History of Toronto in Timeline

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital of Ontario. In 2021, the city had a population of 2,794,356, making it the fourth-most populous city in North America. It anchors the Golden Horseshoe, an urban area of over 11 million people, and the Greater Toronto Area, with over 6.7 million. Toronto is a global hub for business, finance, arts, sports, and culture, renowned for its multiculturalism and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

1903: Stockyards Relocation

In 1903, the Stockyards relocated to West Toronto / The Junction.

1904: The Great Toronto Fire of 1904

The Great Toronto Fire of 1904 destroyed a large section of downtown Toronto, including more than 100 buildings. The fire claimed one victim and caused CA$10,387,000 in damage.

1911: Construction of Casa Loma

In 1911, Casa Loma, a castle, was built by Sir Henry Pellat.

1920: Toronto Regional Real Estate Board Formed

In 1920, the Toronto Real Estate Board (now the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board) was formed as a non-profit professional association.

1921: Public Ownership of Toronto Transit

In 1921, the public transit system in Toronto passed into public ownership as the Toronto Transportation Commission, later renamed the Toronto Transit Commission.

1924: Establishment of Badminton and Racquet Club

In 1924, the Badminton and Racquet Club was established in Toronto.

1931: Toronto Coach Terminal Opened

From 1931 to 2021, the Toronto Coach Terminal served as the city's intercity coach hub.

1934: Toronto Stock Exchange Becomes Largest in Canada

By 1934, the Toronto Stock Exchange had become the largest in the country.

1936: Highest Temperature Recorded in Toronto

During the 1936 North American heat wave, the highest temperature ever recorded in Toronto was 40.6 °C (105 °F) on July 8, 9 and 10, 1936.

1950: Orange Order Influence in Toronto

Around 1950, almost every mayor of Toronto was a member of the Orange Order, giving the organization significant influence over municipal politics and administration. The city was sometimes referred to as the "Belfast of Canada" because of Orange influence.

1951: Toronto's Population Exceeds One Million

In 1951, Toronto's population grew to more than one million as large-scale suburbanization began.

1954: Construction on Floodplains Outlawed

After Hurricane Hazel in 1954, construction of buildings on floodplains in Toronto was outlawed, and private lands were bought for conservation.

1954: Formation of Metropolitan Toronto and Hurricane Hazel

In 1954, the City of Toronto and 12 surrounding municipalities were federated into a regional government known as Metropolitan Toronto. In the same year, Hurricane Hazel brought intense winds and flash flooding to the Toronto area, resulting in 81 deaths, nearly 1,900 homeless families, and more than CA$25 million in damage.

1958: Hockey Hall of Fame moves to Toronto

Since 1958, Toronto has been home to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

1959: Completion of St. Lawrence Seaway

In 1959, the completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway gave ships access to the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean.

1967: First Caribana Festival

In 1967, the first Caribana festival was held as part of Canada's Centennial celebrations by the city's Caribbean community.

1967: Municipalities Merged in Metropolitan Toronto

In 1967, the seven smallest municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto were merged with larger neighbors, resulting in a six-municipality configuration.

1971: Toronto's Population Doubles

By 1971, Toronto's population had doubled to two million.

1976: CN Tower Completed

In 1976, the CN Tower was completed at a height of 553.33 metres (1,815 ft 5 in), becoming the world's tallest freestanding structure.

1981: Visible Minority Population in 1981

In 1981, 13.6 percent of Toronto's population belonged to a visible minority group.

1985: Wychwood Park Designated Heritage Conservation District

In 1985, the Wychwood Park neighborhood was designated as an Ontario Heritage Conservation district.

1986: Molson Indy Toronto

In 1986, The Champ Car's Molson Indy Toronto event was known by this name from 1986 to 2007

1990: Gooderham & Worts Distillery Closes

In 1990, the Gooderham & Worts Distillery, a spirits producer, ceased its operations. Today, the site is preserved as the "Distillery District", recognized as the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America.

1991: Previous Record Year for Murders

The previous record year for murders in Toronto was 1991, with 89 homicides and a rate of 3.9 murders per 100,000 people.

1992: Toronto Blue Jays win World Series

In 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays won their first World Series title.

1993: Toronto Blue Jays win World Series

In 1993, the Toronto Blue Jays won their second World Series title.

1994: Union Stockyards Move Out of Toronto

In 1994, the Junction's Union Stockyards relocated from Toronto.

1995: Toronto Raptors Join NBA

In 1995, the Toronto Raptors basketball team joined the NBA.

1996: Toronto's Bid for 1996 Summer Olympics

In 1996, Toronto was a candidate city for the Summer Olympics, but the games were awarded to Atlanta.

1996: Don Valley Brick Works Restoration

In 1996, the Don Valley Brick Works, a former industrial site that opened in 1889, underwent partial restoration as a park and heritage site.

March 1997: Referendum Against Amalgamation

In March 1997, a referendum in all six municipalities produced a vote of more than 3:1 against amalgamation, but the Harris government ignored the results and proceeded with the City of Toronto Act.

1997: Gang-related homicides on the rise

Between 1997 and 2005, over 300 gang-related homicides occurred.

January 1, 1998: Amalgamation into a Single-Tier City of Toronto

On January 1, 1998, Toronto was enlarged through the amalgamation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and its six lower-tier constituent municipalities, forming a single-tier City of Toronto.

1999: Downsview Park Design Competition

In 1999, Downsview Park, a former military base in North York, initiated an international design competition to create Canada's first urban park.

1999: Lowest Number of Homicides

In 1999, Toronto recorded 47 homicides, which was the lowest number the city had recorded since that year until 2011.

1999: January Blizzard of 1999 and Army Involvement

In 1999, after multiple snowstorms, including the January Blizzard that dumped 118 centimetres of snow, North York mayor Mel Lastman called in the Canadian Army to aid snow removal in Toronto.

1999: Toronto Rock in Championship Games

In 1999, the Toronto Rock began their streak of appearing in an NLL-record five straight championship games, lasting from 1999 to 2003.

May 2000: "Tree City" Design Announced

In May 2000, "Tree City" was announced as the winner of the Downsview Park design competition.

2000: Creation of MaRS Discovery District

In 2000, the MaRS Discovery District was created to leverage the research and innovation capabilities within the province of Ontario.

2000: Toronto Condo Construction Boom and Architectural Revival

Since 2000, Toronto has experienced a condo construction boom and architectural revival, with buildings by world-renowned architects opening. The mid-1800s Distillery District has been redeveloped into an arts, culture and entertainment neighborhood.

2001: Language Use in Toronto Workplaces in 2001

In the 2001 Canadian census, the collective varieties of Chinese and Italian were the most widely spoken languages at work in Toronto after English.

2003: SARS Outbreak and Blackout in Toronto

In 2003, Toronto was the center of a major SARS outbreak. From August 14 to 17, 2003, the city was hit by a massive blackout affecting millions.

2003: Toronto Rock in Championship Games

In 2003, the Toronto Rock completed their streak of appearing in an NLL-record five straight championship games from 1999 to 2003.

2005: Year of the Gun

In 2005, Toronto media dubbed it the "Year of the Gun" due to a record number of gun-related homicides, with 52 out of a total of 80 homicides being gun-related. Gang related incidents were also on the rise, with over 300 gang-related homicides between 1997 and 2005.

2006: Foreign-Born Population in Toronto in 2006

In 2006, the city's foreign-born persons comprised 49.9 percent of the population.

2006: Homicides Decreased

In 2006, the total number of homicides in Toronto decreased to 70, but nearly 2,000 people were victims of violent gun-related crimes, representing about one-quarter of the national total.

2006: Four-Year Terms for Toronto Mayor and City Councillors

Until the 2006 municipal election, the mayor and city councillors served three-year terms. After this, they began serving four-year terms.

2007: Toronto's Banking System Ranked Safest

Between 2007, Toronto's banking system was ranked as the safest in the world according to the World Economic Forum.

2007: Homicides Involving Guns

In 2007, 86 homicides were committed in Toronto, with approximately half of them involving guns.

2007: Molson Indy Toronto

In 2007, The Champ Car's Molson Indy Toronto event was known by this name from 1986 to 2007

2007: Toronto FC Enters MLS

In 2007, Toronto FC entered the league as an expansion team.

2007: Burj Khalifa Surpasses CN Tower

In 2007, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpassed the CN Tower as the world's tallest freestanding structure.

2007: International Bowl Held in Toronto

In 2007, the International Bowl, an NCAA sanctioned post-season college football game, began being played at Rogers Centre annually in January, continuing until 2010.

2008: Bills Toronto Series Begins

In 2008, Ted Rogers leased the Buffalo Bills to have them play eight home games in Toronto between 2008 and 2013.

2008: Toronto's Bid for 2008 Summer Olympics

In 2008, Toronto was a candidate city for the Summer Olympics, but the games were awarded to Beijing.

2008: Toronto Public Library's High Circulation Rate

In 2008, the Toronto Public Library had the highest circulation per capita compared to any other public library system globally.

March 6, 2009: 175th Anniversary of the City of Toronto

On March 6, 2009, the city celebrated the 175th anniversary of its inception as the City of Toronto in 1834.

2010: Toronto Hosts G20 Summit

In 2010, Toronto hosted the 4th G20 summit, which included the largest security operation in Canadian history. Large-scale protests and rioting led to over 1,000 arrests.

2010: Immigrant Arrivals in Toronto in 2010

In 2010, it was estimated that over 100,000 immigrants arrived in the Greater Toronto Area each year.

2010: International Bowl Held in Toronto

In 2010, the International Bowl was played for the final time at Rogers Centre as the NCAA sanctioned post-season college football game, concluding the annual event that began in 2007.

2010: Waste Diversion Task Force 2010

The Waste Diversion Task Force 2010 was one of the subcommittees and advisory committees appointed by the city council, made up of city councillors and private citizen volunteers.

November 2011: Line 5 Eglinton Construction Begins

In November 2011, construction began on Line 5 Eglinton.

2011: Toronto as a Major Film Production Center in 2011

As of 2011, Toronto ranked as the third-largest production center for film and television, following Los Angeles and New York City.

2011: Visible Minority Population 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, representing a nearly 26% drop from the previous year. This was the lowest number of homicides recorded in the city since 1999.

2011: Impoverished Seniors Increase 2011

The number of impoverished seniors in Toronto increased from 10.5 per cent in 2011.

2012: Flat Homicide Rate

From 2012 to 2015, the homicide rate in Toronto remained nearly flat, with 57-59 homicides each year.

2012: Closure of Ontario Place

In the spring of 2012, Ontario Place was closed after declining attendance.

July 8, 2013: Severe Flash Flooding in Toronto

On July 8, 2013, severe flash flooding hit Toronto after intense thunderstorms, leaving 450,000 people without power. Toronto Pearson International Airport reported 126 mm of rain fell over five hours.

2013: GO Transit Passenger Numbers

As of 2013, GO Transit carried over 250,000 passengers every weekday and 57 million annually.

2013: Bills Toronto Series Ends

In 2013, Ted Rogers' lease of the Buffalo Bills ended after eight home games were played in Toronto between 2008 and 2013.

2013: Toronto's 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.

October 2014: Average Monthly Social Assistance Caseload Jan-Oct 2014

The average monthly social assistance caseload for January to October 2014 in Toronto was 92,771.

2014: Toronto's Banking System Ranked Safest

Until 2014, Toronto's banking system was ranked as the safest in the world according to the World Economic Forum.

June 2015: UP Express Train Service Begins

In June 2015, the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) train service began carrying passengers, providing a direct link between Pearson International Airport and Union Station.

July 2015: Toronto Hosts Pan American Games

In July 2015, Toronto hosted the 2015 Pan American Games.

August 2015: Toronto Hosts Parapan American Games

In August 2015, Toronto hosted the 2015 Parapan American Games.

November 6, 2015: USL W-League Ceases Operation

On November 6, 2015, the USL W-League announced that it would cease operations ahead of the 2016 season.

2015: Flat Homicide Rate

From 2012 to 2015, the homicide rate in Toronto remained nearly flat, with 57-59 homicides each year.

2015: Line 6 Finch West Funded

In 2015, the Ontario government promised to fund Line 6 Finch West.

July 2016: Toronto's Unemployment Rate in July 2016

As of July 2016, Toronto's unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent.

2016: Visible Minority Population in 2016

In 2016, 51.5 per cent of the residents of the city proper belonged to a visible minority group, with the largest groups being South Asian, East Asian, and Black.

2016: Daily Hive Opens Toronto Office

In 2016, Daily Hive, Western Canada's largest online-only publication, opened its Toronto office after acquiring Torontoist from Gothamist.

2016: Toronto Hosts 65th 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 Increase

In 2016, Toronto recorded 75 homicides, marking the first time in over eight years that the number had reached this level.

2016: USL W-League ceased operation

In 2016, USL W-League ceased operation

2016: Toronto's Age and Gender Demographics in 2016

In 2016, persons aged 14 years and under made up 14.5 per cent of Toronto's population, and those aged 65 and over made up 15.6 per cent. The median age was 39.3 years, with a gender distribution of 48 per cent male and 52 per cent female.

2016: Toronto CMA Population in 2016

In 2016, the Toronto CMA (census metropolitan area) had a population of 5,928,040.

2016: Toronto's Ethnic Origins in 2016

In 2016, the three most commonly reported ethnic origins in Toronto were Chinese (12.5 per cent), English (12.3 per cent) and Canadian (12.0 per cent).

2016: Mandarin Proficiency in Toronto in 2016

In the 2016 census, approximately 55 per cent of respondents who reported proficiency in a Chinese language reported knowledge of Mandarin.

2017: Toronto FC Wins 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 experienced a drop of 10 murders, closing the year with 65 homicides and a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 population.

2017: Toronto Tech Firms Offer Thousands of Jobs

In 2017, Toronto tech firms offered almost 30,000 jobs.

2017: Toronto Wolfpack Begin Play

In 2017, the Toronto Wolfpack began play in the Rugby Football League's League One competition.

2017: Local Purchasing Power in Toronto Mid-2017

In mid-2017, Toronto's local purchasing power was the sixth lowest in Canada.

2018: Record Number of Homicides

In 2018, Toronto reached a record 98 homicides, including fatalities from the Toronto van attack and the Danforth shooting, resulting in a homicide rate of approximately 3.6 per 100,000 people.

2018: Toronto Tourism in 2018

In 2018, Toronto saw 27.5 million tourists, which resulted in $10.3 billion in economic activity.

2018: Toronto City Council Comprises 25 Councillors

Since the 2018 municipal election, the Toronto City Council has comprised 25 councillors.

May 2019: Canadian Women's Hockey League Ceases Operations

In May 2019, the Canadian Women's Hockey League ceased operations.

2019: Toronto Fastest-Growing City in North America

A 2019 study showed that Toronto was the fastest-growing city in North America, having added 77,435 people between July 2017 and July 2018.

2019: Homicides Drop, 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: Government of Ontario Released Transit Plan

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 Airport.

2019: Toronto Raptors Win First NBA Title

In 2019, the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA title.

2020: Expected Completion of New Union Station Bus Terminal

Construction on a new Union Station Bus Terminal was underway, with an expected completion in 2020.

2020: Toronto Wolfpack Withdraws 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, resulting in a rate of approximately 2.6 per 100,000 people.

2020: City of Toronto Operating Budget 2020

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.

2020: Toronto Six Franchise

In 2020, the Toronto Six, the first Canadian franchise in the National Women's Hockey League, began play for the 2020–21 season.

2021: Religious Groups in Toronto

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Toronto included: [no specific details provided in the text for summary].

2021: Increase in Homicides

In 2021, Toronto experienced an increase in homicides, with the city recording 85 murders, giving it a homicide rate of 3.04 per 100,000 people.

2021: Toronto Population in 2021

In 2021, Toronto's population was 2,794,356, making it the fourth-most populous city in North America. The Golden Horseshoe, anchored by Toronto, had a population of 9,765,188, while the Greater Toronto Area had a population of 6,712,341.

2021: Golden Horseshoe Population in 2021

In 2021, the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration surrounding the western end of 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: Team Wolfpack to Play in North American Rugby League

In 2021, the rugby club's ownership changed, and 'Team Wolfpack' prepared to play in the newly formed North American Rugby League tournament.

2021: Immigrant Population in Toronto in 2021

In the 2021 census, immigrants comprised 1,286,145 persons, or 46.6 per cent of Toronto's total population, with top countries of origin including the Philippines, China, and India.

2022: Homeless deaths in Toronto

In 2022, Toronto experienced the deaths of 187 homeless individuals, with drug toxicity being the primary cause in 47% of cases. Toronto Public Health responded to this urgent issue by implementing supervised drug consumption sites and advocating for personal drug possession allowances.

2022: Toronto Listed as Third Largest Tech Hub

In 2022, a New York Times columnist listed Toronto as the third largest tech hub in North America, following the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City.

2022: Decrease in Murders

In 2022, a decrease in murders happened, with 71 being reported, resulting in a murder rate of 2.5 per 100,000.

2023: Slight Increase in Homicides

In 2023, Toronto reported a slight increase in homicides with 73 being reported, giving the city a murder rate of 2.6 per 100,000 people, along with a record 12,143 reports of auto theft in the year.

2023: Toronto Ranked as a Top Startup Scene

In 2023, Toronto was ranked as the 17th best startup scene in the world.

April 2024: Downsview Airport Ceased Operations

Downsview Airport permanently ceased operations in April 2024. It was owned by de Havilland Canada, serving as the Bombardier Aviation aircraft factory.

2024: Increase in Homicides

In 2024, Toronto saw another increase in homicides, with 85 being reported in the year, giving the city a homicide rate of around 3.04 per 100,000 people.