What Makes Toronto One of the World’s Most Liveable Cities?
More than two million people call Toronto home, making it Canada’s largest city and one of North America’s biggest in terms of population. But what makes it one of the world’s most liveable cities? In fact, it placed fourth in both 2010 and 2015 in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual liveable cities list.
Take a closer look at the vibrant and diverse city, as it offers its residents so much more than a handsome CN Tower–adorned skyline.
A Wealth of Cultural Events
From Toronto Fashion Week to Nuit Blanche and the Caribbean Festival (more commonly known as Caribana), there are always several things going on in the city.
Jazz lovers and art aficionados (or whatever piques your interest) can all feed their souls. And of course, cinephiles can visit TIFF, one of the world’s biggest film festivals in Toronto.
Culinary Delights
Toronto is a culinary enthusiast’s paradise. It has ongoing Winterlicious and Summerlicious foodie events and renowned restaurants like Momofuku Shōtō, Café Boulud, and chef Rob Gentile’s Buca restaurants that offer high-quality international cuisine.
A Variety of Transportation Options
The city has a wide-reaching transit system of subways, buses, and streetcars, commuter transportation, Uber, taxis, and a train linking Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto, making it easy for residents and visitors to navigate the city. Bikeshare Toronto makes commuter bikes available for those looking to get around on two wheels, and being a city of neighbourhoods, it’s often simple to get around on foot to get what you need.
Great Parks and Public Spaces
With millions being invested to improve the city’s waterfront, the city recognizes the importance of beautiful spaces. High Park, Centennial Park, Queen’s Park, and the Toronto Islands offer spectacular views and fun activities including hiking trails, sports facilities, and park conservatories, to name just a few.
A large outdoor plaza, Nathan Phillips Square hosts concerts, art displays, farmers’ markets, and festivals, and serves as an ice rink during the winter. Yonge-Dundas Square is an always bustling spot that continually runs many free film screenings, concerts, and other special events.
Excellent Literary Resources
As one of the world’s busiest library systems, the Toronto Public Library keeps book-loving residents entertained and well read. With tens of branches, it’s easy to borrow print books, e-books, and more. Toronto also has a wealth of bookstores, such as Ben McNally Books, which often hosts major literary events.
Top Academic Institutions
Toronto is home to some of the highest ranked private schools in Canada, including the Bishop Strachan School, Crescent School, and St. Clement’s School. These prestigious institutions offer a well-rounded educational curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative extracurricular programs. And of course, the University of Toronto and Ryerson University are both leading universities in Canada, known for their excellent academic programs.
This article was originally published in Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Insight The Art of Living Blog in August 2024
