After looking back through my travel writing I calculated that it had been a solid 8 years since we visited Toronto as a young family, that being very early in our “vacationing” experience. We hit attraction after attraction that trip, making the most of the time we had to introduce the kids to some wonderful spaces and keep them engaged. Wouldn’t change one iota from those days. This trip, however, was different. We’ve evolved and travel differently… taking the time to build a relationship with the spaces we’re fortunate enough to share.
First and foremost, this time through I got a much clearer sense of “community” during our stay. It’s got everything to do with our choices as visitors this time around. What’s more community than standing with others beside the cenotaph during Remembrance Day, or strolling a lively Saturday morning market, or even waiting at the bus stop for the next bus to roll in. The people we met in these spaces, and even Air Canada Centre, were beyond friendly, to the point where high fives, TTC tokens and a shot to the ribs was exchanged (that’d be my buddy from the hockey game)! My earlier impressions of a “far flung” city are changed… I saw a community of communities.
In many ways, Toronto is unpacking a “new” Canada. Toronto consistently leads the country in welcoming new immigrants, the Toronto census metropolitan area alone accounting for more than 41% of all recent immigrants to Canada (StatsCan). Faces of Asia, Africa, Middle East and around the globe are present within all layers of society. The growth of our country, both now and in the future, will be directly proportional to those that take root and become valued and contributing partners in this nation building exercise. Other metropolitan centres, as well as rural Canada, would be wise to take notice… Aging populations and stagnant economies are a difficult and burdensome set of circumstances.