As I was driving up the Don Valley Parkway this morning to a client’s office, I was reminded that today the great city of Toronto is celebrating it’s 180th birthday.  I started thinking what a great city I live in and how fortunate I am to be able to live and work in such a world class city. I knew from a very young age, when I would visit my family here in Toronto, that this is where I would end up. The energy of the city was intoxicating (as a teenager it was, some days now it is exhausting!)

The Toronto list of greatness is quite extensive and substantial. We have some of the best hospitals in the world with researchers who are leading the way in finding cures and treatments for disease. I don’t even need to mention Sick Kids Hospital and the amazing work that is done there every day! Top notch universities that students flock to from all over the world to study at. Theatre, film, music, museums, art – where else can you find musicals, an international film festival, concerts, a documentary film festival and small venues where budding talent can showcase their skill? You can spend the day lost in culture, history or the work of the Impressionists How about the food? And ethnic neighbourhoods where you feel like you have been transported out of Canada to another country. And don’t forget the sports teams! 

Now, Toronto does have quite a few “needs improvement” areas but today for it’s birthday let’s not complain about the traffic or our crazy mayor, the crumbling Gardiner Expressway or our Maple Leafs (all though they did win last night). Let’s share with each other what we love about this city.

Tell me, what is your favourite thing about Toronto?