It’s no secret that I’m a proud Torontonian. I was born here and have lived here my whole life. Toronto is a world class city with a population of 2.48 million people and 5.5 million in the Greater Toronto Area. Today I wanted to share some of the reasons why Toronto is such a great place to live.
1. Shopping
If you like shopping, Toronto has it! From the high end stores of Yorkville (check out the list of stores here) to Queen Street West to the many smaller boutiques and Kensington Market, there’s something for everyone.
2. Theatre
We have a very active and varied theatre scene in Toronto. Right now you can catch Billy Elliott, 9 to 5, Glee Live, Cirque du Soleil, The Addams Family, Lion King, Ghost Stories, Madagascar Live, Chess, Mary Poppins, American Idiot, Memphis, Noel Coward’s Private Lives (with Kim Cattrall). We have a world class symphony, an opera house, and a ballet company. If you enjoy theatre, Toronto is the place to be! We’re also within driving distance of The Stratford Festival and The Shaw Festival.
The view from Toronto's islands
3. Center Island
Did you know Toronto has islands? An oasis is just a short ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto. As well as beaches and parkland (and a small residential area) there’s a topless beach on Hanlan’s Point and an amusement part (Centreville) for the little ones on the main island.
4. High Park
New York has Central Park, we have High Park – 399 acres in the middle of Toronto. And every summer you can catch a production of Shakespeare in the Park.
5. Art Galleries and Museums
There’s the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Bata Shoe Museum to name just a few. There are also many smaller galleries.
Royal Ontario Museum
6. The Science Centre
There’s something for young and old alike at the Science Center.
The CN Tower's Edge Walk
7. CN Tower
You can catch a breathtaking view of Toronto from the CN Tower before dining in the 360 restaurant. For the thrill seekers among us (a group to which I definitely don’t belong!) they just introduced a new attraction – the Edge Walk. Excuse me while I go shudder.
8. The Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world. 710 acres, six miles of walking trails, over 5000 animals representing 500 species … and hey, soon we’ll have pandas, too!
9. Skydome
They may call it the Rogers Centre now, but it will always be Skydome to me. Home to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts. It was the first stadium to have a fully-retractable motorized roof. There’s also an attached hotel that has 70 rooms which overlook the field.
10. Canada’s Wonderland
Toronto has it’s own amusement park!
The stately Royal York hotel
11. Afternoon Tea at the Royal York Hotel
The Royal York opened in 1929 and was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth at the time. It hearkens back to a more stately time and is one of the most elegant buildings in Toronto. Today you can still visit the Royal York for afternoon high tea.
12. Multiculturalism
Canada celebrates multiculturalism and Canadians are encouraged to embrace their cultural background. Nowhere is this more evident than in Toronto, which is made up of a vast number of cultures. Over 140 languages and dialects are spoken here, and just over 30 per cent of Toronto residents speak a language other than English or French at home. Sections of the city have become known for the people who live there and their shops. We have Little Italy, Little Portugal, Little India, Danforth (Greek Town), China Town, etc.
13. Toronto International Film Festival
Every September Hollywood travels north for the Toronto Film Festival. It lasts for eleven days and between 300-400 films are screened during that time. If you’re a cinephile or a celebrity watcher, Toronto is the place to be in September.
And there you have it. Thirteen reasons why it’s great to live in, or visit Toronto. There’s so much more I could have added, but I’ll stop there for today.
