Toronto, Canada's most populous city and the capital of Ontario, stands as the fourth-most populous city in North America, with millions residing in its expansive greater metropolitan area, the Golden Horseshoe. Its rich history spans over 10,000 years of Indigenous habitation before the British established the town of York in 1793, later renaming it the City of Toronto in 1834 and designating it as Ontario's capital in 1867. Renowned as one of the world's most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities, nearly half of its diverse residents were born outside Canada, representing over 200 ethnic origins and speaking more than 160 languages.
As Canada's largest financial centre and a significant North American tech hub, Toronto boasts a highly diversified economy strong in sectors from finance, technology, and life sciences to arts and tourism, attracting over 26 million visitors annually. The city's unique name, "Toronto," originates from the Mohawk word "tkaronto," meaning 'where there are trees standing in the water,' a reference to an ancient fishing site.