Toronto
The provincial capital is Canada’s largest city. Its accelerated growth in recent years, with a huge influx of immigrants, has resulted in one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities on the continent. The city is laid out on a rectangular grid broken only by the Don River and Humber River, the banks of which provide a host of recreational amenities. The CN Tower, the world’s tallest free-standing structure, has glass-fronted elevators rising 553m (1815ft) to indoor and outdoor observation decks that afford a 120km- (75 mile-) panoramic view on a clear day. The twin gold towers of the Royal Plaza make it the most eye-catching of the many avant-garde commercial buildings in the city. Toronto’s latest attraction, SkyDome, at the foot of the CN Tower, is a multi-purpose entertainment complex and sports stadium and was the world’s first to have a retractable roof – baseball’s World Series has been played here more than once. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and the Argonauts football team. It also hosts a multitude of events including rock concerts, opera, exhibitions, cricket, wrestling and motorshows. Tours of the SkyDome are available. The nearby Air Canada Centre is the home of the Maple Leafs hockey team and the Raptors basketball team. Together with modern developments, the city has seen the renovation of old neighbourhoods, particularly the tree-lined streets of Victorian houses characteristic of the city. Yorkeville, the hip part of town in the 1960s, now caters to the tastes of the city’s upwardly mobile, but is a good spot to go window shopping or enjoy a cup of coffee. Queen Street, further south towards the lake, attracts a younger, more style-conscious crowd. In the eastern suburbs, the spectacular Ontario Science Centre and the Metro Toronto Zoo are both worth seeing. The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum are also noteworthy. Casa Loma was originally the home of Lord and Lady Pellatt. It was designed by architect Edward Lennox to Sir Henry Pellatt’s specific requirements and Scottish stone masons were hired to build it. The castle offers fantastic views of downtown Toronto from the landscaped gardens. Ferries to the Toronto Islands depart from Harbourfront, one of a group of recreational, shopping and arts complexes, including the artificial island of Ontario Place. Canada’s Wonderland is a huge theme park to the northwest of the city.
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