Toronto
Toronto lies in the southernmost part of Canada, along the north shore of Lake Ontario. One-quarter of Canada’s population lives within a 160 kilometre (100 mile) radius of Toronto, making Toronto the most populous metropolitan area in Canada. This has also made Toronto the natural choice for Canada’s corporate capital.
Toronto is also home to one of the most multicultural populations in the world, with more than 100 different ethnic groups. This fact sets Toronto apart from all other major North American cities in this regard, recognized by the United Nations as “the world’s most ethnically diverse city.”
Immigration has played a dynamic role in the changing face of Toronto since the end of the Second World War. Today, 42 per cent of all Canadian immigrants choose Toronto as their destination and as such, the latest statistics show Toronto’s visible minority population at more than 50 per cent of the population compared to 11 per cent nationwide. The top ten source countries for immigration to Canada in 1996 were China, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Iran, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Taiwan, Russia and Jamaica.
Attractions
Toronto is a mecca of Canadian culture. There are many places to experience. One of the favorite attractions is the Royal Ontario Museum. The museum is a world unto itself, with vast corridors leading to gigantic rooms full of exhibits. There is so much to see that it’s better to allot yourself at least a few days just to take it all in.
Architecturally speaking, no symbol is more a representation of Toronto than the CN Tower. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), it is the World’s Tallest Building and Free Standing Structure, an important telecommunications hub, and the centre of tourism in Toronto. With its microwave receptors and antenna, the CN Tower creates some of the clearest reception in North America.
Another megalith of modern design is the Rogers Centre. Formerly SkyDome, it is so big that in 1992 it set the World Record for the greatest number of hot air Balloons in an enclosed area – 46 inflated hot air balloons on the field!
Rogers Centre is also home to the Toronto Blue Jays, the 1992 and 1993 Major League Baseball World Series Champions, making Toronto the only Canadian baseball team to ever achieve this honour. The Blue Jays and Hockey’s Maple Leafs are the most well known of the many Canadian sports teams to call Toronto their home. The official Hockey Hall of Fame collects and preserves objects and images connected with the game of hockey as it is played in Canada and throughout the world. They maintain an archive of documents and a library of books and periodicals relevant to the history and current development of hockey.
Canada’s Wonderland is a very popular entertainment attraction for families. It features familiar cartoon characters and many exciting rides.
Economy
Toronto is a very well-established center of international finance. The Toronto Stock Exchange is well known and respected worldwide as a successful and important major equity market.
The performance of Toronto’s key export industry clusters is critical to the City. The Toronto economy has been at the forefront of profound developments over the past 10 years. And through all of these developments, Toronto businesses have adapted and emerged as strong contenders in the world economy. Toronto has to a large extent shed its old routine, mass-production economy and developed one based on advanced services, high technology, cultural industries, and innovative speciality manufacturing.
