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What Toronto looked like in the 1990s

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Toronto in the 1990s was a vibrant and growing city. It was Canada’s largest city and a major center for finance, business, and culture. In 1991, Toronto was named the cultural capital of Canada. This recognition helped to boost the city’s film and television industry, which saw significant growth during this time. The Toronto Raptors NBA team was founded in 1995. The team has since become one of the city’s most popular sports franchises, bringing professional basketball to Toronto. Toronto played host to the G7 summit in 1988 and the G20 summit in 2010. These international events brought world leaders and global media attention to the city.

The 1990s was a period of economic growth for Toronto, and the city underwent significant development and expansion during this time. The SkyDome (now known as the Rogers Centre) was built in 1989, and the CN Tower, one of Toronto’s most iconic landmarks, underwent renovations and improvements. The city also played host to the 1996 Summer Olympics, which brought a great deal of attention and investment to the area. Additionally, the 1990s saw a significant increase in Toronto’s diversity as the city became home to a growing number of immigrants from all over the world.

Here are some stunning photos that offer a glimpse into the 90s Toronto.

#1 Royal York Hotel in the background, 1997

Royal York Hotel in the background, 1997

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#2 Similar view of the service station at Weston Road and Parke 1991

Similar view of the service station at Weston Road and Parke 1991

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#3 TTC 8484 was outfitted for Gray Line summer sightseeing duties. It had air conditioning and premium seating, 1997

TTC 8484 was outfitted for Gray Line summer sightseeing duties. It had air conditioning and premium seating, 1997

4 Points

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#4 The now-closed Canary Restaurant, for which the Canary District is named.1990s

The now-closed Canary Restaurant, for which the Canary District is named.1990s

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#5 Westwood Theatre in the 1990s

Westwood Theatre in the 1990s

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#6 St. Clair and Yonge subway station, 1990s

St. Clair and Yonge subway station, 1990s

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#7 The Big Bop in psychedelic colours.1990s

The Big Bop in psychedelic colours.1990s

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#8 Admiral Road, 1990

Admiral Road, 1990

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#9 10 Adelaide Street East, 1990s

10 Adelaide Street East, 1990s

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#10 Looking east from the roof of 25 Grenville Street, 1993

Looking east from the roof of 25 Grenville Street, 1993

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#11 Yonge Street looking north at Gould, 1992.

Yonge Street looking north at Gould, 1992.

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#12 The bridges of Ontario Place, 1990s

The bridges of Ontario Place, 1990s

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#13 Restaurant row on King West.1990s

Restaurant row on King West.1990s

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#14 Now lost public art on Dundas at Yonge before the creation of Yonge-Dundas Square.1990s

Now lost public art on Dundas at Yonge before the creation of Yonge-Dundas Square.1990s

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#15 Silos on the waterfront from Parliament.1990s

Silos on the waterfront from Parliament.1990s

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#16 An almost absurdly verdant view of Queen’s Park.1990s

An almost absurdly verdant view of Queen's Park.1990s

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#17 View taken from 133 Wilton Street ( the Woodsworth Housing Co-op ) at Jarvis and the Esplanade, 1993

View taken from 133 Wilton Street ( the Woodsworth Housing Co-op ) at Jarvis and the Esplanade, 1993

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#18 South facades of Inglis plant, looking west from Strachan Avenue overpass, 1996.

South facades of Inglis plant, looking west from Strachan Avenue overpass, 1996.

1 Point

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#19 Ontario Stockyards: alley on north side of stock yards, looking west, 1991

Ontario Stockyards: alley on north side of stock yards, looking west, 1991

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#20 72-74 Beverley Street, 1993

72-74 Beverley Street, 1993

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#21 Row of houses in Toronto. Built in the 1890s, the Belmont row houses do share a common heritage with London’s, 1990s

Row of houses in Toronto. Built in the 1890s, the Belmont row houses do share a common heritage with London's, 1990s

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#22 32-34 Beaconsfield Avenue, 1990

32-34 Beaconsfield Avenue, 1990

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#23 Ashbridges Bay, 1994

Ashbridges Bay, 1994

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#24 The rise and fall of Toronto’s zoo Monorail, 1994

The rise and fall of Toronto’s zoo Monorail, 1994

A train leaving Weston station lost power while climbing a steep hill and rolled backwards, achieving speeds of 40 km/h before crashing into a second train that was loading at the station.

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#25 The CBC Broadcast Centre, looking east towards downtown on Front.1990s

The CBC Broadcast Centre, looking east towards downtown on Front.1990s

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#26 The Metro Toronto Convention Centre when it was new.1990s

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre when it was new.1990s

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#27 The Hyatt Regency hotel on King West.1990s

The Hyatt Regency hotel on King West.1990s

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#28 The view up Yonge from Dundas.1990s

The view up Yonge from Dundas.1990s

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#29 East on Dundas from what would become Yonge-Dundas Square before the arrival of Citytv.1990s

East on Dundas from what would become Yonge-Dundas Square before the arrival of Citytv.1990s

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#30 New housing on the Esplanade.1990s

New housing on the Esplanade.1990s

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#31 Captain John’s at the foot of Yonge St.1990s

Captain John's at the foot of Yonge St.1990s

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#32 Southeast to the Port Lands over the Yonge and College area. That’s the CBC’s old Jarvis St. antenna on the extreme left.1990s

Southeast to the Port Lands over the Yonge and College area. That's the CBC's old Jarvis St. antenna on the extreme left.1990s

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#33 Aerial view near Queen and Church.1990s

Aerial view near Queen and Church.1990s

1 Point

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#34 Looking north up Bay towards the Sutton Place Hotel and Manulife Centre.1990s

Looking north up Bay towards the Sutton Place Hotel and Manulife Centre.1990s

1 Point

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#35 Dreamlike University and College.1990s

Dreamlike University and College.1990s

1 Point

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#36 The University of Toronto campus at College.1990s

The University of Toronto campus at College.1990s

1 Point

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#37 Yonge and Marlborough, looking southwest.1990s

Yonge and Marlborough, looking southwest.1990s

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#38 Eaton Centre.1990s

Eaton Centre.1990s

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#39 The CN Tower over Chinatown.1990s

The CN Tower over Chinatown.1990s

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#40 Pride Parade.1990s

Pride Parade.1990s

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#41 Queen Street, looking east.1990s

Queen Street, looking east.1990s

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#42 The Royal York.1990s

The Royal York.1990s

1 Point

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#43 Near Yonge and Elm.1990s

Near Yonge and Elm.1990s

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#44 Ontario Stockyards: central alley looking west – Keele & St. Clair, 1991

Ontario Stockyards: central alley looking west - Keele & St. Clair, 1991

0 Points

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#45 14 Beaconsfield Avenue, 1990

14 Beaconsfield Avenue, 1990

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#46 9-11 Beaconsfield Avenue, 1990

9-11 Beaconsfield Avenue, 1990

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#47 Alpha Avenue, 1990s

Alpha Avenue, 1990s

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#48 Alpha Avenue, 1990s

Alpha Avenue, 1990s

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#49 10 Adelaide Street East, 1990s

10 Adelaide Street East, 1990s

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#50 The Orchard Park Tavern/ Daysinn Toronto East Beaches at 1684 Queen St East, 1990s

The Orchard Park Tavern/ Daysinn Toronto East Beaches at 1684 Queen St East, 1990s

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#51 Toronto Island Ferry in 1997

Toronto Island Ferry in 1997

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#52 Toronto Island Ferry in 1997

Toronto Island Ferry in 1997

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#53 Pacific Western Transportation operated Airport runs in the mid 1990’s by these ex-Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses.

Pacific Western Transportation operated Airport runs in the mid 1990's by these ex-Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses.

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#54 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dart) bus in Toronto on a American Public Transit Association convention in 1998 along with other demonstrator buses.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dart) bus in Toronto on a American Public Transit Association convention in 1998 along with other demonstrator buses.

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#55 St. Basil the Great College School (former Weston Road building), built by the Basilian Fathers now used as a community Centre, 1990s

St. Basil the Great College School (former Weston Road building), built by the Basilian Fathers now used as a community Centre, 1990s

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#56 Bendale Business and Technical Institute (Vocational and Secondary), 1990s

Bendale Business and Technical Institute (Vocational and Secondary), 1990s

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#57 Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School, 1990s

Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School, 1990s

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#58 West Park Secondary School, 1990s

West Park Secondary School, 1990s

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#59 Regina Pacis Catholic High School, 1990s

Regina Pacis Catholic High School, 1990s

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#60 Toronto has a lot of tiny houses scattered around the city on small streets, backyards and lane-ways. This one is at #9 Lobb Avenue between Crawford & Shaw, north of Queen street west, 1990s

Toronto has a lot of tiny houses scattered around the city on small streets, backyards and lane-ways. This one is at #9 Lobb Avenue between Crawford & Shaw, north of Queen street west, 1990s

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#61 Hansen cartage Mill st., 1990s

Hansen cartage Mill st., 1990s

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#62 Looking over the future site of Metro Hall to King from Wellington.1990s

Looking over the future site of Metro Hall to King from Wellington.1990s

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#63 Mural on the side of Wayne Gretzky’s sports bar.1990s

Mural on the side of Wayne Gretzky's sports bar.1990s

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#64 Down Bay to City Hall and the Financial District.1990s

Down Bay to City Hall and the Financial District.1990s

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#65 The main gates to the Distillery at Mill and Trinity streets.1990s

The main gates to the Distillery at Mill and Trinity streets.1990s

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#66 Looking east across the Distillery from Parliament.1990s

Looking east across the Distillery from Parliament.1990s

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#67 The roof of Scotia Plaza from the top of Commerce Court.1990s

The roof of Scotia Plaza from the top of Commerce Court.1990s

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#68 Yonge and Hillsdale (now condos).1990s

Yonge and Hillsdale (now condos).1990s

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#69 Canadian Tire at Yonge and Davenport, pre-condos.1990s

Canadian Tire at Yonge and Davenport, pre-condos.1990s

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#70 Near Avenue and Davenport.1990s

Near Avenue and Davenport.1990s

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#71 Skyline in 1992.

Skyline in 1992.

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#72 New Terminal at Pearson Airport.1990s

New Terminal at Pearson Airport.1990s

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#73 Chinatown.1990s

Chinatown.1990s

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#74 Doug Gilmour as a Maple Leaf,1990s

Doug Gilmour as a Maple Leaf,1990s

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#75 Certainly not as dense in the core, the skyline in 1994.

Certainly not as dense in the core, the skyline in 1994.

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#76 From the CN Tower.1990s

From the CN Tower.1990s

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#77 Corner of Heath st. And Yonge st. In the early sixties this was Webb’s Pharmacy, 1990s

Corner of Heath st. And Yonge st. In the early sixties this was Webb’s Pharmacy, 1990s

-1 Points

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Written by Jacob Aberto

Sincere, friendly, curious, ambitious, enthusiast. I'm a content crafter and social media expert. I love Classic Movies because their dialogue, scenery and stories are awesome.

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64 Comments

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Lydia Edison says:

February 15, 2024 at 11:54 Copy Link of a Comment

This was hard to look at. I will never forget what they stole from us.

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King Burger says:

February 17, 2024 at 08:06 Copy Link of a Comment

If you want to see Toronto in the 90s just watch the Kids in the Hall opening credits

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- Otis Peterson says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:05 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  Another nostalgia source are the City TV / CityPulse rewinds, which offer a glimpse into what Torontonians cared about back then.
  
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- Aquamarine Angelfish says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:05 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  Or kids in the hall episodes! OR twitch city for what Kensington market looked like in the 90s, if you can find it.
  
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- Topaz Toucan says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:05 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  The bassist in the Jazz Monologue was actually one of my music teachers at U of T. as well as some members in the spadina bus video…
  
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- Hairy Poppins says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:05 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  iconic!
  
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Kyle Young says:

February 17, 2024 at 08:07 Copy Link of a Comment

“Who doesn’t remember that? That’s ridiculous! It was only around 30 years… 30?… 24-34 years ago…Jesus .”

if you’re 45 or older, the year you were born was closer to World War 2 than we are today to 1990. Happy Wednesday.

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- Jasper Finn says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:03 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  The fact that made me feel old was when I met a coworker who was born after 9/11.
  
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- Ryan Clark says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:03 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  The 1990s were 24-34 years ago. I have to repeat it a few times just to let that sink in.
  
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Cora Jade says:

February 17, 2024 at 08:10 Copy Link of a Comment

Picture 14 gave me a small chuckle. Cher, cockroaches and Hakim Optical will survive the apocalypse.

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Colonel Cartographer says:

February 17, 2024 at 08:12 Copy Link of a Comment

Why does it say host of the 1996 Summer Olympics?!

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- Count Conductor says:
  
  February 17, 2024 at 09:02 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  We made a bid for it, and made it quite far in the bidding process.
  
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  - Charles Clark says:
    
    February 17, 2024 at 09:02 Copy Link of a Comment
    
    Pretty corrupt selection process that year. Coca Cola bought it for Atlanta
    
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    - Admiral Architect says:
      
      February 17, 2024 at 09:02 Copy Link of a Comment
      
      That year? I think you mean “every year”
      
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