GENERAL INFORMATION Toronto, capital city of the province of Ontario, Canada, is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. Toronto has the largest metropolitan area in Canada and is the financial center of the country. The city is part of the Golden Horseshoe, a highly urbanized and industrialized region extending around the west end of Lake Ontario. In the 1990s Toronto was ranked among the top ten world cities, both in livability and as a place to do business. Toronto is composed of six communities: Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, and East York. The majority of the population is immigrants, making the city one of the great ethnic melting pots of the world. Population: 2,456,000 Flight times: Los Angeles- 5 1/2 hrs, Denver- 3 1/2 hrs, London- 7 hrs, New York- 1 1/2 hrs, Mexico City- 6 hrs. WEATHER Toronto has a climate with strong seasonal variations, that are tempered slightly by Lake Ontario. Summers are warm and humid; the temperature is often below freezing in the winter. Average Daily High/Low Temperature: - Spring: High 53°F/ 11.5°C, Low 40°F / 4°C - Summer: High 80°F / 27°C, Low 63°F/ 17°C - Fall: High 59°F / 15°C, Low 45°F / 7°C - Winter: High30°F /--1°C, Low 18°F/ -8°C TRANSPORTATION Airports Toronto is served by two airports: Pearson International Airport and the Toronto City Centre Airport. Pearson is by far the busiest airport in Canada. The smaller Toronto City Centre Airport is used by regional and charter airlines. Almost all tickets for flights departing Canada, whether purchased in Canada or abroad, include departure tax. http://www.gtaa.com/ OR http://www.torontoport.com/ Buses and Trains Several Ontario buses and Canada-US Greyhound buses leave from the Metro Toronto Coach Terminal at the corner of Bay and Dundas Streets. A number of buses also leave from an adjacent terminal on the western side, including GO Transit commuter services. Trains continue to be Canada's most enjoyable and scenic way to travel, though they're more expensive than buses. Grand old Union Station downtown is served by VIA Rail and GO Transit commuter trains. Reservations are essential, and various passes are available. The US Amtrak train company also runs services between the US and Canada. ATTRACTIONS Toronto celebrates the heritage of its citizens with frequent festivals and cultural expositions from all parts of the world. One such celebration is the Caribana Parade, which unites all the people of Toronto in a downtown street party that celebrates the Caribbean culture. St. Lawrence Market Considered by Food and Wine magazine to be one of the world's 25 best food markets, the St. Lawrence Market is located in the heart of the historic Old Town Toronto neighborhood at Jarvis and Front Streets. http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/ CN Tower Built in 1976 by Canadian National (CN) who wanted to demonstrate the strength of Canadian industry by building a tower taller than any other in the world, Toronto boasts the world's tallest structure at 1,815 ft that includes the restaurant 360, an arcade and movie theater. http://www.cntower.ca/ Ê Ê