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*Town of York becomes City of Toronto
The former town of York is renamed 'Toronto' to distinguish itself from New York. The boundaries are Bathurst Street to the west, Lot Street (now Queen Street) to the north and Parliament Street to the east. This was the beginning of Toronto becoming the beautiful city that is is today. -
First telegraph sent from Toronto
The Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Co, is formed in 1846. The first telegraph message transmitted in Canada is sent from Toronto to Hamilton. The invention of the telegraph signaled a revolution in communicating over distances. It was the birth of Canada's telecommunications industry, an industry that was crucial to the development of this country. -
Rail route from Montreal to Toronto opens
The Toronto-Montreal section of the Grand Trunk Railway opens. The first trip takes 14 hours. This allowed for quick transportation -
Toronto Islands are formed
The Toronto Islands are formed when a storm disconnects the long, sandy beach from the mainland. Later, in 1973, the federal government will fund the dredging of the gap between the city and the islands to allow for more ship traffic. -
Toronto streetcar service begins
Toronto’s first streetcar route starts operation. Streetcars are pulled by horses and operate from the Yorkville Town Hall to St. Lawrence Market. This was a major turning point for the city because they did not have any form a local transportation prior to this. -
*Canadian confederation
Three British colonies come together as the Dominion of Canada, and split into four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmO_KM9Mjro -
Eaton's department store opens
Timothy Eaton sets up a small department store on Yonge Street. The first store is only 7.3 m by 18.3 m, with two windows. This would go on to become the largest mall in toronto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmO_KM9Mjro -
First Canadian National Exhibition
The first Canadian National Exhibition, then called the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, is held on what will become the CNE grounds. It was the place where people came to experience the latest innovations in technology and commercial products as well as performances by many of the leading artists of the time. -
Union Station opens
Grand Trunk Railway builds Toronto’s first Union Station, consisting of three wooden structures. At the time, it’s the largest railway station in Canada. Material shortages during the First World War, and the collapse of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1919, delayed completion of the station. -
*City Hall opens
Toronto City Hall opens as one of the largest buildings in the city. It will hold city council until 1966, when a new city hall building will be built -
*Great Fire of Toronto occurs
A major fire destroys a large section of the downtown core, and takes nine hours to put out. Firefighters from as far away as Buffalo come to Toronto to help. The fire destroys 104 buildings, and claims the life of one person. It causes $10.3 million in damage. this was a major turning point for the people too as the fire put around five thousand people out of work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gCde6RoD2M -
Toronto Transportation Commission is established
The Toronto Transportation Commission takes over all transit in the city, amalgamating nine existing systems. -
New Union Station opens
Prince Edward and Prince George, among others, attend a ribbon cutting ceremony. Prince Edward himself cuts the ribbon, using a pair of gold scissors. -
*TSX suffers major loss
The Toronto Stock Exchange suffers its worst loss in history, plunging the country into the Great Depression -
Fire on the SS Noronic
The SS Noronic, a passenger ship, catches fire at 2:30 a.m. in Toronto's harbour. It is estimated that 118 to 139 people die. -
First subway line opens
A 7.4-kilometre subway line opens under Yonge Street, using four- and six-car trains that operate at about 32 kilometres per hour. -
Hurricane Hazel hits Toronto
A total of 81 people are killed when the remnants of hurricane Hazel hit Toronto. $137,552,400 is damages. It peaked as a category 4 storm, but by the time it reached Canada, it was an extratropical category 1 storm after merging with an existing cold front south of Ontario.The storm is unprecedented. -
*CN Tower opens
The CN Tower opens as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. The tower is built so members of the Canadian National Railway could observe the entire railway switching yard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=031QVwIBg3g -
Toronto bomb plot is revealed
Canadian authorities arrest five men, and accuse them of ties to a paramilitary organization and plotting to bomb a Hindu temple and Indian theatre in the GTA. The case takes more than 10 years to pass through the court system. -
Toronto propane plant explodes
The Sunrise Propane facility at Keele Street and Wilson Avenue erupts in fire after a series of explosions. One employee dies and a firefighter dies of a heart attack the next day. -
G20 Toronto Summit is held
Outside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, police cause controversy over their handling of security at the G20 Summit hosted in Toronto. Inside the meeting, leaders discuss global financial systems and the world economy. More than 1,000 people detained during the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto described as one of the worst violations of civil liberties in Canada’s history -
Toronto mayor admits to smoking crack
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine in a 'drunken stupor' after months of speculation about a video appearing to show him smoking the drug.
https://youtu.be/qQTwGO047E8
