Toronto: the Fourth Largest City in North America
Updated: 10/28/2014
About Toronto, Ontario
Toronto is the capital city of the province of Ontario. It is the largest city in Canada and the fourth largest city in North America. Toronto is a cultural, entertainment, business and financial centre, and as the capital city of Ontario is the seat of the Ontario provincial government. Toronto is a safe, clean and green city. It is also a diverse city in which it boasts more than 180 languages and dialects are spoken.
Toronto is a great business environment. About a quarter of the Canadian population is within 160 km (100 mi.) of Toronto, and more than 60 percent of Americans are within a 90-minute flight.
Toronto also hosts major arts and sporting events in world-class facilities. The city is a leading centre for English media and film production as well as theatre and performing arts organizations.
Location of Toronto, Ontario
Toronto is located in south-central Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario, the most eastern of the Great Lakes.
Also SeeToronto maps.
Area of Toronto
630.21 sq. km (243.33 square miles) (Census Subdivision C Profile, Statistics Canada, 2011 Census)
Population of Toronto
2,615,060 (Census Subdivision C Profile, Statistics Canada, 2011 Census)
Date Toronto Incorporated as a City
In March 6, 1834, York was incorporated under the name Toronto. From 1883 to 1914, it gradually amalgamated with small surrounding communities. In 1954, the City of Toronto became a regional government called Metropolitan Toronto.
In 1998, six municipalities making up Metropolitan Toronto and the regional municipality of Metro Toronto were amalgamated into the City of Toronto.
Government of Toronto
Toronto municipal elections are held every four years, on the fourth Monday of October.
Date of the last Toronto municipal election: October 27, 2014
Date of the next Toronto municipal election: October 22, 2018
Toronto City Council is made up of the Mayor and 44 city councillors. Each councillor represents a geographic area of the city, called a municipal ward. The Mayor is the only member of City Council who is elected by voters from across the city.
- Toronto Mayor-elect John Tory
- 2014 City of Toronto Election Results (Unofficial)
Toronto Attractions
Just a few of the many attractions in the city of Toronto are:
- Queen's Park, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- The CN Tower
- Toronto Zoo
- Toronto City Hall
- Fort York National Historic Site
- Casa Loma
- Art Gallery of Ontario
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Rogers Centre (formerly the Sky Dome)
- St. Lawrence Market
- Trans Canada Trail
Weather in Toronto
Toronto has what is called a humid continental climate, and one of the mildest climates in Canada. Because of its location on Lake Ontario, Toronto feels the effect of the water. Summers are warm and humid, and winters feel cold and damp.
Toronto has a full four seasons.
Summer lasts from May to September, with temperatures ranging from 20°C (68°F) to 35°C (95°F). In July and August it's a good idea to monitor the weather forecasts for smog warnings. The summer weather is mostly sunny, although there are often short downpours of rain.
The fall, September and most of October, the weather is usually pleasantly warm (not hot) and fair. As November draws close, the weather cools off and it starts to rain.
Winter in Toronto is gray and messy. Although it snows, rarely do snowstorms leave more than a few inches on the ground. The rain and ice aren't very pleasant though. January is the coldest month with temperatures ranging from -22°C (-8°F) to +16°C (61°F). The average temperature in January is -1.3°C (30°F).
By March, spring is in the air, although the weather may be a bit changeable. The average low temperature is -5°C (23°F) and the average high temperature is 3°C (37°F).
Check today's weather:
City of Toronto Official Site
Capital Cities of Canada
For information on other capital cities in Canada, see Capital Cities in Canada.
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