Timeline of Toronto History

This timeline lists 198 events in the history of Toronto from 1687 to 2025. Each entry states one fact that the linked article also states, so a reader can open the article for the sources and for the points where historians disagree.

How the timeline is made

Events are taken from the finished articles of this website, not from separate research. A date is shown as a year unless the article gives a month or a day. Where sources disagree about a date, the timeline uses the form the article uses, or leaves the event out. Because each article decides what it covers, the timeline is not a complete history: it follows the subjects the site has written about.

Eras and themes

Eras run from before 1793 (the founding of the town of York) through 1850, 1900, 1950 and today. Themes group the events by subject: government and law, people, buildings and places, communities, business and institutions, transport and infrastructure, nature and environment, and culture and sport. A written overview is on the history overview page.

Last verified: October 2026

The timeline by decade

The 1790s · The 1830s · The 1840s · The 1850s · The 1870s · The 1880s · The 1910s · The 1920s · The 1950s · The 1970s · The 1990s · The 2020s · Lost and rebuilt Toronto

Timeline as plain text (198 events)

Before 1793

1687: By 1687 the Seneca villages of Teiaiagon near the Humber River and Ganatsekwyagon near the Rouge River had been abandoned. Toronto History: An Overview From Early Villages to 1998
1700: By 1700 the Anishinaabe people known as the Mississaugas had taken control of the Toronto area, according to a plaque on the Toronto Carrying Place. Indigenous History of Toronto: Treaties, Land and Settlement
1750: The French built Fort Rouille, also called Fort Toronto, on the lakeshore near the present Exhibition Place, with construction dated to 1750 and 1751. Toronto’s Earlier Names: Fort Rouillé, York, and Toronto
1759: The garrison of Fort Rouille destroyed the post after other French forts on Lake Ontario had surrendered. Toronto’s Earlier Names: Fort Rouillé, York, and Toronto
1763: The British claimed control of the Toronto area. Indigenous History of Toronto: Treaties, Land and Settlement
1787: British records date the first Toronto Purchase agreement to a council with Mississaugas at the Bay of Quinte, but the deed produced from that meeting was blank. The Toronto Purchase: 1787 Council, Treaty 13 and the 2010 Claim
1788: An attempted survey of the Toronto Purchase land met Mississauga opposition, which shows that no clear boundaries had been agreed. The Toronto Purchase: 1787 Council, Treaty 13 and the 2010 Claim
1791: John Graves Simcoe was issued his commission as the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada. John Graves Simcoe: Founder of York and First Governor
1792: Henry Dundas proposed adding the word gradual to a motion to end the British slave trade, and the amended motion passed the House of Commons by 230 votes to 85. Dundas Street: History, Name Origin and the Renaming Debate

1793 to 1850

1793: Construction began at Fort York on a stone gunpowder storage building, wooden barracks, log blockhouses, and earthen gun batteries to protect the harbor. Fort York and the Battle of York in 1813
1793: The Queen's Rangers began cutting Dundas Street under Simcoe's orders, a military and settlement road they worked on in 1793 and 1794. Dundas Street: History, Name Origin and the Renaming Debate
1793: The Upper Canada act against slavery received royal assent; it stopped new imports and set a path to gradual freedom for children of enslaved mothers, but it freed nobody already enslaved. John Graves Simcoe: Founder of York and First Governor
1793: The City of Toronto Archives dates the founding of York to the day Lieutenant Governor Simcoe laid out a town and garrison on the harbor. Toronto History: From Indigenous Roots to Today
1795: William Allan, a Scottish-born merchant, moved to York as the local agent of a Montreal trading firm. William Allan: Merchant and First Bank President in York
1796: Yonge Street, built by the Queen's Rangers for Simcoe, was completed; sources give February 16 or February 20, 1796. Yonge Street History and the Longest-Street Claim
1796: Peter Russell took over as administrator of Upper Canada after Simcoe left, and he kept the seat of government at York. Peter Russell: Administrator of Upper Canada at York
1797: The first parliament of Upper Canada met at York. Peter Russell: Administrator of Upper Canada at York
1803: Lieutenant Governor Peter Hunter set aside the land that became the St. Lawrence Market as a market block. St. Lawrence Market: From the 1803 Market Block to 2025
1805: The Crown and the Mississaugas signed the indenture registered as Treaty 13 at the River Credit, with the Crown paying ten shillings for the Toronto tract. The Toronto Purchase: 1787 Council, Treaty 13 and the 2010 Claim
1812: John Strachan arrived in York as rector and as chaplain to the garrison and the Legislative Council. John Strachan: Teacher, Rector of York and First Bishop
1813: American forces attacked York, and British forces evacuated Fort York and blew up the powder magazine during the Battle of York. Fort York and the Battle of York in 1813
1818: The first common school in York, paid for in part by Jesse Ketchum, was completed. Jesse Ketchum: Tanner, Reformer, and Benefactor of York
1822: The Bank of Upper Canada opened, and William Allan was elected its first president. William Allan: Merchant and First Bank President in York
1824: William Lyon Mackenzie published the first issue of the Colonial Advocate at Queenston, and he moved the paper to York in November. William Lyon Mackenzie: Toronto’s First Mayor and Rebel
1826: The First Baptist Church was founded in Toronto by twelve formerly enslaved people led by Washington Christian. Black Torontonians and the Underground Railroad, 1826 to 1860
1827: King's College, the forerunner of the University of Toronto, was created by royal charter. University of Toronto History: King’s College to Federation
1830: Joseph Bloor and William Botsford Jarvis divided land into residential lots that became the village of Yorkville. Yorkville, Toronto: From Village to Downtown District
1832: James Worts and William Gooderham built a windmill and grist mill on the Toronto waterfront, the start of the Gooderham and Worts firm. The Distillery District: Gooderham and Worts, 1832 to Today
1834: William Lyon Mackenzie was chosen by his fellow councillors as the first mayor of Toronto. William Lyon Mackenzie: Toronto’s First Mayor and Rebel
1834: Toronto's police force was founded when the city was incorporated. Toronto’s Police and Fire Services: A History
1834: York was incorporated as the City of Toronto and took the name Toronto. Toronto History: An Overview From Early Villages to 1998
1835: Toronto retained five full-time constables, about one officer for every 1,850 residents. Toronto’s Police and Fire Services: A History
1837: Government forces broke up the rebellion led by William Lyon Mackenzie at Montgomery's Tavern on Yonge Street. The 1837 Rebellion in Toronto: Mackenzie and Montgomery’s Tavern
1838: Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews were hanged in the courtyard of the Toronto jail after being convicted of treason. The 1837 Rebellion in Toronto: Mackenzie and Montgomery’s Tavern
1839: John Strachan was appointed the first Anglican bishop of Toronto. John Strachan: Teacher, Rector of York and First Bishop
1841: Toronto's streets were first lit by gas lamps. Toronto Hydro: History of the City’s Electric Utility
1843: The official opening of King's College took place, with John Strachan giving the address. University of Toronto History: King’s College to Federation
1844: Little Trinity Church on King Street East began regular services, and an Ontario Heritage Trust plaque calls it the oldest surviving church in the city. Historic Churches of Toronto: A Guide to the Section
1844: George Brown founded the Toronto Globe, whose first issue appeared on this date. George Brown: Founder of the Globe and Confederation Figure
1845: Bishop Michael Power laid the cornerstone of St. Michael's Cathedral. Verified List of Historic Toronto Churches
1847: Nearly 40,000 Irish famine migrants passed through Toronto, a town of about 20,000, and a typhus epidemic killed many of them in fever sheds near the hospital. The 1847 Typhus Epidemic and Irish Famine Migrants in Toronto
1847: Egerton Ryerson established the Normal School in Toronto, the province's first institution for training teachers. Egerton Ryerson: Methodist Editor and Schools Superintendent
1848: The ministry led by Robert Baldwin and Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine took office, putting responsible government into practice in the Province of Canada. Robert Baldwin: Toronto Lawyer and Responsible Government
1848: St. Michael's Cathedral was consecrated. Verified List of Historic Toronto Churches
1849: Robert Baldwin introduced the University Bill, which created a secular University of Toronto. Robert Baldwin: Toronto Lawyer and Responsible Government
1849: A fire destroyed the market block and the first St. James' Cathedral. Toronto History: An Overview From Early Villages to 1998
1850: The Toronto Necropolis was established as the city's second non-sectarian burial ground. Toronto Necropolis and Toronto’s Historic Cemeteries
1850: St. Lawrence Hall, designed by William Thomas, replaced the market building destroyed in the fire of 1849. St. Lawrence Market: From the 1803 Market Block to 2025
1850: King's College became the nondenominational University of Toronto. University of Toronto History: King’s College to Federation

1851 to 1900

1851: The Anti-Slavery Society of Canada was formed in Toronto in response to the American Fugitive Slave Act. Black Torontonians and the Underground Railroad, 1826 to 1860
1851: The cornerstone of Trinity College, the church university founded by John Strachan, was laid. University of Toronto History: King’s College to Federation
1853: The first passenger train in Upper Canada left from a wooden shed opposite the Queen's Hotel on Front Street. Union Station, Toronto: History, Architecture, and Role
1854: Mary Ann Shadd's newspaper, the Provincial Freeman, resumed publication in Toronto. Mary Ann Shadd: Editor of the Provincial Freeman
1855: The Grand Trunk Railway opened a station at Front and Bay streets, which became the first Union Station when the Great Western Railway arrived in December. Union Station, Toronto: History, Architecture, and Role
1855: The Bank of Toronto was incorporated. Toronto-Dominion Bank and the Toronto Stock Exchange: History
1856: The Toronto Hebrew Congregation, today Holy Blossom Temple, was founded. Jewish Toronto: History of the Community
1858: A severe storm cut a permanent channel through the sandy peninsula, turning it into the Toronto Islands. Toronto Harbour and Waterfront: How the Shore Was Rebuilt
1859: Construction of the main Gooderham and Worts distillery complex began. The Distillery District: Gooderham and Worts, 1832 to Today
1860: Edward, Prince of Wales, dedicated Queen's Park, and it was named for Queen Victoria. Queen’s Park and the Ontario Legislative Building: A History
1861: John Anderson, a fugitive from slavery whose extradition to the United States had been sought, was discharged because the warrant did not charge murder, in a case heard at Osgoode Hall. Osgoode Hall: Architects, Great Library, and the Fence
1861: Horse-drawn streetcars began service in Toronto under the Toronto Street Railway. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway
1861: The Toronto Stock Exchange was founded by resolution at Toronto's Masonic Hall, with 18 stocks that could be traded. Toronto-Dominion Bank and the Toronto Stock Exchange: History
1867: Confederation took effect, after George Brown had taken part in the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences. George Brown: Founder of the Globe and Confederation Figure
1869: Timothy Eaton bought a dry-goods business at 178 Yonge Street, the start of the Eaton's department store. Timothy Eaton: Merchant Who Built Toronto’s Eaton Store
1872: Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church, now Metropolitan United Church, was dedicated. Verified List of Historic Toronto Churches
1873: Henry Scadding's Toronto of Old, a collection of recollections about early York, was published as a book. Henry Scadding: Clergyman and Author of Toronto of Old
1873: The Toronto Argonauts played their first football game. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1876: Mount Pleasant Cemetery opened on a former farm. Toronto Necropolis and Toronto’s Historic Cemeteries
1876: The Ontario School of Art, now OCAD University, opened. Universities and Colleges in Toronto
1876: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Simcoe Street was dedicated. Verified List of Historic Toronto Churches
1876: John Ross Robertson published the first issue of the Evening Telegram. John Ross Robertson: Publisher, Historian, Hospital Patron
1878: The city directory listed Sam Ching's laundry at 9 Adelaide Street East, one of the earliest Chinese businesses recorded in Toronto. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1879: The first Toronto Industrial Exhibition, the forerunner of the Canadian National Exhibition, opened on lakefront land leased by the city. Canadian National Exhibition: History of the CNE
1882: Ontario passed the Free Libraries Act, which let municipalities fund libraries from local taxes. The Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Reference Library
1883: The Toronto Electric Light Company was incorporated. Toronto Hydro: History of the City’s Electric Utility
1883: The City of Toronto annexed the Village of Yorkville. Yorkville, Toronto: From Village to Downtown District
1884: Sewer work began on Garrison Creek, the start of burying one of Toronto's streams. Toronto’s Lost Rivers and Buried Ravines
1884: Timothy Eaton began a mail-order service built on a printed catalog. Timothy Eaton: Merchant Who Built Toronto’s Eaton Store
1884: The Central Library of the Toronto Public Library opened officially at Church and Adelaide streets on the city's fiftieth anniversary. The Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Reference Library
1885: The federal Chinese head tax was enacted, beginning at $50. Immigration and Communities in Toronto’s History
1886: Construction began on the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park to a design by Richard A. Waite. Queen’s Park and the Ontario Legislative Building: A History
1887: Toronto City Council agreed to annex the land developed by Simeon Janes as the Toronto Annex. The Annex: How a Developer’s Subdivision Became a District
1891: Hart Massey's firm merged with other Canadian rivals to form Massey-Harris Company Limited. Hart Massey: Manufacturer and Builder of Massey Hall
1892: Toronto's first electric streetcar ran. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway
1893: The Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park opened officially. Queen’s Park and the Ontario Legislative Building: A History
1894: William Peyton Hubbard won an aldermanic seat, becoming Toronto's first Black elected official. Immigration and Communities in Toronto’s History
1894: Massey Hall opened with a performance of Handel's Messiah. Massey Hall: History of Toronto’s Concert Hall
1899: Riverdale Zoo opened in Riverdale Park West as Toronto's first zoo. Cabbagetown, Toronto: Victorian Streets and Irish Roots
1899: Old City Hall, designed by E. J. Lennox, opened as Toronto's third city hall and a courthouse. Old City Hall: Lennox, the Unpaid Bill, and the 1960s Rescue
1900: The City of Toronto traces the first underground path in the city to this year, the start of what became the PATH network. Rogers Centre, the PATH and the Toronto Music Garden

1901 to 1950

1904: A fire that began in a factory on Wellington Street West destroyed nearly 20 acres (about 8 hectares) of the downtown business district. The Great Fire of Toronto, April 19, 1904
1906: Niagara hydroelectric power reached Toronto, and it flowed to customers of the Toronto Electric Light Company two days later. Toronto Hydro: History of the City’s Electric Utility
1908: Ratepayers approved a bond issue of $2,750,000 to build a municipal electricity distribution network. Toronto Hydro: History of the City’s Electric Utility
1909: The Department of Militia and Defence transferred Fort York to the City of Toronto, which agreed to preserve its historic structures. Fort York and the Battle of York in 1813
1909: Toronto's first Chinatown emerged on Elizabeth Street, north of Queen Street. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1909: A fire destroyed nearly the whole west side of the Ontario Legislative Building, including the Legislative Library. Queen’s Park and the Ontario Legislative Building: A History
1911: The federal Toronto Harbour Commissioners Act created a single body to manage the waterfront. Toronto Harbour and Waterfront: How the Shore Was Rebuilt
1911: Public power from the provincial system first reached Toronto, and an official ceremony followed on May 2. Toronto Hydro: History of the City’s Electric Utility
1912: The Toronto Industrial Exhibition took the name Canadian National Exhibition. Canadian National Exhibition: History of the CNE
1913: Sir Henry Pellatt moved into the unfinished Casa Loma. Casa Loma: Pellatt’s Castle and Its Path to City Ownership
1913: Toronto voters approved spending of $2.5 million CAD on the viaduct that became the Prince Edward Viaduct. Prince Edward Viaduct: History of the Bloor Viaduct
1914: The Royal Ontario Museum opened to the public. Toronto’s Museums: History of the ROM and Other Institutions
1916: The Ontario Temperance Act took effect, banning the sale of liquor as a drink across Ontario. The Ontario Temperance Act of 1916 and Prohibition in Toronto
1917: The franchise that became the Toronto Maple Leafs was founded as the Toronto Arenas. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1918: The Don section of the Prince Edward Viaduct was officially opened. Prince Edward Viaduct: History of the Bloor Viaduct
1919: The Bloor section of the Prince Edward Viaduct opened, and the name Prince Edward Viaduct became official on October 6. Prince Edward Viaduct: History of the Bloor Viaduct
1919: A mob of about 400 men and boys smashed windows and looted Chinese stores on Elizabeth Street. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1921: Frederick Banting and Charles Best began the experiments at the University of Toronto that led to insulin. Frederick Banting: Insulin, Nobel Prize and Toronto
1921: The publicly owned Toronto Transportation Commission began operating the city's transit service. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway
1922: Leonard Thompson, a 13-year-old boy, received the first human test of insulin at Toronto General Hospital. Frederick Banting: Insulin, Nobel Prize and Toronto
1923: The Chinese Immigration Act barred further Chinese immigration, and it was not repealed until 1947. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1923: Frederick Banting and John James Rickard Macleod were announced as winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Frederick Banting: Insulin, Nobel Prize and Toronto
1924: In a non-binding plebiscite, 585,676 Ontario voters chose to maintain the Ontario Temperance Act and 551,645 favored government-controlled sale. The Ontario Temperance Act of 1916 and Prohibition in Toronto
1925: A Cenotaph honoring Torontonians who died in the First World War was erected on the lawn of Old City Hall. Old City Hall: Lennox, the Unpaid Bill, and the 1960s Rescue
1927: The Liquor Control Act replaced the Ontario Temperance Act and created the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The Ontario Temperance Act of 1916 and Prohibition in Toronto
1927: The Princes' Gates, the monumental east entrance to the Exhibition grounds, were opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Prince George. Canadian National Exhibition: History of the CNE
1927: The present Union Station opened when Edward, Prince of Wales, cut a ribbon with gold scissors. Union Station, Toronto: History, Architecture, and Role
1929: The Royal York Hotel was built across Front Street from Union Station. Union Station, Toronto: History, Architecture, and Role
1931: Maple Leaf Gardens opened as the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Maple Leaf Gardens: History of Toronto’s Hockey Arena
1933: The City of Toronto took over Casa Loma to recover unpaid taxes, according to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Casa Loma: Pellatt’s Castle and Its Path to City Ownership
1933: The Christie Pits riot took place; The Canadian Encyclopedia calls it one of the worst outbreaks of ethnic violence in Canadian history. Jewish Toronto: History of the Community
1934: Old Fort York opened to the public as part of the city's centennial. Fort York and the Battle of York in 1813
1936: The row houses beside William Lyon Mackenzie's last home at 82 Bond Street were torn down, and the house itself was saved from demolition. William Lyon Mackenzie: Toronto’s First Mayor and Rebel
1938: The first landing took place at Malton Airport, according to the airport's own account. YYZ: Why Toronto Pearson Airport Has This Code
1939: The island airport opened, when its paved runways and terminal building were completed. How Many Airports Does Toronto Have?
1946: The military left the Exhibition grounds, so the Canadian National Exhibition could be held again in 1947. Canadian National Exhibition: History of the CNE
1946: The Toronto Huskies hosted the first game of their league, against the New York Knickerbockers. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1947: Area code 416 was put into service among the first North American area codes. Toronto Area Codes 416, 647, 437 and 942: History and Dialing
1947: Toronto voters approved spending for a new civic square and city hall. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1948: The Ryerson Institute of Technology was founded on the site of the Toronto Normal School. University of Toronto History: King’s College to Federation
1949: Families began moving into Regent Park North, part of the old Cabbagetown district cleared for public housing. Cabbagetown, Toronto: Victorian Streets and Irish Roots
1950: Hugh Garner published the novel Cabbagetown. Cabbagetown, Toronto: Victorian Streets and Irish Roots

1951 to today

1953: The Ontario legislature created the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto from 13 municipalities. Where Is Toronto? Province, Boundaries and Time Zone
1953: Canada and Portugal signed a labor agreement, and many Portuguese newcomers settled first in Kensington Market. Kensington Market: From Denison Estate to Historic Site
1954: The first subway line, the Yonge line from Union Station to Eglinton Avenue, opened. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway
1954: Hurricane Hazel passed over Toronto on the night of October 15 to 16, the city's worst natural disaster. Toronto’s Elevation and Topography
1955: City officials expropriated shops and restaurants on Elizabeth Street for the new City Hall. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1955: The Toronto-Dominion Bank was formed when the Bank of Toronto and the Dominion Bank merged. Toronto-Dominion Bank and the Toronto Stock Exchange: History
1956: Edwards Gardens opened to the public. Toronto Botanical Garden: History, Edwards Gardens and Size
1956: Toronto Island Park was formally established, according to a 2024 City staff report. Alcohol on Toronto Island: Park Rules, Ferry, and History
1959: York University was incorporated. Universities and Colleges in Toronto
1965: The new City Hall opened, and Nathan Phillips Square carries the name of the mayor who led the plan. Jewish Toronto: History of the Community
1966: The Bloor-Danforth subway line opened between Keele and Woodbine stations, with some sources giving February 25 and others February 26. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway
1966: Centennial College opened its doors, and it describes itself as Ontario's first public college. Universities and Colleges in Toronto
1967: A new Chinatown developed around Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. Chinatown in Toronto: From Elizabeth Street to Spadina
1967: The Toronto Maple Leafs won their thirteenth and most recent Stanley Cup, according to the NHL's count. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1967: Metropolitan Toronto was reduced from 13 member municipalities to six. The 6ix: How Toronto Got Its Nickname
1968: Rochdale College opened on Bloor Street in Yorkville. Yorkville, Toronto: From Village to Downtown District
1971: Ontario Place opened as a showcase of the province, with five pods on stilts and the Cinesphere. Ontario Place: History of the Lakefront Park, 1971 to Today
1971: Premier William Davis said the Spadina was a good place to stop, and the province withdrew its support for the expressway. The Annex: How a Developer’s Subdivision Became a District
1971: The Toronto Sun printed its first issue, two days after the Toronto Telegram stopped publishing. Toronto Sun: History of the Newspaper Since 1971
1973: Crews moved onto the site and construction of the CN Tower began. CN Tower History: Why and When Toronto’s Tower Was Built
1976: The CN Tower opened to the public. CN Tower History: Why and When Toronto’s Tower Was Built
1977: The first phase of the Eaton Centre opened, and the south half followed in 1979. The Eaton Centre and Toronto’s Historic Shopping Streets
1977: The Toronto Blue Jays played their first regular-season game, a 9 to 5 win over the Chicago White Sox. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1977: The Toronto Reference Library, designed by Raymond Moriyama, officially opened at 789 Yonge Street. The Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Reference Library
1978: Riverdale Farm opened after the zoo had moved to Scarborough in 1974. Cabbagetown, Toronto: Victorian Streets and Irish Roots
1981: Toronto police raided four bathhouses in Operation Soap, and 306 charges were laid. Pride, the Orange Order, and Prohibition in Toronto
1984: Toronto International Airport was renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport. YYZ: Why Toronto Pearson Airport Has This Code
1989: SkyDome, now Rogers Centre, opened as what the Canadian Encyclopedia describes as the world's first fully retractable-ceilinged multi-purpose stadium. Rogers Centre, the PATH and the Toronto Music Garden
1990: The Gooderham and Worts distillery closed permanently. The Distillery District: Gooderham and Worts, 1832 to Today
1992: The Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series by beating the Atlanta Braves in six games. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1993: The Toronto Blue Jays won a second World Series, ended by Joe Carter's three-run home run in Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1993: Area code 905 was split from 416, so that 416 came to cover only the municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto. Toronto Area Codes 416, 647, 437 and 942: History and Dialing
1994: Meetings with the visiting speaker Randy Clark began at the Toronto Airport Vineyard, the start of the revival known as the Toronto Blessing. The Toronto Blessing: The 1994 Revival at Toronto Airport
1995: The Bata Shoe Museum opened at 327 Bloor Street West. Toronto’s Museums: History of the ROM and Other Institutions
1995: The Toronto Raptors played their first game, a win over the New Jersey Nets at SkyDome. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1996: The Greater Toronto Airports Authority took over management of Toronto Pearson under a 60-year lease from Transport Canada. YYZ: Why Toronto Pearson Airport Has This Code
1998: Metropolitan Toronto and its six municipalities were amalgamated into the single City of Toronto. Toronto History: An Overview From Early Villages to 1998
1999: The Humber River was designated a Canadian Heritage River. Toronto’s Lost Rivers and Buried Ravines
1999: Snow fell on most days from January 2 to January 15, leaving a two-week total of more than 100 cm (39 inches) at the downtown station. Toronto Weather and Climate Records
1999: The Toronto Maple Leafs left Maple Leaf Gardens for the Air Canada Centre, now called Scotiabank Arena. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
1999: The Toronto Music Garden was officially opened on the central waterfront. Toronto Music Garden: Design, Bach and History
2001: Area code 647 was introduced as an overlay on 416. Toronto Area Codes 416, 647, 437 and 942: History and Dialing
2002: Toronto City Council enacted By-law 622-2002 for the Yorkville-Hazelton Avenue Heritage Conservation District. Yorkville, Toronto: From Village to Downtown District
2003: The Distillery District opened to the public as a pedestrian district of galleries, studios, and restaurants. The Distillery District: Gooderham and Worts, 1832 to Today
2005: SkyDome was renamed Rogers Centre after Rogers Communications bought it. Rogers Centre, the PATH and the Toronto Music Garden
2007: Toronto FC entered Major League Soccer. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
2007: Ireland Park opened on the waterfront, with bronze figures by Rowan Gillespie honoring the Irish famine migrants of 1847. The 1847 Typhus Epidemic and Irish Famine Migrants in Toronto
2008: The expanded Art Gallery of Ontario opened to the public. Toronto’s Museums: History of the ROM and Other Institutions
2010: Canada finalized the CAD 145 million settlement of the Toronto Purchase and Brant Tract claims with the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. The Toronto Purchase: 1787 Council, Treaty 13 and the 2010 Claim
2013: Area code 437 was introduced as an overlay on 416 and 647. Toronto Area Codes 416, 647, 437 and 942: History and Dialing
2013: Toronto Pearson recorded more than 90 millimeters (3.5 inches) of rain in two hours, and the City later committed $3.1 billion CAD over ten years to upgrade stormwater and wastewater systems. Toronto’s Lost Rivers and Buried Ravines
2017: Toronto FC won the MLS Cup with a 2 to 0 win over the Seattle Sounders at BMO Field, the first Canadian club to take the title. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
2017: The Toronto-York Spadina subway extension to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre opened. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway
2019: The Toronto Raptors won their first NBA title by defeating the Golden State Warriors in six games. History of Toronto’s Professional Sports Teams
2021: The census counted 2,794,356 people in the City of Toronto, 2.3 percent more than in 2016. Toronto’s Population and Languages in the Census
2021: Toronto City Council voted 17 to 7 to rename Dundas Street and other city assets that bear the name. Dundas Street: History, Name Origin and the Renaming Debate
2021: Massey Hall reopened after its renovation with a concert by Gordon Lightfoot. Massey Hall: History of Toronto’s Concert Hall
2022: The board of governors approved the name Toronto Metropolitan University for the institution formerly known as Ryerson University. Egerton Ryerson: Methodist Editor and Schools Superintendent
2023: Olivia Chow became the city's first Chinese Canadian mayor. Immigration and Communities in Toronto’s History
2023: Buttonville Municipal Airport in Markham closed. How Many Airports Does Toronto Have?
2023: Council renamed Yonge-Dundas Square as Sankofa Square and paused the renaming of Dundas Street itself. Dundas Street: History, Name Origin and the Renaming Debate
2024: Cabbagetown Southwest, the last residential section of the district, was designated as a heritage conservation district. Cabbagetown, Toronto: Victorian Streets and Irish Roots
2025: Area code 942 began as an overlay on 416, 437, and 647. Toronto Area Codes 416, 647, 437 and 942: History and Dialing
2025: A grand opening event marked the new North Market building at St. Lawrence Market. St. Lawrence Market: From the 1803 Market Block to 2025
2025: About 20 hectares (50 acres) of Biidaasige Park opened on the new mouth of the Don River. Toronto Harbour and Waterfront: How the Shore Was Rebuilt
2025: The Finch West light rail line, Line 6, opened to customers. History of Toronto Public Transit: Streetcars to the Subway