Port Of Toronto, Canada

The Port of Toronto is the biggest city in Canada and the capital of the Province of Ontario. It's Canada's commercial and financial center and one of its most important ports. Located on the northern shores of Lake Ontario just 94 kilometers northwest of Buffalo, New York, it has access to the Atlantic Ocean and major US trading centers by the St. Lawrence Seaway (it's over 860 kilometers to Quebec). In 2006, the city was home to over 2.5 million people, and more than 5.1 million people called the Toronto metropolitan area home.


Today, the Port of Toronto is Canada's economic capital and one of the world's top financial centers. Its strongest economic sectors include finance, telecommunications, aerospace, business services, publishing and entertainment media, software, education, sports, medical research, and tourism.

The modern Port of Toronto is an international, cosmopolitan city and a magnet for immigrants to Canada. Almost half of the city's residents were not born in Canada. The city enjoys a low crime rate, a high standard of living, and environmental health. It has been consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the world.


The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) manages and operates not only the Port of Toronto but the city's City Centre Airport, including its MEDVAC service. The TPA owns and operates the Outer Harbor Marina and over 50 acres of paved cargo-handling area. The Port of Toronto is next to the city's industrial, business, and cultural centers and offers direct access to highway and rail networks for the metropolitan area and for a wider market that covers Ontario, Midwest Canada, Northwestern Quebec, and the northeast U.S.

Port of Toronto operations cover over 20 hectares and include seven marine berths, an almost 14 thousand square meter marine terminal, a 100 thousand square meter container terminal with heated storage with electrical connections, and a secured paved yard.

Storage facilities at the Port of Toronto include Warehouse 52, a heated indoor area with bays for containers and rail and truck services. The paved yard, which is protected by 24-hour security, contains three sheds covering almost 21 thousand square meters and two outdoor terminals covering over than 103 square meters. Large paved container yards contain several container cranes, electric plugs for reefers, and direct access to rail services. The roll-on/roll-off dock features a fenced paved yard. In 2003, the Port of Toronto handled over 2 million tons of cargo, representing a 22% increase over the previous year.

 The major bulk cargoes distributed from the port include sugar, salt, cement, aggregates, asphalt and liquids.

There was a time when cruising the Great Lakes was a profitable business. But the combined increasing size of cruise ships and limited size of the St Lawrence Seaway virtually ended cruise traffic for 25 years. In 1997, the 25-year stand-still ended when the C.Columbus arrived, facilitating a rebirth of tourism for the Port of Toronto.

Since 1997, cruise traffic has steadily increased. In 2008, 14 cruise ships visited the port during the summer months, thanks to the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition of which the Toronto Port Authority was a founding member.


The City of Toronto is a beautiful cosmopolitan city with a generous network of parks and cultural and recreational facilities. It is home to seven professional sports teams and one of the world's biggest English-speaking theater districts. A multi-cultural mixing port, over 80 ethnic communities represent Europe, Asia, and African cultures. Visitors to the Port of Toronto will not want to miss some its most popular attractions.

Casa Loma, the home of Sir Henry Pellatt, is a majestic castle with beautifully decorated suites, an 800-foot tunnel and secret passages, towers, stables, and five acres of gardens. Open from May to October, self-guided tours are available in eight languages. Casa Loma recalls Toronto's era of European elegance.

The Black Creek Pioneer Village in northern Toronto is a historic site overlooking a tributary of the Humber River where visitors can experience life in 19th Century Ontario. It contains more than 40 historic buildings with furnishings from the period and costumed actors portraying life in the 1860s. Visitors can stroll the site on their own and have guides explain individual structures. The best time to visit the village is on weekdays in the fall, after the busy tourist season.

The Port of Toronto houses the Little Italy/Portugal Village where visitors get a taste of Western Mediterranean culture at one of the many coffee shops where residents gather, especially during the World Cup of Soccer when the communities' rivalry is at fever-pitch.