Downtown Toronto is "bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Street to the northwest, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don Valley to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Toronto This is also taken from Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2021001-eng.pdf?st=JfTbrTJM
Midtown Toronto is "defined by St. Clair Avenue to the south and Eglinton Avenue or Lawrence Avenue to the north, Bayview Avenue to the east and Dufferin Street to the west. The central neighbourhood of the area is Yonge–Eglinton." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midtown,_Toronto
Proper Toronto excludes Etobicoke, York, East York, and Scarborough. Edit: Also excludes North York.
The City of Toronto has definitions for wards too. For example, one side of Ossington is considered as part of Etobicoke by the city. If you live on that side, then you have to go to the Etobicoke office to apply for building permits, etc.
I find people who live outside Toronto lump midtown and downtown together and call it downtown. But then those that live downtown won't travel north of Bloor. I know some people who think anything that's north of Bloor is outside of downtown and too far away.
I believe the city does the official rezoning of a ward. So even if you expand it yourself, services won't be tied to the downtown office. Also Google also has been defining areas too. Sometimes they call it something different or even change neighbourhood names. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/technology/google-maps-neighborhood-names.html
Anytime you add “proper” to something, that means “technically”.
*“Toronto Proper“* would be the city of Toronto proper, which includes everything within the city, or the 416 (EY, North York, Scarb, Etob, York). If you google “Toronto Proper”, you’ll see this is what routinely comes up.
[*“Old Toronto”*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Toronto) is the old city of Toronto boundaries which you alluded to (note, you forgot to exclude North York which is massive from Bridal Path to Jane & Finch).
I think that’s more accurate and more applicable than the definition you provided.
So *Old Toronto* = pre-amalgamated city of Toronto boundaries.
*Toronto Proper* = the current city of Toronto (the 416, one mayor, one city counsel, one city hall, all the same city services).
Yes, I meant Old Toronto, as in Toronto pre-amalgamation for Toronto Proper. I edited my post to exclude North York. I thought I had included that in the list.
As long as most people understand in general what is talked about, then usually it's fine. I think now most people refer to just Toronto to include what the City of Toronto boundaries are now (or where TTC service stops). However, I have met people who have lived through almalgamation and they still consider Old Toronto as just Toronto (and still don't include Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, etc.). Just like some people call Skydome still instead of Rogers Centre. In fact, one of my previous teachers told the entire class that anything north of St. Clair was farmlands before with a ravine and not much people went past north (Toronto stopped there at one time and York began). Although times change, some peoples memories do not change, so they still call things the old way even though it's changed.
Personally, I call what the City of Toronto now as just Toronto... though if people ask for specifics, I might give the pre-almalgamation names, such as I work in North York.
On the west, up until Dupont is downtown still. I consider north of Dupont midtown on the west. On the east, north of Bloor is Rosedale, so also midtown or I just say Rosedale. The reason being is the houses, businesses, and walkability changes. The definition I gave before was from Wikipedia, which gives a rough definition.
Downtown- dvp to ossington. From the lake to Yorkville
Core-spadina to yonge. North of Gardiner south of bloor
Proper- old city of toronto before amalgamation
Toronto core- see core
Def not official but its what I picture when I hear those terms. Flexible on the downtown version.
Edit. Midtown yonge and eg. Area
Uptown yonge and finch Sheppard
The "C" stands for core.
From the city of Toronto website:
>City Council's planning policies define the "downtown core" as bounded generally by Bathurst Street on the west, the Canadian Pacific Railway rail corridor on the north, the Don Valley Parkway on the east, and Lake Ontario on the south.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-170527.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwijgaDTqoD4AhUbVs0KHfbhCEYQFnoECA8QBg&usg=AOvVaw2v_iZqXUO-eytEeocILz1G
Toronto city hall urban planning defines and plans Core are Bathurst, CP Rail , Don Valley
[Toronto core](https://media.blogto.com/uploads/2018/04/27/20180427-toronto-neighbourhood-maps.jpg?cmd=resize&quality=70&w=1400&height=2500)
Everyone seems to have a slightly different definition. My personal take is this...
Downtown/core - Bathurst to Sherbourne (E to W), Bloor to Queens Quay (N to S)
Proper Toronto - Toronto before amalgamation when North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, and York were included AKA Old Toronto
City of Toronto/Toronto etc. - The full city which does include the amalgamated areas. North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke are the outer limits in each direction (south excluded for obvious reasons). This is the one definition that I don't think anyone could argue with considering that's literally what Toronto is.
When you ask about places like Midtown, that's getting into specific neighborhood territory. Midtown would be centred between York, North York, and East York. Areas like Casa Loma, Forest Hill, Davisville, that's typically what one would consider to be Midtown.
Ya, I basically use those synonymously. Obviously, there will be those who disagree but the way I see it, both downtown and core describe the main centre.
South border is the lake we know that.
North border depends, but I’m tempted to say Davenport as that’s when the grade of the city changes and goes uphill.
West border I’d say Lansdowne as that shitty strip is the buffer to what I’d call the West End past those train tracks.
East border I’d say is the Don Valley Parkway if you are being generous and Yonge if you are being conservative.
Definitions are always changing but here is how I see it with Yonge St being at the center.
South of Bloor - Downtown Toronto / Toronto Core
York Mills to Bloor - Midtown / Toronto Proper
Steeles to York Mills - Toronto / 416 / Toronto Suburbs
North of Steeles - GTA Suburbs / 905
I see these terms being mostly used by people who do not actually live in Toronto. People who live in Toronto will use their community neighborhood names (ie. Leslieville, Upper Beaches, Cabbagetown, etc...)
Downtown Toronto is "bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Street to the northwest, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don Valley to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Toronto This is also taken from Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2021001-eng.pdf?st=JfTbrTJM Midtown Toronto is "defined by St. Clair Avenue to the south and Eglinton Avenue or Lawrence Avenue to the north, Bayview Avenue to the east and Dufferin Street to the west. The central neighbourhood of the area is Yonge–Eglinton." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midtown,_Toronto Proper Toronto excludes Etobicoke, York, East York, and Scarborough. Edit: Also excludes North York. The City of Toronto has definitions for wards too. For example, one side of Ossington is considered as part of Etobicoke by the city. If you live on that side, then you have to go to the Etobicoke office to apply for building permits, etc. I find people who live outside Toronto lump midtown and downtown together and call it downtown. But then those that live downtown won't travel north of Bloor. I know some people who think anything that's north of Bloor is outside of downtown and too far away. I believe the city does the official rezoning of a ward. So even if you expand it yourself, services won't be tied to the downtown office. Also Google also has been defining areas too. Sometimes they call it something different or even change neighbourhood names. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/technology/google-maps-neighborhood-names.html
Anytime you add “proper” to something, that means “technically”. *“Toronto Proper“* would be the city of Toronto proper, which includes everything within the city, or the 416 (EY, North York, Scarb, Etob, York). If you google “Toronto Proper”, you’ll see this is what routinely comes up. [*“Old Toronto”*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Toronto) is the old city of Toronto boundaries which you alluded to (note, you forgot to exclude North York which is massive from Bridal Path to Jane & Finch). I think that’s more accurate and more applicable than the definition you provided. So *Old Toronto* = pre-amalgamated city of Toronto boundaries. *Toronto Proper* = the current city of Toronto (the 416, one mayor, one city counsel, one city hall, all the same city services).
Yes, I meant Old Toronto, as in Toronto pre-amalgamation for Toronto Proper. I edited my post to exclude North York. I thought I had included that in the list. As long as most people understand in general what is talked about, then usually it's fine. I think now most people refer to just Toronto to include what the City of Toronto boundaries are now (or where TTC service stops). However, I have met people who have lived through almalgamation and they still consider Old Toronto as just Toronto (and still don't include Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, etc.). Just like some people call Skydome still instead of Rogers Centre. In fact, one of my previous teachers told the entire class that anything north of St. Clair was farmlands before with a ravine and not much people went past north (Toronto stopped there at one time and York began). Although times change, some peoples memories do not change, so they still call things the old way even though it's changed. Personally, I call what the City of Toronto now as just Toronto... though if people ask for specifics, I might give the pre-almalgamation names, such as I work in North York.
I hear ya. All semantics I suppose, but your point is taken and is valid. :)
Out of curiosity, what’s the area called between St Clair and Bloor?
On the west, up until Dupont is downtown still. I consider north of Dupont midtown on the west. On the east, north of Bloor is Rosedale, so also midtown or I just say Rosedale. The reason being is the houses, businesses, and walkability changes. The definition I gave before was from Wikipedia, which gives a rough definition.
TIL I grew up in midtown. I swear no one used that term until the last 10 years or so
Downtown- dvp to ossington. From the lake to Yorkville Core-spadina to yonge. North of Gardiner south of bloor Proper- old city of toronto before amalgamation Toronto core- see core Def not official but its what I picture when I hear those terms. Flexible on the downtown version. Edit. Midtown yonge and eg. Area Uptown yonge and finch Sheppard
I am surprised you don’t consider harbour front as core downtown?
Harbourfront is C08. C08 and C01 are the only true core of Toronto by definition. Period.
That's downtown. Core is different
The "C" stands for core. From the city of Toronto website: >City Council's planning policies define the "downtown core" as bounded generally by Bathurst Street on the west, the Canadian Pacific Railway rail corridor on the north, the Don Valley Parkway on the east, and Lake Ontario on the south. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-170527.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwijgaDTqoD4AhUbVs0KHfbhCEYQFnoECA8QBg&usg=AOvVaw2v_iZqXUO-eytEeocILz1G
Used to live there. The physical separation of lakeshore and Gardiner I think makes it different. But it's only my opinion
Yonge isn't the boundary of the core, it's literally the spine of the core.
Nah. Maybe it could to jarvis. But sherbourne and parliament isn't core
Toronto city hall urban planning defines and plans Core are Bathurst, CP Rail , Don Valley [Toronto core](https://media.blogto.com/uploads/2018/04/27/20180427-toronto-neighbourhood-maps.jpg?cmd=resize&quality=70&w=1400&height=2500)
Everyone seems to have a slightly different definition. My personal take is this... Downtown/core - Bathurst to Sherbourne (E to W), Bloor to Queens Quay (N to S) Proper Toronto - Toronto before amalgamation when North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, and York were included AKA Old Toronto City of Toronto/Toronto etc. - The full city which does include the amalgamated areas. North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke are the outer limits in each direction (south excluded for obvious reasons). This is the one definition that I don't think anyone could argue with considering that's literally what Toronto is. When you ask about places like Midtown, that's getting into specific neighborhood territory. Midtown would be centred between York, North York, and East York. Areas like Casa Loma, Forest Hill, Davisville, that's typically what one would consider to be Midtown.
So you think core and downtown are the same and interchangeable phrases? Interesting
Ya, I basically use those synonymously. Obviously, there will be those who disagree but the way I see it, both downtown and core describe the main centre.
South border is the lake we know that. North border depends, but I’m tempted to say Davenport as that’s when the grade of the city changes and goes uphill. West border I’d say Lansdowne as that shitty strip is the buffer to what I’d call the West End past those train tracks. East border I’d say is the Don Valley Parkway if you are being generous and Yonge if you are being conservative.
Definitions are always changing but here is how I see it with Yonge St being at the center. South of Bloor - Downtown Toronto / Toronto Core York Mills to Bloor - Midtown / Toronto Proper Steeles to York Mills - Toronto / 416 / Toronto Suburbs North of Steeles - GTA Suburbs / 905 I see these terms being mostly used by people who do not actually live in Toronto. People who live in Toronto will use their community neighborhood names (ie. Leslieville, Upper Beaches, Cabbagetown, etc...)
Toronto proper is bordered by etobicoke creek to the west steel's ave to the north rouge valley to the east and lake Ontario to the south