Photo: soteeoh/Instagram
As Canada’s economic capital, Toronto is the nation’s most populous metropolitan area — known for its cultural diversity, vibrant arts scene and world-renowned architectural landmarks. Fortunately, the city also has many great photographers and is home to an active Instagram community that captures the beauty of “the 6ix” from every angle.
With Toronto preparing to celebrate its 182nd birthday next Sunday, we’ve put together a list of our favourite Toronto-based Instagram accounts to explore all the city has to offer.
Nathan Phillips Square
Photo: ashtontekno/Instagram
Named in honour of Toronto’s 52nd mayor, Nathan Phillips Square is the city’s central gathering spot for for citizens and tourists alike. The site is not only home to the Viljo Revell-designed City Hall towers, but also boasts a permanent concert stage, reflecting pool/skating rink, art displays and a 3,250 square meter (35,000 square feet) green roof.
University of Toronto
Photo: hagow/Instagram
A leader in academia, Toronto boasts several educational institutions including Ryerson University, York University and OCADU. And while each campus offers their fair share of picturesque greenspaces and eye catching architecture, none quite matches the beauty of the Romanesque and Gothic Revival buildings at the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus.
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
Photo: stilez/Instagram
A contentious topic for Torontonians, the TTC serves over two million riders on a daily basis via a network of buses, streetcars and subways but is often plagued with overcrowding, delays, and shut downs. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no doubt that the TTC is a popular subject on Instagram with hashtags like #ttczone garnering thousands of hits.
Gooderham Building
Photo: punkodelish/Instagram
Located at 49 Wellington Street East in Toronto’s St. Lawrence neighbourhood, the four-storey Gooderham Building is a popular historical landmark for photographers. The red-brick building was an early example of a prominent flatiron structure when it was completed in 1892 and was originally the head office of Gooderham & Worts Distillery until the 1950s.
CN Tower
Photo: soteeoh/Instagram
Rising 553.3 meters (1,815 feet) above downtown Toronto, the CN Tower is probably the most photographed structure in the city. The iconic needle-like tower was once the world’s tallest freestanding structure, before the completion of the Burj Khalifa in 2009, and is classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. In 2011, the tower opened the EdgeWalk — a new attraction that allows thrill seekers to walk along the 1.5 meter ledge that encircles the main pod, a terrifying 356 meters (1,168 feet) above ground.
CityPlace
Photo: alexandramack22/Instagram
As evidenced by our ongoing then-and-now-series, Toronto’s CityPlace neighbourhood has experienced a tremendous amount of growth since the mid-1990s. Today, the 45 acre site is still under construction but is already home to thousands of new residential condominiums and an extensive collection of public art, including several pieces by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland.
Brookfield Place
Photo: m.r.h.i.t/Instagram
Hidden within a large office complex in Toronto’s financial district, Brookfield Place is home to the spectacular Allen Lambert Galleria. Designed by award-winning Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the modernist atrium of light creates a forest-like canopy and provides a popular backdrop to prominent exhibitions, special events and of course, Instagram photography.
Rogers Centre
Photo: roof_topper/Instagram
Home to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium situated at the base of the CN Tower. The stadium features the world’s first fully retractable roof consisting of four sections that can open and close within 20 minutes.
Although the name was officially changed to the Rogers Centre in 2005, the stadium will always be known to many Torontonians as the SkyDome, which was the name chosen after a province wide “name the stadium” contest was held in 1987.
