Toronto!

[logan2z]

I am born and raised in Toronto , with a 18 year stint in southwest Ontario. I call it Toronto not Toronnna as do most people living here, it seems the rest of Canada is fixated with this misconception, much like how the Ammerriccannss like to say we the Canadian dish of choice is Poutine.

Also Toronto's team is not the Leafs but the Blue Jays which we grudgingly share with the rest of Canada.

I spent my first four decades in Toronto before leaving the cold and snow behind for California. I too call it Toronto and never heard anyone call it Toronna. Not sure where that misconception came from.

 

[Carnie Bob]

I'm from Saskatoon. We pronounce it S'toon. Then we break into The Guess Who's, Runnin' Back To Saskatoon...and if people are really lucky, we throw in the Louis Riel jig.

Now that is a great song...

 

[cowanw]

The Louis Riel Jig can be a bit of a stretch.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The Louis Riel Jig can be a bit of a stretch.

I see what you did there It can be learnt in a snap!

 

[cowanw]

"Save the Last Dance for Me"

 

[MattKing]

I spent my first four decades in Toronto before leaving the cold and snow behind for California. I too call it Toronto and never heard anyone call it Toronna. Not sure where that misconception came from.

I left Toronto when I was 5 - and as my Dad worked for an employer based in Toronto - Canadian Kodak - had lots of contact with people visiting from Toronto or formerly from Toronto.
That is where my experience with the pronunciation comes from - lots of mid 20th century ex-pats and visitors.
It is true that current sources such as television are different.
Of course, I rarely hear Toronto referred to now as "Hogtown" - and that was quite prevalent back in the day.
I'm not sure about the "centre of the universe" label .

 

[logan2z]

Of course, I rarely hear Toronto referred to now as "Hogtown" - and that was quite prevalent back in the day.

Yup, I remember 'Hogtown'. Do you remember 'The Big Smoke'? A somewhat derogatory term.

 

[MattKing]

Yup, I remember 'Hogtown'. Do you remember 'The Big Smoke'? A somewhat derogatory term.

I have heard of 'The Big Smoke', but never encountered anyone who used it.

 

[Don_ih]

My father called it "the big smoke" every now and then. I've only ever called it Tor-ont-oh. Everyone I speak with calls it that or similar to that or "the city". I more or less hate going there - as does almost everyone who doesn't live there. Unfortunately, I often have to work there. It's the worst place to drive in the country.

 

[Sharktooth]

I'm from Saskatoon. We pronounce it S'toon. Then we break into The Guess Who's, Runnin' Back To Saskatoon...and if people are really lucky, we throw in the Louis Riel jig.

My sister lives in Saskatoon, and has so for about 30 years, but I've never heard her say S'toon. I asked her about it today, and she said that was a common way to write it, but it's not really used verbally. It's more likely to be called "Toon Town" verbally.

As far as Toronto goes, it's often just called T.O. (spoken as tee oh). I use the two syllable trawna, and sometimes trawno when I'm not as lazy. I don't live there, but I go there often.

I'm closer to Dih troyt, but on the Canadian side.

 

[Don_ih]

In my experience, only people far from Toronto call it "T.O." No one near it says that.

 

[Carnie Bob]

I call it Home.

 

[Carnie Bob]

This brings me to another topic for a thread, what to do with your collection of Negative.

 

[MattKing]

I call it Home.

If the Canucks aren't involved, I still cheer for the Leafs .

 

[logan2z]

If the Canucks aren't involved, I still cheer for the Leafs .

I haven't lived in Toronto in decades, but I'm still a Leafs fan at heart - although I haven't been to a game since their Maple Leaf Gardens days. That 57-year cup drought has to come to an end soon, right?

 

[MattKing]

When I was growing up in the 60s and early 70s, my grandfather, in his retirement years, worked part-time for Maple Leaf gardens.
Every time there was a Leafs game on Hockey Night in Canada (the TV), his young grandsons who were 3000 miles away across the country got to see him for just a moment, as he opened the penalty box door for the Three Stars. In the days when long distance telephone calls were expensive and inconvenient, that little bit of contact was wonderful!
I come by my remnant of Toronto connection honestly

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

That's so cool, Matt! I too, would have seen him on the TV, opening the sin bin door without know it!