1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
SocietyCanada

When night falls in Toronto: a multicultural portrait

42:34

This browser does not support the video element.

September 16, 2026

Canada's Toronto is a melting pot of diverse cultures. Most of its residents have immigrated, at some point. "We're just like New York," they say of their city, and usually add: "Only nicer!"

The documentary features the Neon Riders of Toronto, decorating their bikes with colorful lights and heading out at night for a ride and a party. Then there's 28-year-old Jill, who opts to spend the night catching raccoons instead of losing herself on a club dancefloor. Or Quinn, who upholds the traditions of his Indigenous ancestors through painted constellations. And the guys from the Latino band '6ix Pal Mundo', who are creating a new soundtrack for the city.

These are just a few of the many stories and moments in a film about a city that welcomes everyone, is beautiful but never pretentious, and doesn’t beg to be loved — but is adored by its inhabitants. A place where entering the world’s largest underground pedestrian tunnel system can feel like taking a journey through several different continents.
Canada's largest city lives up to its promise of being a thriving multicultural metropolis. Seven million people from over 230 nations live in the Greater Toronto Area. As most residents will tell you with pride, if you make the most of your opportunities, you can achieve anything here. One of the reasons why Toronto is arguably the fastest-growing city in North America. But that brings another set of problems: The number of homeless people has doubled within four years, to more than 15,000.

Fore more from DocFilm, follow this link

Skip next section About the show

About the show

DocFilm

Exciting stories, a wide variety of topics, fascinating pictures: every day, half or three-quarters of an hour of carefully researched background reports from the worlds of politics, business, science, culture, nature, history, lifestyle and sport.

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW

More stories from DW