Toronto stands on the northern shore of
Lake Ontario and the view of the city across the water is stunning and unmistakable - the
CN Tower, thrusting skyward near the water's edge, was until quite recently the
world's tallest tower. Framing it is a glimmering collection of
skyscrapers, which give way to a
dense city center with pleasant,
leafy residential areas and
parks, notably along the ravines that cut through the city.
The capital of the Province of Ontario, Toronto is
Canada's largest city and the fifth largest in North
America. A dominant force in the business and economy of the nation, it is also the
cultural center of
English-speaking Canada.
Initially claimed by the
French in the 18th century, it was not until the American Revolution caused hordes of
United Empire Loyalists (loyal to the British) to escape to Toronto that the city became an
established settlement. Then known as York, the town was exceedingly
British in character, functioning as the administrative capital of English-speaking Upper Canada and becoming a
thriving manufacturing center by the 19th century. In 1834, the city was renamed Toronto, a Huron Indian word meaning
‘meeting place'.
The Toronto of the 19th and early 20th centuries was a
law-abiding city, where rules were made and rarely broken and where the overriding concern was
making money. As such, Toronto gained a reputation as a conservative, boring
enclave of Protestantism, a reputation that still dogs it to some extent today. Older residents can remember the days when the city would come to a standstill on Sundays and only a handful of the very best restaurants served wine.
Towards the end of the 1950s, a surge in the arrival of
immigrants infused Toronto with
new foods,
new languages and, most importantly, new
attitudes. Italians, Portuguese and Eastern Europeans arrived first, followed by immigrants from the Caribbean, Asia and India. They settled into what would become the city's
great ethnic neighborhoods - Greektown, Little Italy and Chinatown.
Toronto gradually developed a multiethnic North American character - today, one in two of the city's residents was born outside Canada. It largely shrugged
off
its colonial
identity, although vestiges
still
remain, such as the English-style pubs and the ingrained habit among conservative clubs and societies of
toasting the
Queen before eating.
There is a similar juxtaposition in the
architecture of the city itself; at first glance, Toronto does not appear all that different from any other large American city, albeit a clean one, although closer inspection reveals preserved
Victorian and
Edwardian buildings and a profusion of neighborhood
pubs.
The Toronto of today is a
lively,
cultured place with hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters. It is the most
economically important city in Canada, the center of finance, media and services, and home to more corporate head offices than any other.
By night, its people indulge themselves at the city's numerous restaurants, bars and clubs, or at the symphony,
opera and
theater. More than anything, however, Toronto is defined by its citizenry - friendly, efficient and one of the most
multicultural in the world.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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