On This Day in Toronto History

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