Toronto

Indigenous peoples have travelled through and inhabited the Toronto area, located on a broad sloping plateau interspersed with rivers, deep ravines, and urban forest, for more than 10,000 years.^[15] After the broadly disputed Toronto Purchase, when the Mississauga surrendered the area to the British Crown,^[16] the British established the town of York in 1793 and later designated it as the capital of Upper Canada.^[17] During the War of 1812, the town was the site of the Battle of York and suffered heavy damage by American troops.^[18] York was renamed and incorporated in 1834 as the city of Toronto. It was designated as the capital of the province of Ontario in 1867 during Canadian Confederation.^[19] The city proper has since expanded past its original limits through both annexation and amalgamation to its current area of 630.2 km² (243.3 sq mi).


The diverse population of Toronto reflects its current and historical role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada.^[20][21] About half of its residents were born outside of Canada and over 200 ethnic origins are represented among its inhabitants.^[22] While the majority of Torontonians speak English as their primary language, over 160 languages are spoken in the city.^[23] The mayor of Toronto is elected by direct popular vote to serve as the chief executive of the city. The Toronto City Council is a unicameral legislative body, comprising 25 councillors since the 2018 municipal election, representing geographical wards throughout the city.^[24]


Toronto is a prominent centre for music,^[25] theatre,^[26] motion picture production,^[27] and television production,^[28] and is home to the headquarters of Canada's major national broadcast networks and media outlets .^[29] Its varied cultural institutions,^[30] which include numerous museums and galleries, festivals and public events, entertainment districts, national historic sites, and sports activities,^[31] attract over 43 million tourists each year.^[32][33] Toronto is known for its many skyscrapers and high-rise buildings,^[34] in particular the tallest free-standing structure on land outside of Asia, the CN Tower.^[35]


The city is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the headquarters of Canada's five largest banks,^[36] and the headquarters of many large Canadian and multinational corporations.^[37] Its economy is highly diversified with strengths in technology, design, financial services, life sciences, education, arts, fashion, aerospace, environmental innovation, food services, and tourism.^[38][39][40] Toronto is the third-largest tech hub in North America after Silicon Valley and New York City, and the fastest growing hub.^[41]