Metrolinx is working to ensure everyone can travel to work, school and explore the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area easily and affordably on public transit – including newcomers.   

We are proud to be a sponsor for the City of Toronto’s Newcomer Day, an annual event to welcome and celebrate newcomers to the city.  

Toronto Newcomer Day 2024 activities 

The 10th annual Toronto Newcomer Day will take place on May 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto, and the Metrolinx team will be onsite all day to share valuable transit information and help newcomers get acquainted with Metrolinx services like GO Transit, PRESTO and the UP Express. 

This year’s festivities include musical performances, guided tours of city hall and historic Toronto neighbourhoods, activities for kids and families, and more. All activities are free, but a few require advance registration through the Newcomer Day website.   

Attendees will also have the chance to enjoy free beverages, and explore a Newcomer Food Fair and Newcomer Marketplace.  

Getting to Newcomer Day on GO Transit

To get to Nathan Phillips Square, travel by UP Express, GO Train or GO Bus to Union Station, then walk or take the TTC to 100 Queen St. West. It is about a 20-minute walk. 

Remember, kids aged 12 and under always ride for free, and with Ontario's One Fare Program, transit riders only pay once when connecting to and from the TTC and GO Transit. 

Attending Newcomer Day with a group? GO Weekday Group Passes can offer savings for groups of up to five.  

Transit information and savings for newcomers

The Greater Toronto Area receives the highest number of newcomers in the country each year, according to the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC).  

For newcomers to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Metrolinx’s dedicated “Get started with GO Transit” page offers information about GO in English and ten other languages, including Arabic, Urdu, and Spanish.

The page also offers useful details about the One Fare Program, launched in March 2024, which allows transit riders to only pay once when travelling between TTC and GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay and York Region Transit.  

This year, Metrolinx has also partnered with 20 Settlement Agencies across the Greater Golden Horseshoe to distribute free welcome kits to newcomers aged 20–64 who have moved to Canada within the last three years. These welcome kits, including a PRESTO card that offers a 50 per cent discount on GO Transit between July 1st and September 30^th, will be available from participating Settlement Agencies starting in June.