Oft thought to be Canada's capital city, it's not surprising
that Toronto overshadows our nation's capital, Ottawa.
The city is home to a number of firsts, seconds, and thirds.
It is home to the world's first stadium with a fully
retractable roof (the Rogers
Centre, formerly known as the
Skydome). The city sees the start - or end, depending on
where you're standing - of the world's longest street (Yonge
Street at 1,896 kilometers or 1,178 miles). Until 2007, when
the Burj Dubai tower, which is
currently under construction, surpassed it, Toronto was home
to the world's tallest freestanding structure (the CN
Tower at 553.33 meters or 1,815
feet). And the city is considered to have the third largest
live theatre industry in the English-speaking world (behind
London and New York, and the third largest producers of film
and television in North America (after Los Angeles and New
York).
Toronto is the largest city in Canada, with a city
population of 2.5 million and a metro area population of 5.1
million, and is one of the world's most ethnically diverse
cities, with about 49% of the population born outside of
Canada, and with more than 100 ethnic groups speaking more
than 100 languages and dialects (which wouldn't surprise you
at all if you've ever ridden the subway!).
And each of those cultures brings it's own cuisine, which
translates into more than 8,000 restaurants. Toronto is a
foodie's mecca. Before moving to Toronto, the most exotic
fare I had ever experienced was sweet 'n' sour chicken
balls. Now, I regularly eat Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle
Eastern, authentic Chinese, Korean, Greek, Italian (so much
more on offer than spaghetti with meat sauce), and
Scandinavian … and I still haven't tried Balkan/Albanian,
Jewish, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, and Afro-Caribbean
cuisine. (And don't get me started on what you can find at
the farmers' markets, which run during the summer and early
fall!) There just aren't enough meals in the day!
And if, like me, you're regularly guilty of the best of the
seven deadly sins (gluttony), redeem yourself by hiking or
walking in one of Toronto's 1,500 parks. Toronto is home to
over 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of parkland, 187
kilometers (116 miles) of bike paths, and 7.8 kilometers
(4.8 miles) of pedestrian paths.
Or enjoy one of Toronto's many festivals such as the world-
renowned Toronto International Film
Festival, the Toronto Jazz
Festival,
Caribana, the Pride
Parade, and still my
favorite, the Santa Claus
Parade.
And what about professional sports? Enjoy soccer with
Toronto FC, hockey with the
Maple Leafs, baseball with the
Blue Jays, basketball with the
Raptors, and football with
the Argos.
Or, if you're not an outdoor person (or if the weather
outdoors is just too darn cold) and culture is your thing,
why not visit one of Toronto's museums or galleries such as
the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art
Gallery of Ontario, or Bata Shoe
Museum? Or take in a show at
one of Toronto's 50+ ballet and dance companies, six opera
companies, and two symphony orchestras? Or find something
pretty (or manly, depending on who you are) at the Eaton
Centre or in the
upscale shopping district of Bloor/Yorkville?
Or, if you just want to sit back and relax, you could while
away the day reading one of our the daily papers, such as
The Globe and Mail or
The Toronto Star, or one of
special interest, or one of the 79 ethnic publications
distributed throughout the city.
So if you're looking for a feast for the senses, come to
Toronto, where there is always something new to see or hear
or taste! It's no wonder that the city regularly ranks as
one of the world's most liveble cities.
Also see:
City of Toronto
Tourism Toronto
