History & Information about Toronto

Study Abroad & Learn English while you discover Canada this summer in Toronto!

Click the following links to see more information about Toronto's
• Summer Festivals
• Hidden Jewels
• Local Markets
• Neighborhoods & Districts

It’s really no surprise that Toronto has become a top destination for world travelers. Toronto offers a colorful ethnic mix of people, rich & deep history, and astonishing architecture. Tourists travel to Toronto for the city's non-stop adventures!

The first thing one should do when visiting Toronto is go to the top of the world’s tallest freestanding structure (the CN Tower) and get an idea of just how big, diverse and wonderful Toronto is! From the top of the CN Tower, students can see Toronto’s unique geography and stunning skyline.

Toronto currently has more than 4.5 million people living in the city. Many of the residents of Toronto come from all around the world, meaning the city has a diverse ethnical background. Former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, once claimed that Canada is more of a mosaic of cultures and languages than a melting pot. This can be realized by simply walking down the streets of Toronto and listening to the dozens of different languages being spoken, such as Greek, French, German, Hindi and of course English.

While the street signs in Toronto may be in English, daily newspapers and magazines are published in many other languages to accommodate all of the international citizens and travelers. Bringing in many of the international travelers are events such as the International Film Festival held in September, world-class live theater shows, or the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s no doubt that you’ll find it in the great city of Toronto!

Local Markets of Toronto:

Cabbagetown:
This is one of the most historical districts in Toronto. Cabbagetown is mostly known for its beautifully restored Victorian homes and its lively center of the arts. Cabbagetown supposedly earned its name in the late 19th century, when the inhabitants were poor Irish and Macedonian immigrants who couldn’t afford to eat anything besides self-grown cabbage. Nowadays, Cabbagetown is a major attraction of Toronto’s locals and visitors. Popular events held in this district include: the Cabbagetown Cultural Festival and the Cabbagetown Tour of Homes.

Kensington Market:
This market brings the people of Toronto goods from all around the world. The Kensington Market’s shops are filled with goods from Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia and South America.

Chinatown:
Toronto actually has 2 Chinatowns, both of which function as the home to Canadians from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, Vietnam and other Asian countries / cities. In Chinatown, there are many opportunities to find delicacies of Asia and authentic Chinese restaurants.

St. Lawrence Market:
This is Toronto’s original market space. All week long, but especially on Saturdays, local farmers, artists and artisans come to the St. Lawrence Market to sell their fresh products. The surrounding area is referred to as the Old Town of Toronto, as it has several old warehouses that are now used as residences, restaurants, pubs and stores.

Neighborhoods & Districts of Toronto:

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Financial District & Underground City:
The Financial District of Toronto is truly impressive with its towering glass, concrete and steel skyscrapers. The area isn’t very large, hence it is very easy to walk through. The Underground City, which is an 11 kilometer pathway with over 1,200 sores and services, allows visitors of Toronto to see most of the city even when the weather is poor. Throughout Toronto, there are “PATH” signs that indicated the multiple street entrances to the underground pathway.

Entertainment District:
This neighborhood is considered to be the entertainment capital of Canada. There, visitors can find Toronto’s best theaters, bars, restaurants and dance clubs. Tip: The people of Toronto know how to have fun, so if there’s a line outside a club or theater, chances are that it’s worth waiting for!

Historic Distillery District:
The Gooderham Worts Distillery, which was founded in 1832, is now used as a center for arts, culture and entertainment. Inside are galleries, artist studios, workshops, retail stores, boutiques, restaurants, bars and cafes.

Queen St. West (a.k.a. Queen West SoHo):
This is one of Toronto’s most popular shopping districts. Queen St. West is full of trendy restaurants, cutting-edge fashion, antique shops, dance clubs and art galleries. The City-TV building, MuchMusic and a television studio are the most known attractions of Queen St. West, as well as numerous street events and festivals that happen throughout the year.

Fashion District:
Toronto takes fashion serious, so if you’re searching for something truly extraordinary, then this district is for you!

Harbourfront:
This wonderful area is covered in high-priced homes and condos. Shopping is particularly popular at the specialty shops of Queens Quay Terminal. Art, theater and cultural events occur at the Harbourfront Centre. There is also a fantastic walking trail next to the lake, as well as ferry services and cruises from the harbor.

Toronto Islands:
These islands are a wonderful reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. To get to the Toronto Islands, it is only a 10 minute ride on the ferry from the docks on Bay Street. Once on the Toronto Islands, there is plenty to enjoy! For example, the summer amusement park, bikes, skating, paddleboats, picnics on the beach or in the grass and most importantly no cars / traffic!

Bloor / Yorkville:
This is the district where Hollywood celebrities visit when in Toronto. It is host to Toronto’s most elegant dining and shopping areas. There are several world-class designer boutiques, antique shops and galleries in the area.

Little Italy:
Much like Chinatown, Little Italy is the home to the Italians living in Toronto. Interestingly, nowadays there are seemingly more Portuguese people than there are Italians living in Little Italy. Nonetheless, the area is full of trendy Italian restaurants, cafes and street markets.

Greektown:
In this neighborhood, there are quite a few authentic Greek restaurants and specialty shops. The area is also one of Toronto’s top districs for late night cafes, clubs and bars.

Little India:
This district in Toronto is full of Indian restaurants, grocery stores and specialty Indian clothing shops that sell brightly colored scarves and saris.

The Beaches:
The boardwalk of Toronto is always packed with joggers, skaters and dog walkers. In the summer the beach is always crowded with people trying to relax in the sun! The Beach district offers a unique atmosphere to Toronto that most other major cities don’t have.

Corso Italia:
Here, top of the line Italian fashion is sold in the shops. This district is still very much in touch with what’s trending in Europe and brings it to the people of Toronto instantly. Also here, there are many authentic Italian restaurants and cafes.

Little Poland:
This district is home to many Eastern European and Russian residents of Toronto. In Little Poland, you can find many authentic bakeries, restaurants, cafes and special markets & events from their home country.

Portugal Village:
Toronto has a surprisingly high amount of Portuguese natives living in the city. In this district, the Portuguese operate bakeries, restaurants, fish markets, cheese stores and various other street markets.

Hidden Jewels of Toronto:

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From Dundas Street to the Spadina Avenue - Dundas Street intersection is the original Chinatown of Toronto. It eventually runs into ‘new’ Chinatown, so Toronto in fact has 2 Chinatowns! Just a short walk from this intersection, there is the European Kensington Market, which sells fresh vegetables, poultry and meats every day.

Also in Toronto, there are countless cafes, restaurants, boutiques and the Underground City shopping experience! Toronto’s Underground City is an extraordinary 11 kilometer long underground walkway that’s lined with eateries, shops, banks, theaters and medical offices.

The Toronto islands are a truly hidden gem of Toronto. There are 8 beautiful islands and a dozen smaller islets that sit in the great Lake Ontario. The islands have over 550 acres of parklands, which visitors have been relaxing on since 1833. Not only are these parklands extremely beautiful and relaxing, but they also offer magnificent views of the Toronto skyline!