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I can't help but imagine there's a lot of confusion from non-residents and even residents of what exactly Toronto and the GTA is. I think a thread discussing it is worthwhile, and maybe we can reach some kind of agreement. I realize it may be hard to get a perfect definition, but I for instance find it confusing when people say things like 'they live in the GTA and live in hamilton' . Or when people say they can get from Toronto to Oshawa in an hour - which I find funny because I both work and live in Toronto by the definition below, and I still can't be home in an hour ever yday. So here goes...
Toronto - Any part of the city that is within walking distance of ibeing served by the TTC on a standard fare. This can also include areas where the area just north, south, east, and west are served by a standard fare, and there's just a TTC service hole. I don't want to get into old Toronto, new toronto, etc.
GTA - harder to define but within a real life 45 minute drive from home to intersection of 404 and 401. What I mean by real life is taking into account traffic. I'd say Pickering, Markham, Newmarket, Ajax, Richmond hill, Mississauga, Brampton...
I always thought York was downtown Toronto. Oops, my bad, so there are 6 boroughs.
I thought Mississauga was closer than Pickering. Oakville probably does count as GTA, but not Burlington and parts west I would imagine. Newmarket and Aurora also GTA I would think. Man, that metro area is huge!
Hamilton is probably not GTA. But it's in the Golden Horseshoe which often symbolizes the Toronto area. Oshawa I am divided on. Could be GTA... or not.
Pickering and Ajax are definitely GTA, as are Markham, Mississauga, Vaughan, etc. Aurora, Richmond Hill are all GTA as well.
The definition of "Toronto" is simple: the boundaries of the City of Toronto. Or the 416 area code. Same thing.
Hamilton is probably not GTA. But it's in the Golden Horseshoe which often symbolizes the Toronto area. Oshawa I am divided on. Could be GTA... or not.
Pickering and Ajax are definitely GTA, as are Markham, Mississauga, Vaughan, etc. Aurora, Richmond Hill are all GTA as well.
The definition of "Toronto" is simple: the boundaries of the City of Toronto. Or the 416 area code. Same thing.
Problem is that ther'es also area code 647, and with VOIP you can have a 416 # in Kamloops. I know what you mean but I'm trying to define this for people who don't live in Toronto and might be renting a vacation place 'in Toronto'.. and wind up in Pickering Village.
I realize it's defined in some map. But I think there's a lot not being told by that story. For me, personally, I think if it's outside of a reasonable commute into the city, it's not part of the Greater TORONTO area. It has to be somewhat close to Toronto at 9am on Monday morning in my opinion, and I'm seeing what others think.
For instance, in that map someone can live in the GTA and live in Georgina. If I was a tourist, and told that the house I'm looking at is in the GTA and it's in east Clarington, I don't consider that living in the GTA. It's in Ontario, sure but it's so far from Toronto that it might as well be Hamilton.
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I know what you mean but I'm trying to define this for people who don't live in Toronto and might be renting a vacation place 'in Toronto'.. and wind up in Pickering Village.
