Toronto has regained its status as the No. 1 U-Haul Canadian Destination City where more orange-clad moving trucks are headed than any other city, according to the latest U-Haul migration trends report.
Toronto was the top destination for U-Haul trucks from 2002-11 and again in 2013. It slipped to fourth in 2014 and was second to Calgary in 2015. But for the 2016 calendar year, Toronto easily supplanted Calgary thanks to a 13.4 percent rise in year-over-year arrivals to once again become the busiest Canadian city for incoming U-Haul trucks.
The unveiling of the Top 50 U-Haul Canadian Destination Cities of 2016 comes on the eve of Canada Day, which coincides with Moving Day in Quebec and serves a busy July 1 holiday for do-it-yourself movers nationwide.
Following Toronto in the rankings are Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton and Ottawa. Rounding out the top 10 are London, Vancouver, Hamilton, Kitchener and Victoria. Find Nos. 11-50 below.
U-Haul Destination Cities are ranked according to the total number of arriving one-way U-Haul truck rentals to a city in the past calendar year. Destination Cities do not account for departing traffic and thus do not necessarily reflect growth like U-Haul Growth Cities. Destination Cities reflect the volume and regularity of do-it-yourself movers coming into a community.
Attracting Businesses and Families
“I am pleased to say that this No. 1 ranking reflects the tremendous pace and depth of development occurring in Toronto,” said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee. “Toronto is one of the best places to live and work in the world, and this has resulted in us attracting businesses and individuals from across the country and around the globe.”
U-Haul has three Company-owned stores and 28 independent dealers within the city limits, and offers many more locations to fulfill the needs of suburbs outside Toronto. Find U-Haul truck and trailer sharing locations in Toronto at uhaul.com/locations.
“Houses, apartments and condos are being built in every space available in Toronto,” said Wayne Curtis, U-Haul Company of Central Ontario president. “We see U-Haul equipment on the roads every day here. Our self-storage rooms are filling up, and we are continuously adding more U-Haul facilities to accommodate the do-it-yourself movers coming to Toronto.”
Moving to Toronto for Many Reasons
U-Haul Company of Eastern Ontario president Antony Grocott said people continue to move to Toronto because of the growing career opportunities, diverse housing options and availability of so many things to do.
“Growth is everywhere, especially in the residential areas,” Grocott stated. “Toronto is the center of Canada.”
U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 21,000 U-Haul locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions that occur annually.
Review the Canadian Destination Cities countdown on Twitter @uhaul and find all migration trends reports, including the U-Haul 2016 Canadian Growth Cities release, at myuhaulstory.com.
What They are Saying about Toronto
“Toronto is a world-class city. It is the capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. Companies are continuing to invest in the city and corporate growth is seen throughout. Toronto is the manufacturing, technological and financial hub of the country. Everyone wants to live here.” — Wayne Curtis, U-Haul Company of Central Ontario president
U-Haul Top 50 Canadian Destination Cities for 2016
(2015 ranking in parentheses)
- TORONTO, ON (2)
- CALGARY, AB (1)
- MONTREAL, QC (4)
- EDMONTON, AB (3)
- OTTAWA, ON (5)
- LONDON, ON (6)
- VANCOUVER, BC (7)
- HAMILTON, ON (8)
- KITCHENER, ON (10)
- VICTORIA, BC (9)
- BRAMPTON, ON (13)
- MISSISSAUGA, ON (11)
- SURREY, BC (15)
- WINDSOR, ON (17)
- SCARBOROUGH, ON (12)
- KELOWNA, BC (24)
- BARRIE, ON (14)
- KINGSTON, ON (16)
- QUEBEC CITY, QC (18)
- ST. CATHARINES, ON (20)
- OSHAWA, ON (21)
- WINNIPEG, MB (19)
- SASKATOON, SK (26)
- BURLINGTON, ON (23)
- DARTMOUTH, NS (27)
- ETOBICOKE, ON (25)
- GUELPH, ON (30)
- KAMLOOPS, BC (35)
- PETERBOROUGH, ON (33)
- ABBOTSFORD, BC (29)
- NANAIMO, BC (31)
- MONCTON, NB (42)
- CHILLIWACK, BC (37)
- REGINA, SK (28)
- RED DEER, AB (22)
- BRANTFORD, ON (36)
- CAMBRIDGE, ON (34)
- NIAGARA FALLS, ON (38)
- GATINEAU, QC (40)
- LETHBRIDGE, AB (32)
- OAKVILLE, ON (39)
- SHERBROOKE, QC (43)
- VERNON, BC (NR)
- BELLEVILLE, ON (48)
- NEWMARKET, ON (44)
- MILTON, ON (49)
- FREDERICTON, NB (50)
- SARNIA, ON (47)
- PENTICTON, BC (NR)
- SUDBURY, ON (45)
