Where Is Toronto? In Canada!

As I’ve mentioned previously, Canada always gets the shaft. Take Toronto, for instance. It’s Canada’s largest city and the fourth largest in North America—behind Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles. Yet here I am answering the Where is Toronto question (which I’ll tackle from the angle of the city’s evolution).

Thankfully, I live just across a small lake from the metropolis, making me somewhat of an authority. Just beware that I’m used to writing about the Rust Belt—featuring these ultra-modern, highly successful locales makes me uncomfortable.

 

Early History

When you write enough about the northern part of North America, you start to see patterns.

Indigenous groups were screwed.

The French set up shop.

The British gave the French the boot.

The Americans gave the British the boot—oh wait, we’re talking about Canada. In that case, the British hung around, providing land to Loyalists fleeing what would become the US and slowly releasing their colonies into the wild over a couple hundred years.

And that’s the story of Toronto. Established as York by the British in 1793 (many years after the French retreated in the context of the Seven Years’ War), it was formally incorporated in 1834 (as Toronto). When Canada became a dominion within the British Empire in 1867 (think Canada Day), the city was named the capital of the province of Ontario.

All the while, an economy was forming…

 

How Toronto Grew

Toronto’s location on Lake Ontario made it an ideal distribution port, accepting American imports (such as coal) and bidding adieu to Canadian exports (such as timber).

When railway lines completed in the 19th century linked the city to the upper Great Lakes, commerce and industry really began to take off. Immigrant groups—the same ones who came to the US—were attracted to the employment opportunities that stemmed from the well-established trade routes.

World War II and a post-war economic boom attracted another wave of immigrants, ensuring a highly successful industrial era that was complemented by equivalent success in the financial and service sectors.

In the 1960s, doors were opened to the world at large, paving the way for an influx of newcomers from Asia, the results of which are visibly apparent in modern-day Toronto (see below).

And here’s the part where—as a Rust Belt fanatic—I’m used to writing about some sort of collapse followed by an anemic rebirth. In this case, things simply continued to rise, so we’ll jump straight to the 21st century.

 

Toronto Now

Modern Toronto is an international powerhouse. Here’s a flavor of what you can expect.

Population

The city of Toronto has a population of about 2.8 million, rising to 6.7 million when the Greater Toronto Area is accounted for. If the entire Golden Horseshoe (the western end of Lake Ontario) is included, the number starts to approach 10 million.

With regards to the city itself, its population is considered one of the most multicultural in the world, consisting of over 200 ethnic groups that speak over 160 languages and contribute to a delectable culinary potpourri. Fittingly, the city motto is Diversity Our Strength.

Economy

Toronto has the 20th-largest nominal GDP of any metropolitan area in the world. With an economy that is just as diverse as its population, the headquarters of Canada’s five largest banks are in the region, now considered North America’s third largest tech hub after Silicon Valley and New York City.

All this activity translates into what is sometimes labeled as North America’s most internationally connected airport, whose code of YYZ inspired a great track of the same name by the band Rush (see below).

As a side note, Torontonians may want to give a shout out to the Parti Québécois, whose threats of an independent Québec probably contributed to cold feet on the part of investors. Funds that might have otherwise gone to Montreal (Québec’s largest city and the second largest in Canada) instead went to Toronto, sealing its fate as the heartbeat of a nation.

Culture

Museums and shopping opportunities are obviously in abundant supply. Also present in Toronto is Canada’s television industry, taking advantage of the iconic CN Tower, a communications (and observation) tower that was once the tallest free-standing structure in the world.

The film industry is also a big part of the scene, earning Toronto the nickname Hollywood North (along with Vancouver) and the right to host one of the world’s most prominent film festivals (the Toronto International Film Festival).

Sports

Toronto has teams in the five major sports leagues. For reference, those are the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Soccer (MLS), and…the Canadian Football League (CFL). The National Football League (NFL) remains a strictly American phenomenon.

Traffic

Toronto has occasionally been flagged as being the worst city for commuters in North America, meaning the quick trip to Niagara Falls and Buffalo might not end up being that quick.

Weather

It gets cold in Toronto during the winter. But don’t worry, there’s an underground mall—as in the largest underground shopping complex in the world.

Reality

If you’re one of those people who romanticizes Canada, a great way to avoid that trap is to take a trip 40 miles southwest to Hamilton, Ontario, and have a look around. It’s also worth noting that while Toronto is considered one of the safest major cities in North America, its competition in that regard is not particularly stiff.

 

A Few Songs

Thanks to its large population, culture of ingenuity, and chilly weather, Toronto has birthed some phenomenal musical acts over the past several decades. Here are three songs you should know so you’re not left out of the conversation.

“Working Man” by Rush

Yeah, I could have gone with “Tom Sawyer”, but this song is awesome.

 

“Old Man” by Neil Young

Young, now an old man himself, still gives listeners the chills with this one.

 

“God’s Plan” by Drake

God’s plan for Drake was for him to make mediocre music and sit courtside at NBA games.

 

So where is Toronto? Somewhere in Canada. Near New York.