The Greater Toronto Region is one of North America’s dynamic hubs for arts & culture, industry, entrepreneurship and higher education and is widely considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. The name Toronto is derived from the Huron word for “fishing weir”.

Community

  • Population: 6.4 million
  • # of spoken languages and major dialects: 180
  • 47% of its residents use a mother tongue other than English or French in the City of Toronto alone.
  • Over 51% of Toronto’s population is foreign born
  • Toronto is the best place to live and the safest city in North America according to The Economist (EIU)
  • Toronto is ranked among the top 5 student cities in North America and ahead of New York City by QS rankings

Geography and accessibility

  • 307 km of rivers and creeks run through the city
  • There are over 1,600 named parks comprised of over 8,000 hectares of land (ravines, valleys, woodlots, parks, beaches, golf courses, destination parks, parkettes) and over 200 km of trails, many of which are suitable for biking and walking
  • New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington are all within a 90-minute flight from Toronto
  • The region is also home to 4 airports which support international and domestic travel
  • The City of Toronto has the best public transit system in North America according to the American Public Transportation Association. Toronto is also home to disruptive transportation service providers such as Uber, Lyft and Dropbike.

Economy

  • 5% of Canada’s gross domestic product
  • Home to 40% of business headquarters in Canada
  • 3rd largest stock exchange in North America (Toronto Stock Exchange)
  • Key industry sectors: Financial services, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, AI, block chain and clean technology & renewable energy
  • Toronto is also home to a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem that has positioned it among the top 3 cities outside of the US for venture capital investment according to the Martin Prosperity Institute

Arts & culture:

  • There are 10,000 theatrical performances in Toronto’s 90 theatres annually, making the city the third largest English language theatre destination in the world, after New York and London
  • We are also home to more than 80 film festivals, 200 professional performing arts organizations, internationally recognized symphony, ballet and opera companies, countless commercial and not-for-profit galleries and museums, and much more

Places to Visit in Toronto:

Destinations outside Toronto:

  • Niagara Falls – Visit Butterfly Conservatory and Bird Kingdom while admiring the Falls.
  • The Thousand Islands – a group of more than 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River, straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada.
  • Stratford Festival – The annual festival provides many options to see the work of the Bard and other well-known playwrights.
  • Taste Trail – Explore the Taste Trail to experience Prince Edward County’s fantastic flavours! Visit local artisan shops and farmers markets to discover handcrafted preserves and locally grown goodness.
  • Bruce Trail – Extending nearly 900 km along the Niagara Escarpment to the tip of Bruce Peninsula, this is one of the province’s favourite hiking trails.
  • Algonquin Provincial Park – Whether it’s finding a rustic cabin, canoeing or waiting for that perfect moose photo op, the park offers many ways to find a place in the wilderness.

Transportation:

Each campus is well connected and accessible to the GTA by public transit. Toronto’s transit system (TTC) is fast, clean and reliable, as is the regional transit system (GO Transit). Subways, buses, streetcars and light rail provide frequent and comprehensive access across the region. U of T also offers direct shuttle bus service between U of T Mississauga and U of T St. George. Full and part-time students at the University of Toronto are eligible for the TTC Metropass and GO Transit Presto card discounts. These passes are valid all year round on all TTC trains and buses and/or GO transit.

Explore Toronto

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