THE 6IX
The 6ix hits the top of the list as Toronto’s fastest growing nickname, internationally and locally.
It was formed through the amalgamation of six municipalities: Toronto, East York, York, North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke on January 1st, 1998.
Even though it had already been trending informally by us locals since the early 2000s, Rapper and Artist Drake deserves the credit on its amplified popularity.
HOW DID DRAKE GIVE HYPE TO “THE 6IX”?
Drake popularized The 6ix in 2016 when his album “Views” first dropped. Its quick rise to number one in the charts within its first week helped spread The 6ix as Toronto’s cooler version of itself through Drake’s allegiance to his hometown.
SO WHO WERE WE BEFORE THE 6IX?
Toronto shares a laundry list of nicknames prior to The 6ix. Here is the history of our other known designations, still in use today.
The Queen City
Originating in the mid 1800s, Toronto was coined “The Queen City” due to its reign under Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom and its importance as the capital of Ontario (with Ottawa being the capital of Canada).
Hogtown
This name later emerged in the late 1800s. At the time, Toronto held a large number of hog slaughterhouses during the industrial revolution and had a significant role in the pork industry. In fact, the St. Lawrence market was a central hub for pork production and Toronto’s meat products were highly valued across Canada and beyond.
The Big Smoke
This one was born in the early 20th century. It refers to the pollution and smog in Toronto when the city became infamous for its thick air. Even though we’ve made vast improvements to our air quality, the nickname sticks.
The City That Works
Making a name for itself in the 60s and 70s, “The City That Works” was a reflection of Toronto’s incredibly rapid economic growth, gaining us a global reputation for industriousness; specifically in the banking and financial sectors.
T-Dot
In the 90s, this short form was an affectionate term used by the locals. Stemming from the music scene, the “dot” is a playful abbreviation for “oronto”.
The 416
Also from the 90s era, this nickname refers to the original area code of Toronto: 416. Its reference to the downtown’s core highlights the divide between the city centre and the merging of the surrounding 905 townships.
Hollywood North
In the 80s and 90s, Toronto’s growing rep’ as a hub for film and media production formed a comparison to LA’s Hollywood. Over 300+ productions are filmed here every year, with a mix of government subsidies giving production companies a 34.1% tax break when filming in our city. We share this nickname with our western neighbour, Vancouver.
The North
Making a surgence in the 2010s, this was popularized by the Toronto Raptors with their “We The North” slogan. Securing the championship trophy in 2019 against the Golden State Warriors in Game 6, the Raptors helped spread the buzz on “We The North” and earned Canada a respectable place in the sport of basketball.
SO I GUESS “THE 6IX” IS REALLY STICKING
A cool history of evolving nicknames, but it’s The 6ix that is widely used in social media, businesses and the world of sports.
