“Before the real city could be seen it had to be imagined, the way rumours and tall tales were a kind of charting.”
― Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion
An international and multicultural metropolis with a vibrant arts scene and a number of leading industries, Toronto has something to offer just about everyone. Take a look at what makes this city so attractive to young professionals from all over the world. I mean, if it’s good enough for Drake, it’s good enough for the rest of us. Here are some of our favorite reasons to live in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and economic capital.
1. The friendly locals
The stereotype about friendly Canadians still rings true, even in a major urban center like Toronto. Although Torontonians may live at a faster pace than the rest of Canada, they still find time to smile.
2. It’s multicultural
With a motto like “Diversity our strength”, it’s no surprise that Toronto is somewhere you can meet people from all over the world. From historic immigrant communities that have spent decades in the city to the international travelers in for a holiday, Toronto is a beautiful example of what openness to diversity looks like. And thanks to this cultural diversity, you can find a wide range of cuisines, music genres, religious buildings and more all around the city.
3. Convenient travel and getaways
Toronto is a hop, skip and a jump from multiple amazing destinations. Amazing cities like New York, Washington D.C. and Detroit can be reached with short plane rides.
4. It’s Canada’s biggest city
We all know size doesn’t matter. That said, living in the country’s most populous city does have some advantages: public transportation, multiculturalism, diversity, museums, tons of food options… the list goes on.
5. It’s safe and economical
Toronto consistently wins awards for being so lovably liveable. In 2015, The Economist magazine ranked Toronto as the World’s Best Place to Live in their Economist Intelligence Unit. Toronto ranked highly based on its safety, cost of living, business environment, liveability, food security and democracy.
6. Live music is thriving
Toronto is a great place to catch live music. Whether you’re seeing a major act outdoors at the Budweiser Stage (Molson Canadian Amphitheatre) or catching an intimate concert at a DIY space, there’s always somewhere to enjoy good music and hear a variety of genres in Toronto.
7. It’s a global business and finance center
Toronto is major city for global finance and business, not to mention an attractive place for entrepreneurs. Thanks to the many incubators in town, Toronto is actually Canada’s no. 1 start-up hub.
8. Infrastructure projects = more housing and better public transit
Recent investments in high rise condo buildings and the TTC, Toronto’s public transport agency that manages the city’s bus and metro system, are making Toronto an even more attractive place to live.
9. There’s so much to do and see
A long list of restaurants, dance halls, venues, museums, cultural spaces, bars, breweries, bookstores and coffee shops keep Torontonians busy day and night. You never get bored in Toronto, even during their cold winters, as you’re never too far from a cozy cup of coffee or library visit.
10. Hockey and more
In Canada, hockey is the sport to follow. Lucky Torontonians are proud of their team, The Maple Leafs. Basketball fans will enjoy rooting on the Raptors, Canada’s only NBA team who play home games at the SkyDome.
11. Beautiful parks and plazas
Gorgeous public spaces make this wonderful city even better whenever the weather warms up. Don Valley Brick Works Park and Rouge Park are just a couple of Toronto’s stunning green oases.
12. Its leading performing arts scene
Toronto offers many top-notch performing arts spaces. From ballet and opera to musical theatre and live music, a variety of companies put on quality productions for many different people and tastes.
These are only a few of our favorite reasons to live in Toronto. Learn more about how to boost your career in Canada.
Sources: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/toronto, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto, http://www.blogto.com/city/2015/02/10_reasons_to_fall_in_love_with_toronto_right_now/, https://www.narcity.com/ca/on/toronto/lifestyle/20-reasons-why-you-have-to-live-in-toronto-at-least-once-in-your-20s, https://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=374d3f4975c3b410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=535adce9014df310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs, https://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=3aa8dada600f0410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
Photos
1. based on toronto, by paul bica, CC-by-2.0