In the 1960s, Toronto could be described as an old Victorian city, a silent town (Relph, 2013 pg. 1). Everything from the buildings to the residents’ mannerisms had a British and old-an fashioned aspect. However, there were subtle signs of the transformation that was coming such as new skyscrapers, buildings, and sculptures. Today, Toronto has seen dramatic changes such as patio cafes, condominium towers, tall buildings and bustling pedestrians (Relph, 2013 pg. 3). The British influence is now almost undetectable in the cosmopolitan, multicultural urban region. According to the author, the word city does not adequately describe the extensive changes that have occurred not only in Toronto, but also to other urban towns in the world. The word urban is preferable as it illustrates the manner in which cities have diffused extensively into the surrounding areas as well as the myriad of activities that take place in these regions. They are no longer “clearly defined objects” (Relph, 2013 pg.5).
Some people believe that Toronto is an indigenous name that refers to a meeting place while others think that the name is a corruption of the word “Tkaronto” meaning a place where trees stand in water (Relph, 2013 pg. 12). English settlers renamed the Toronto area York though the name was later changed back to Toronto to suit a capital city. Today, Toronto is used to refer to the old city, the new City or the Greater Toronto Area (Relph, 2013 pg. 26).
The rapid growth of the early Toronto can be attributed to sudden economic growth that took place in the twentieth century. The straight streets and tightly packed buildings were developed when streetcars were the norm. The formation of the first telegraph company in Canada initiated economic growth that resulted in the unexpected rapid growth of Toronto (Relph, 2013 pg. 35). Fast industrialization and urbanization followed the telegraph company. The electrification of streetcars and the extension of their lines led to the growth of residential suburbs. The building of The Queen Elizabeth Way introduced a network of highways that led to the expansion of the Toronto metropolis (Relph, 2013 pg. 43).
World War II and the following postwar city plans contributed significantly to the growth of Toronto as a metropolitan. The suburbs continued to grow to accommodate returning veterans and the industrial workforce. Modernist developers made only slight changes in the Old City following two protests that halted development plans. However, these developers continued their efforts to build skyscrapers in downtown Toronto such as the Art Deco Bank of Commerce tower and the CN Tower. The building of high rises has been consistent over the years. Toronto has been ranked second after New York City, which has the largest number of skyscrapers (Relph, 2013 pg. 68).
A combination of modified Victorian, Georgian and Colonial styles characterize the outer suburbs of Toronto. Apartment towers are popular with older ones being rentals while newer ones are condominiums. Religious structures such as mosques, temples, synagogues, and Baptist churches give the outer suburbs a striking architectural landscape.
Toronto is a polycentric urban region. This polycentrism began after 1960 when public functions started to be decentralized into the suburb areas (Relph, 2013 pg. 105). The Union Station, the Pearson International Airport, the QEW and a network of highways are the primary transport resources that serve the polycentric urban center that is Toronto (Relph, 2013 pg. 115). Globalization in Toronto is evident in the simultaneously monocentric and polycentric, decentralized and centralized, dispersed and networked nature of this metropolis.
Economic globalization in Toronto has attracted immigrants resulting into a diverse and multicultural population. The favorable global status of the city facilitates a financial network between Toronto and other cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, and London. Ethnic diversity has resulted from Toronto being the preferred destination by nearly half of the immigrants in Canada. Both economic and social globalization is evident.
The Province of Ontario did not regulate the rapid and extensive growth of Toronto strictly (Relph, 2013 pg147). At the beginning of this century, plans were put in place to control the patterns of development in and around the City. These plans are the Growth Plan, the Greenbelt Plan, and the Big Move (Relph, 2013 pgs. 151, 154, 157).
The identity of Toronto is always elusive. There is nothing, natural or man-made, that is inspiring, or that was inspired by imagination. In fact, Toronto has received few and guarded compliments by visitors and writers. Residents often have negative regards to the city despite being a great city in North America. Though it is devoid of beauty and inspiration, Toronto, in its unique way, is a city for everyone.
Chapter Two: Confused Identities
The origin of the name Toronto is mythical. Some people claim it is an indigenous name referring to a gathering place while others believe that it originated from the Iroquois word “Tkaronto” which means “where trees are standing in the water” (Relph, 2013 pg. 12).
According to Relph (2013 pg. 12), French fur traders named the canoe and portage route to Lake Ontario, the Toronto Carrying Place. Later a trading post developed at the southern end of the route and it was named Fort Toronto. After the British had arrived in the 1780s, they relocated their administrative headquarters from Niagara to the East of Fort Toronto (Relph, 2013 pg. 13). In a deal called the Toronto Purchase, the British administrators persuaded Mississauga people to sell them a large portion of the territory left behind by the Iroquois. Similar to other deals between the Britons and the Indigenous tribes, this too was flawed and deceitful. The Natives assumed that they would still possess their sacred lands, and they would be allowed to fish and hunt while the English believed they had made a total purchase. Following the arrival of John Simcoe in 1793, a survey of the settlement was made resulting in a rectangular survey map (Relph, 2013 pg. 14). This surveying was the founding moment of Toronto. The name did not last long as the settlement was renamed York after a military victory by the Duke of York. This renaming was characteristic of colonization as settlements were given familiar names (English officials and Places). In 1834, the town was renamed Toronto, and it also acquired the city status.
There is a lot of confusion that surrounds the definition of the word city. For this reason, Relph clarifies that he capitalizes the terms City, Region, and so forth when referring to a political entity. When referring to geographical areas he uses small letters. The Toronto area has five interpretations
The old City of Toronto (1834-1988)
The old City of Toronto and the surrounding five rural townships; York, East York, North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke.
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto that comprised of all six municipalities.
The new City of Toronto, which has the same boundaries as the Metro.
The Greater Toronto Area whose boundaries extend into the US.
The name of the Great Toronto Area has been cumbersome and confusing for residents, local government, and governmental organizations. The Greater Golden Horseshoe is the current term being used to refer to the extensive Toronto urban area. Though it is not popular, it is less confusing.
The Great Golden Horseshoe ends at the US border on the southern side. This border creates a challenge from a functional perspective due to the permeability of the frontier. It is not surprising to find cars with American plates parked in the Buffalo- Niagara region and Americans being members of South Ontario country clubs. Nearly half of the educators in the Niagara area, graduated from institutions in New York (Relph, 2013 pg. 24). The Great Lakes mega-region considers the Great Golden Horseshoe as its easternmost region together with the remaining part of Southern Ontario, Pittsburg, Chicago and Detroit (Relph, 2013 pg. 24). Although this might appear exaggerated, the area is connected via truck movement, daily flights, internet traffic and environmental management of the Great Lakes (Relph, 2013). Given the numerous interpretations and frequent changes in the Toronto city boundaries defining the urban region of Toronto becomes unusually hard.
Relph uses the Toronto Purchase to illustrate the founding of the Toronto town area as well as show the influence of land dispossession and colonization on urban growth of Toronto. Without the purchase, Toronto City would probably be nonexistent. Land deals between the white people and the native Canadians (such as the Toronto Purchase) led to land dispossession that left the indigenous population with little control over land and other resources. These deals marked the beginning of the oppression of indigenous people that brought a culture dependence that is evident even to date. The Canadian Natives remain poor and marginalized due to the dispossessions that occurred centuries ago. As a Toronto resident, I have witnessed several events and festivals that are organized in Toronto annually with an aim of celebrating the culture of Aboriginal Canadians and highlight the contribution of these people to the community. These events include the Indigenous Education Week (IEW) at the University of Toronto and Toronto’s Pow-wow Festival (Roman & Robin, 2016).
The colonial administration during the founding of Toronto played a significant role in determining boundaries, directing future urban growth, and the naming of geographical features and areas in Toronto (Relph, 2013 pg. 15). A universal aspect of colonization is to rename the geography of new territories after British officials and places. In Toronto for instance, the two main rivers near Toronto/York got their names (the Humber and the Don) from England, Yorkshire. The Scarborough area Toronto was named thus because the bluffs at the lakeshore bore some resemblance with the cliffs found in the Scarborough town in Yorkshire. These English names were assigned by the colonial lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, John Simcoe and his wife, Elizabeth.
Everyday life Experiences in Toronto
Commuting to the City everyday allows me to be at Union Station at least twice every week day. In the hurry of going places, most commuters fail to notice the architectural beauty all over the station. I often find myself admiring and enjoying the beautiful architectural details.
I am also fascinated by the many names I encounter in Toronto that originated from England; streets, rivers, administrative districts and so on.
References
Roman, S. & Robin, I. (2016, Feb 29). Truth and Reconciliation Grounds Indigenous Education Week. The Varsity.
Relph, E. (2013). Toronto: Transformations in a City and Its Region. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
