History of Toronto in Timeline

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital of Ontario. In 2021, its population was 2,794,356, making it the fourth-most populous city in North America. It anchors the Golden Horseshoe, an urban area with over 11 million people (2025 est.). The Toronto census metropolitan area had an estimated population of over 7.1 million in 2025. Toronto is a global hub for business, finance, arts, sports, and culture, renowned for its multiculturalism and cosmopolitan character.

1903: Stockyards Relocated to The Junction

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

1904: The Great Toronto Fire

In 1904, the Great Toronto Fire destroyed a large section of downtown Toronto, destroying more than 100 buildings and causing CA$10,387,000 in damage.

1911: Casa Loma Built

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

1920: Formation of TRREB

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), formerly the Toronto Real Estate Board, was formed in 1920.

1921: Public Transit System in Public Ownership

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

1924: Establishment of the Badminton and Racquet Club

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

1931: Toronto Coach Terminal Served as City's Intercity Coach Hub

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

1934: Toronto Stock Exchange Largest in Canada

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

1936: Record high temperature

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

Until 1950, almost every mayor of Toronto was a member of the Orange Order, giving the organization significant influence over Toronto society.

1951: Population Exceeds One Million

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

1954: Hurricane Hazel leads to construction ban on floodplains

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

1954: Metropolitan Toronto Federated

In 1954, the City of Toronto and 12 surrounding municipalities were federated into a regional government known as Metropolitan Toronto. Also in 1954, Hurricane Hazel brought intense winds and flash flooding killing 81 people, leaving nearly 1,900 families homeless, and causing more than CA$25,000,000 in damage.

1958: Hockey Hall of Fame Moves to Toronto

In 1958, the Hockey Hall of Fame moved to Toronto.

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.

1967: First Caribana Festival

In 1967, the first Caribana festival took place as the city's Caribbean community celebrated Canada's Centennial. Caribana, primarily based on the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, attracts one million people to Toronto's Lake Shore Boulevard annually.

1967: Municipalities Merged

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

1971: Population Doubles to Two Million

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

1976: Toronto Hosts Summer Paralympics

In 1976, Toronto hosted the Summer Paralympics.

1976: Completion of the CN Tower

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

1981: Visible minority population

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 begins

From 1986, Toronto hosted the Grand Prix of Toronto, part of the IndyCar Series schedule, held on a street circuit at Exhibition Place.

1990: Gooderham & Worts Distillery ceased production

In 1990, the Gooderham & Worts Distillery ceased its production of spirits. Today it is preserved as the "Distillery District", which is the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America.

1991: Previous Record Year for Murders

In 1991, Toronto's previous record for murders was 89, with a rate of 3.9 murders per 100,000 people.

1992: Blue Jays Win World Series

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

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. The area still contains factories, meat-packing facilities and rail yards close to medium-density residential.

1995: Toronto Raptors Enter the NBA

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

1996: Toronto's Bid for the Summer Olympics Fails

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

1996: Restoration of the 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. Further restoration has been completed in stages since then.

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: Rise in Gang-Related Incidents

Between 1997 and 2005, over 300 gang-related homicides occurred, leading to the Ontario government developing an anti-gun strategy.

January 1, 1998: Amalgamation into Single-Tier City

On January 1, 1998, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and its six lower-tier constituent municipalities were amalgamated into a single-tier City of Toronto.

1998: Toronto Expanded Through Amalgamation

In 1998, Toronto's city proper expanded to its current area of 631 square kilometres (244 sq mi) through annexation and amalgamation.

1998: Toronto Ice Storm

The Toronto ice storm rivals the severity of the 1998 Ice Storm, where over 300,000 Toronto Hydro customers had no electricity or heating.

1999: Downsview Park design competition initiated

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: 47 Homicides Recorded

In 1999, Toronto recorded 47 homicides, the lowest number the city had seen until 2011.

1999: January Blizzard of 1999

In 1999, the January Blizzard dumped 118 centimetres (46 in) of snow on Toronto, and Mayor Mel Lastman called in the Canadian Army to aid snow removal.

1999: Toronto Rock's Championship Run Begins

In 1999, the Toronto Rock began an NLL-record five straight championship games, marking the start of their dominant run.

2000: Creation of the MaRS Discovery District

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

2000: Condo construction boom and architectural revival

Since 2000, amid the Canadian property bubble, Toronto has experienced a condo construction boom and architectural revival, with several buildings opened by world-renowned architects, redeveloping areas like the Distillery District.

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 after English.

2003: SARS Outbreak and Blackout

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

2003: Toronto Rock's Fifth Straight Championship Appearance

In 2003, the Toronto Rock appeared in their NLL-record fifth straight championship game, continuing their dominant run.

2005: Year of the Gun

In 2005, Toronto media dubbed it the "Year of the Gun" due to a record 52 gun-related homicides out of a total of 80 homicides.

2006: Foreign-born population

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

2006: Decline in Total Homicides

In 2006, the total number of homicides in Toronto dropped to 70, but nearly 2,000 people were victims of violent gun-related crime.

2006: Change in Term Lengths for Mayor and City Councillors

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

2007: 86 Homicides Committed

In 2007, 86 homicides were committed in Toronto, with roughly half involving guns.

2007: Toronto FC Enters MLS

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

2007: Burj Khalifa surpassed 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, was first played at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

2007: Molson Indy Toronto

In 2007, the Molson Indy Toronto was sanctioned by Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART).

2007: Toronto's Low Homicide Rate

In 2007, the homicide rate for Toronto was 3.43 per 100,000 people, which was low compared to other major cities in North America.

2007: Toronto's banking system ranked safest

Toronto's banking system was ranked as the safest in the world between 2007 and 2014 according to the World Economic Forum.

2008: NFL Exhibition Games Begin in Toronto

In 2008, National Football League (NFL) exhibition games began being held in Toronto at the Rogers Centre as part of an agreement with the Buffalo Bills.

2008: Toronto Public Library's High Circulation Rate

In 2008, Toronto Public Library averaged a higher circulation per capita than any other public library system internationally, making it the largest neighbourhood-based library system in the world. It also had the highest circulation and visitors within North America compared to other large urban systems.

2008: Toronto's Bid for the Summer Olympics Fails

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

March 6, 2009: 175th Anniversary of Toronto's Inception

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

2010: Waste Diversion Task Force 2010

In 2010 the City of Toronto had a subcommitte called Waste Diversion Task Force 2010.

2010: Toronto Hosted G20 Summit

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

2010: Estimated immigrant arrivals

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

2010: Last International Bowl Held in Toronto

In 2010, the International Bowl was last played at Rogers Centre annually in January.

2010: Comparison to Vancouver Winter Olympics

The 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto were double the size of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, in terms of athletes competing.

November 2011: Construction on Line 5 Eglinton Begins

In November 2011, construction began on Line 5 Eglinton, an east–west light rail line.

2011: Toronto Ranks as Third-Largest Production Centre

As of 2011, Toronto ranked as the third-largest production center for film and television after Los Angeles and New York City, sharing the nickname "Hollywood North" with Vancouver.

2011: Visible minority population

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, a nearly 26% drop from the previous year, marking the lowest number since 1999.

2011: Impoverished seniors percentage

In 2011, the number of impoverished seniors was 10.5%.

2012: Homicide Rates Remained Nearly Flat

From 2012 to 2015, Toronto's homicide rates remained nearly flat, ranging from 57 to 59 homicides each year.

2012: Closure of Ontario Place

In the spring of 2012, Ontario Place closed after experiencing declining attendance. While the RBC Amphitheatre and harbour continue to operate, the park and Cinesphere are no longer in use.

July 8, 2013: Severe Flash Flooding

On July 8, 2013, severe flash flooding hit Toronto, leaving 450,000 people without power.

2013: GO Transit Carries Over 250,000 Passengers Every Weekday

In 2013, GO Transit carried over 250,000 passengers every weekday and 57 million annually, with most traveling to or from Union Station.

2013: NFL Exhibition Games End in Toronto

In 2013, the agreement for the Buffalo Bills to play home games in Toronto ended after eight games between 2008 and 2013.

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, 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: Toronto's banking system ranked safest

Toronto's banking system was ranked as the safest in the world between 2007 and 2014 according to the World Economic Forum.

June 2015: Union Pearson Express (UP Express) train service began

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

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 Remained Nearly Flat

From 2012 to 2015, Toronto's homicide rates remained nearly flat, ranging from 57 to 59 homicides each year.

2015: Toronto Hosted Pan and Parapan American Games

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

July 2016: Unemployment rate in Toronto

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

2016: Toronto CMA population (2016 census)

According to the 2016 census, the Toronto CMA had a population of 5,928,040.

2016: Proficiency in Mandarin

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

2016: Daily Hive opened Toronto office

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

2016: Visible minority population

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

2016: Toronto Hosts 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 Increased

In 2016, Toronto saw an increase in homicides, reaching 75 for the first time in over eight years.

2016: Age demographics in Toronto

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.

2016: USL W-League Ceases Operations

In 2016, the USL W-League ceased operations.

2016: Most commonly reported ethnic origins

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

July 2017: Fastest-Growing City in North America

Between July 2017 and July 2018, Toronto added 77,435 people.

2017: Local purchasing power ranking

According to the website Numbeo, Toronto's local purchasing power was the sixth lowest in Canada in mid-2017.

2017: Construction on a New Union Station Bus Terminal Began

In 2017, Construction on a new Union Station Bus Terminal began.

2017: Homicide Rate Decreased

In 2017, Toronto experienced a drop in murders, with the year closing at 65 and a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 population.

2017: Toronto tech jobs offered

In 2017, Toronto tech firms offered almost 30,000 jobs, which is higher than the combination of San Francisco Bay area, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

2017: Toronto FC Wins MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield

In 2017, the Toronto FC MLS team won the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield for best regular season record.

2017: Toronto Wolfpack Join Rugby Football League

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

July 2018: Toronto Population Growth

From July 2017 to July 2018, Toronto's population increased significantly, leading to it being named the fastest-growing city in North America.

2018: Tourist visits to Toronto

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 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 City Council Reduced to 25 Councillors

In 2018, the Toronto municipal election resulted in the Toronto City Council comprising 25 councillors representing geographical wards throughout the city.

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

In 2019, a study showed that Toronto was the fastest-growing city in North America.

2019: Homicides Drop, Shooting Incidents Increase

In 2019, homicides in Toronto dropped to 80, 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 which includes a new Ontario Line, Line 1 extension to Richmond Hill Centre, a Line 2 extension to Sheppard Avenue / McCowan Road, and an extension for Line 5 Eglinton.

2019: Raptors Win First NBA Title

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

January 2020: COVID-19 Arrived in Canada

In January 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic first arrived in Canada in Toronto.

2020: Decrease in Homicides

In 2020, Toronto experienced another decrease in homicides, with a total of 71 murders for the year.

2020: New Union Station Bus Terminal Completed

In 2020, construction on the new Union Station Bus Terminal was completed.

2020: Toronto Wolfpack Withdraw from Super League

In 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions on international travel, the Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the Super League, leaving its future uncertain.

2020: City of Toronto's Approved Budget

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: Line 5 Eglinton Delay

Line 5 Eglinton originally scheduled to finish construction by 2020, but was delayed several times to 2026.

2020: Toronto Six Inaugural Season

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

2021: Toronto Population (2021 Census)

According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Toronto had a population of 2,794,356 living in 1,160,892 of its 1,253,238 total private dwellings.

2021: Religious groups in Toronto (2021 Census)

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Toronto included:

2021: Population Drop around Covid-19 Pandemic

After a drop around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto's population surged.

2021: Increase in Homicides

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

2021: 2021 Census Population

In 2021, the Census recorded Toronto's population at 2,794,356, making it the fourth-most populous city in North America.

2021: Golden Horseshoe population

In 2021, the Golden Horseshoe urban agglomeration surrounding the western end of Lake Ontario had a population of 9,765,188 people.

2021: Decommission of the Toronto Coach Terminal

In 2021, the Toronto Coach Terminal was decommissioned, having served as the city's intercity coach hub since 1931.

2021: Team Wolfpack Join North American Rugby League

In 2021, the Toronto Wolfpack's ownership changed, and now as 'Team Wolfpack' they will play in the newly formed North American Rugby League tournament.

2021: Immigrant Population in Toronto

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 1,286,145 persons or 46.6 per cent of the total population of Toronto.

2022: Homeless Deaths in Toronto

In 2022, 187 homeless people died in Toronto, with drug toxicity being the leading cause of death at 47 percent.

2022: Decrease in Murders

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

2023: Slight Increase in Homicides and Record Auto Theft

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

2023: Startup scene ranking

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 and served as the Bombardier Aviation aircraft factory.

2024: Estimated Tourism economic activity in Toronto

In 2018, 27.5 million tourists visited Toronto, generating $10.3 billion in economic activity, or about $12.6 billion in 2024.

2024: Toronto Island Ferries Passengers

In 2024, Toronto Island ferries operated by the city carried over 1.4 million passengers.

2024: Increase in Homicides

In 2024, Toronto reported 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.

2024: Toronto Population Estimated at 3.28 Million

In 2024, Toronto's population was estimated at 3.28 million, a 17% increase from the 2021 census population.

2024: Community Care and Recovery Act Passed

In 2024, the Community Care and Recovery Act was passed by the Ontario government, directing Toronto Public Health to close its supervised consumption sites.

2024: Cargo Received at the Port of Toronto

In 2024, the Port of Toronto received 2 million tons of cargo annually.

2024: TTC Bus System Ridership

In 2024, the TTC bus system had an annual ridership of over 389 million trips.

2024: Argonauts Win 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 urban agglomeration surrounding the western end of Lake Ontario is 11,139,265 people.

April 1, 2025: Toronto Public Health Ceases Supervised Consumption Services

As of April 1, 2025, Toronto Public Health no longer offers supervised consumption services, although some supervised consumption sites not operated by Toronto Public Health remain open.

2025: Estimated Population of Golden Horseshoe

As of 2025, the Golden Horseshoe, which Toronto anchors, had an estimated population of 11,198,136. The Toronto census metropolitan area had an estimated population of 7,106,379 in 2025.

2025: Grand Prix of Toronto moved to Markham

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: Population Decrease in Toronto

In 2025, Toronto's population began dropping as Canada experienced its largest population decrease in history.

2025: Line 6 Finch West Light Rail Line Opened

In 2025, the Line 6 Finch West light rail line opened.

2025: Damage costs adjusted for 2025

The CA$10,387,000 damage caused by the Great Toronto Fire of 1904, is equivalent to $390,356,450 in 2025.

2025: Adjusted Damage Costs of Hurricane Hazel for 2025

The CA$25,000,000 in damage caused by Hurricane Hazel in 1954 is equivalent to $291,134,752 in 2025.

2025: Blue Jays lost World Series

The Toronto Blue Jays lost the 2025 World Series.

2026: Toronto to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup Matches

In 2026, Toronto was named as one of 16 cities in North America to host matches for the FIFA World Cup.

2026: Toronto Tempo WNBA team will begin play

In 2026, the Toronto Tempo of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) will begin play.

2026: Line 5 Eglinton Construction Delayed

Line 5 Eglinton, originally scheduled to finish construction by 2020, was delayed several times to 2026.

2028: East Harbour Transit Hub Slated to Open

The East Harbour Transit Hub is slated to open in 2028.

2030: Metrolinx Plans to Electrify Rail Lines

By 2030, Metrolinx plans to electrify many of its rail lines as part of the Regional Express Rail implementation into its GO Transit network.

2031: Projected visible minority population

By 2031, visible minorities are projected to increase to 63 per cent of the city's population.

2040: Net-zero carbon emissions target

By 2040, the Toronto City Council has set a net-zero carbon emissions target through the TransformTO climate action plan.

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