Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario, and it is Canada’s most populous city (and North America’s fourth-most populous, after Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles.) The city hugs the western end of Lake Ontario. The area was frequently used by Indigenous peoples and, in a controversial purchase by the British, was established as the town of York in 1793. The city was renamed Toronto in 1834.
Most of my visits to Toronto over the years have been to attend specific events (conferences, concerts, sporting events) or locations (Casa Loma, Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario.) Otherwise, Toronto is just a massive city I have to travel through to get from here to there. These photos span 2014 to 2018.
Building the future. Toronto’s City Hall rises above Nathan Phillips Square, a popular gathering place for tourists and locals. The city hall and square were designed by a team of Finnish architects led by Viljo Revell, and the building opened in 1965. Its futuristic design landed it a spot in a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode in 1989.
Queen’s Park. The Ontario Legislative Building sits at the south end of the leafy park from which it takes its popular name. The building, first opened in 1893, is open year-round for self and guided tours, or to view sessions of the legislature from the public gallery. The expansive grounds of Queen’s Park itself provide a popular spot for strolling and picnicking.
Location, location, location. The 28-floor Fairmont Royal York hotel retains some of its majesty, despite being dwarfed by newer structures. When it opened in 1929, the Royal York was Toronto’s (and Canada’s) tallest building. Its location—opposite the train station and close to the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and theatres—keeps its 1000-plus rooms occupied.
One tower to shadow them all. The 553-metre CN Tower was the tallest free-standing structure in the world when it was completed in 1976. The structure, now bumped down the list to 10th-tallest, still towers above Toronto’s skyline. Conceived of, and still in use as, a communications tower, visitors can take one of the elevators (or 1776 steps) up to the 8-storey observation pod. The outdoor EdgeWalk allows visitors to experience the thrill of walking on the roof of the pod (356 metres above ground), while tethered to a rail. Apparently, you can see Niagara Falls from there.
A city of neighbourhoods. Around the fringes of Toronto’s downtown core lay a series of neighbourhoods, each with its own compact shopping district. The Kensington Market area was originally home to a series of ethnic immigrant groups, followed by political refugees, hippies, and artists. Today’s Kensington Market is quiet, quirky, and colourful and a popular tourist destination.
Uni envy. The main campus of the University of Toronto is just north of Queen’s Park. Among the many venerable buildings on campus is the stately Victoria College Building, built in 1891 and known for its Literary Studies program. Victoria College’s alumni include Margaret Atwood, Northrop Frye, Norman Jewison, E.J. Pratt, and Donald Sutherland.
Travel note: You can get to Toronto by air from all major Canadian cities and, from Toronto you can get pretty much everywhere else. The Union-Pearson Express train (“UP Express”) links Toronto’s Pearson Airport to downtown’s Union Station, a major hub with connections to local public transit as well as the regional GO Train system. A TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) one-day Presto pass will give you unlimited access to local buses and subways.