North York, Canada

Welcome to North York, one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located directly north of York, Old Toronto, and East York, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east, North York has a population of 644,685 as of the 2016 Census. This former township and city has a rich history, having been created in 1922 out of the northern part of the former township of York. Following its inclusion in Metropolitan Toronto in 1953, it became one of the fastest-growing parts of the region due to its proximity to Old Toronto. It was declared a borough in 1967, and later became a city in 1979, attracting high-density residences, rapid transit, and a number of corporate headquarters in North York City Centre, its central business district. In 1998, North York was dissolved as part of the amalgamation which created the new city of Toronto. Today, North York is a secondary economic hub of the city outside Downtown Toronto.

North York is highly multicultural and diverse, with a variety of neighborhoods to explore. The district’s central business district is known as North York Centre, which was the location of the former city’s government and major corporate headquarters. North York Centre continues to be one of Toronto’s major corporate areas with many office buildings and businesses. The former city hall of North York, the North York Civic Centre, is located within North York City Centre.

North York houses two of Toronto’s five major shopping malls: the Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Fairview Mall. Other neighborhood mall locations include Centerpoint Mall, Bayview Village, Sheridan Mall, Yorkgate Mall, Shops at Don Mills, Steeles West Market Mall, Jane Finch Mall, and Sheppard Centre. Health care is another major industry in North York, with the district housing several major hospitals, including the North York General Hospital, Humber River Hospital, and the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

North York is also home to several museums, including Black Creek Pioneer Village, an authentic nineteenth-century village and a living museum, the Ontario Science Centre, an interactive science museum, and the Aga Khan Museum, which includes a collection of Islamic art from the Middle-East and Northern Africa.

Transportation in North York is made easy with several major controlled-access highways passing through the district, including Highway 400, Highway 401, Highway 404, Allen Road, and the Don Valley Parkway. The former three controlled access highways are operated by the province as 400-series highways, whereas the latter two roadways are managed by the city. With its rich history, diverse neighborhoods, and many attractions, North York is a must-visit destination for any traveler to Toronto.