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 SkyDome.
SkyDome 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!
SkyDome 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.