History of Toronto in Timeline
Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital of Ontario. It is the fourth-most populous city in North America with a population of 2,794,356 in 2021. Toronto anchors the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration around Lake Ontario. The Toronto census metropolitan area had an estimated population of 7,106,379 in 2025. It is an international center for business, finance, arts, sports, and culture, and is considered one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities globally.
20 hours ago : Shooting at US Consulate in Toronto: Suspect vehicle image released by police.
A shooting occurred at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, with no injuries reported. Police have released an image of the suspect vehicle as they investigate the incident.
1903: Stockyards Relocation
In 1903, the Stockyards relocated to the outskirts of Toronto, specifically West Toronto / The Junction.
1904: Great Toronto Fire of 1904
In 1954, a half-century after the Great Fire of 1904, disaster struck the city again when Hurricane Hazel hit Toronto.
1911: Casa Loma Built
In 1911, Casa Loma, a castle, was built by Sir Henry Pellat.
1920: Formation of Toronto Real Estate Board
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), formerly the Toronto Real Estate Board, was formed in 1920.
1921: Public Transit System
In 1921, the public transit system passed into public ownership as the Toronto Transportation Commission, later renamed the Toronto Transit Commission.
1924: Badminton and Racquet Club established
In 1924, the Badminton and Racquet Club was established in Toronto.
1931: Toronto Coach Terminal Opened
The Toronto Coach Terminal served as the city's intercity coach hub from 1931 to 2021.
1934: Toronto Stock Exchange
By 1934, the Toronto Stock Exchange had become the largest in the country.
1936: Highest Temperature Recorded
The highest temperature ever recorded in Toronto was 40.6 °C (105 °F) on July 8, 9 and 10, 1936, during the 1936 North American heat wave.
1950: Orange Order Influence
By 1950, almost every mayor of Toronto was a member of the Orange Order between 1850 and 1950, and the city was sometimes referred to as the "Belfast of Canada" because of Orange influence in municipal politics and administration.
1951: Population Growth
In 1951, Toronto's population grew to more than one million when large-scale suburbanization began.
1954: Hurricane Hazel and Floodplain Restrictions
After Hurricane Hazel in 1954, construction of buildings on floodplains was outlawed, and private lands were bought for conservation.
1954: Federation into Metropolitan Toronto
In 1954, the City of Toronto and 12 surrounding municipalities were federated into a regional government known as Metropolitan Toronto. In that year, Hurricane Hazel hit Toronto.
1958: Hockey Hall of Fame established
In 1958, Toronto became home to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
1959: Construction of Gooderham and Worts Distillery
From 1959 to 1961, Gooderham and Worts built a distillery that became the country's largest whisky factory.
1959: Completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway
The completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 gave ships access to the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean.
1961: Completion of Gooderham and Worts Distillery
From 1959 to 1961, Gooderham and Worts built a distillery that became the country's largest whisky factory.
1967: Municipalities Merged
In 1967, the seven smallest municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto were merged with larger neighbours, resulting in a six-municipality configuration.
1967: First Caribana
The first Caribana took place in 1967 when the city's Caribbean community celebrated Canada's Centennial.
1971: Population Doubled
By 1971, Toronto's population had doubled to two million.
1976: CN Tower Completion
In 1976, the CN Tower, a telecommunications and tourism hub, was completed at a height of 553.33 metres.
1976: Toronto hosted Summer Paralympics
Toronto hosted the Summer Paralympics in 1976.
1981: Visible Minority Groups in 1981
In 1981, 13.6 per cent of the residents of the city proper belonged to a visible minority group.
1985: Wychwood Park Designated Heritage Conservation District
In 1985, the Wychwood Park neighbourhood was designated as an Ontario Heritage Conservation district.
1986: Grand Prix of Toronto
From 1986 to 2025, Toronto used to host the Grand Prix of Toronto, part of the IndyCar Series schedule, held on a street circuit at Exhibition Place until it was moved to Markham.
1990: Gooderham & Worts Distillery Production Ends
In 1990, the Gooderham & Worts Distillery ceased production of spirits. It is now preserved as the "Distillery District."
1991: Previous Record Year for Murders
Prior to 2018, the record year for murders in Toronto was 1991, with 89 homicides at a rate of 3.9 murders per 100,000 people.
1992: Blue Jays won World Series
The Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992.
1993: Blue Jays won World Series
The Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1993.
1994: Union Stockyards Move Out of Toronto
In 1994, the Junction's Union Stockyards moved out of Toronto.
1995: Raptors entered the NBA
In 1995, the Toronto Raptors basketball team entered the NBA.
1996: Don Valley Brick Works restored
The Don Valley Brick Works, a former industrial site that opened in 1889, was partly restored as a park and heritage site in 1996.
1996: Toronto candidate for Summer Olympics
Toronto was a candidate city for the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Atlanta.
March 1997: Referendum Against Amalgamation
In March 1997, a referendum in all six municipalities produced a vote of more than 3:1 against amalgamation.
1997: Gang-Related Incidents on the Rise
Between 1997 and 2005, over 300 gang-related homicides occurred in Toronto, leading to the Ontario government developing an anti-gun strategy.
January 1, 1998: Toronto Enlarged
On January 1, 1998, Toronto was greatly enlarged as an amalgamation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and its six lower-tier constituent municipalities.
1998: Toronto Expanded Through Annexation
In 1998, Toronto's city proper expanded past its original limits through both annexation and amalgamation to its current area of 631 square kilometres (244 square miles).
1998: Toronto Ice Storm of 1998
In July 8, 2013, severe flash flooding hit Toronto and compared to the severity of the 1998 Ice Storm.
1999: January Blizzard of 1999
After multiple snowstorms, including the January Blizzard of 1999, Mel Lastman called in the Canadian Army to aid snow removal.
1999: Downsview Park Design Competition
In 1999, Downsview Park, a former military base in North York, initiated an international design competition to realize its vision of creating Canada's first urban park.
1999: Lowest Number of Homicides Since 1999
In 1999, Toronto recorded 47 homicides, which was the lowest number since 2011 where there were 51.
1999: Toronto Rock appeared in NLL Championship Game
In 1999, the Toronto Rock appeared in an NLL-record five straight championship games from 1999 to 2003.
2000: MaRS Discovery District created
In 2000, the MaRS Discovery District was created to capitalize on research and innovation in Ontario.
2000: Condo Construction Boom and Architectural Revival
Since 2000, Toronto has experienced a condo construction boom and architectural revival, marked by buildings designed by world-renowned architects.
2001: Languages Spoken at Work in 2001
In the 2001 Canadian census, the collective varieties of Chinese and Italian were the most widely spoken languages at work after English.
2003: SARS Outbreak and Blackout of 2003
In 2003, Toronto became the centre of a major SARS outbreak. From August 14 to 17, 2003, the city was hit by a massive blackout.
2003: Toronto Rock appeared in NLL Championship Game
In 2003, the Toronto Rock appeared in an NLL-record five straight championship games from 1999 to 2003.
2005: "Year of the Gun"
In 2005, Toronto media coined the term "Year of the Gun" because of a record number of gun-related homicides, with 52 out of 80 homicides in total.
2006: Foreign-Born Population in 2006
In 2006, the city's foreign-born persons comprised 49.9 per cent of the population.
2006: Homicides Drop
In 2006, the total number of homicides in Toronto dropped to 70. Nearly 2,000 people in Toronto were victims of a violent gun-related crime, which was about one-quarter of the national total.
2006: Toronto mayoral term length
Until the 2006 municipal election, the mayor and city councillors served three-year terms.
2007: Safest Banking System Ranking
Between 2007 and 2014, Toronto was ranked as the safest banking system in the world according to the World Economic Forum.
2007: International Bowl played at Rogers Centre
From 2007 to 2010, the International Bowl, an NCAA sanctioned post-season college football game, was played at Rogers Centre annually in January.
2007: Gun Violence
In 2007, 86 homicides were committed in Toronto, roughly half of which involved guns.
2007: CN Tower Surpassed by Burj Khalifa
In 2007, the CN Tower was surpassed as the world's tallest freestanding structure by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
2007: Molson Indy Toronto
Previously sanctioned by Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), The Grand Prix of Toronto was the Molson Indy Toronto until 2007.
2007: Toronto FC entered the MLS
Toronto FC entered the league as an expansion team in 2007.
2008: Buffalo Bills played home games in Toronto
Beginning in 2008, the Buffalo Bills played eight home games in Toronto between 2008 and 2013.
2008: Toronto Public Library ranked internationally
In 2008, the Toronto Public Library averaged a higher circulation per capita than any other public library system internationally.
2008: Toronto candidate for Summer Olympics
Toronto was a candidate city for the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Beijing.
March 6, 2009: 175th Anniversary
On March 6, 2009, the city celebrated the 175th anniversary of its inception as the City of Toronto in 1834.
2010: International Bowl played at Rogers Centre
From 2007 to 2010, the International Bowl, an NCAA sanctioned post-season college football game, was played at Rogers Centre annually in January.
2010: Toronto hosted the G20 summit
In 2010, Toronto hosted the 4th G20 summit, which included the largest security operation in Canadian history. There were large-scale protests and rioting, resulting in law enforcement arresting more than 1,000 people.
2010: Immigrant Arrivals in 2010
In 2010, it was estimated over 100,000 immigrants arrived in the Greater Toronto Area each year.
2010: Waste Diversion Task Force
In 2010, the Waste Diversion Task Force 2010 was one of the subcommittees and advisory committees appointed by the city council.
2010: Vancouver Winter Olympics
The 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto were double the size of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.
November 2011: Line 5 Eglinton Construction Begins
Construction on Line 5 Eglinton, an east–west light rail line, began in November 2011.
2011: Toronto as a production center
As of 2011, Toronto ranks as the third-largest production centre for film and television after Los Angeles and New York City.
2011: Visible Minority Groups in 2011
In 2011, 49.1 per cent of the residents of the city proper belonged to a visible minority group.
2011: Murder Rate Plummets
In 2011, Toronto's murder rate plummeted to 51 murders—nearly a 26% drop from the previous year.
2011: Impoverished Seniors in 2011
The number of impoverished seniors was 10.5 per cent in 2011.
2012: Homicide rates remain steady
From 2012 to 2015, Toronto's homicide rates remained nearly flat, with 57–59 homicides each year.
2012: Ontario Place closed
In the spring of 2012, Ontario Place closed after declining attendance, though the RBC Amphitheatre and harbour continued to operate.
July 8, 2013: Severe Flash Flooding in 2013
On July 8, 2013, severe flash flooding hit Toronto after an afternoon of slow-moving, intense thunderstorms.
2013: GO Transit ridership
As of 2013, GO Transit carries over 250,000 passengers every weekday and 57 million annually, with a majority of them travelling to or from Union Station.
2013: Buffalo Bills played home games in Toronto
The Buffalo Bills played eight home games in Toronto between 2008 and 2013.
2013: Child Poverty Rate in 2013
Toronto's 2013 child poverty rate was 28.6 per cent, the highest among large Canadian cities of 500,000 or more residents.
June 2014: Toronto hosted WorldPride in 2014
In June 2014, Toronto hosted WorldPride.
October 2014: Average Monthly Social Assistance Caseload
The average monthly social assistance caseload for January to October 2014 was 92,771.
2014: Safest Banking System Ranking
Between 2007 and 2014, Toronto was ranked as the safest banking system in the world according to the World Economic Forum.
June 2015: Union Pearson Express Began Passenger Service
The Union Pearson Express (UP Express) train service began carrying passengers between Pearson International Airport and Union Station in June 2015.
July 2015: Toronto hosted the Pan American Games
Toronto hosted the 2015 Pan American Games in July 2015.
August 2015: Toronto hosted the Parapan American Games
Toronto hosted the 2015 Parapan American Games in August 2015.
November 6, 2015: USL W-League to cease operation
On November 6, 2015, the USL W-League announced that it would cease operation ahead of the 2016 season.
2015: Homicide rates remain steady
From 2012 to 2015, Toronto's homicide rates remained nearly flat, with 57–59 homicides each year.
2015: Toronto hosted the Pan and Parapan American Games
In 2015, Toronto hosted the Pan and Parapan American Games.
July 2016: Unemployment Rate in July 2016
Toronto's unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent as of July 2016.
2016: 2016 Census Metropolitan Area Population
According to the 2016 census, the Toronto CMA had a population of 5,928,040.
2016: Proficiency in Mandarin in 2016
Approximately 55 per cent of respondents who reported proficiency in a Chinese language reported knowledge of Mandarin in the 2016 census.
2016: Daily Hive Opens Toronto Office
Daily Hive, Western Canada's largest online-only publication, opened its Toronto office in 2016 after acquiring Torontoist from Gothamist.
2016: 2016 Population
In 2016 the population of Toronto was 2,731,571 according to the census.
2016: Visible Minority Groups in 2016
In 2016, 51.5 per cent of the residents of the city proper belonged to a visible minority group. The largest groups were South Asian, East Asian, and Black.
2016: Toronto hosted NBA All-Star game
In 2016, Toronto hosted the 65th NBA All-Star game, the first to be held outside the United States.
2016: Homicides Rise
In 2016, Toronto saw a rise in homicides, reaching 75 for the first time in over eight years.
2016: Age and Gender Demographics
In 2016, persons aged 14 years and under made up 14.5 per cent of the population, and those aged 65 and over made up 15.6 per cent. The median age was 39.3 years. The gender population was 48 per cent male and 52 per cent female.
2016: Ethnic Origins in 2016
In 2016, the three most commonly reported ethnic origins overall were Chinese, English, and Canadian.
2016: USL W-League ceases operation
The USL W-League ceased operation ahead of the 2016 season.
July 2017: Toronto Growth
Between July 2017 and July 2018, Toronto was the fastest-growing city in North America.
2017: Union Station Bus Terminal Construction Begins
Construction on a new Union Station Bus Terminal began in 2017.
2017: Toronto FC won MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield
In 2017, Toronto FC won the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield for best regular season record.
2017: Homicides Drop
In 2017, Toronto had a drop of 10 murders, closing the year at 65, with a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 population.
2017: Toronto tech firms offered jobs
In 2017, Toronto tech firms offered almost 30,000 jobs, surpassing the combined job offerings of the San Francisco Bay area, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
2017: Local Purchasing Power in 2017
In mid-2017, the local purchasing power in Toronto was the sixth lowest in Canada.
July 2018: Population Growth
Between July 2017 and July 2018, Toronto added 77,435 people.
2018: Record Number of Homicides
In 2018, Toronto experienced a record 98 homicides, including 14 fatalities from the Toronto van attack and the Danforth shooting, resulting in a homicide rate of around 3.6 per 100,000 people.
2018: Toronto tourism generated revenue
In 2018, Toronto welcomed 27.5 million tourists, which generated $10.3 billion in economic activity.
2018: Toronto City Council
Since the 2018 municipal election, the Toronto City Council comprises 25 councillors.
May 2019: Canadian Women's Hockey League ceased operations
The Canadian Women's Hockey League ceased operations in May 2019.
2019: Toronto Fastest Growing City
In 2019, a study by Toronto Metropolitan University showed that Toronto was the fastest-growing city in North America.
2019: Homicides Drop but Shooting Incidents Increase
In 2019, homicides in Toronto dropped to 80 (a rate of 2.9 per 100,000 people), but shooting incidents increased to an all-time high of 492.
2019: Transit Plan Released
In 2019, the Government of Ontario released a transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area, including a new 16-kilometre (9.9 mi) Ontario Line, Line 1 extension to Richmond Hill Centre, a Line 2 extension to Sheppard Avenue / McCowan Road to replace Line 3, and an extension for Line 5 Eglinton to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
2019: Raptors won first NBA title
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA title.
January 2020: COVID-19 in Toronto
In January 2020, the COVID-19 first arrived in Canada in Toronto and the resulting pandemic killed 4,940 people in the city within four years.
2020: Union Station Bus Terminal Construction Completed
Construction on a new Union Station Bus Terminal was completed in 2020.
2020: Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from Super League
Due to COVID-19 restrictions on international travel, the Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the Super League in 2020.
2020: Decrease in Homicides
In 2020, Toronto saw another decrease in homicides, with a total of 71 murders for the year, a rate of around 2.6 per 100,000 people.
2020: Operating budget approved
In 2020, the City of Toronto had an approved operating budget of CA$13.53 billion and a ten-year capital budget and plan of CA$43.5 billion. The city's revenues include subsidies from the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, 33 per cent from property tax, 6 per cent from the land transfer tax and the rest from other tax revenues and user fees. The city's largest operating expenditures are the Toronto Transit Commission at CA$2.14 billion, and the Toronto Police Service at CA$1.22 billion.
2020: Original scheduled finish for Line 5
Line 5 Eglinton was originally scheduled to finish construction by 2020, but was delayed several times to 2026.
2020: Toronto Six began play
The Toronto Six, the first Canadian franchise in the National Women's Hockey League, began play with the 2020–21 season.
2021: Religious Groups in 2021
According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Toronto included:
2021: 2021 Census Metropolitan Area Population
According to the 2021 census, the Toronto CMA had a population of 6,202,225.
2021: Toronto Population
By 2024, Toronto's population surged to an estimated 3.28 million, a 17% increase from the 2021 census population.
2021: Increase in Homicides
In 2021, Toronto experienced an increase in homicides, with the city murders increasing to 85, giving Toronto a homicide rate of 3.04 per 100,000 people.
2021: Golden Horseshoe Population in 2021
In 2021, the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration around Lake Ontario, had a population of 9,765,188 people.
2021: Toronto Coach Terminal Decommissioned
In 2021, the Toronto Coach Terminal was decommissioned after serving as the city's intercity coach hub since 1931.
2021: Immigrant Population in 2021
The 2021 census reported that immigrants comprised 1,286,145 persons or 46.6 per cent of the total population of Toronto. The top countries of origin were Philippines, China, and India.
2021: Toronto Wolfpack ownership changed
The Toronto Wolfpack ownership changed in 2021, and the team will play in the newly formed North American Rugby League tournament.
2022: Homeless deaths in Toronto
In 2022, 187 homeless people died in Toronto, with drug toxicity as the leading cause.
2022: Decrease in Homicides
In 2022, there was a decrease in murders with 71 being reported in Toronto (a murder rate of 2.5 per 100,000).
2023: Slight Increase in Homicides and Record Auto Theft
In 2023, Toronto saw a slight increase in homicides with 73 being reported (a murder rate of 2.6 per 100,000), along with a record 12,143 reports of auto theft.
2023: Toronto startup scene ranked
In 2023, the city of Toronto was ranked as the 17th best startup scene in the world.
April 2024: Downsview Airport Ceases Operations
The Downsview Airport permanently ceased operations in April 2024. Previously, it was owned by de Havilland Canada serving as the Bombardier Aviation aircraft factory.
2024: Cargo Volume at the Port of Toronto
As of 2024, the Port of Toronto in the Toronto Harbour receives 2 million tons of cargo annually.
2024: Toronto Population
By 2024, Toronto's population surged to an estimated 3.28 million, a 17% increase from the 2021 census population.
2024: Toronto tourism economic activity
In 2018, tourism economic activity was $10.3 billion, which is about ~$12.6 billion in 2024.
2024: Community Care and Recovery Act
In 2024 the Community Care and Recovery Act was passed by the Ontario government and Toronto Public Health was directed to close its supervised consumption sites.
2024: Annual Ridership of TTC bus
In 2024, The TTC bus system had an annual ridership of over 389 million trips.
2024: Toronto Island Ferry Passengers
In 2024, ferries operated by the city carried over 1.4 million passengers to the Toronto Islands.
2024: Argonauts won Grey Cup
In 2024, the Toronto Argonauts won their most recent Grey Cup Canadian championship title.
2024: Estimated Golden Horseshoe Population
In 2024, the estimated population of the Golden Horseshoe is 11,139,265 people.
2024: Increase in Homicides
In 2024, there was another increase in homicides with 85 being reported, giving the city a homicide rate of around 3.04 per 100,000 people.
April 1, 2025: Toronto Public Health no longer offers supervised consumption services
As of April 1, 2025, Toronto Public Health no longer offers supervised consumption services.
2025: Toronto's Estimated Population in 2025
As of 2025, the Toronto census metropolitan area had an estimated population of 7,106,379, and the Golden Horseshoe area had an estimated population of 11,198,136.
2025: Grand Prix of Toronto
From 1986 to 2025, Toronto used to host the Grand Prix of Toronto, part of the IndyCar Series schedule, held on a street circuit at Exhibition Place until it was moved to Markham.
2025: Damage equivalent in 2025
In 1954, Hurricane Hazel caused more than CA$25,000,000 in damage, which is equivalent to $291,134,752 in 2025.
2025: Blue Jays lost World Series
In 2025, the Blue Jays lost the World Series.
2025: Population Decrease
In 2025, the city's population began dropping as Canada experienced its largest population decrease in history.
2025: Equivalent Damage in 2025
The Great Toronto Fire of 1904 caused CA$10,387,000 in damage which is equivalent to $390,356,450 in 2025.
2025: Line 6 Finch West light rail line opens
The Line 6 Finch West light rail line opened in 2025.
2026: Line 5 Eglinton Delayed
Line 5 Eglinton was originally scheduled to finish construction by 2020, but was delayed several times to 2026.
2026: Toronto Tempo to begin play
The Toronto Tempo of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) will begin play in 2026.
2026: Toronto to host FIFA World Cup matches
Toronto was named as one of 16 cities in North America to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2028: East Harbour Transit Hub Slated to Open
The East Harbour Transit Hub is slated to open in 2028.
2030: Electrification of GO Transit rail lines
Metrolinx is currently implementing Regional Express Rail into its GO Transit network and plans to electrify many of its rail lines by 2030.
2031: Projected Visible Minority Population in 2031
Visible minorities are projected to increase to 63 per cent of the city's population by 2031.
2040: Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Target
By 2040, the Toronto City Council aims to achieve a net-zero carbon emissions target through the TransformTO climate action plan.
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