An Overview Of Toronto

T oronto is the capital of         (Native Indians). The name         the Province of Ontario. It     "Toronto" is derived from the      is Canada’s largest city,       Huron Indian word for "meeting     and with a population of 2.6          place".                            million it is the fifth largest                                          in North America. It is also at       Initially claimed by the French    the center of the Golden              in the 18th century, it was not    Horseshoe, a densely populated        until the American Revolution      region along the western shores       caused a huge number of United     of Lake Ontario which is home to      Empire Loyalists (loyal to         roughly eight million people, or      England) to flee to Toronto that   one quarter of the population of      the city became an established     Canada.                               settlement. The new town was                                             named "York" and its beginnings    The skyline of the city is            can still be seen in the historic  stunning and unmistakable. Its        garrison of York near the          best-known landmark, the CN           Canadian National Exhibition       Tower, is the world’s tallest         grounds in downtown Toronto. Its   tower and dominates the               current name was adopted in 1834   surrounding skyscrapers. Beyond       when the town was incorporated.    the skyscrapers is a city center                                         which consists of lush green          Over the years the city grew       residential areas and parks,          gradually, mainly with people of   notably along the ravines that        British origin. From the 1950's,   cut through the city.                 a surge in the arrival of                                                immigrants infused Toronto with    Toronto's history dates back,         new foods, new languages and,      long before Europeans came to         most importantly, new attitudes.   settle Canada. It was a meeting       Toronto's diverse restaurants and  place for First Nations people        communities are a testimony of     the variety of people who have        buses, subways and streetcars. In  immigrated to Canada and settled      fact, for a little over $2 you     here. This can be seen in Toronto     can use the city transit to get    neighborhoods named Greektown,        from the Lester Pearson            Little Italy, Indian Bazaar,          International Airport to the city  Little Poland, Portugal Village,      center. It is one of the safest    Chinatown and others. Visiting        cities in the world, with a crime  these places is like taking a         rate lower than many other cities  trip around the world without         of equivalent size.                leaving Toronto.                                                                                               For entertainment, Toronto is      Today, the city is a lively,          recognized as the third-largest    cultured place with hot summers       theater center in the              and cold, dry winters, It is the      English-speaking world, after New  most economically important city      York and London with over 90       in Canada, the center of finance,     venues in the greater Toronto      media and services, and home to       area. The city's sports fanatics  more corporate head offices than      can get their fill by taking in a  any other. By night, its people       hockey game with the Maple Leafs,  indulge themselves at the city’s      basketball with the Raptors or a   numerous restaurants, bars and        Blue Jay baseball game at the      clubs, or at the symphony, opera      SkyDome.                           and theater. More than anything,                                         however, Toronto is defined by        Television and film entertainment  its people – friendly, efficient      is also a major local industry     and one of the most                   here. Toronto often stands in on   multi-cultural in the world.          screen for large American cities                                         like New York and Chicago. Most    Toronto has an extensive public       importantly, Toronto is the proud  transit system which includes         host of the annual Toronto         International Film Festival,          labyrinth of shops under           which is the world's largest and      Toronto's streets - no coat        rivalled only by Cannes in            required!                          importance.                                                                                                    Before you come to Toronto, be     Toronto is a city of many             sure to visit museums, galleries, festivals,        href="http://www.toronto.ca"       comedy clubs and events. It is        title="http://www.toronto.ca"      generally considered to be            target="_blank">Canada's dominant cultural            color="#001000"                    center.                               size="-2">http://www.toronto.ca                                      font>                          Shopping is plentiful as well and                                        in the winter months - you don't      Source: www.toronto.ca and         even need to go outside! Walk the     personal knowledge                 About the Author: Rocky Yupangco is owner of WiseBabble.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Rocky recommends you visit: WiseBabble.com Read more articles by: Rocky Yupangco Article Source: www.iSnare.com