Facts About Toronto

1. First Nation People inhabited the area during the 17th Century and before - Wendat, Seneca, Mohawk, Cayuga and Neutral.  It is reported that the Iroquois and Hurons used the area as a shortcut between lakes and named it Tkaronto, "trees standing in water". 
2. The City of Toronto was renamed from the former Town of York, to distinguish it from New York, on March 6, 1834.  It is the capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada with a population of approximately 5.5 million.
3. Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America, behind Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles.
4. Toronto's first gas powered lamps were installed in 1841; and the city switched to electric lights in 1879.  On December 9, 1846, the first telegraph was sent from Toronto.  The Toronto Islands were formed on April 15, 1958 when a storm disconnects the long sandy beach from the mainland.  Streetcar service began November 11, 1861.
5. On April 19, 1904, a major fire destroyed a significant section of the downtown core, destroying 104 buildings and killing one person; and costing 10.3 million dollars in damages.  The fire took nine hours to put out by firefighters from Toronto and Buffalo.
6. On June 26, 1976, the CN Tower opens as the tallest free-standing structure in the world.
7. The coldest temperature recorded in Toronto was -31.3C (-24.3F) on January 4, 1981.  The coldest wind-chill ever was on that day at -44.7C (-48.5F).
8. The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.3C (104.5F) from July 8, 1936. 
9. Hanlan's Point Stadium on Toronto's Centre Island is where Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run on September 5, 1914.
10. The Toronto Maple Leafs, despite not having won a Stanley Cup since 1967, they have a loyal fan base with sold out games.
11. Toronto professional sports team include: The Toronto Raptors (basketball), The Toronto Bluejays (baseball), The Toronto Argonauts (football), The Toronto FC (soccer), The Toronto Rock (across) and The Toronto Marlis (American hockey league).
12. Some of the most famous people from Toronto include; Margaret Atwood (Author, Handmaids Tale), Mike Myers (Actor, Wayne's World), Jim Carrey (Actor and Comedian), and Drake (Rapper).
13. Canada Dry, referred to as the 'champagne of ginger ales' was created by pharmacist and chemist, John J. McLaughlin, in 1904.  It was appointed to the household of the Governor General of Canada and the original label, a beaver atop a map fo Canada, was replaced with the crown and shield.
14. University of Toronto scientists, Frederick Banting and JJR Macleod, discovered and developed insulin, giving the first injection to Leonard Thompson at the Toronto General Hospital in 1922.  They were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1923.
15. Other Toronto inventions; Pager, Alfred J. Gross, 1949; Pacemakers, John Hopps, 1950; Electric Lightbulb, Henry Woodward,, 1874; Instant Replay, CBC Television, 1955; Paint Rollers, Norman Breakey, 1940; Five-Pin Bowling, Thomas F. Ryan, 1909