2024-2025 Student Resource Handbook

6 British colonial officials founded the Town of York on what then was the Upper Canadian Frontier, which became the City of Toronto in 1834. Due to subsequent evolution, Toronto’s emerged as one of the most inhabitable and multicultural cities in the world. Toronto’s Racial Diversity The Racial Diversity in Toronto, with its population of 2.8 million people in 2013, 6.1 million in the GTA, is heralded as one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and has been ranked by Places Rated Almanac as the safest large metropolitan area in North America. Over 140 languages and dialects are spoken and just over 30 per cent of Toronto residents speak a language other than English or French at home. In 2011, the City of Toronto’s make-up was home to 8% of Canada’s population, 30% of all recent immigrants and 20% of all immigrants. Toronto City Hall The City Hall that we can see today was the result of a world-wide architectural competition back in the sixties. The entry submitted by Viljo Revell of Helsinki Finland was selected and the building was opened on Monday September 13 in 1965. However, Revell died before the opening, and to his honour the city dedicated a Commemorative Column to his memory. The main floor of the building houses the Hall of Memory, a scale model of the city showing major attractions and upcoming changes to the area, as well as the artist David Partridge’s Metropolis mural made entirely of nails. Other than offices of Toronto’s Mayor, and the city counsellor, citizens can look on as counsellors from local wards develop policies and by-laws in the cities council chambers. TORONTO AND ITS HISTORY Toronto is the largest of Canada’s most vibrant urban cities and is situated along the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is at the centre of the nation’s financial, commercial, industrial and cultural life, and also the capital city of Ontario. Although the urban community dates back to just 1793, people have lived here a lot longer. Back in 1793, the Lesbian, Gay, Bi Youth Line 416-962-9688 ...... ................................................... 416-392-6877 Lesbian & Gay Bashing Report Line................... Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transsexual Services Gay Counselling Line 416-962-9688 ................ ................................................... 416-392-6874 519 Church Street Community Centre................... STD & Aids Hotline 416-392-2437 .................... Sex / Birth ................................................... 416-595-9618 Family Service Toronto ......................................... Assistance Social Benefits Tribunal 416-326-0978 ............ Social Services/Assistance 416-392-6550 ....... ........................................... .www.osap.gov.on.ca O.S.A.P..................Toll Free 1-888-815-4514 Legal / Credit Bureau / Tax Downtown Legal Services 416-978-6447 ......... Dial-A-Law 416-947-3333 ................................. ................................................... 416-736-5029 Community and Legal Aid Service...................... Legal Line offers you free legal information (not legal advice) 416-736-5029 .............................. Fax: 416-929-3400 ............................................ Email: info@LegalLine.ca ................................... . ................................................ .www.equifax.com Equifax..................Toll Free 1-800-465-7166 .......................................... .www.transunion.com TransUnion............Toll Free 1-800-663-9980 ...............................Toll Free 1-800-267-6999 Canada Customs & Revenue Agency................ .............................................. .www.cra-arc.gc.ca St.Patrick's Catholic Church 131 McCaul Street(University and Dundas) MISSION - FAITH - ACTION www.stpatrickstoronto.ca A Welcoming Community for Students Growing in Faith www.ablackcab.com