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Overview
Toronto's population is steadily growing, currently standing at about 2.5 million (although the greater Toronto area actually has some 5 million residents). It's one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, and visible minorities make up nearly half of Toronto's population the main four groups are Chinese, South Asian, Black and Filipino. In fact, one out of every five Toronto residents immigrated to the city in the 1990s. The city also has significant populations of Aboriginal people, Italians and Portuguese.
With so many international influences, it should come as no surprise then that Toronto is just rife with culture. About 150 pieces of public art dot the city (mostly sculptures); there are six opera companies, two symphonies, more than 90 theatres and dozens of theatre companies (for theater, Toronto ranks 3rd in the world, behind only NYC and London), and more than 50 dance companies. Plus, the city hosts dozens of public festivals throughout the year, including the wildly popular Pride Parade, several film festivals, and a plethora of arts festivals
Among its other claims to fame, Toronto has become such a popular location for the film and television industries (ranking third in North America) that it's been dubbed Hollywood North. Indeed, it's not at all unusual to see a celebrity window shopping on Yonge Street or choosing fresh fruit at the St. Lawrence Market.
Spectator sports are big here especially Maple Leafs hockey. Leafs games take precedence over all other programming on bar televisions join 'em, because you sure can't beat 'em. The Blue Jays (baseball), the Raptors (basketball), and Toronto FC (soccer) also have big followings.
On the banks of Lake Ontario, Toronto occupies 641 square kilometers (about 247 square miles), and is crisscrossed by rivers and streams. Outdoor enthusiasts find much to love here, with some 8000 hectares (nearly 20,000 acres) of parklands, many miles of bike and walking paths, and a wealth of more active outdoor pursuits within easy reach.
Toronto is also a foodie's paradise. Along with more than 8000 restaurants, the city is home to a wide array of gourmet shops, specialty food boutiques, ethnic groceries, and large markets (St .Lawrence and Kensington are the two most prominent). You can eat here for many days and never have the same cuisine twice. Nightlife is just as varied, with bars and clubs for every taste. Sophisticated lounges and wine bars, wild dance clubs, eclectic live music venues, neighborhood watering holes, lively sports bars they're all here.
Making your way around the city to experience all it has to offer is actually a snap. Toronto has the third largest public transportation system in North America, with subways, bus routes and rail networks. It's also home to the PATH system, the continent's largest underground system of pedestrian walkways, which connects most all of downtown's major buildings, numerous stores, restaurants and hotels, and five subway stations.
An ideal year-round destination, Toronto truly does have something for everyone.
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