Canadian Communities - Toronto, Ontario Known as the business capital of Canada, Toronto is a large, cosmopolitan city located on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It has an excellent road, subway and bus infrastructure which keeps the city moving 24 hours a day. Voted the best city to live in by the United Nations, Toronto is the most culturally diverse city in North America. 48% of its population of 2.4 million were born outside Canada. Toronto offers a wide range of cultural and sports events and festivals throughout the year. Organized Jewish life has existed in Toronto for over a century and a half. The population increased significantly during the 1980's and now Toronto is home to almost half of Canada’s Jews. There are numerous facilities available to the community, ranging from Jewish day and afternoon schools for students of every background to kosher restaurants and shops, a large number of synagogues of every denomination and two active and vibrant community centres. Jewish community services are available from cradle to grave to help those in need. Culturally the community offers museums, art galleries, annual Yiddish and Jewish film festivals and a Jewish Book Fair. There are active expatriate communities from the Former Soviet Union, Israel, North Africa, South Africa and South America to name a few, who add to the cultural diversity of the Jewish community. For further information: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto 4600 Bathurst Street, Suite 325 Toronto, Ontario M2R 3V3 Tel: (416) 630-6481 Fax: (416) 630-1376 email: mail@jiastoronto.org JIAS Toronto website: http://feduja.org/commserv/organize/0050.stm Toronto Jewish Federation: http://www.feduja.org/ Board of Jewish Education: http://www.bjetoronto.org Toronto City website: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/ourcity/index.htm South African Jewish Association in Canada (SAJAC) website: www.sajacnews.com