City of Toronto
Toronto is the best of all worlds. The city has, at its very core, exceptional diversity: nearly half of Toronto’s 2.48 million residents were born outside Canada. Our country’s living mosaic continues to draw the best and the brightest, who come here seeking world-class business, culture and education. They find it, too, in the Fortune 500 company headquarters along Bay Street; in the research centres throughout the city; in the museums and galleries, literary, music and film festivals that take place throughout the year; and in the numerous educational institutions, led by U of T.
Celebrations
The city knows how to throw a party. Annual traditions include: the Toronto International Film Festival, which brings 240 hours of movies and parties to the city every September; Nuit Blanche, an all-night outdoors art exploration; Caribana, the largest North American festival of Caribbean music, dance and artisanship; North by Northeast (NXNE) music festival, a showcase of more than 500 indie bands over three nights; and Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, which infuses Yorkville with cool jazz on warm nights.
Transit
Toronto’s transit system (TTC) is fast, clean and reliable. Subways, buses, streetcars and light rail provide frequent and comprehensive access across the region. U of T also offers direct shuttle bus service between U of T Mississauga and the St. George campus. If you prefer self-propelled transportation, you’ll love this city of cyclists, with its bike lanes and ubiquitous ring-on-a-stick ‘parking’ spots.
Neighbourhoods
Toronto’s many eclectic neighbourhoods each boast a distinct personality, ripe for urban exploration. Some noteworthy neighbourhoods include: The Annex, a century-old neighbourhood beside the St. George campus that is known for its maple-lined, one-way streets and grand Victorian homes; international villages, Toronto’s cultural hotspots that feature Chinatown, Little Portugal, Little Italy and more; Queen Street West, a hip street where vintage clothing shops and vendors selling handmade jewelry coexist with stores offering the freshest from local indie designers; Yonge Street, the world’s second-longest continuous road that unites Toronto’s financial, shopping and theatre districts; and the Lakeshore and the Islands, a recreational getaway that features bike trails, beaches and boardwalks along Lake Ontario’s waterfront.
Sports
Toronto is home to six professional sports franchises: the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays, Argonauts, TFC, and Rock. One of Canada’s best sports cities, with the largest diversity of teams anywhere in Canada, there is always someone playing every night. Tickets for most teams can be purchased for as little as $11, including Toonie Tuesdays for the Blue Jays.
Music
Every year Toronto is a stop for all of the biggest bands in the world. No matter what genre of music and no matter how large or small the band, everyone stops in Toronto. From large, outdoor 20,000 person performances at the Molson Amphitheatre to small and intimate 500 person performances at Lees Palace, there is something for everyone. Home to several independent music labels, Toronto is a hotspot for up and coming music within Canada. Every night live music can be heard in hundreds of locations around the city.
