How should Toronto celebrate its 180th birthday?

March 6th is Toronto's birthday, and that should be cause for celebration say two city councillors. In a motion to be presented at city council next week, Paul Ainslie and Mike Layton will ask city staff to investigate ways to officially recognize the day the Town of York was incorporated.

Right now, the city doesn't do much to mark the day it officially became a legal entity, probably because when it's phrased like that it smacks of dull formality. In 2009, the year Toronto turned 175, there was a year-long series of events, including a day of festivities at City Hall on the March 6th.

Toronto will turn 180 this March, making it a good a time as any to start a recurring event, say Ainslie and Layton. But how best to celebrate the city? A stat holiday would be nice but, let's face it, it won't happen. If the motion clears city council, the city manager will investigate "appropriate" ways to mark the date.

How do you think Toronto should celebrate its birthday? The late winter date doesn't lend itself to picnics and barbecues but perhaps an event like Quebec's Winter Carnival would work, provided it had a local twist.

Write your ideas in the comment section or tweet us with the hashtag #TO180.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Alex Indigo/blogTO Flickr pool.

by Chris Bateman via blogTO