As western economies have shifted emphasis from manufacturing to service and knowledge, the regeneration of former industrial land that now lies dormant has been a challenge that cities across the western world have had to face head on. We have seen it in the old docks Boston and similarly in London’s Docklands.
Toronto certainly deserves to be added to the list. The past decade has seen it transform into one of the top leisure destinations, not just in Canada but in North America as a whole. Indeed, it just won 8th spot in a US vacation company’s survey for the happiest vacation location – despite not even being in the US!
Club Med might need to take a refresher on its North American geography to remind itself of the difference between Canada and the USA, but the underlying message is no less clear.
Global recognition where it matters
Club Med surveys are great, but Toronto is also getting the right kind of attention where it matters most these days – on the social media accounts of travel influencers. In 2019, right before everything went a little crazy for a little while, Toronto was right up there among the top places in the world to visit for discerning Millennials, alongside the likes of Santiago in Chile and Brisbane in Australia.
Yes, they love the people and the nightlife. But they also had great things to say about the local arts scene and the regular events like Nuit Blanche, which is this year tentatively set for late September.
Canada’s new Casino Capital
It’s not just millennials in tie-died scarves that are attracted to Toronto’s leisure scene. Last month the new Pickering Casino threw open its doors. The ultra modern, ultra huge gaming palace rivals anything you can see on the opposite shore at Niagara and strengthens Toronto’s claim for bragging rights as Canada’s answer to Las Vegas.
Pickerings has opened at a moment when casino gaming has a particularly high profile. Last April, the Province of Ontario decided to legalize online casinos. 10 months on, there are dozens of online casinos to choose from in Canada – onlinecasinolist.com has more information. With thousands of Ontarians having tried their luck for the first time online since April 2022, many will be eager to try out their new-found hobby in a real physical casino. Toronto already has several casinos, including Ajax, Woodbine and Mohawk. If the crowds seen over the first month continue, they will all coexist happily for some time yet.
Port Lands Redevelopment
It’s not all fun and entertainment. The Port Lands is all former industrial land that lay barren and desolate since the late 20th century. The regeneration is already well underway, and will be completed in about 2030. The emphasis is on practicality with the rest of the project. It will provide plenty of green space to give natural wildlife a chance to thrive and for leisure pursuits like rowing.
There will also be the construction of residential properties, again with an emphasis on maximizing sustainability. The 3-D and VR representations of the plans are truly exciting, and we just can’t wait to see if they look so good in real life in a few years’ time.