Toronto Celebrating 175 Years

Happy Birthday, Toronto!

On March 6, 1834, Toronto became the first officially incorporated city in Upper Canada, having been known previously as the Town of York.

The name change was meant to alleviate confusion caused by the popularity of 'York' in place names.

Whereas the 'York' name was thoroughly British, the 'Toronto' name was native.

Its use first crops up in the 17th century maps of the first French explorers who, in turn, got it from the Senecas who were living in the area at the time.

And, no, the name doesn't mean "meeting place".

Yonge-Dundas Square (commonly called Dundas Square) is a public square in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street. It was opened to the public in November 2002, and a "grand opening" concert was held on May 30, 2003.

Designed by Brown + Storey Architects, the square was intended as a new public space in Toronto, somewhat akin to Nathan Phillips Square, designed by Viljo Revell for New City Hall. Unlike Nathan Phillips Square, however, Yonge-Dundas Square is operated as a commercial venture, with a separate Board of Management.

Until the late 1990s, the Yonge-Dundas Square site was occupied by a block of retail stores, and considered by many to be a "seedy" or dangerous corner. In 1998, as part of its Yonge Street Regeneration Project, Toronto City Council approved the expropriation and demolition of the buildings on the site, and the construction of Dundas Square.

The square is opposite the Toronto Eaton Centre and just south of the Ryerson University campus, and is part of a revitalization effort by the city, residents and the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area, an association of local businesses. This effort was spearheaded by Councillor Kyle Rae, Robert Sniderman of the Senator Restaurant and Arron Barberian of Barberian's Steak House. In late 2007, the Toronto Life Square entertainment complex opened across the street from the square.

The intersection is claimed by some to be the busiest intersection in Canada, with over 56 million people each year who pass this intersection to work, play or shop. It is sometimes nicknamed as Toronto's Times Square, as development is cited as modelling New York's Times Square, Tokyo's Shibuya district and London's Piccadilly Circus. To ease traffic, a pedestrian scramble has been installed. (taken from Wikipedia)