I Drove Through Toronto, Canada. This Is What I Saw.

Toronto is a pretty city, and has some weird areas too!

For this video, we drove into Toronto after crossing into canada near the Port Huron border crossing in Michigan, and then drove across the vast Canadian farmland areas into the city of Toronto.

Toronto’s weather was WAY warmer than usual. On this day, it was 33 degrees fahrenheit. It snowed lightly for the several days we were in Toronto, but it never got below 23 degrees at night. Typically, this time of year, it’s closer to 17’.

Toronto sits at the edge of Lake Ontario. Everyone we talked to said they couldn’t remember the last time Lake Ontario wasn’t frozen.

We’ll begin the driving tour of Toronto. But we’ll preface it by drawing whatever generalizations we could surmise after three days in Canada’s largest city. It’s very modern, clean and diverse. All over downtown are newish looking condos, which dominate the Toronto skyline. We only saw one police officer the entire time we walked the city, and outside of a few sketchy homeless people - I saw no problems to speak of.

We also spent a lot of time staring out the window at Toronto’s crown jewel, the CN tower. This building is 1800 feet tall, and every hour, it goes through a rapid light transition show which lasts for close to 10 minutes.

We’ll begin this driving tour of Toronto on King Street in the center of downtown, and then drive the perimeter.

We saw Front Street, on the far south side of downtown Toronto, which abuts Lake Ontario on the right.

Toronto’s population is very diverse. Nearly half the population is considered European. About a third of the population is Asian, and 10% are black. According to the official census numbers, only 1% of the population is Arab, but that number seems very low according to numbers I saw on the ground. Perhaps they are not long term residents.

Toronto’s overall population is close to 3 million people, putting it just about the same size of Chicago - our third largest city here in the US.

Toronto is a very walkable downtown, evident by the look of its residents. While two-thirds of all Canadian residents are considered at least overweight, here in Toronto, you hardly ever saw someone overweight.

This is the financial district in Toronto, where most of the large business offices are located. Half of the largest companies in the entire country are located in this one district alone. Toronto is home to the Canadian headquarters of many large banking and technology companies, including Apple, Coke, Citibank, Google, McDonalds, Microsoft and Intel.

Now, we’re going to make a left and head west into old Chinatown, located towards the northern end of the metro downtown area. Toronto has many Chinatowns, but this one is old Chinatown. Which makes it better Chinatown.

While on a stroll in Chinatown one evening, I made three purchases: a selfie stick which I would later use to film this drive, a candy bar from a seedy shop which was surprisingly very easy to obtain, and dim sum.

Dinner took place at Dim Sum King on Dundas Street. It was very good and I ordered too much. I wound up putting a dumpling in my pocket for later.

While at Dim Sum, I also spotted a fellow social media superstar, an Asian Tik Tok star named Kinda Korean, which would also be a great name for a Korean BBQ food truck.

Canada is actually officially a bilingual country, with English and French the official languages. Some of the first European settlers here were French, and the French culture still impacts Canada today. While here, I also tried poutine, a French dish which consists of gravy, cheese, and french fries.

Now, we’ll take a turn into the Kensington Market neighborhood of Toronto. Kensington Market is a walkable bohemian neighbourhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. Students and families populate Victorian houses along tree-lined streets.

That was borrowed from Wikipedia.

Now, one final street we’ll visit is Queen Street West. Which goes west to east through the heart of downtown Toronto.

Queen Elizabeth is still the Queen of Canada. Canada is both a constitutional monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy with the Queen as the head of state. Canada was once a colony of Britain, but unlike many of England’s other colonies, Canada never experienced a sharp, clean break with the motherland. Though Canada now has full political independence from the U.K., the British monarchy is still part of the Canadian political system to this day.

As such, technically Queen Elizabeth owns like 90% of all Canadian land. And, a lot of the money here in Toronto has Queen Elizabeth on it.

This channel talks about America, different states, education, travel, geography and what it's like to live in different places in America.

[Emanuel-kzlw]

I live in Toronto why am I watching this lol

[jasonlane]

This video should be called “I drove around Spadina.”

[ksubsbycommentingchalle]

You should have visited Jane and finch it is an extremely historic and upscale neighborhood in Toronto with one of the best malls in North America

[mj]

I’m 75 and have lived in all parts of Toronto all my life. I’ve never had a problem. People are nice and helpful. Never a problem going out at night. We are very lucky.

[rosolenn]

Was this done on a Sunday? Doesn't seem like much traffic.

[xibalbadoom]

Some of the most “sketchiest” people aren’t homeless..

[peterrezba]

I've been living in Toronto since 1970's and Lake Ontario never freezes. Because of its great depth, the lake as a whole never freezes in winter.

[TheLovinjourney]

Toronto in the summer is absolutely gorgeous. That's when ou should have come.

[leafs]

The fact you voluntarily drove around downtown is hilarious to me because I avoid it at all costs

[yasmeenm]

I’m from Toronto, watching this during quarantine so I can remember what it’s like to be in the city

[nonokayakjack]

Never mind the lack of ice on the lake. That time of year it usually becomes virtually impossible to get around town due to the CN Tower becoming limp and laying across most of the major streets.

[afitztru]

I am so shocked by people on here complaining about Toronto. I have lived in lots of places in U.S. and I pretty much hate everywhere and don't really like people. My son took me for a week last August to your city and I loved loved loved it!!!! We walked, took transit and drove all around city it was great. Even the homeless you complain about were nice compared to where I live in states. If you don't like it work to change it but realize you have it better than most. My son asked where I want to go next and I told him " of course back to Toronto!". See you next August!

[atb]

I live here and find this vid strangely soothing.

[GraceGordonProductions]

You missed Yorkville, the Beaches and Parkdale, among others!

[TheStevo]

Toronto is definitely the cleanest city I've ever been to. Beautiful.

[BunnyTheChi]

I was born and raised in Toronto. I'm 58 and my dad worked downtown when they were building the CN Tower. Near the top there is a piece that they let kids sign before it was lifted and put into place. My dad's been gone since 2006 and every time I see the tower I think of my dad. It's an expensive city, and we have our share of issues but it's diverse and interesting and I wouldn't live anywhere else. Thanks for doing this video. I loved it.

[thefozzybear]

I grew up in Toronto and I love my city but unfortunately it is getting very expensive to live here. It's becoming the NYC of Canada with rent prices sky rocketing. Have to work 2 jobs or just move out.

[TravelwithTasha]

I was in Toronto for a week a couple of years ago, and I've discovered that you have to be outside of the tourist area to really fully experience a town. I had my own apartment in a residential neighborhood, and I loved it!!!

[prickayeey]

I love toronto, its such a modern underrated city. It gives me a bay area vibe in the summer, n a nyc vibe in the cold. Idk how to explain it.

[dorianloganToronto]

"Judging people from my car" - the movie.