Canada’s ‘Hog Town’ metropolis

Press, 26 December 1985, Page 16

Canada’s ‘Hog Town’ metropolis

Report and photographs by ROD DEW, who visited Canada as a guest of CP Air and the Canadian Government Office of Tourism.

Situated on the north-west shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is a city of remarkable cultural scope and ethnic variety, a place where tall trees enhance even taller skyscrapers. With some three million residents, it is the largest metropolis in Canada. And yet it is safe and clean, and the people welcome visitors. This reputation for friendliness is one which Toronto people value, with good reason. Tourism is the city's leading industry. But it is also a centre for many other major industries, and big business. One third of Canada’s total buying power is within a 140 km radius of the centre of Toronto.

The arts are also very strong. Toronto has more than 40 live theatres, making it the second-largest theatre centre in North America. The harbour front on Lake Ontario is a particularly important cultural centre, catering for dancing, crafts, movies, music, festivals and theatre as well as shopping, antiques, boating and art galleries. There are more than 100 galleries in Toronto, featuring all styles and media. A love for the past can be satisfied by a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, which houses six million treasures illuminating the science, art and evolution of civilisation. If the future is your main interest, then the Ontario Science Centre should not be missed. There are more than 800 mind-bending exhibits on an eight-hectare site in some of the finest parkland in the city. There are some 3522 hectares (8700 acres) of parkland in metropolitan Toronto.

Toronto prides itself on its shopping. The Eaton Centre, in the heart of Toronto, is Canada’s largest shopping centre and is visited by about a million people every week. In winter, the weather might be harsh but shopping can still be done in comfort. There is an underground city comprising five connected office and shopping complexes. Public transport is another strong point. The Toronto Transport Commission has 630 subway cars, 150 trolley buses, 289 trams, and 14,650 buses. These move 1.4 million passengers daily. Toronto can also boast 21,000 firstclass hotel rooms, and more than 4000 restaurants.

Among the most famous of its buildings are the CN Tower, the tallest free-

standing structure in the world, and the stately Royal York Hotel, which has 1600 rooms and is still claimed to be the largest hotel in the Commonwealth. It was built in 1936, and was then the tallest structure in Toronto.

This honour is now held by the CN Tower, which soars 553 m into the sky. Often, the top of the tower is hidden in cloud. But on a fine day; the view is spectacular. To a viewer from the ground, it does not seem possible that a structure can be so tall. It is aweinspiring. So, too, is the ride in the glassfronted elevators to the revolving restaurant and the observation levels above this.

Another architectural delight is the City Hall, designed by a Finnish architect, Viljo Revell, who died before the opening in 1965. This features twin curving towers encircling an orb, representing the “eye of government.” Big Brother is in the minor league compared to this, at least that is the case if you happen to be flying overhead. From ground level, the aspect is quite pleasing and a miniature lake in front provides recreation for lunch-time crowds. In the winter, it becomes frozen and is a popular casual skating venue. There is a medieval castle, with 98 rooms. The cost of maintaining it ruined its owner and it is now a public amenity. Toronto is an Indian word, popularly translated as “Meeting Place.” However, it was named Fort Rouille by the first Europeans, the early French fur traders. In 1793 John Graves Simcoe arrived from Britain, recognised the military value of the location and promptly laid out the plans for a garrison settlement which he named York, in honour of the Duke of York, the son of the then King, George HI. In later years, the thriving town “rejoiced” in the soubriquet of “Hog Town,” a title bestowed a little unfairly because of the affluence of its citizens who had acquired fortunes from pigs and meat packing. It was not until 1834 that the town was incorporated as a city under its original name of Toronto. Since then, Toronto has grown to become Canada’s centre of commerce, finance, the arts and medical research. The city by the lake is one place where business and pleasure can be combined with a clear conscience.