Toronto used to be my favorite city in North America (see TPOL’s Travels: The Best Big Cities in the World). I used to go all the time when I was a yute studying at the University of Michigan. Club goers will recall the great days at Guvernment (see The Best Nightclubs in the World) where yours truly spent New Year’s (see Where to Party? New Year’s Eve). Sadly, the Toronto nightlife is not what it used to be. The housing bubble put it on life support, and COVID delivered the final blow.
The nightlife is not the only thing that has left Toronto. The people have also vacated the city. When I visited Toronto two years ago (see Air Canada DTW to YYZ: Expensive in CAD, Expensive in Points), I found a city with no pulse. The streets were empty. It was depressing. This time, the city showed more signs of life, leading me to believe that there was hope for revival.
Then night came. Suddenly, I understood why the person at the front desk of my hotel, the Anndorre House, said that the hotel is only accessible by key from 10PM-5AM. Up and down and around Charles Street, there were interesting characters everywhere. It looked like a scene from The Penguin. I did not feel comfortable loitering outside my hotel at night. That was a first for someone who used to stumble the streets of Toronto at all hours of the night.
“What happened to Toronto?”
Pretending to not understand the consequences of godless liberalism is so tedious.
Republican Jesus thanks you for spreading his word and asks that you help your mother with the dishes.
The same set of circumstances that killed the toronto nightlife scene (rip guv, and all of richmond street for that matter) also drove many thousands of people who were “getting by” straight into legislated poverty unfortunately. Add to that 4-5 years of immigration many multiples more then previous years, both regular and irregular, any available social supports are overwhelmed. I would like to add this is not an “anti immigrant” point, just a reality. We have always embraced immigration, however recent levels are unsustainable for multiple reasons.
Exacerbating this fact, is that Canada only really has 4, maybe 5, cities that intake virtually all new comers so concentration puts more strain on the system. Homeless encampments like the one pictured are now common place even outside of toronto in suburbs.
Too many Indians! that is what happened.
Not enough Indians! That’s what happened
The Indians have got to go. It’s disgusting how nasty this country has gotten with them. Openly bathing on beaches, sitting with bare feet on seats in public areas, talking ridiculously loud on speakerphone everywhere, taking over peaceful neighbourhoods with noise fireworks parties, the gang problems in Surrey and Abbotsford. All Indians! Enough, revoke all their visas and deport them.
Good grief! My wife and I visit Toronto twice a year and there is a bustling nightlife. What in the world are you looking at? It’s a great city with a wonderful diverse population, first class culture – music, theater, art schools, top notch bookstores. And this is all downtown! We stay in the middle of the city and feel perfectly safe everywhere we go. In July we attend the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair located on the grounds of City Hall as well as attend the Toronto Fringe Theater festival located at various theaters in the downtown area. Both of these events are packed with people. In addition Toronto is a great sports city (see the World Series).
Thomas Kendrick
Thank you for getting the comments back to travel and decency. Toronto is not a great sports city. They had a magical run with the Raptors before Kawhi went to LA to take two jobs. The same is true of this Blue Jays’ run. But ask a Torontonian about the Maple Leafs…
Well I could name a few cities (25 or so) that would love to be on the verge of winning a WORLD SERIES. My wife and I stay at the Doubletree Hilton next to City Hall. We take public transportation or walk around the city to the places we go – theater, music, sports games, art shows, etc. All perfectly safe. The Distillery District downtown is another area we visit often – always packed with people and bustling.
Thomas Kendrick
To be clear, I didn’t say it was dangerous. I said at night, by my hotel, is not the best place to be. I don’t think you’re hanging out in Toronto parks after dark.
Detroit is one of those cities but 15 innings later we were eliminated.
Thanks for the comment on Toronto about not being dangerous. But I’m sorry why would anyone be hanging out in a park after dark unless there is an event taking place?
And if you want to see additional nightlife see West King Street, West Queen Street,
Little Italy, and west Bloor. Crowds pack these streets with clubs, restaurants, the symphony, Broadway shows, the ballet – massive amount of downtown activity. I’m 77 years old and love all these streets at night plus the distillery district on the east side of downtown. In fact the Distillery District has one of the best theaters in all of North America – Soulpepper Theater Company. And it’s packed with attendance every night of a show. And we walk to and from there to our hotel when in Toronto.
Thomas Kendrick
Forget it. I’m not asking for travel advice. I’ve been going there for decades. If you don’t see that the city has changed then your eyes are closed.