Visiting Toronto

Every year, GEOS Toronto welcomes hundreds of students from around the world. Toronto’s diverse population, unparalleled culture and ranging climate attract a high number of visitors and travelers year round. Whether you long for days of sunshine, or the uncertainty associated with winter, the city on the Northwestern shore of Lake Ontario has something for everyone.

GEOS Toronto’s carefully selected location is close to all major attractions and within walking distance of Toronto’s bustling downtown core, multiple subway and streetcar lines, and a wide-range of restaurants, cafés, and bars.  Located in the “old town district”, our school is steps from the St. Lawrence Market, the city’s oldest market.

With a total population closing in on 6 million, Torontonians are a pleasant bunch of people who welcome newcomers with open arms.  49% of Toronto’s population is in fact, first generation immigrants, contributing to Toronto’s title as the most diverse urban centre in the world.  As no stranger to new comers, Toronto is a hub for cultural activities from around the world.  Experience Toronto firsthand today with GEOS Language PLUS.

The provincial capital of Ontario, and the largest metropolitan area in Canada in terms of population, economic strength and geography, Toronto is widely revered as the most culturally diverse urban centre in the world. While relatively young in comparison to other global cities, the city on the Northwestern shore of Lake Ontario has world-class features attractive to all. Recently voted as the fourth “most livable” city on the planet by the EIU, Toronto is internationally recognized for its relatively low cost of living, exceptional transit services, cleanliness and safety.  It is estimated that approximately one million immigrants will flood the streets of Toronto over the next ten years due large in part to the international praise it receives annually and its livable conditions.

Toronto’s dynamic culture generates boundless opportunity and exciting adventures for new visitors. Home to several museums, galleries and venues, Toronto has emerged as a mecca for history, fine arts and science.  The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and the Ontario Science Centre are major tourist destinations for both residents and visitors interested in gaining a stimulating perspective on global culture, history and emerging technologies. From 1976 to 2007, the CN Tower was noted as the tallest free-standing structure in the world, until it was surpassed by the Canton Tower in China, and the Burj Khalifa in the UAE. Other distinguished tourist attractions in Toronto, include: the Distillery District, High Park, Toronto Island, Casa Loma, Brookfield Place, Eaton Centre, Nathan Phillips Square and Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Toronto is a sports crazed town with several major league teams, including: the Maple Leafs (hockey), the Blue Jays (baseball), the Raptors (basketball) and the Argonauts (football). All of the city’s major sports venues, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, BMO Field and Ricoh Coliseum are located in the downtown core and easily accessible by transit and foot.  Toronto is considered the ‘shiny capital of the world’ and has over 50 outdoor skating rinks and facilities.  There’s nothing more Canadian than an outdoor game of pick-up hockey!

The University of Toronto annually ranks as a top twenty educational institution in the world. Other notable institutions in the city include, York University, Ryerson University, OCAD University and the University of Guelph-Humber. Toronto is also source for health and medicine. In fact, over twenty medical facilities are located within the city, dedicated to innovative patient care and research.

Toronto is a hub of world cultures, values and activity. Whether you’re a sports fanatic, a fine-arts junkie or a progressive scientific mind, Toronto is the place to be. Explore GEOS Toronto’s various language courses now and get ready for the experience of a lifetime!

Toronto is also host to over 30 film festivals each year and other international cultural-events so students will have lots to do when classes are finished for the day!

• Toronto Island lies on top of a 900-acre floating sandbag! Centre Island is also the place Babe Ruth hit his first professional homerun!  It serves as an urban oasis for residents and tourists alike and is the largest car-free network in North America.
• According to multiple sources, Toronto is the safest metropolitan area in North America.  A North American low of 78.4 violent crimes were recorded last year compared to a high of 2,122.9 in Detroit.  In turn, the EIU ranks Toronto as the fourth most livable city in the world in terms of safety among other categories including, public transit and cleanliness.
• It is projected that by 2020, Toronto will have the highest number of high-rise condominiums in the world!
• Toronto has the third largest percentage of immigrants in the world at 49.9% of the total population only behind Miami (59.5%) and Dubai (71%). 
• According to Guinness World Records, PATH is the world’s largest underground walkway with a total of 29 km (18 miles) of retail space.  PATH connects 50 office towers, 5 subway stations, six hotels and one railway terminal.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is widely noted as the second most prestigious in the world, only behind Cannes.  Established in 1976, TIFF has garnered international recognition for showcasing both local, independent films along with major Hollywood blockbusters. 
• Even though Canada has two official languages, English and French, French is the 12^th most spoken language in the city.
• In early August, Toronto hosts Carabana, a festival celebrating Caribbean culture, North America’s largest one-day parade. The parade covers 3.6 km and hosts over one million spectators on an annual basis.
• Toronto has the largest population of Italians outside of Italy. When Italy hoisted the World Cup trophy as the top soccer nation in the world in 2006, St. Clair Street transformed into one big party. Viva Italia!
• The Toronto streetcar system is the largest system in the Western world in terms of regular riders, length of track and number of cars.