LXII. Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada — Ashley E. Amey

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto is the most populous Canadian city and serves as the capital of Ontario. Its location on the Lake Ontario shoreline has been instrumental to its development as a hub for industry and trade. The city is known for its diverse population, with over half of its residents born internationally, making it one of the most multicultural cities in the world. The city is divided into 25 wards and further split into 140+ neighborhoods, each with a unique character.

Population:
Urban: 3.026 million people
Metro: 6.712 million people

Area:
Urban: 630 km2
Metro: 7,125 km2

Population Density:
Urban Average: 4,427.8 people/km2
Metro Average: 1,050.7 people/km2

Politics:
Toronto’s government operates under a single-tier municipal system, meaning the city has direct control over services like transit, policing, housing, and infrastructure. The city is governed by a Mayor who is elected city-wide and a 25-member City Council, each representing one of the city’s wards. The mayor and councilors are not affiliated with a political party. Decisionmaking occurs through City Council meetings, committees, and community councils that handle local issues. While Toronto has autonomy over many services, it remains under the jurisdiction of
Ontario’s provincial government.

In the decades following World War II into the present, Toronto has experienced significant growth, which is fueled by waves of immigration, opportunities for upward mobility, and rapid urbanization, making it one of the densest urban areas in North America. The Toronto metro area, known as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is also seeing extensive population growth.

The city’s rapid growth has put an extreme demand on housing, dramatically increasing housing prices. Toronto is now the second most expensive city in Canada to rent and the most expensive to buy a home. In addition to increased unaffordability, increased traffic congestion is also a major issue. Much of the city’s daytime population lives within the sprawling GTA, which means increased reliance on cars and less on public transit. The result is major congestion, especially during rush hour as commuters enter and leave the city limits.

Incorporated in 1832 with modern urbanization, the city has a range of development in terms of age and character. In the downtown area and the areas closest to the water, there is higher density with high-rise buildings. On the other hand, the city’s outskirts are largely suburban. In some parts of the city, perceived density may be low due to wider streets, but high in those with narrow streets and tall buildings.

Toronto, Canada: High-Density Building Typologies

Toronto, Canada: Urban Void Typologies

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