishing]], [[computer software|software production]], [[medical research]], [[education]], [[tourism]] and [[sports]] industries.<ref name=TorontoEconomy>[http://www.toronto.ca/ City of Toronto] (2007) - [http://www.toronto.ca/invest-in-toronto/tor_overview.htm Toronto economic overview], [http://www.toronto.ca/invest-in-toronto/clusteroverview.htm Key industry clusters] and [http://www.toronto.ca/invest-in-toronto/pdf/economy.pdf A Diversified Economy]. Retrieved on [[2007-03-01]].</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.toronto.ca/business_publications/tocompetes.htm
|title=Toronto Competes
|author=ICF Consulting
|year=2000
|month=February
|accessdate=2007-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.toronto.ca/business_publications/tocompetes.htm
|title=Toronto Competes
|author=ICF Consulting
|year=2000
|month=February
|accessdate=2007-03-01}}</ref> The [[Toronto Stock Exchange]], the world's seventh largest, is headquartered in the city, along with a majority of Canada's corporations.<ref name=TorontoEconomy/>
Toronto's population is [[Cosmopolitanism|cosmopolitan]] and [[international]],<ref name=diverse_city>{{cite book
|last = Flew
|first = Janine
|authorlink =
|coauthors = Humphries, Lynn ; Press, Limelight ; McPhee, Margaret
|title = The Children's Visual World Atlas
|publisher = Fog City Press
|date = 2004
|location = [[Sydney, Australia]]
|pages = 76
|url =
|doi =
|id =
|isbn = 1 740893 17 4 }}</ref><ref name=facts_of_Toronto>{{cite web
|url = http://allabout-toronto.com/
|title = City of Toronto, Ontario
|publisher =
|date =
|accessdate = 2007-07-06
}}</ref> reflecting its role as an important destination for [[Immigration to Canada|immigrants to Canada]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/policy/fed-prov/can-ont-toronto-mou.html
|title=Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement (electronic version)
|author=Citizenship and Immigration Canada
|year=2006
|month=September
|accessdate=2007-03-01}}</ref> Toronto is one of the world's most diverse cities by percentage of non-native-born residents, as about 49 percent of the population were born outside of Canada.<ref name=diverse_city/><ref name=facts_of_Toronto/><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/policy/fed-prov/can-ont-toronto-mou.html
|title=Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement (electronic version)
|author=Citizenship and Immigration Canada
|year=2006
|month=September
|accessdate=2007-03-01}}</ref> Because of the city's low crime rates,<ref name=crime>{{cite web
|url=http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050721/d050721a.htm
|title=Crime statistics
|author=Statistics Canada, ''The Daily''
|date=[[2006-07-21]]
|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> clean environment, generally high standard of living, and friendlier attitudes to diversity, Toronto is consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities by the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]]<ref name=best>{{cite news
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/10/04/eui.survey/index.html
|title=Vancouver is 'best city to live'
|publisher=[[CNN]]
|date=[[2005-10-05]]
|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.<ref name=quality>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mercerhr.com/attachment.dyn?idContent=1216315&filePath=/attachments/English/QOL_Survey2006_table.pdf
|title=Mercer 2006 Quality of Living Survey
|author=Mercer Human Resource Consulting
|year=2006
|month=
|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> In addition, Toronto was ranked as the most expensive Canadian city in which to live [[as of 2006|in 2006]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Eric|last=Beauchesne|title=Toronto pegged as priciest place to live in Canada|publisher=CanWest News Service|date=[[24 June]] [[2006]]|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=245b1dc8-1b43-46cb-bd84-6e78ab8a5afb&k=54140|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> Residents of Toronto are called ''[[List of people from Toronto|Torontonians]]''.
== History ==
<!--Please stop adding unwikified text to this section; edit [[History of Toronto]] instead. Thank you.-->
{{main|History of Toronto}}{{See|Name of Toronto}}
When [[Europe]]ans 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>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/education/toronto_e.php|title=The real story of how Toronto got its name|publisher=[[Natural Resources Canada]] (2005)|accessdate=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.
[[Image:Toronto 1894large.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Toronto, 1894]]
[[France|French]] traders founded [[Fort Rouillé]] on the current [[Exhibition Place|Exhibition grounds]] in 1750, but abandoned it in 1759.<ref name=rouille>[http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/jarvisci/toronto/rouille.htm Fort Rouillé], Jarvis Collegiate Institute (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 8|12-08]].</ref> During the [[American Revolutionary War]], the region saw an influx of [[British Empire|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 40a, Ontario|New Credit]], thereby securing more than a quarter million acres (1000 km²) of land in the Toronto area.<ref name=British>[http://www.toronto.ca/culture/history/history-natives-newcomers.htm Natives and newcomers, 1600-1793], City of Toronto (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 8|12-08]].</ref>
In 1793, Governor [[John Graves Simcoe]] established the town of [[York, Upper Canada|York]] on the existing settlement, naming it after [[Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany]]. Simcoe chose the town to replace [[Niagara-on-the-Lake|Newark]] as the capital of [[Upper Canada]], believing the new site would be less vulnerable to attack by the [[United States|Americans]].<ref name=[[Fort York]]>{{cite web|url=http://www.fortyork.ca|title=Welcome to the birthplace of Toronto|publisher=Friends of Fort York (2006)|accessdate=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 (Toronto)|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>[http://www.udata.com/users/hsbaker/york.htm 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 the USA|Black Codes]] in some states.<ref name=black>[http://www.toronto.ca/blackhistory/victorian_exhibit.htm City of Toronto, Black History], City of Toronto (2002). Retrieved on 2007-07-07.</ref> Slavery was banned outright in Upper Canada in [[Slavery in Canada|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 into the city, some of them transient and most of them [[Roman Catholic Church|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 [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]]); since then, the capital has been [[Ottawa, Ontario|Ottawa]].<ref>[http://www.statoids.com/uca.html 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 (Toronto)|Queen's Park]]. Because of its capital status, the city was also the location of [[Government House (Ontario)|Government House]], the residence of the [[Viceroy|vice-regal]] representative of the [[Monarchy in Canada|Crown]].
[[Image:Toronto Harbour, 1919.jpg|left|thumb|[[Toronto Harbour]], 1919. In the foreground is the Harbour Commission headquarters at the end of a pier; nowadays it is about 500 [[metre|m]] from the harbour. [[Union Station (Toronto)|Union Station]] can also be seen under construction.]]
[[Image:1920 Toronto QueenSt from OldCityHall.jpg|thumb|right|A view of [[Queen Street West|Queen Street]] from [[Old City Hall (Toronto)|Old City Hall]], 1920]]
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 [[Northern Railway of Canada]] joined in the building of the first [[Old Union Station (Toronto)|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>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1122072619227_40/?hub=CTVNewsAt11 Toronto transit chief says searches unlikely] (2005). Retrieved on 2007-[[February 3|02-03]].</ref>
In 1954, the City of Toronto was federated into a [[regional municipality|regional government]] known as [[Metropolitan Toronto]].<ref>[http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/RepealedStatutes/English/90m62_e.htm Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act], [[Government of Ontario]] (2000). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 29|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 [[Old Toronto, Ontario|City of Toronto]] and the surrounding municipalities of [[East York, Ontario|East York]], [[Etobicoke, Ontario|Etobicoke]], [[North York, Ontario|North York]], [[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]] and [[York, Ontario|York]]. In 1998, the metropolitan government was dissolved and the six municipalities were [[amalgamation (politics)|amalgamated]] into a single municipality, creating the current City of Toronto, where [[David Miller (Canadian politician)|David Miller]] is the current Mayor.
The [[Great Toronto Fire|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.
[[Image:1949 Toronto TTC YongeSubwayConstruction1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Toronto subway and RT|Subway]] construction on [[Yonge Street]], 1949]]
The city received new immigrant groups beginning in the late 19th century into early 20th century, particularly [[German people|Germans]], [[Italian people|Italians]], and [[Jews]] from various parts of [[Eastern Europe]]. They were soon followed by [[Chinese people|Chinese]], [[Russian people|Russians]], [[Poles]] and immigrants from other [[Eastern European]] nations, as the [[Irish people|Irish]] before them, many of these new migrants lived in overcrowded shanty type slums, such as the "[[The Ward (Toronto)|the Ward]]" which was centred on [[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 [[World War II|Second World War]], refugees from war-torn Europe and Chinese job-seekers arrived. So too 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>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3683/is_200201/ai_n9069631/pg_1 Westward ho? The shifting geography of corporate power in Canada], Journal of Canadian Studies (2002). Retrieved on 2007-[[January 14|01-14]].</ref>
== Geography ==
[[Image:Toronto Landsat.jpg|thumb|A simulated-colour image of Toronto taken by [[NASA]]'s [[Landsat 7]] satellite from 1985. [[Yonge Street]] can clearly be seen bisecting the city just right of centre in the image, the other prominent road, running east-west, is [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]].]]
{{main|Geography and climate of Toronto}}
Toronto covers an area of {{convert|630|km2|sqmi|0}},<ref name=population>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-P.cfm?PR=35&T=2&SR=1&S=3&O=D Population statistics and land area], Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|12-05]].</ref> with a maximum north-south distance of {{convert|21|km|mi}} and a maximum east-west distance of {{convert|43|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. It has a {{convert|46|km|mi|0|adj=on}} long [[Toronto waterfront|waterfront]] shoreline, on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario.<ref name="northwest">{{Cite web
|url=http://www.toronto.ca/attractions/getting_here.htm
|title=Getting Here
|work=Visiting Toronto
|publisher=City of Toronto
|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> Its borders are formed by [[Lake Ontario]] to the south, [[Etobicoke Creek]] and [[Highway 427 (Ontario)|Highway 427]] to the west, [[Steeles Avenue]] to the north and the [[Rouge River (Ontario)|Rouge River]] to the east.
=== Topography ===
The city is intersected by two rivers and numerous tributaries: the [[Humber River (Ontario)|Humber River]] in the west end and the [[Don River (Toronto)|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 [[Toronto ravine system|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 [[Prince Edward Viaduct|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 [[escarpment]]s 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 (Toronto)|Highland Creek]], where they form the [[Scarborough Bluffs]]. Other observable 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 {{convert|75|m|ft|0}} above-sea-level at the Lake Ontario shore to {{convert|270|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|1|km|mi|1}} 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.
[[Image:Dundas and University Winter.JPG|left|thumb|180px|Mid-Winter scene at the intersection of [[Dundas Street]] and [[University Avenue (Toronto)|University Avenue]]]]
=== Climate ===
[[Image:Day243highparkp.jpg|right|thumb|Late spring scene in [[High Park]], in Toronto's west end]]
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. 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 {{convert|-10|C|F|0|abbr=on}}, 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 {{convert|35|C|F|0|abbr=on}}, 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 {{convert|83|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}, with an average annual snowfall of about {{convert|133|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}. Toronto experiences an average of 2,038 sunshine hours or 44% of possible, most of it during the warmer weather season.<ref name=climate>[http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALL&StationName=toronto&SearchType=BeginsWith&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=5051& Canadian climate normals for 1971 to 2000], [[Environment Canada]] (2004). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 17|12-17]].</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
! colspan= "15" style="background: #6688AA; color: white; font-size: 1.2em;" | <div style="float:left; width:6em;"> </div> Toronto Climatological Data
|-
! colspan= "15" style="background: #446688; color: white;" | Temperature
|-
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" height="16" | Month
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jan
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Feb
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Mar
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Apr
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | May
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jun
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jul
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Aug
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Sep
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Oct
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Nov
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Dec
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | <!-- Leave this blank! -->
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Mean
|-
! height="16;" |Record high °C (°F)
| style="background: #B78747; color: black;" | 16 (61)
| style="background: #AF864F; color: black;" | 14 (58)
| style="background: #D78B27; color: black;" | 27 (80)
| style="background: #E78D17; color: black;" | 32 (90)
| style="background: #EF8F0F; color: black;" | 34 (94)
| style="background: #F5930A; color: black;" | 37 (98)
| style="background: #FF9900; color: black;" | 41 (105)
| style="background: #FA9605; color: black;" | 39 (102)
| style="background: #FA9605; color: black;" | 38 (100)
| style="background: #E78D17; color: black;" | 30 (86)
| style="background: #CF8A2F; color: black;" | 24 (75)
| style="background: #BF883F; color: black;" | 20 (68)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
|-
! height="16;" |Average high °C (°F)
| style="background: #777D87; color: black;" | -1 (30)
| style="background: #777D87; color: black;" | -0.2 (32)
| style="background: #8F826F; color: black;" | 5 (40)
| style="background: #A78557; color: black;" | 11 (52)
| style="background: #BF883F; color: black;" | 19 (65)
| style="background: #CF8A2F; color: black;" | 24 (74)
| style="background: #D78B27; color: black;" | 26 (80)
| style="background: #D78B27; color: black;" | 25 (78)
| style="background: #C78937; color: black;" | 21 (69)
| style="background: #AF864F; color: black;" | 14 (57)
| style="background: #978367; color: black;" | 7 (45)
| style="background: #878177; color: black;" | 2 (35)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #AF864F; color: black;" | 13 (55)
|-
! height="16;" |Mean °C (°F)
| style="background: #6F7C8F; color: black;" | -4 (24)
| style="background: #6F7C8F; color: black;" | -3 (26)
| style="background: #878177; color: black;" | 1 (34)
| style="background: #9F845F; color: black;" | 8 (46)
| style="background: #AF864F; color: black;" | 14 (58)
| style="background: #BF883F; color: black;" | 19 (67)
| style="background: #C78937; color: black;" | 22 (72)
| style="background: #C78937; color: black;" | 21 (70)
| style="background: #B78747; color: black;" | 17 (63)
| style="background: #A78557; color: black;" | 11 (51)
| style="background: #8F826F; color: black;" | 5 (41)
| style="background: #777D87; color: black;" | -1 (30)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #9F845F; color: black;" | 9 (49)
|-
! height="16;" |Average low °C (°F)
| style="background: #677B97; color: black;" | -7 (19)
| style="background: #677B97; color: black;" | -6 (21)
| style="background: #777D87; color: black;" | -2 (28)
| style="background: #8F826F; color: black;" | 4 (39)
| style="background: #9F845F; color: black;" | 10 (50)
| style="background: #AF864F; color: black;" | 15 (59)
| style="background: #BF883F; color: black;" | 18 (64)
| style="background: #B78747; color: black;" | 17 (63)
| style="background: #B78747; color: black;" | 13 (56)
| style="background: #978367; color: black;" | 7 (45)
| style="background: #878177; color: black;" | 2 (36)
| style="background: #6F7C8F; color: black;" | -4 (25)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #978367; color: black;" | 6 (42)
|-
! height="16;" |Record low °C (°F)
| style="background: #0F6FEF; color: black;" | -33 (-27)
| style="background: #1771E7; color: black;" | -32 (-25)
| style="background: #2773D7; color: black;" | -27 (-16)
| style="background: #4777B7; color: black;" | -15 (5)
| style="background: #6F7C8F; color: black;" | -4 (25)
| style="background: #777D87; color: black;" | -2 (28)
| style="background: #8F826F; color: black;" | 4 (39)
| style="background: #8F826F; color: black;" | 4 (40)
| style="background: #777D87; color: black;" | -2 (28)
| style="background: #5F7A9F; color: black;" | -9 (16)
| style="background: #3775C7; color: black;" | -21 (-5)
| style="background: #1771E7; color: black;" | -30 (-22)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
|-
! colspan= "15" style="background: #446688; color: white;" | Precipitation and Sunshine Hours
|-
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" height="16" | Month
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jan
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Feb
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Mar
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Apr
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | May
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jun
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jul
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Aug
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Sep
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Oct
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Nov
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Dec
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | <!-- Leave this blank! -->
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Total
|-
! height="16;" |Total mm (in)
| style="background: #6C9BB5; color: black;" | 61 (2.4)
| style="background: #789EB5; color: black;" | 51 (2.0)
| style="background: #689AB5; color: black;" | 66 (2.6)
| style="background: #689AB5; color: black;" | 70 (2.7)
| style="background: #6499B5; color: black;" | 73 (2.9)
| style="background: #6499B5; color: black;" | 72 (2.8)
| style="background: #689AB5; color: black;" | 68 (2.7)
| style="background: #6098B5; color: black;" | 80 (3.1)
| style="background: #5C97B5; color: black;" | 83 (3.3)
| style="background: #6C9BB5; color: black;" | 65 (2.6)
| style="background: #6499B5; color: black;" | 76 (3.0)
| style="background: #6499B5; color: black;" | 71 (2.8)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #3086B5; color: black;" | 834 (32.8)
|-
! height="16;" |Rainfall mm (in)
| style="background: #84A1B5; color: black;" | 29 (1.2)
| style="background: #84A1B5; color: black;" | 26 (1.0)
| style="background: #7C9FB5; color: black;" | 42 (1.7)
| style="background: #6C9BB5; color: black;" | 63 (2.5)
| style="background: #6499B5; color: black;" | 73 (2.9)
| style="background: #6499B5; color: black;" | 72 (2.8)
| style="background: #689AB5; color: black;" | 68 (2.7)
| style="background: #6098B5; color: black;" | 80 (3.1)
| style="background: #5C97B5; color: black;" | 83 (3.3)
| style="background: #6C9BB5; color: black;" | 65 (2.6)
| style="background: #689AB5; color: black;" | 67 (2.7)
| style="background: #7C9FB5; color: black;" | 42 (1.7)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #4090B5; color: black;" | 710 (27.9)
|-
! height="16;" |Snowfall cm (in)
| style="background: #B5B5B5; color: black;" | 38 (15.0)
| style="background: #A5A5A5; color: black;" | 27 (10.5)
| style="background: #A3A3A3; color: black;" | 22 (8.7)
| style="background: #8A8A8A; color: black;" | 6 (2.4)
| style="background: #838383; color: black;" | 0(0)
| style="background: #838383; color: black;" | 0(0)
| style="background: #838383; color: black;" | 0(0)
| style="background: #838383; color: black;" | 0(0)
| style="background: #838383; color: black;" | 0(0)
| style="background: #838383; color: black;" | 0.1 (0.04)
| style="background: #8E8E8E; color: black;" | 8 (3.2)
| style="background: #AAAAAA; color: black;" | 32 (12.7)
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #BABABA; color: black;" | 133 (52)
|-
! height="16;" |Sunshine hours
| style="background: #E2CF70; color: black;" | 88
| style="background: #E4CF68; color: black;" | 110
| style="background: #E9D154; color: black;" | 156
| style="background: #ECD148; color: black;" | 185
| style="background: #F1D238; color: black;" | 229
| style="background: #F4D32C; color: black;" | 256
| style="background: #F5D328; color: black;" | 276
| style="background: #F1D238; color: black;" | 241
| style="background: #ECD148; color: black;" | 188
| style="background: #E8D058; color: black;" | 148
| style="background: #E2CF70; color: black;" | 84
| style="background: #E1CF74; color: black;" | 75
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #F1D238; color: black;" | 2038
|-
! colspan= "15" style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Data recorded at [[The Annex]] for [http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALL&StationName=toronto&SearchType=BeginsWith&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=5051& Environment Canada]. Average data recorded over a 30 year span from 1971 to 2000.
|}
== Cityscape ==
[[Image:Panorama-from-panorama.jpg|thumb|750px|center|<center>Panoramic view of downtown Toronto from [[Panorama Lounge]] in the [[Manulife Centre]]. [[Lake Ontario]] can be seen in the distance.</center>]]
=== Architecture ===
{{main|Architecture in Toronto}}
{{see also|List of tallest buildings in Toronto|Doors Open Toronto|List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto}}
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:250px-Flatiron2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Gooderham Building]] (aka Flatiron Building).]] -->
[[Image:Rogers Center-restitched.jpg|right|thumb|The [[CN Tower]] viewed from [[Rogers Centre]]]]
According to some prominent Toronto residents, and [[architect]]s who have designed buildings in the city, such as [[Will Alsop]], 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."<ref>[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:KyN-_yKcWf4J:where.ca/Toronto/article_feature~listing_id~95.htm+Toronto+is+a+new,+brash,+rag-tag&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ca Toronto Architecture]</ref> Toronto buildings vary in design and age with some structures dating back to the mid-1800s, while other prominent buildings were just newly built in the 2000s.
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>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070913/cn_tower_070913/20070913?hub=SciTech Dubai building surpasses CN Tower in height], [[CTV Television Network]] (2007). Retrieved on 2007-[[September 13|09-13]].</ref> freestanding structure, and the tallest tower in the western hemisphere surpassing [[Chicago]]'s [[Sears Tower]] by 110 metres in height. It is 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 [[Carbon dioxide|CO<sub>2</sub>]] 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.
[[Image:Royal Ontario Museum.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Royal Ontario Museum]]. Note the contrast between the historic, brown stone part of the building and the newer, sharp-edged steel and glass addition.]]
In contrast, Toronto has also begun to experience an architectural overhaul within the past five years. The [[Royal Ontario Museum]], the [[Gardiner Museum]], the [[Art Gallery of Ontario]], and the [[Ontario College of Art and Design]] are just some of the many public art buildings that have undergone massive renovations.<ref>[http://www.livewithculture.ca/livewithculture_ca/about/cultural_renaissance_projects/toronto_s_cultural_renaissance Toronto’s Cultural Renaissance], City of Toronto (2005). Retrieved on 2007-[[November 9|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 (Toronto)|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 ===
{{seealso|List of neighbourhoods in Toronto}}
The many residential communities of Toronto express a character distinct from that of the skyscrapers in the commercial core. [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian]]-era residential buildings can be found in enclaves such as [[Rosedale, Toronto|Rosedale]], [[Forest Hill, Toronto|Forest Hill]], [[Cabbagetown, Toronto|Cabbagetown]], [[the Annex]], [[the Bridle Path]] and [[Moore Park, Toronto|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)|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 house|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, Ontario|East York]]''', '''[[Etobicoke, Ontario|Etobicoke]]''', '''[[North York, Ontario|North York]]''', '''[[Old Toronto, Ontario|Old Toronto]]''', '''[[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]]''', and '''[[York, Ontario|York]]'''.
[[Image:Toronto Row Houses.JPG|left|thumb|[[Row houses]] in urban Toronto]]
[[Image:Toronto central business district.jpg|thumb|right|View of skyscrapers in the [[Financial District, Toronto|Financial District]] from the [[CN Tower]]]]
==== Old Toronto ====
The [[Old Toronto, Ontario|Old City of Toronto]] covers the area generally known as [[Downtown Toronto|Downtown]]. It is the historic core of Toronto and remains the most densely-populated part of the city. The [[Financial District, Toronto|Financial District]] 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, Toronto|Yorkville]], [[Rosedale, Toronto|Rosedale]], [[The Annex]], [[Forest Hill, Toronto|Forest Hill]], [[Lawrence Park, Toronto|Lawrence Park]], [[Lytton Park]], [[Moore Park, Toronto|Moore Park]], and [[Casa Loma - Neighbourhood|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-rise]]s, such as [[St. James Town]], [[Regent Park]], [[Moss Park]], [[Alexandra Park, Toronto|Alexandra Park]] and [[Parkdale, Toronto|Parkdale]]. East and west of Downtown, neighbourhoods such as [[Kensington Market]], [[Leslieville]], [[Cabbagetown]] and [[Riverdale, Toronto|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. {{Fact|date=March 2008}} Other neighbourhoods in the central city retain an ethnic identity, including two [[Chinatown, Toronto|Chinatowns]], the popular [[Greektown, Toronto|Greektown]] area, the trendy [[Little Italy, Toronto|Little Italy]], [[Portugal Village, Toronto|Portugal Village]], and [[Gerrard Street (Toronto)|Little India]] along with others.
==== Inner suburbs ====
The inner suburbs are contained within the former municipalities of [[York, Ontario|York]] and [[East York, Ontario|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, Toronto|Weston]], and [[Oakwood-Vaughan, Toronto|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, Ontario|Etobicoke]], [[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]] and [[North York, Ontario|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, Ontario|Mimico]], [[Newtonbrook, Ontario|Newtonbrook]] and [[West Hill, Ontario|West Hill]]. Suburban development grew quickly after the second war to include such upscale neighbourhoods as the [[Bridle Path, Toronto|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, Ontario|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-[[May 2|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 ===
Historically, as Toronto sprawled out, industrial areas were set up on the outskirts. Over time, they would become part of the inner city as more land was developed further out. This trend would repeat itself, and continues to this day, as the largest factories and warehouses have moved to [[Regional Municipality of Peel|Peel]] and [[Regional Municipality of York|York]] Regions, and the vast majority of industrial areas are in the more suburban parts of the city; Etobicoke (particularly around the [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|airport]]), North York, and Scarborough. Thus, many of Toronto's [[Brownfield land|former industrial sites]] have been redeveloped, most notably the [[Toronto waterfront]], and [[Liberty Village]]. One of Toronto's most unusual neighbourhoods, the [[Distillery District]] contains the largest and best-preserved collection of [[Victorian architecture|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. Similar areas that still retain their character, but are now largely residential are the [[Fashion District, Toronto|Fashion District]], [[Corktown, Toronto|Corktown]], and parts of [[Riverdale, Toronto|South Riverdale]] and [[Leslieville]]. Toronto still has some active older industrial areas, such as the [[Brockton Village]], and [[New Toronto]] areas. In the west end of Old Toronto and York, the [[Weston, Toronto|Weston]]/[[Mount Dennis]] and [[The Junction|Junction]] areas have a sense of grit to them, as they still contain factories, but are mostly residential.
[[Image:Dundas Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Yonge-Dundas Square]], one of the busiest squares in the city]]
[[Image:Hto Park Urban Beach 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[HTO Park]], Toronto's first artificial urban beach]]
=== Public spaces ===
{{see also|List of Toronto parks}}
Toronto has a diverse array of public spaces, from city squares to public parks overlooking [[Toronto ravine system|ravines]]. There is even a group called the [[Toronto Public Space Committee]], formed to protect the city's public spaces. [[Nathan Phillips Square]] is the city's main square in downtown, and forms the entrance to [[Toronto City Hall|City Hall]]. [[Yonge-Dundas Square]], a newer square not far from City Hall, has also gained attention in recent years as one of the busiest gathering spots in the city. Other squares include [[Harbourfront Centre, Toronto|Harbourfront Square]], on the revitalized [[Toronto waterfront]], and the civic squares at the former city halls of the defunct Metropolitan Toronto, most notably [[Mel Lastman Square]] in North York.
There are many large downtown parks; [[Grange Park]], [[Moss Park]], [[Allan Gardens]], [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], [[Riverdale Park]], [[Trinity Bellwoods Park]], and [[Christie Pits]]. The [[Toronto Islands]] have several acres of park space, accessible from downtown by ferry. Large parks in the outer areas include [[High Park]], [[Humber Bay Park]], [[Centennial Park]], [[Downsview Park]], [[Guild Inn|Guildwood Park]], and [[Rouge Park]].
====Current projects====
[[Nathan Phillips Square]] is currently 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>{{cite web
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/newsrel060206.htm
|title = West 8 Wins Waterfront Corp. Design Competition
|work = City of Toronto: News releases
|date = [[2006-06-02]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.dtah.com/waterfront/
|title = The Multiple Waterfront
|author = du Toit Allsopp Hiller
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
}}</ref>
In 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 ==
[[Image:Victoria_Day_Toronto.jpg|thumb|220px|right|[[Victoria Day]] fireworks]]
[[Image:Roy Thomson Hall.JPG|left|thumb|[[Roy Thomson Hall]], home of the [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]]]]
{{main|Culture in Toronto}}
{{seealso|Recreation in Toronto|Annual events in Toronto}}
<!--Please add content to this "main" article, not here! Thank you.-->
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>[http://www.ontarioplace.com/en/Cinesphere/index.html The World's First Permanent IMAX Theatre] Retrieved on 2007-[[May 2|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>[http://www.caribana.com Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival 2006], WORD Magazine (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 11|12-11]].</ref> Primarily based on the [[Trinidad and Tobago Carnival]], the first Caribana took place in 1967 when the city's [[Caribbean]] community celebrated [[Canada's Centennial]] year. Forty 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 generates about $300 million in revenue.
[[Pride Week (Toronto)|Pride Week]] in Toronto takes place in mid-June, and is one of the largest [[LGBT]] festivals in the world. One of the largest events in the city, it attracts more than one million people from around the world. Toronto is a major centre for gay and lesbian culture and entertainment, and the [[gay village]] is located in the [[Church and Wellesley]] area of Downtown.
[[Image:Toronto-eaton-centre.jpg|left|thumb|[[Toronto Eaton Centre]], the largest [[shopping mall]] in the City of Toronto]]
=== Tourism ===
{{main|Attractions in Toronto}} ''See also: [[:Category:Buildings and structures in Toronto|Buildings and structures in Toronto]]''
Toronto is currently ranked 14th in the world with over 4 million tourist arrivals a year.<ref>[http://www.euromonitor.com/Top_150_City_Destinations_London_Leads_the_Way], (2007)</ref> Toronto's most prominent landmark is the [[CN Tower]], which stood as the tallest free-standing land structure in the world at 553 metres (1,815 ft). To the surprise of its [[WZMH Architects|creators]], the tower held the world record for over 30 years.<ref name="Emporis">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101602
|first=Edward
|last=Chamberlain
|title=CN Tower Marks 30 Years At The Top
|publisher=[[Emporis|Emporis Buildings]]
|date=[[2006-12-08]]
}}</ref>
The [[Royal Ontario Museum]] (ROM) is a major museum for [[Culture by region|world culture]] and [[natural history]]. The [[Toronto Zoo]], one of the largest in the world,<ref name="aboutzoo">{{cite web|url=http://www.torontozoo.com/AboutTheZoo/|title=About the Toronto Zoo|publisher=[[Toronto Zoo]]|accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref><ref name="zoo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20030507.TRCOVE7/TPStory/Travel|title=Uncaging the zoo|last=Buhasz|first=Laszlo|publisher=[[Globe and Mail]]|date=[[2003-05-07]]|accessdate=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 art]]work. 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 North America, with an average attendance of 1.25 million.<ref>[http://www.theex.com/site.php?menu=06:01 CNE - About Us], [[Canadian National Exhibition]] (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 29|12-29]].</ref>
The [[Yorkville, Toronto|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 52 million visitors annually.<ref>[http://www.ydsquare.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=27 Who uses the square (Demographics)], City of Toronto (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.</ref>
[[Greektown, Toronto|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>[http://www.tasteofthedanforth.com/6history.html 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 [[Henry Pellatt|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|Professional sport in Toronto|Amateur sport in Toronto|List of sports teams in Toronto}}
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:4cups67.jpg|right|thumb|1967 [[Stanley Cup]] celebrations.]] -->
[[Image:Hockey Hall of Fame.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Hockey Hall of Fame]], housed in a former bank erected in 1885, is located at the intersection of Front Street and Yonge Street in Downtown Toronto.]]
Toronto is home to the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], one of the [[National Hockey League]]'s [[Original Six]] clubs. The city has also served as home to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] since 1958. The city has a rich history of hockey championships. Along with Toronto's 14 [[Stanley Cup]] titles, The [[Toronto Marlboros]] and [[St. Michael's College School]] based [[Ontario Hockey League]] teams combined have won a record 12 [[Memorial Cup]] titles. The [[Toronto Marlies]] of the [[American Hockey League]] also play in Toronto at [[Ricoh Coliseum]] and are the farm team for the Maple Leafs. They are one of only two teams who are in the same market as their NHL affiliate (the other is the Philadelphia Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers).
Toronto is currently home to the only [[National Basketball Association]] franchise outside the [[United States]]. The [[Toronto Raptors]] entered the league in 1995, and earned their first division title in the 2006-2007 season.
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, as well as sharing a [[National Football League]] franchise with the city of [[Buffalo, New York]]. The major sports complexes include the [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Rogers Centre]] (formerly known as SkyDome), [[Ricoh Coliseum]] and [[BMO Field]].
The city is represented in the [[Canadian Football League]] by the [[Toronto Argonauts]] who have won 15 [[Grey Cup]] titles. Toronto played host to the [[95th Grey Cup]] in 2007, the first held in the city since 1992. The city is also home to [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Toronto Blue Jays]], who have won two [[World Series]] titles and is currently the only major league baseball team in Canada. Both teams play their home games at the [[Rogers Centre]], in the downtown core.
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. In addition, the city has hosted several [[National Football League]] exhibition games; [[Edward Samuel Rogers|Ted Rogers]] has leased the [[Buffalo Bills]] from [[Ralph Wilson]] for the purposes of having the Bills play eight home games in the city between 2008 and 2012.
In addition to team sports, the city annually hosted [[Champ Car]]'s [[Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto]] (formerly known as Molson Indy Toronto) at [[Exhibition Place]], from 1986 to 2007. Both [[thoroughbred]] and [[Standardbred horse|standardbred]] [[horseracing]] are conducted at [[Woodbine Race Track]] in [[Rexdale]].
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 Summer Olympics|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 Summer Olympics|2020]] or [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/News/article/234164 Third time lucky for T.O. Games bid?, TheStar.com, 2007]</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ <!-- initially sorted by date established -->
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | League
! scope="col" | Sport
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
! scope="col" | Championships
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Argonauts]]
| [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]
| [[Canadian football|Football]]
| [[Rogers Centre]]
| 1873 <br /> <small></small>
| 15</td>
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Air Canada Centre]]
| 1917
| 13
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Maple Leafs (baseball)|Toronto Maple Leafs]]
| [[Intercounty Baseball League|IBL]]
| [[Baseball]]
| [[Christie Pits]]
| 1969
| 8
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Blue Jays]]
| [[Major League Baseball|MLB]]
| [[Baseball]]
| [[Rogers Centre]]
| 1977
| 2
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Raptors]]
| [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
| [[Basketball]]
| [[Air Canada Centre]]
| 1995
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Rock]]
| [[National Lacrosse League|NLL]]
| [[Box lacrosse]]
| [[Air Canada Centre]]
| 1998
| 5
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Xtreme]]
| [[Rugby Canada Super League|RCSL]]
| [[Rugby union]]
| [[Fletcher's Fields]]
| 1999
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto Marlies]]
| [[American Hockey League|AHL]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Ricoh Coliseum]]
| 2005
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Toronto FC]]
| [[Major League Soccer|MLS]]
| [[Soccer]]
| [[BMO Field]]
| 2007
| 0
|-
|}
[[Image:CentreFieldEastFinalsm.jpg|center|thumb|550px|<center>Panoramic view of [[Rogers Centre]] during an Argonauts game</center>]]
=== Media ===
[[Image:CBC Centre.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]]]]
{{seealso|List of media outlets in Toronto}}
Toronto is Canada's largest media market,<ref>[http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com/mjsc_press.asp Media Job Search Canada] Media Job Search Canada (2003). Retrieved on 2007-[[May 8|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 Television Network|CTV]], and the flagship stations of [[Citytv]] and [[Global Television Network|Global]]. Canada's premier sports television networks are also based in Toronto, including [[The Sports Network]] (TSN), [[Rogers Sportsnet]] and [[The Score (TV channel)|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 ==
[[Image:TD Centre View from Yonge and King.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Toronto-Dominion Centre|Toronto-Dominion (TD) Centre]] in the heart of [[downtown]]]]
{{main|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]], in the [[Financial District, Toronto|Financial District]]. The [[Toronto Stock Exchange]] is the world's [[List of stock exchanges|seventh-largest]] stock exchange by market capitalization.<ref>[http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/bcfs_400.asp Market Statistics] Toronto Stock Exchange (2006). Retrieved on 2007-[[May 11|05-11]].</ref> All of the [[Big Five banks]] of Canada are headquartered in Toronto.
The city is an important centre for the [[mass media|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 ==
<!-- Removed visible minorities pie chart. Please see talk page "Visible minorities chart" before even thinking about "restoring" it, because it'll get deleted again the second I see it, until it's changed -->
{| cellpadding="1" style="float: right; margin: 0em 1em 1em 0em; border:1px #bbbbbb solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- align="center" bgcolor=white
!colspan=4|Toronto population by year, within present boundaries
|-
! Year
! City
! [[Census Metropolitan Area|CMA]]
! [[Greater Toronto Area|GTA]]
|-
|1861
|65,085
|193,844<ref name="historyfaq">{{cite web
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/archives/toronto_history_faqs.htm#population
|title = Toronto history FAQs: What was the population of Toronto in various years?
|work = City of Toronto Archives
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
}}</ref>
|–
|-
|1901
|238,080
|440,000<ref name="historyfaq" />
|–
|-
|1951
|1,117,470
|1,262,000<ref name="historyfaq" />
|–
|-
|1971
|2,089,728
|2,628,045<ref>{{cite web
|title = Population Tables for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = 1971
|url = http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/datalib/classes/ggr124/ggr124wksht.htm }}</ref>
|–
|-
|1976
|2,124,295
|2,803,101<ref>{{cite web
|title = Population Tables for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = 1976
|url = http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/datalib/classes/ggr124/ggr124wksht.htm }}</ref>
|–
|-
|1981
|2,137,380
|2,998,947<ref>{{cite web
|title = Population Tables for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = 1981
|url = http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/datalib/classes/ggr124/ggr124wksht.htm }}</ref>
|–
|-
|1986
|2,192,721
|3,733,085<ref>{{cite web
|title = 1986 Community Profile for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|publisher = City of Toronto
|date = 2003
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/pda/profile01.pdf
|format = pdf
|doi =
|accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref>
|–
|-
|1991
|2,275,771<ref>{{cite web
|title = 1991 Community Profile for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|publisher = City of Toronto
|date = 2003
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf/profile_tor_bulletin.pdf
|format = pdf
|doi =
|accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref>
|3,893,933<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.statcan.ca/english/census96/table2.htm
|title = Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Metropolitan Areas in Decreasing Order of 1996 Population, 1991 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data
|publisher = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = [[2001-04-17]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
}}</ref>
|4,235,756<ref>{{cite web
|title = 1991 Community Profile for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|publisher = City of Toronto
|date = 2003
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf/profile_tor_bulletin.pdf
|format = pdf
|doi =
|accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref>
|-
|1996
|2,385,421<ref name="2001censuspop">{{cite web
|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-C.cfm?CMA=535
|title = Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Census Metropolitan Areas, Census Agglomerations and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data
|publisher = [[Statistics Canada]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
}}</ref>
|4,263,759<ref name="2001censuspop" />
|4,628,883<ref>{{cite web
|title = 1996 Community Profile for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|publisher = City of Toronto
|date = 2003
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf/profile_tor_bulletin.pdf
|format = pdf
|doi =
|accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref>
|-
|2001
|2,481,494<ref name="2006censuspop" />
|4,682,897<ref name="2006censuspop" />
|5,081,826<ref>{{cite web
|title = 2001 Community Profile for Toronto
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|publisher = City of Toronto
|date = 2001
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf/profile_tor_bulletin.pdf
|format = pdf
|doi =
|accessdate = 2007-05-08 }} </ref>
|-
|2006
|2,503,281<ref name="2006censuspop" />
|5,113,149<ref name="2006censuspop" />
|5,555,912<ref>{{cite web
|title =2006 Community Profile for Toronto, Ontario
|publisher = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = [[March 17]], [[2007]].
|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=702&PR=35&SR=1&S=3&O=D
|accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref>
|}
{{main|Demographics of Toronto}}
The last complete [[Canada 2006 Census|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, and 1% (21,787 residents) between 2001 and 2006. 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">[http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/282694 A city of unmatched diversity], The Toronto Star, December 5, 2007</ref>
As of 2006, 46.9% of the residents of the city proper belong to a [[visible minority]] group,<ref name=ethnicgroups/> and visible minorities are projected to comprise a majority in Toronto by 2017.<ref name=minorityprojection>[http://www.statcan.ca:80/Daily/English/050322/d050322b.htm Canada's visible minority population in 2017], Statistics Canada (2005). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|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 America]]ns, no single nationality or culture dominates Toronto's immigrant population, placing it among the most diverse cities in the world.<ref name="2006diversity"/>
In 2006, people of [[European ethnic groups|European ethnicities]] formed the largest cluster of ethnic groups in Toronto, 53.1%,<ref name=ethnicgroups>{{cite web
|title = 2006 Community Profile for Toronto: Ethnicities
|work = [[Statistics Canada]]
|publisher = [[Statistics Canada]]
|date = 2006
|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=
|accessdate = 2008-07-15 }}</ref> mostly of [[English people|English]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Italian people|Italian]], and [[French people|French]] origins, while the five largest visible minority groups in Toronto are [[Indo-Canadian|South Asian]]/[[Indo-Caribbean]] (12.0%), [[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] (11.4%), [[Black Canadians|Black]]/[[Afro-Caribbean]] (8.4%), [[Canadians of Filipino descent|Filipino]] (4.1%) and [[Latin American Canadian|Latin American]] (2.6%).<ref name=ethnicgroups/> This diversity is reflected in Toronto's ethnic neighbourhoods which include [[Little Italy, Toronto|Little Italy]], [[The Junction]], [[Eglinton West|Little Jamaica]], [[Gerrard Street East|Little India]], [[Chinatown, Toronto|Chinatown]], [[Koreatown, Toronto|Koreatown]], [[Greektown, Toronto|Greektown]], [[Portugal Village, Toronto|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 [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], followed by [[Protestant]] at 21.1%, [[Christian Orthodox]] at 4.8%, [[Coptic Orthodox]] at 0.2%,<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=55822&APATH=3&METH=1&PTYPE=55440&THEME=56&FOCUS=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&FL=0&RL=0&FREE=0&GID=431591 2001 Census] [http://www.canadianarchitect.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=150138&story_id=12282110017&issue=05012004&PC=&RType Article on Copts in Toronto (4,000 Copts out of 2,500,000 Torontonians)]</ref> 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 Religion]]s (0.2%). 18.7% of the population professes [[Nontheism|no faith]].<ref name=religion>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Community Highlights for Toronto], Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|12-05]].</ref>
While [[English language|English]] is the predominant language spoken by Torontonians, many other languages have considerable numbers of local speakers, including [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], and [[Hindi]].<ref name=lan3>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=55539&METH=1&APATH=3&PTYPE=55440&THEME=41&FREE=0&AID=0&FOCUS=0&GID=431591&MEDIA=PRINT&SC=1&CPP=99&SR=1&RPP=9999&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0 Various Languages Spoken - Toronto] [[Census metropolitan area|CMA]], Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2007-[[January 2|01-02]].</ref> Chinese and Italian are the second and third most widely spoken language at work.<ref name=lan>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/LanguageWork/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CMA&View=2&Table=1&Code=535&Sort=2&B1=&B2=1 Language used at work by mother tongue in Toronto] [[Census metropolitan area|CMA]], Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|12-05]].</ref><ref name=lang2>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/LanguageWork/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CSD&View=4&Code=3520005&Table=1&StartRec=1&Sort=5&B1=Toronto&B2=1 Language used at work by mother tongue (City of Toronto)], Statistics Canada (2001). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|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">{{cite web | title =City of Toronto: Emergency Services - 9-1-1 = EMERGENCY in any language | publisher = City of Toronto | url =http://www.toronto.ca/emerg/911.htm | accessdate = 2007-01-05}}</ref>
== Government ==
[[Image:Toronto City Hall at night.jpg|left|thumb|[[Toronto City Hall]] viewed from [[Nathan Phillips Square]]]]
{{main|Municipal government of Toronto}}
{{further|[[Politics of Toronto]] and [[Public services in Toronto]]}}
Toronto is a [[single-tier municipality]] governed by a [[Mayor-council government|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 [[Head of government|chief executive]] of the city. The [[Toronto City Council]] is a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislative body, comprising 44 councillors representing geographical [[Ward (politics)|wards]] throughout the city. The mayor and members of the city council serve four-year terms without [[term limit]]s. (Prior to the [[Toronto municipal election, 2006|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 [[Chairman|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">{{cite web
|url = http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2006/06/c4652.html
|title = City Council names Speaker and members to Standing Committees, Agencies, Boards and Commissions
|publisher = [[CNW Group]]
|date = [[2006-12-06]]
|accessdate = 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 table]]s 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>{{cite web
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/committees/directory.htm
|title = Directory of committees, task forces and round tables
|publisher = City of Toronto
|accessdate = 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 [[Canadian dollar|C$]]7.6 billion in 2006.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/budget2006/index.htm
|title = 2006 City Budget
|publisher = City of Toronto
|year = 2006
|accessdate = 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>{{cite web
|url = http://www.toronto.ca/budget2006/pdf/2006operatingbackgrounder_revised.pdf
|title = 2006 Operating Budget
|publisher = City of Toronto
|year = 2006
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
}}</ref>
==Crime==
{{main|Crime in Toronto}}
{{see also|Crime in Canada|Gun politics in Canada}}
The low [[crime statistics|crime rate]] in Toronto has resulted in the city having a reputation as one of the safest major cities in North America.<ref name=crime1/><ref name=crime2/> In 1999, the [[homicide]] rate for Toronto was 1.9 per 100,000 people,<ref name=guncontrol>http://www.guncontrol.ca/Content/Statsrevjan102003FINAL.PDF</ref> compared to [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] (34.5), [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] (5.5) [[New York City]] (9.1), [[Vancouver]] (2.8), and [[Washington, D.C.]] (45.5). For [[robbery]] rates, Toronto also ranks low, with 115.1 robberies per 100,000, compared to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] (583.7), [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] (397.9), [[Montreal]] (193.9), New York City (490.6), and Washington, D.C. (670.6). Toronto has a comparable rate of [[motor vehicle theft|car theft]] to various U.S. cities, although it is not among the highest in Canada.<ref name=crime/> The overall crime rate in general was an average of 48 incidents per 100,000, compared to [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]] (326), Los Angeles (283), New York City (225), and Vancouver (239). However, many in the city, especially the local media, have concerns regarding [[gun violence]], [[gang]]s, and [[racial profiling]] by [[Toronto Police Service|Toronto Police]] against minorities.<ref name=crime1>[http://www.torontoisms.com/guide/crime.htm Torontoisms - Crime and Safety<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Toronto recorded its largest number of homicides in 1991 with 89; a rate of 3.9 per 100,000.<ref name=guncontrol/><ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071227/double_murder_071227?s_name=&no_ads= CTV.ca | Double murder occurred on Christmas Day: police<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2005, Toronto media coined the term "Year of the Gun", because the number of gun-related homicides reached 52 out of 80 murders in total; almost double the 27 gun deaths recorded the previous year.<ref name=crime2>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071226/toronto_murderrate_071226/20071226?hub=TopStories CTV.ca | Despite rise, police say T.O. murder rate 'low'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20051227/homicide_year_051227/20051227?hub=TorontoHome CTV Toronto - Toronto sets a new record for gun-related carnage - CTV News, Shows and Sports - Canadian Television<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The total number of homicides dropped to 69 in 2006. During the first half of 2006, there were 137 (13 fatal) shooting incidents in the city, down marginally from 164 (19 fatal) in the first half of 2005. Additionally, in 2006, nearly 2,000 people in Toronto were victims of a violent gun-related crime, about one-quarter of the national total.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?k=19079&id=4b651ab1-e729-44a9-86d3-79a1ddc84689 Gun crime in Metro Vancouver highest per capita in Canada]</ref> 84 murders were committed in 2007, nearly eclipsing the record of 89, and roughly half of them involved guns. Gang-related incidents have also been on the rise; between the years of 1997 and 2005, over 300 gang-related murders have occurred. As a result, the Ontario government came up with an anti-gun strategy.<ref>[http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/news/2005/20051025-gunviolence-bg.asp Ministry of the Attorney General - Backgrounder<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== Education ==
[[Image:Old Vic in UofT.jpg|right|thumb|The main building of [[Victoria University in the University of Toronto|Victoria College]] in the [[University of Toronto]]]]
{{main|Education in Toronto}}
Toronto is home to a number of post-secondary academic institutions. The [[University of Toronto]], established in 1827, is the oldest university in Ontario and a leading public research institution. It is a worldwide leader in biomedical research and houses North America's third largest library system, after that of [[Harvard University]] and [[Yale University]]. [[York University]], located in the [[North York, Ontario|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|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 (Canada)|Royal Conservatory of Music]], which includes [[The Glenn Gould School]], is a noted school of music located 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 District School Board]] (TDSB) operates 558 public schools. Of these, 451 are elementary and 102 are secondary (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 school]]s, 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 [[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>"[http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/20069.htm Toronto Public Library contributes 63 millionth record]" [[OCLC]] (2006-[[February 3|02-03]]). Retrieved on 2007-07-08.</ref>
== Infrastructure ==
=== Health and medicine ===
[[Image:Hospital for Sick Children Atrium.jpg|thumb|right|Atrium of the [[Hospital for Sick Children]]]]
{{main|Health in Toronto}}
{{seealso|List of hospitals in Toronto|XVI International AIDS Conference, 2006}}
Toronto is home to at least 20 public hospitals, including the [[Hospital for Sick Children]], [[Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto|Mount Sinai Hospital]], [[Toronto St. Michael's 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>[http://www.torontodiscoverydistrict.ca/Page.asp?IdPage=5760&WebAddress=DiscoveryDistrict/ Toronto Discovery District FAQ], Toronto Discovery District (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|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 ''[[MaRS Discovery District|Medical and Related Sciences Centre (MaRS)]]'',<ref name=mars>[http://www.marsdd.com/ Medical and Related Sciences Centre], Medical and Related Sciences Centre (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|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>[http://www.mcmm.ca/site3.aspx McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine (MCMM)], McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine (2006). Retrieved on 2006-[[December 5|12-05]].</ref>
=== Transportation ===
[[Image:Union Station, Toronto.jpg|thumb|left|The main entrance of the [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] style [[Union Station (Toronto)|Union Station]] built in 1927]]
{{main|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 the [[Mexico City Metro]].<ref name=TTCstats>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1122072619227_40/?hub=CTVNewsAt11 Toronto transit chief says searches unlikely] (2005). Retrieved on 2007-[[February 3|02-03]].</ref> The TTC provides public transit within the City of Toronto. The backbone of its [[public transport]] network is the [[Toronto subway and RT|subway system]]. The TTC also operates an extensive network of [[Toronto buses and trolley buses|buses]] and [[Toronto streetcar system|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 airport code|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, Ontario|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 [[Municipal expressways in Toronto|expressways]] and [[Provincial highways in Ontario|highways]] that serve Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. In particular, [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]] bisects the city from west to east, bypassing the downtown core. It is one of the busiest highways in the world.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2002/08/06/c0057.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html
|title = Ontario government investing $401 million to upgrade Highway 401
|publisher = [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)|Ontario Ministry of Transportation]]
|date = [[2002-08-06]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
|quote = 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>{{cite web
|url = http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3459
|title = GTA Economy Dinged by Every Crash on the 401 - North America's Busiest Freeway
|author = Brian Gray
|publisher = ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', transcribed at Urban Planet
|date = [[2004-04-10]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-18
|quote = 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.
==Sister cities==
{{main|Sister cities of Toronto}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Partnership Cities
* [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] [[Chicago]], [[United States]]
* [[Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|25px]] [[Chongqing]], [[China]]
* [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], [[Germany]]
* [[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|25px]] [[Milan]], [[Italy]]
* [[Image:Flag of Brazil.svg|25px]] [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]]<ref>[http://www2.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/secretarias/relacoes_internacionais/ingles/descentralized_cooperation/sister_cities/0001 Prefeitura.Sp - Descentralized Cooperation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
{{col-2}}
;Friendship Cities
* [[Image:Flag of Vietnam.svg|25px]] [[Ho Chi Minh City]], [[Vietnam]]
* [[Image:Flag of Ukraine.svg|25px]] [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]
* [[Image:Flag of Ecuador.svg|25px]] [[Quito]], [[Ecuador]]
* [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|25px]] [[Sagamihara]], [[Japan]]
* [[Image:Flag of Poland.svg|25px]] [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]
{{col-end}}
== References ==
<!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php -->
{{reflist|2}}
== Further reading ==
{{sisterlinks|Toronto}}
<div class="references-small">
* {{cite book
|last = Fulford
|first = Robert
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|year = 1995
|title = Accidental city: the transformation of Toronto
|publisher = Macfarlane, Walter & Ross
|location = Toronto
|id = ISBN 0-921912-91-9; ISBN 1-55199-010-5 (paperback)
}}
* {{cite book
|last = Rayburn
|first = Alan
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|year = 2001
|title = Naming Canada: stories about Canadian place names
|publisher = University of Toronto Press
|location = Toronto
|id = 2nd ed. (ISBN 0-8020-8293-9)
}}
* {{cite book
|last = Phillips
|first = Robert
|authorlink =
|coauthors = Bram, Leon & Dickey, Norma
|year = 1971
|title = Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia
|publisher = Funk & Wagnalls Inc.
|location = New York
|id = Volume 23, ISBN 0-8343-0025-7
}}
* {{cite web
|last = Careless
|first = J.M.S.
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|year =
|url = http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008050
|title = Toronto
|format =
|work = [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]
|publisher = Historica Foundation of Canada
|accessdate = 2005-12-03
}}
* {{cite web
|last =
|first =
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|year = 2003
|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=
|title = Toronto
|format =
|work = Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles.
|publisher = [[Statistics Canada]] Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE.
|accessdate = 2005-12-03
}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.toronto.ca/economic_profile/index.htm|title=Toronto's Economic Profile|publisher=City of Toronto|accessdate=2006-05-30}}
* {{cite web
|last =
|first =
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|year = 2007
|title = Ultimate Inline Skating Guide to Toronto v1.5
|url = http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&output=nl&msid=105047441964785653381.0000011358da39f6cf7dd
|format = Google Earth
|work =
|publisher =
|accessdate = 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 [[landmark]]s, such as the [[Prince Edward Viaduct]] and the [[R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant]], and focusing on the lives of the immigrant workers.
</div>
== External links ==
* [http://www.toronto.ca Toronto.ca], The official City of Toronto Web site
* [http://Torontopedia.ca Torontopedia]
* [http://www.torontotourism.com/ Tourism Toronto], by the Toronto Convention & Visitors Association
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Toronto Wikitravel Toronto], travel guide at [[Wikitravel]]
* {{wikia|toronto|Toronto}}
{{Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way)
|North=[[Vaughan, Ontario|Vaughan]], [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|Richmond Hill]]
|West=[[Mississauga]]
|Center=Toronto
|East=[[Pickering, Ontario|Pickering]], [[Ajax, Ontario|Ajax]], [[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]], [[Oshawa]]
|South=[[Lake Ontario]]
|Northwest=[[Brampton, Ontario|Brampton]]
|Northeast=[[Markham, Ontario|Markham]]
|Southwest=[[Oakville, Ontario|Oakville]], [[Burlington, Ontario|Burlington]], [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
|Southeast=[[Lake Ontario]]
|image=Toronto Flag.svg
}}
{{Toronto}}
{{Toronto landmarks}}
{{TorontoMunicipalities}}
{{Toronto Neighbourhoods}}
{{Streets in Toronto}}
{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}
{{Canada capitals}}
{{Census metropolitan areas by size}}
{{World's most populated urban areas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toronto}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Toronto|*]]
[[Category:Cities on the Great Lakes]]
[[Category:Port cities in Canada]]
[[Category:Underground Railroad locations]]
[[Category:1834 establishments]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1793]]
[[Category:Former capitals of Canada]]
{{Link FA|es}}
{{Link FA|pt}}
<!--Other languages-->
[[af:Toronto]]
[[ang:Toronto]]
[[ar:تورونتو]]
[[frp:Toronto]]
[[bn:টরোন্টো]]
[[zh-min-nan:Toronto]]
[[be:Горад Таронта]]
[[br:Toronto]]
[[bg:Торонто]]
[[ca:Toronto]]
[[cs:Toronto]]
[[cy:Toronto]]
[[da:Toronto]]
[[de:Toronto]]
[[et:Toronto]]
[[el:Τορόντο]]
[[es:Toronto]]
[[eo:Toronto (Ontario)]]
[[eu:Toronto]]
[[fa:تورنتو]]
[[fo:Toronto]]
[[fr:Toronto]]
[[fy:Toronto]]
[[ga:Torontó]]
[[gv:Toronto]]
[[gl:Toronto]]
[[ko:토론토]]
[[hr:Toronto]]
[[io:Toronto]]
[[id:Toronto]]
[[ia:Toronto]]
[[is:Torontó]]
[[it:Toronto]]
[[he:טורונטו]]
[[jv:Toronto]]
[[ka:ტორონტო]]
[[kw:Toronto]]
[[la:Torontum]]
[[lv:Toronto]]
[[lt:Torontas]]
[[hu:Toronto]]
[[mk:Торонто]]
[[mr:टोरोंटो]]
[[ms:Toronto]]
[[nl:Toronto]]
[[ja:トロント]]
[[no:Toronto]]
[[nn:Toronto]]
[[pa:ਟਾਰਾਂਟੋ]]
[[pl:Toronto]]
[[pt:Toronto]]
[[ro:Toronto]]
[[ru:Торонто]]
[[se:Toronto]]
[[sq:Toronto]]
[[scn:Torontu]]
[[simple:Toronto, Ontario]]
[[sk:Toronto]]
[[sl:Toronto]]
[[sr:Торонто]]
[[sh:Toronto]]
[[fi:Toronto]]
[[sv:Toronto]]
[[tl:Toronto]]
[[ta:ரொறன்ரோ]]
[[th:โทรอนโต]]
[[vi:Toronto]]
[[tr:Toronto]]
[[uk:Торонто]]
[[ur:ٹورانٹو]]
[[vo:Toronto]]
[[yi:טאראנטא]]
[[zh-yue:多倫多]]
[[zh:多伦多]]