When Brussels Airlines a few months ago announced they would launch flights to Toronto, was excitement high in Uganda and Rwanda, as Canada – also a member of the Commonwealth – remains one of the top ten travel destinations for East Africans.Also back on the schedule will be Washington DC for the summer season, but for now let’s concentrate on Destination Toronto.
The Toronto Tourism office was kind enough to provide a huge volume of information what travelers to Canada can expect to find, the attractions to visit and the excursions to take, for instance to near by Niagara Falls.
Enjoy the read and keep counting towards the inaugural flight between Brussels and Toronto at the end of this month.
More Toronto information will be coming up right here in a few days!
Toronto At A Glance
Canada’s largest city, and the fourth-largest in North America, Toronto is a global business, entertainment and tourism hub, famous for its progressiveness and diversity.
Geography
· Toronto is the capital city of the province of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.
· Centrally located between New York City, Chicago and Montreal, Toronto’s within a 90 minute flight for over half the U.S. and Canadian population.
· Toronto sits on the northern shore of Lake Ontario (the easternmost of the Great Lakes) and has a shoreline stretching 43 km featuring sandy beaches, marinas and working ports.
· Two major rivers flow through Toronto into Lake Ontario: The Humber River on the west side of the city and the Don River on the east side. Each has tributaries that create a vast ravine system of forests and trails throughout the city.
The People
· The population of the City of Toronto is 2.8 million, ranking fourth in North America, behind Mexico City, New York City and Los Angeles, and just slightly ahead of Chicago. The Greater Toronto Area has a regional population of approximately six million.
· Famous for its diversity, Toronto may be the world’s most global city, with 50 per cent of the population born outside of Canada.
· Some 130 languages and dialects are spoken in Toronto; The City of Toronto publishes information for residents in 30 languages.
History
· First settled more than 11,000 years ago, the area that now makes up Toronto was home to a wide array of Aboriginal groups for centuries.
· The British established a settlement and fort in the late 1700’s, calling the settlement York. The Battle of York was a key battle in the War of 1812 and left the fledgling town badly damaged. In 1834 the city was incorporated and named Toronto.
· Over two centuries Toronto has attracted large waves of immigration from Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. In the early 1980s, on the strength of sustained immigration, it surpassed Montreal as Canada’s largest city.
Canada’s Centre of Business and Entertainment
· The Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest in Canada and third-largest in North America by traded value. It is the world’s leading exchange for mining stocks. Canada’s major banks’
· headquarters and the Canadian head office of many global, financial companies reside in Toronto.
· As the country’s media centre, Toronto has four major daily newspapers – Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, Globe and Mail (national) and National Post (national) – and is home to the major national broadcasters (CBC and CTV).
· One of North America’s major sports markets, Toronto’s professional sports teams include Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball), Toronto Argonauts (football), Toronto FC (soccer), and Toronto Rock (Lacrosse).
Worth knowing: The word “Toronto” comes from the Mohawk phrase “tkaronto” meaning “where trees grow in the water” and refers to a time centuries ago when the swampy shores of Lake Ontario reached much further north. Eventually variations of “Lac Taronto” (now Lake Simcoe) showed up on many French maps from the 1680s to the 1760s. In the 1720s a French fort was identified as Fort Toronto, where the City of Toronto stands today.
True Toronto
For that only-in-Toronto experience, here are some famous places to find the essence of Toronto’s past and present:
· Taste a peameal bacon sandwich (with honey mustard) and a butter tart at the 200-year-old St. Lawrence Market.
· Ride the 501 “Red Rocket” streetcar along Queen Street from The Beachesin the east to the west end, through the heart of downtown and passing through the eclectic neighbourhoods of Leslieville, Riverside, Queen West, West Queen West, Parkdale and Roncesvalles along the way.
· Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands for a day in the parks and on the beaches – a piece of calm outside the hustle and bustle of the city. Refreshing signs read “Please walk on the grass.”
· Catch live music at one of Toronto’s legendary music venues such as the Horseshoe Tavern (where the Rolling Stones have played many surprise concerts), The Rex (for live jazz) or the iconic Massey Hall.
· Wander the eclectic and bohemian Kensington Market for vintage finds, organic coffee, tacos, Jamaican patties, gourmet cheese shops, green grocers and Indian spices.
· Experience the highs and lows of Toronto – from the CN Tower’s Skypod observation deck at 447 meters (135 stories) up, down to the underground PATHsystem connecting downtown’s office towers with a 27-km network and over 1,200 shops and restaurants.
· Stroll along the highest sidewalk at the CN Tower’s Edgewalk.
· Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario’s premier collections of Canadian art featuring the famous Group of Seven.
· Get lost in the crowds of Yonge-Dundas Square where the billboards and neon lights surround the swarms of people in Toronto’s most famous intersection.
· Cheer on the Toronto Maple Leafsat an Air Canada Centre hockey game. Absorb the Canadian game’s history and touch the actual Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
· Skate under clear skies at Toronto’s outdoor rinks: Nathan Phillips Square, the Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre or Mississauga Celebration Square.
· Shop ‘til you drop at the Eaton Centre and for designer wear at Bloor-Yorkville.
· Eat your way around the world without leaving Toronto in Little Italy, Little Portugal, Greektown, Chinatown, Koreatown, and Little India, just to name a few.
With festivals, fairs, events and shows happening all year round, make sure you do some research before
coming. You never know what will be happening when you’re here!
Canada Lives Here
While Toronto has emerged as a leading global city, it remains very much a Canadian city; home to some of Canada’s most famous icons and a spectacular range of cultures.
Arts and Culture
· The most extensive collections of Canadian art featuring the famous Group of Sevenpainters can be found at the Art Gallery of Ontario in downtown Toronto.
· The Museum of Inuit Art on Toronto’s waterfront showcases art from Canada’s northern communities, including a wide range of paintings and sculptures.
· The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is one of Canada’s longest standing symphonic ensembles established in 1922. With a large roster of musicians, many of whom are acclaimed artists, the music moves everyone.
· The Canadian Opera Companyhas a reputation for artistic excellence and creativity, warming hearts with its musical performances.
· Few things run deeper in Canadian culture than hockey. The history of hockey in Canada and around the world – including the Stanley Cup itself – can be found in the Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto.
Canadian Icons
· The CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Casa Loma and even Degrassi Street, which inspired the global television show, are all Canadian landmarks and all in Toronto.
· Recognized Canadians are forever remembered for their accomplishments on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
· Some of Canada’s most famous brands can be found in Toronto, including Hudson Bay Company, Roots and Holt Renfrew.
Food
· Although infused with worldly flavours, some of Toronto’s finest restaurants highlight local ingredients and traditional Canadian dishes. Maple syrup, peameal bacon and poutineare among the best-known examples but many top chefs at restaurants such as Canoe and Bannock bring a contemporary feel to these traditional items.
· Local farms supply Toronto with seasonal ingredients. Visit farms such as Whittamore’s Farm and Riverdale Farm and pick apples, pumpkins and strawberries yourself.
· Ontario wines are among the best in the world, particularly Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Baco Noir varietals, along with Ontario’s world-famous Icewine.
Heritage
· Canadian history can be seen and felt at Fort York, site of the Battle of York during the War of 1812; St. Lawrence Hall, the legendary meeting place of the emancipation movement leaders and the Underground Railroad; Black Creek Pioneer Village, which demonstrates the challenges of settler life in the region; Royal Ontario Museum’s collection of Canadian First Nations artifacts.
Seasons
· Four very different seasons change Canada’s landscape. Toronto is no different: Summer brings outdoor festivals closing down the streets; Fall colours are displayed in theparks and surrounding farms; Winter skating, skiing, and snuggling-up with hot chocolate never gets old; Spring breathes new life into the city with arts and cultural happenings. Any time is a good time to visit.
Worth knowing:Well-known author and contemporary artist Douglas Coupland’s “Red Canoe” is a snapshot of Canadiana and also represents iconic artist, Tom Thomson who canoed and painted in Algonquin Park.
