TORONTO Toronto is Canada’s business capital noted for its cleanliness and safety. It is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario and is the centre of Ontario’s commercial, financial, industrial and cultural life. It is the capital of the Province of Ontario. People have lived here since shortly after the last ice age, although the urban community only dates to 1793 when British colonial officials founded the 'Town of York' on what then was the Upper Canadian frontier. That backwoods village grew to become the 'City of Toronto' in 1834, and through its subsequent evolution and expansion Toronto has emerged as one of the most live able and multicultural urban places in the world today. Toronto is home to the world's tallest building (CN Tower at 553.33 m) and the world's longest street starts at the City's lakeshore (Yonge Street at 1,896 km). But Toronto is as far south as the French Riviera and more people live in Toronto than in Canada's four Atlantic provinces combined.
Toronto is admired for its health-care and education systems, its rich cultural mosaic and the caliber of sports, entertainment and cultural offerings. The city is one of the safest in North America with homicide and robbery rates well below those of comparable US cities. The diversity of Toronto’s population is reflected in the many people who have made Toronto home, bringing with them their histories and cultures.
Area 632 sq km 244 sq miles Population 5,000,000 Time Zone GMT/UTC -5 () Daylight Saving Start First Sunday in April Daylight Saving End Last Sunday in October Electricity 110-120V 60Hz Currency Canadian Dollar Toronto has a warm summer (May to mid-September) filled with festivals and events, making it the best time to visit. Fall (mid-September to late October) is crisp and beautiful.
Places of Tourist Interest
1. Canadian National Tower. 2. Casa Loma – Museum, Garden. 3. Ontario Place – Theme park. 4. Toronto Music Garden. 5. Toronto Sky Dome. 6. Toronto Zoo.
Restaurants
1.Dhaba Indian Excellence. 2.Monsoon Restaurant (Japanese). 3.Opal Jazz Lounge. 4.By the Way (vegetarian). 5.Fire on the East Side.
Shopping Centers 1.Sherway Gardens 25 The West Mall. 2.Fairview Mall. 3.Toronto Eaton Centre.
Transport Toronto is one of the most accessible cities in North America by road, air, rail and water. By air Lester B. Pearson International Airport Located just west of the city, the airport is accessible from highways 401, 427 and 409.
Toronto City Centre Airport Located on the western tip of a series of islands in Toronto Harbor, the island airport handles scheduled, private and corporate flights. Major airlines operating from the island include Air Ontario, Trans Capital Airlines and Grand Aviation. By road Whether approaching Toronto by car or by bus, the traveller will reach Toronto by one of several major routes paralleling the shore of Lake Ontario. Highways 401 and 2, and the Queen Elizabeth Way, enter Toronto from the west. Highways 401 and 2 also enter Toronto from the east. Hwy 400 runs from the north and connects with Hwy 401. Major bus routes converge in Toronto. Out-of-town buses arrive and depart from the Bus Terminal, located at 610 Bay St. Service to/from points all over Ontario, Canada and the U.S. National and regional bus lines serve the Greater Toronto area. By rail Toronto is served by the VIA Rail System, the network that provides all rail service throughout Canada (with connections to the Amtrak system through Niagara Falls, New York). Union Station is located on Front Street, between Bay and University (across the street from the Fairmont Royal York Hotel). The station is right on Toronto's subway line, and is within walking distance of Rogers Centre (formerly Skydome), the CN Tower, the financial district and many downtown hotels, shops and restaurants. By water Toronto offers docking facilities and complete services for boaters. |