History of Toronto in Timeline

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital of Ontario. It's the anchor of the Golden Horseshoe, a large urban area around Lake Ontario. The city is a major international hub for business, finance, arts, sports, and culture. Known for its multiculturalism, Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan cities globally.

1903: Stockyards relocated in 1903

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

1904: The Great Fire of 1904

The Great Fire of 1904 destroyed a large amount of industry in downtown Toronto.

1911: Casa Loma built in 1911

Casa Loma, a castle, was built in 1911 by Sir Henry Pellatt.

1920: Formation of TRREB

In 1920, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) was formed.

1921: Public transit becomes public property in 1921

In 1921, the public transit system became publicly owned 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, adding to the city's historic sports clubs.

1931: Toronto Coach Terminal Opens

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

1934: Toronto Stock Exchange becomes largest in Canada in 1934

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

1936: Record High Temperature

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

1950: Orange Order influence in Toronto until 1950

Until 1950, almost every mayor of Toronto was a member of the Orange Order. This gave the Orange Order significant influence over Toronto society, and the city was sometimes referred to as the "Belfast of Canada".

1951: Toronto population exceeds one million in 1951

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

1954: Floodplain Construction Outlawed

In 1954, after Hurricane Hazel, construction of buildings on floodplains was outlawed, and private lands were bought for conservation.

1954: Metropolitan Toronto federated in 1954

In 1954, the City of Toronto and 12 surrounding municipalities were federated into a regional government known as Metropolitan Toronto to manage services that crossed municipal boundaries. In 1954 Hurricane Hazel killed 81 people, left 1,900 families homeless, and caused CA$25 million in damage.

1958: Hockey Hall of Fame Established in Toronto

In 1958, Toronto became the home of the Hockey Hall of Fame, solidifying the city's connection to hockey history.

1959: Completion of the 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 (now known as Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival) took place as the city's Caribbean community celebrated Canada's Centennial. The festival was primarily based on the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.

1967: Municipalities merged in 1967

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

1971: Toronto population doubles by 1971

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

1976: Completion of the CN Tower

In 1976, the CN Tower was completed, standing at 553.33 metres (1,815 ft 5 in). It was the world's tallest freestanding structure until 2007.

1981: Visible Minority Groups in Toronto

In 1981, 13.6 per cent of the residents of Toronto 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 in 1985.

1986: Molson Indy Toronto Established

In 1986, the Champ Car's Molson Indy Toronto was established.

1990: Gooderham & Worts Distillery ceases production in 1990

The Gooderham & Worts Distillery produced spirits until 1990 and is preserved today as the "Distillery District".

1991: Previous Record Year for Murders

In 1991, Toronto had 89 murders, which was the record at the time, resulting in a rate of 3.9 murders per 100,000 people.

1992: Blue Jays Win the World Series

In 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays won their first World Series title, marking a significant achievement in the city's baseball history.

1993: Blue Jays Win Second World Series

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

1994: Union Stockyards moved out of Toronto in 1994

The Junction's Union Stockyards moved out of Toronto in 1994.

1995: Raptors enter the NBA

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

1996: Toronto Olympic Bid unsuccessful

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

1996: Restoration of Don Valley Brick Works

In 1996, the Don Valley Brick Works, a former industrial site that opened in 1889, was partly restored as a park and heritage site.

March 1997: Referendum against amalgamation in March 1997

In March 1997, a referendum in all six municipalities produced a vote of more than 3:1 against amalgamation, which was later ignored by the Harris government.

1997: Rise of Gang-Related Incidents

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

January 1, 1998: Toronto "megacity" amalgamation on January 1, 1998

On January 1, 1998, Toronto was greatly 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: January Blizzard of 1999

Following multiple snowstorms in 1999, including the January Blizzard, Toronto mayor 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: Toronto saw 47 murders

In 1999, Toronto saw 47 murders.

1999: Toronto Rock's Championship Streak Begins

In 1999, the Toronto Rock began a streak of appearing in an NLL-record five straight championship games.

May 2000: "Tree City" Winner Announcement

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

2000: Condo construction boom and architectural revival

Since 2000, Toronto has experienced a condo construction boom and architectural revival, with buildings designed by world-renowned architects.

2000: Creation of MaRS Discovery District

The MaRS Discovery District was created in 2000 to capitalize on the research and innovation strength of the province of Ontario.

2001: Languages spoken at work

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

2003: SARS outbreak and Blackout in 2003

In 2003, Toronto was the center of a major SARS outbreak, and was hit by a massive blackout from August 14 to 17.

2003: Toronto Rock's Championship Streak Ends

In 2003, the Toronto Rock's streak of appearing in an NLL-record five straight championship games ended.

2005: Toronto's "Year of the Gun"

In 2005, Toronto media coined the term "Year of the Gun" because of a record number of gun-related homicides, 52 out of 80 homicides in total.

2006: Foreign-born population

In 2006, foreign-born persons comprised 49.9 per cent of Toronto's population.

2006: Homicides Dropped to 70 in Toronto

In 2006, the total number of homicides dropped to 70 in Toronto.

2006: Mayoral and City Councillor Term Length Extended

Until the 2006 municipal election, the mayor and city councillors served three-year terms.

2007: Safest banking system

Between 2007 and 2014, Toronto was ranked as the safest banking system in the world according to the World Economic Forum.

2007: 86 homicides were committed in Toronto

In 2007, 86 homicides were committed in Toronto, roughly half of which involved guns.

2007: Toronto FC Enters MLS

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

2007: International Bowl held in Toronto

In 2007, Toronto hosted the International Bowl, an NCAA sanctioned post-season college football game.

2007: CN Tower surpassed in height

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

2007: Molson Indy Toronto renamed

In 2007, the Champ Car's Molson Indy Toronto was renamed.

2007: Toronto's Low Homicide Rate

In 2007, the homicide rate for Toronto was 3.43 per 100,000 people.

2008: Buffalo Bills to play games in Toronto

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

2008: Toronto Olympic Bid unsuccessful

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

In 2008, the Toronto Public Library achieved the highest per capita circulation rate internationally, establishing it as the world's largest neighbourhood-based library system and also had the highest circulation and visitors when compared to other large urban systems in North America.

March 6, 2009: 175th anniversary of Toronto as a city on March 6, 2009

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

2010: Toronto hosted the 4th G20 summit in 2010

In 2010 Toronto hosted the 4th G20 summit, which saw large-scale protests and rioting, leading to over 1,000 arrests.

2010: Immigration to the Greater Toronto Area

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

2010: 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

In 2010, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

2010: Waste Diversion Task Force 2010

In 2010, the Waste Diversion Task Force was appointed by the city council.

2010: Last International Bowl held in Toronto

In 2010, the last International Bowl was held in Toronto.

November 2011: Construction Begins on Line 5 Eglinton

In November 2011, construction began on Line 5 Eglinton.

2011: Toronto Building Statistics

As of 2011, Toronto had 1,875 buildings over 30 metres (98 ft) tall.

2011: Toronto: Third-Largest Production Centre

As of 2011, Toronto ranked as the third-largest production centre for film and television, after Los Angeles and New York City, sharing the nickname "Hollywood North" with Vancouver. The Toronto International Film Festival is an annual event celebrating the international film industry.

2011: Visible minority groups in Toronto

In 2011, 49.1 percent of the residents of Toronto belonged to a visible minority group.

2011: Opening of Colonel Sam Smith Trail

In 2011, Etobicoke's Colonel Sam Smith Trail opened, becoming Toronto's first skating trail.

2011: Toronto's 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 in Toronto was 10.5%.

2012: Homicide rates increase from the previous year

From 2012 to 2015, homicide rates were nearly flat at 57-59 homicides.

2012: Ontario Place Closure

In the spring of 2012, Ontario Place closed to the public due to declining attendance, although the Budweiser Stage and harbour continued to operate. Revitalization plans for Ontario Place are ongoing.

July 8, 2013: Severe flash flooding on July 8, 2013

On July 8, 2013, severe flash flooding hit Toronto after intense thunderstorms. 450,000 people were without power, and 126 mm of rain fell in five hours.

2013: GO Transit Passengers

In 2013, GO Transit carries over 250,000 passengers every weekday and 57 million annually.

2013: Buffalo Bills to play games in Toronto

In 2013, Ted Rogers lease with the Buffalo Bills to play home games in Toronto between 2008 and 2013 ended.

2013: Child Poverty Rate

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 June 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

Between 2007 and 2014, Toronto was ranked as the safest banking system in the world according to the World Economic Forum.

June 2015: UP Express Begins Service

In June 2015, the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) train service began carrying passengers.

July 2015: Toronto Hosts the 2015 Pan American Games

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

August 2015: Toronto Hosts the 2015 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 operation ahead of the 2016 season.

2015: Homicide rates remain nearly flat

From 2012 to 2015, homicide rates were nearly flat at 57-59 homicides.

2015: Toronto hosted Pan and Parapan American Games in 2015

In 2015, Toronto hosted the Pan and Parapan American Games.

2015: Ontario Government Promises to Fund Line 6 Finch West

In 2015, the Ontario government promised to fund Line 6 Finch West, which is to be completed by 2024.

July 2016: Toronto's Unemployment Rate

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

2016: Mandarin speakers

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

2016: Toronto City Council Standing Committees

As of 2016, the Toronto City Council has twelve standing committees.

2016: Visible Minority Groups in Toronto

In 2016, 51.5 per cent of the residents of Toronto belonged to a visible minority group.

2016: Daily Hive opens Toronto office

In 2016, Daily Hive, Western Canada's largest online-only publication, opened its Toronto office.

2016: Toronto Hosted the 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: Homicide rates spike to 75 in Toronto

In 2016, homicide rates spiked to 75 in Toronto.

2016: Demographics of Toronto

In 2016, people aged 14 and under were 14.5%, and those 65 and over were 15.6% of Toronto's population; the median age was 39.3 years.

2016: Population in Toronto CMA

In 2016, the Toronto CMA had a population of 5,928,040.

2016: USL W-League ceases operation

In 2016, the USL W-League ceased operations.

2016: Ethnic Origins in Toronto

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

July 2017: Population increase between July 2017 and July 2018

Between July 2017 and July 2018, Toronto added 77,435 people, making it the fastest-growing city in North America.

2017: Toronto FC Wins MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield

In 2017, Toronto FC won the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield.

2017: Toronto Tech Jobs

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

2017: Homicide rates decreased to 65 in Toronto

In 2017, homicide rates decreased to 65 in Toronto.

2017: Toronto Wolfpack join Rugby Football League

In 2017, the Toronto Wolfpack became Canada's first professional rugby league team, joining the Rugby Football League's League One competition.

2017: Local purchasing power

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

July 2018: Population increase between July 2017 and July 2018

Between July 2017 and July 2018, Toronto added 77,435 people, making it the fastest-growing city in North America.

2018: Toronto Tourism

In 2018, 27.5 million tourists visited Toronto, generating $10.3 billion in economic activity.

2018: Record Number of Homicides

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

2018: Toronto City Council Reduction

In 2018, the Toronto City Council was reduced to 25 councillors following the municipal election.

2018: Toronto City Council composition in 2018

Since the 2018 municipal election, the Toronto City Council has comprised 25 councillors representing geographical wards throughout the city.

May 2019: Canadian Women's Hockey League ceased operations

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

2019: Toronto identified as fastest-growing city in 2019 study

A 2019 study showed that Toronto was the fastest-growing city in North America.

2019: Decrease in Homicides, Increase in Shooting Incidents

In 2019, Toronto saw a decrease in homicides to 80, but shooting incidents increased to an all-time high of 492.

2019: Government of Ontario Releases Transit Plan

In 2019, the Government of Ontario released a transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area, including a new Ontario Line, Line 1 extension, Line 2 extension, and an extension for Line 5 Eglinton.

2019: Raptors won their first NBA title

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

2020: The Toronto Six began play

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

2020: Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from Super League

In 2020, The Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the Super League due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2020: Decrease in Homicides

In 2020, Toronto experienced another decrease in homicides, with a total of 71 murders for the year, resulting in a rate of around 2.6 per 100,000 people.

2020: Expected Completion of New Union Station Bus Terminal

In 2020, a new Union Station Bus Terminal is expected to be completed.

2020: City of Toronto Approved Operating Budget

In 2020, the City of Toronto had an approved operating budget of CA$13.53 billion.

2020: Damage amount of the Great Toronto Fire adjusted for 2020

The damage caused by the Great Toronto Fire of 1904 amounted to roughly CA$277,600,000 in 2020 terms.

2021: Religious Groups in Toronto

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Toronto included [information not provided, so this description is a placeholder].

2021: Toronto population in 2021

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

2021: Increase in Homicides

In 2021, Toronto saw an increase in homicides to 85, resulting in a homicide rate of 3.04 per 100,000 people.

2021: Population in Toronto

In 2021, the Census of Population indicated Toronto had a population of 2,794,356.

2021: Toronto Coach Terminal Decommissioned

In 2021, the Toronto Coach Terminal was decommissioned.

2021: Toronto Wolfpack changes ownership

In 2021, the Toronto Wolfpack's ownership changed, and the team will now play in the North American Rugby League tournament.

2022: Homeless Deaths in Toronto

In 2022, 187 homeless individuals died in Toronto, with drug toxicity being the leading cause of death at 47%. Toronto Public Health responded by opening supervised drug consumption sites and advocating for the allowance of personal drug possession, calling it an "urgent public health issue".

2022: Decrease in Murders

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

2023: Toronto Tourism Economic Activity

In 2018, 27.5 million tourists visited Toronto, generating ~$12.3 billion in economic activity in 2023 dollars.

2023: Slight Increase in Homicides

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

2023: Toronto Startup Scene Ranking

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

2024: Estimated CMA population in 2024

As of 2024, the CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) of Toronto had an estimated population of 7,106,379.

2024: Line 5 Construction Completion, Line 6 Completion Promise

In 2024, Line 5 Eglinton is scheduled to finish construction. Also, in 2024, the Ontario government promised to fund Line 6 Finch West, which is to be completed.