Common Misconceptions about Toronto

Moving to Toronto as an international student can be an exciting experience, but also one that is potentially overwhelming. While some international students might have travelled to Toronto before or may be familiar with the city from TV shows, movies or books set in the area, many might not have any experience with the offerings of this world class, metropolitan environment.

Here we’ve compiled a list of common misconceptions that international students and parents often have about Toronto (and about Canada in general), as well as explanations for why these misconceptions are not entirely accurate. As a private school located in the heart of the Annex district of Toronto, we at Keystone are proud to be part of this urban network and take advantage, as educators, of the many opportunities Toronto’s landscape has to offer.

1. Toronto is Always Cold: Though Toronto does have cold winters (much like most of Canada), its summers can be very warm and are especially quite humid. We often reach temperatures of above 30°C (86°F) during the months of July and August. That being said, Toronto does also experience a robust winter, from around November to March, and so international students can take part in both warm and cool weather activities. It is extremely common for Torontonians to spend the summer months at one of the local beaches or in one of the many parks around the city (more on this later), and then spend the winter months playing hockey or skiing at Blue Mountain. Toronto really experiences all four seasons, and there is something exciting to do around the city all throughout the year!
2. Everyone in Toronto Speaks French: Although Canada is bilingual, English is the primary language in Toronto. French is more commonly spoken in Quebec, the neighbouring province to Ontario. This does afford international students an opportunity to visit a French-speaking location very easily (and we in fact often plan field trips for Keystone students to Montreal and Quebec City), but international students can also take comfort in the fact that English is the primary language spoken in Toronto, and in most cases, the large international population of citizens in Toronto also speak their own languages on the streets, providing a very rich cultural experience all around the city.
3. Toronto is a Homogeneous City: Further to the point above, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. With over 140 languages spoken, a vast number of nationalities are represented everywhere you look in Toronto, and clubs and associations exist for many cultural groups. It is not difficult to find a cultural celebration happening on any given weekend in the city, and there are even neighbourhoods specifically dedicated to celebrating particular countries, such as Little Italy, Little Portugal, and Chinatown.
4. Toronto is Just a Concrete Jungle: Toronto is not merely made up of skyscrapers and high rise buildings (although we have lots of those!). It has many green spaces and parks, including the Toronto Islands, High Park, Evergreen Brickworks and Woodbine Beach. There are many trails all throughout the city that connect to each other, all of which make up an avid walker’s dream landscape.
5. Toronto Only Has Modern Architecture: With the many high rise buildings and the iconic CN Tower, it would be only normal to assume that Toronto has mostly modern architecture. However, the city also boasts a rich history of heritage buildings, such as Casa Loma and the Distillery District, which showcase its rich architectural history. The home of Keystone School is a Victorian heritage house located on St. George Street, and is also known as the James O. Buchanan House. The neighbourhood surrounding the school is full of historical sites as well, including the former home of Nobel Peace Prize winner Lester B. Pearson. 
6. You Need a Car to Get Around: The large majority of Torontians commute into the city for school or work without even owning a car. Toronto has an extensive public transit system, consisting of a subway system (the TTC) and many trains (GO Transit and Via Rail). They make it easy to navigate the city without a car, and even to get to other provinces easily. As an international student in Toronto, public transit is a very affordable travel option and a great tool to explore the various neighbourhoods of the city efficiently.
7. Toronto is Boring: With its vibrant arts and music scene, diverse neighbourhoods, and numerous cultural festivals (many mentioned above), Toronto is far from dull and there is truly something to do every single day of the week. Instagram and Facebook are great resources to learn about events happening in the city, and we regularly update our school page to share information about citywide activities and partnerships available to our students. Whatever your passions or interests, there will be a place in Toronto where you can express and explore them.

Toronto is an exciting, colourful, affordable and welcoming city for international students to live and study. At Keystone, we are proud to have our private school nestled in the heart of such a vibrant atmosphere, and we are always overjoyed when our new and current students step out into the community and experience what Toronto has to offer!