Part of that was because Toronto was on absolutely terrible land. It was a gross swamp but it was also a natural harbour.
There was native settlements on either side, but nothing in Toronto itself and in a classic native land-sale deal they tricked the British into buying a disease-infested swamp.
Then watched as they built sewers, drained the harbour and not only made the land liveable, but made it the best place to live in the area.
The Tkaronto people really have no understanding of their own city's history.