50-475: The Discovery District is one of the commercial districts in Downtown Toronto , Ontario, Canada. It has a high concentration of hospitals and research institutions, particularly those related to biotechnology . The district is roughly bounded by Bloor Street on the north, Bay Street on the east, Dundas Street on the south, and Spadina Avenue on the west. The area includes the main campuses of
100-403: A large residential district called 'The Ward' which became Toronto's first Chinatown but also attracted many attempts to have it demolished as it was economically depressed. At this time some of Toronto's oldest and most important institutions south of Queen were replaced with larger buildings north of Queen St such as Old City Hall (called 'New' City Hall at this time) at the top of Bay Street and
150-406: A result has been undergoing Manhattanization with the construction of new office towers, hotels and condos. As of 2016, the population of downtown Toronto was 237,698 people with 503,575 jobs located within the area. The population density was 143 people per hectare, and the job density was 303 jobs per hectare. The Royal Conservatory of Music is a non-profit music education institution that
200-669: Is St. Lawrence Hall, St. James' Cathedral , St. Michael's Cathedral , St. Paul's Basilica , the Enoch Turner School House, the Bank of Upper Canada, Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel, and the Gooderham Building . On Saturday there is a farmers' market. Other historical districts in downtown Toronto include Cabbagetown , Corktown , the Distillery District , and Old Town . To the west of
250-408: Is adjacent to the downtown area, and the much larger Toronto Pearson International Airport located 27 km to the northwest. 43°39′9.01″N 79°23′0.81″W / 43.6525028°N 79.3835583°W / 43.6525028; -79.3835583 Osgoode Hall Osgoode Hall is a landmark building in downtown Toronto , Ontario, Canada. The original 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 -storey building
300-497: Is almost 30% higher than the average provincial income. For the total 2011 population within the discovery district 395 people made between $ 30 000 and $ 39 000 annually, 410 made between $ 40 000 and $ 49 000, and 2250 made over $ 50 000. The accuracy of these figures is questionable due to the National Household Survey being optional, and therefore wealthier people could possibly be over represented. But considering
350-738: Is an arts school whose main building is located in Grange Park. The Université de l'Ontario français is a French-language postsecondary institution situated in East Bayfront. Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Toronto are research universities , with the former located in the Garden District and the latter's St. George campus situated in the Discovery District. Apart from its St. George campus,
400-513: Is headquartered in downtown Toronto. Four different public school boards provide primary and secondary education for the City of Toronto, as well as the downtown area. Two Toronto-based school boards provide instruction in the English language , the secular Toronto District School Board , and the separate Toronto Catholic District School Board . The other two Toronto-based school boards,
450-493: Is home to many furniture stores, interior design studios and contemporary casual dining options . The CF Toronto Eaton Centre , a large, multilevel enclosed shopping mall and office complex that spans several blocks and houses 330 stores, is the city's top tourist attraction with over one million visitors weekly. Other indoor shopping malls include College Park , the Tenor , Aura , Yorkville Village , Atrium on Bay , Village by
500-527: Is the city's major intermodal transportation hub, providing access not only to local and regional public transit , but also to inter-city rail services like Via Rail . In addition to surface-level pedestrian sidewalks, much of downtown Toronto is also connected through the PATH Underground , an extensive network of underground pedestrian tunnels , skyways , and at-grade walkways. Nearby airports include Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport , which
550-504: Is the intersection of the city's subway lines and is one of the busiest intersections in the city. At the intersection of Avenue Road and Bloor Street is the Royal Ontario Museum , the largest museum in the city, with a diverse anthropological and natural history collection. The Harbourfront area to the south was formerly an industrial and railway lands area. Since the 1970s, it has seen extensive redevelopment, including
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#1732775609975600-760: Is the tallest building in Canada at a height of 298 metres (978 feet). The CN Tower , once the tallest free-standing structure in the world, remains the tallest such structure in the Americas, standing at 553.33 metres (1,815 ft., 5 inches). Other notable buildings include Scotia Plaza , TD Centre , Commerce Court , the Royal Bank Plaza , The Bay 's flagship store, and the Fairmont Royal York Hotel . Since 2007, urban consolidation has been centred in downtown Toronto and as
650-527: The Great Depression . University Avenue was extended south of Queen street although the street itself, formerly a large quiet street leading to Queen's Park and the 'University Park' was only slowly turned into the bustling Boulevard of towers and hospitals it is today, none of the Art Deco towers originally planned for the street were ever built. The second plan called for a new 'Federal Avenue' in
700-661: The Princess of Wales Theatre . The area is now the site of Roy Thomson Hall and the Canadian Broadcasting Centre . The Yorkville area, to the north, north of Bloor Street and the Mink Mile , has more than 700 designer boutiques, spas, restaurants, hotels, and world-class galleries. It is a former village in its own right (prior to 1883) and since the early 1970s has developed into an up-scale shopping district. The intersection of Bloor and Yonge Streets
750-491: The Seneca Polytechnic . Downtown Toronto is home to the flagship department stores of The Bay , Saks Fifth Avenue and Holt Renfrew . The traditional shopping districts concentrated on Queen Street West and King Street East have seen recent growth to encompass the area surrounding Yonge–Dundas Square . The Old Town portion of the downtown, stretching from St. Lawrence Market to the Distillery District
800-589: The University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University , as well as university affiliated health-care research hospitals including the Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto General Hospital , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Mount Sinai Hospital , Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Women's College Hospital , and the MaRS Discovery District . These institutions are concentrated near
850-434: The University of Toronto ) A short stretch of Gerrard Street West from Bay Street to LaPlante Avenue was referred to as Gerrard Village , a Bohemian Greenwich Village like area from the late 19th century to the early 1970s. This area is referred to by Statistics Canada as census tract 5350035.00. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, 80% of the population surveyed reported an income of over $ 50 000 annually. This
900-612: The 'University Park', gated parkland intended to become Toronto's University and the area between on the north side of Lot St (Queen) attracting various institutions and businesses. The area just north of Lot St (Queen) became something of an institutional area with buildings such as the House of Industry (still standing), the Armoury (behind Osgoode Hall, now demolished for the University Avenue Court Houses) and
950-514: The 1960s. The area of St. Lawrence to the east of the financial district is one of the oldest areas of Toronto. It features heritage buildings, theatres, music, dining and many pubs. It is a community of distinct downtown neighbourhoods including the site of the original Town of York, which was Toronto's first neighbourhood, dating back to 1793. The area boasts one of the largest concentrations of 19th-century buildings in Ontario. Of particular note
1000-434: The 1970s, Toronto experienced major economic growth and surpassed Montreal to become the largest city in Canada. Many international and domestic businesses relocated to Toronto and created massive new skyscrapers downtown. All of Canada's Big Five banks constructed skyscrapers beginning in the late 1960s up until the early 1990s. Today downtown Toronto contains dozens of notable skyscrapers. The area's First Canadian Place
1050-687: The Eaton's Company store to the south (creating 'the cavern' with the Hudson Bay building on the south of Queen St) and the University of Toronto in the 'University Park' to the north which was gated at Queen St & College Ave (University Ave) and was largely forested. It was also part of the City Liberties identified in James Cane's 1842 map. It was bounded roughly by Bloor, Don River, Dundas and Bathurst. By about 1900 there still remained
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#17327756099751100-625: The Grange, Manulife Centre and the PATH underground city network , the largest underground shopping complex in the world. Emerging retail destinations include Mirvish Village , the Well and the renovated St. Lawrence Market North . Yonge Street , a major arterial route in the city, begins at the northern shore of the Toronto Harbour and runs through downtown, continuing north all the way to
1150-560: The Ontario Parliament Building; Queen's Park on the university grounds at the top of College Avenue (renamed University Ave). Part of 'The Ward' had been demolished for the building of New City Hall (Now Old City Hall) and in the years after the first world war, several plans were made to more closely link the institutional area north of Queen with the older town to the south. Two plans in particular substantially changed this area although both ultimately collapsed with
1200-557: The Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre. The Financial District , centred on the intersection of Bay Street and King Street is the centre of Canada's financial industry . It contains the Toronto Stock Exchange , which is the largest in Canada and tenth in the world by market capitalization as of 2021. The construction of skyscrapers in downtown Toronto had started to rapidly increase since
1250-590: The Town of York became a City with the name Toronto. By the time Toronto became a city in 1834, the area south of Lot St (Queen) from the Garrison Creek to the Don River had all been subdivided and the four 'park lots' north of Lot St (Queen) were subdivided by their owners with the eastern lot (Macaulay's estate) becoming the first residential district north of Queen, the western lot (Powell's estate) becoming
1300-666: The University of Toronto also operates two satellite campuses outside the downtown core in Mississauga and Scarborough . Colleges based in downtown Toronto include George Brown College , Toronto Film School , Trebas Institute , and the Randolph College for the Performing Arts . Four other colleges that are based outside of downtown Toronto, but operate satellite branches in the downtown core include Collège Boréal , Georgian College , Humber College and
1350-678: The building of the Rogers Centre stadium, numerous condominiums and the Harbourfront Centre waterfront revitalization. The area to the east of Yonge Street is still in transition, with the conversion of industrial lands to mixed residential and commercial uses planned. Among the important government headquarters in downtown Toronto include the Ontario Legislature , and the Toronto City Hall . In
1400-484: The city of Barrie, Ontario . Other notable streets include Dundas , Bloor , Queen , King , and University . The Toronto Transit Commission administers the Toronto area's public transportation system, including buses , streetcar , and subways . The regional public transportation service, GO Transit , also provides bus and commuter train service to downtown Toronto from its hub, Union Station . Union Station
1450-635: The cleanliness. The area has also seen the opening of the Dundas Square public square, a public space for holding performances and art displays. The area includes several live theatres, a movie complex at Dundas Square and the historic Massey Hall . Historical sites and landmarks include the Arts & Letter Club, the Church of the Holy Trinity, Mackenzie House, Maple Leaf Gardens, Old City Hall, and
1500-569: The downtown is located along Yonge Street from Queen Street to College Street. There is a large cluster of retail centres and shops in the area, including the Toronto Eaton Centre indoor mall. There are an estimated 600 retail stores, 150 bars and restaurants, and 7 hotels. In recent years the area has been experiencing a renaissance as the Business Improvement Area (BIA) has brought in new retail and improved
1550-521: The east. The portico of Osgoode Hall's east wing was built at the head of Toronto's York Street to serve as a terminating vista , though it is now obscured by trees planted on the building's lawn. Osgoode Hall, together from which the Osgoode Hall Law School (affiliated as a professional school at York University ), received its name in honour of William Osgoode, which was lent in turn to the adjacent Osgoode subway station . Between
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1600-656: The financial district is the Entertainment District . It is home to hundreds of restaurants, nightclubs, sporting facilities, boutiques, hotels, attractions, and live theatre. The district was formerly an industrial area and was redeveloped for entertainment purposes in the early 1980s, becoming a major centre for entertainment. The redevelopment started with the Mirvish family refurbishing the Royal Alexandra Theatre and their construction of
1650-585: The grounds of the hall. Despite this, an incident in the 1950s occurred in which students unsuccessfully attempted to pass a cow through one of the gates. The gates were likely due to Victorian architectural fashion, rather than wandering cattle. Two libraries are housed within Osgoode Hall: the Great Library of the Law Society of Ontario and a smaller library for judges. The Great Library
1700-534: The hall. Today, the building is jointly owned by the Law Society and the Government of Ontario . From 1855 to 1857, the building was refurbished and enlarged again, according to a design by the firm Cumberland and Storm, to accommodate courts with the original 1829 building becoming the east wing. From 1880 to 1891, the building was again expanded twice in order to accommodate its law school. The building
1750-517: The intersection of University Avenue and College Streets but the District generally extends north to Bloor Street, south to Dundas Street, east to Bay Street and West to Spadina Avenue. A number of key organizations within the Ontario life sciences community are also located here including Ontario Genomics , Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO) , Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP) and JLabs Toronto . History: this area
1800-423: The location in the heart of downtown Toronto and the rapid expansion of condominium build ups, people would have to make more money to live here. Statistics Canada. National Household Survey 2011 The original plans for the Town of York (later City of Toronto) divided the City along Lot Street (Queen Street) with a street grid creating small urban 'town lots' to the south and large rectangular 'park lots' (farms) to
1850-403: The middle of the old town's grid (between Bay and York Streets) starting from the new Union Station north to a proposed Government complex on the north side of Queen. Many buildings in 'The Ward' were purchased by the government before the plan fell through. In the 1960s with the City of Toronto annexing the last independent municipalities, 'The Ward' was demolished and a new City Hall was built on
1900-413: The north side of Lot Street opposite the Town. Four 'park lots' (numbers 9 to 12) comprised the area north of Queen just across from the heart of Toronto between Yonge Street and just west of College Avenue (now University Ave). Three of the families occupying these lots built large estate homes all fairly far north of Lot St (Queen): The situation of these lots just north of the town meant that this land
1950-430: The north side of Queen Street between what became Old City Hall and Osgoode Hall. 43°39′29″N 79°23′17″W / 43.658°N 79.388°W / 43.658; -79.388 Downtown Toronto Downtown Toronto is the main city centre of Toronto , Ontario, Canada. Located entirely within the district of Old Toronto , it is approximately 16.6 square kilometres in area, bounded by Bloor Street to
2000-414: The north. The 'park lots' along Lot St (Queen) were given to many of York's (Toronto's) most prominent families who had professions and sometimes even a separate house in the Town and generally did not farm; therefore they often did not clear their lots of the natural forest. As each 'park lot' extended in a rectangle from Lot Street (Queen) to what would become Bloor, most of the estate houses were built on
2050-667: The northeast and Dupont Street to the northwest, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don Valley to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west. It is also the home of the municipal government of Toronto and the Government of Ontario . The area is made up of Canada's largest concentration of skyscrapers and businesses that form Toronto's skyline. Since 2022, downtown Toronto has the second most skyscrapers in North America exceeding 200 metres (656 ft) in height, behind only Midtown Manhattan, New York City . The retail core of
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2100-669: The province at the time. The original building was constructed between 1829 and 1832 in the late Georgian Palladian and Neoclassical styles. It currently houses the Ontario Court of Appeal , the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice , the offices of the Law Society of Ontario and the Great Library of the Law Society . The 6-acre (2.4 ha) site at the corner of Lot Street ( Queen Street West today) and College Avenue ( University Avenue today)
2150-474: The rebellions taking place in 1837-8 until 1843, the hall was used as troop barracks . When the Law Society regained possession in 1844, an expansion was designed by Henry Bowyer Lane ; the West Wing and Library were built, with two domes (later removed) over the library to connect the two wings. In 1846 the Law Society entered into an agreement with the government to house the province's Superior Court at
2200-462: The secular Conseil scolaire Viamonde , and the separate Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir provide instruction in the French language . Several independent schools also operate within downtown Toronto. Downtown Toronto is home to four public universities , the University of Toronto , OCAD University , Université de l'Ontario français and Toronto Metropolitan University . OCAD University
2250-409: Was acquired by the Law Society in 1828. At the time, the location was on the northwest edge of the city, which has since grown around the building. It was originally bounded on its north side by Osgoode Street, and on its east side by a street that would eventually be known as Chestnut Street. The former no longer exists, and the latter now stops at Armoury Street, as Nathan Phillips Square now lies to
2300-516: Was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1979, and by the City of Toronto under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1990. Despite the expansions, the hall presents a unified design in the late Palladian style. The iron fence surrounding the lawns of Osgoode Hall has become a landmark in itself. Its distinctive iron gates are narrow and restrictive; it is a long-standing myth that they were designed to keep livestock out of
2350-466: Was designed by Cumberland and Storm (1857–1860) and features an ornate plaster ceiling, cork floors, an iron spiral staircase and etched glass windows. A War Memorial by Frances Loring (1887–1968), sculpted in 1928, was added to the Great Library in honour of Ontario lawyers and law students who were killed during the First World War . Behind the Great Library (and accessible through it)
2400-441: Was in high demand as the city outgrew its original boundaries south of Lot (Queen). As most Toronto streets started at Lot (Queen), the 'park lots' commanded impressive views into the town and many of the buildings that were built as the 'park lots' were subdivided by their owner, were impressive institutions such as Osgoode Hall (Upper Canada's Law Courts) still standing, built at the top of York Street by 1832 just two years before
2450-442: Was started in 1829 and finished in 1832 from a design by John Ewart and William Warren Baldwin . The structure is named for William Osgoode , the first Chief Justice of Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario). It originally served to house the regulatory body for lawyers in Ontario along with its law school, formally established as Osgoode Hall Law School in 1889, which was the only recognized professional law school for
2500-602: Was subdivided from three main 'park lot' estates: Macaulay Estate (to the east, became a residential district known as ' the Ward ' until demolished), Elmsley Estate (redivided with the Macaulay Estate which was concentrated to the south. Elmsley estate is closely tied with the history of both the University of Toronto and the commercial district on Yonge Street) and the Powell Estate (became the 'University Park' now
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