Locals also feel safe because of the city's long history of multiculturalism. "In Toronto, it is normal to be born outside Canada. I've found that different ethnic and cultural groups actually interact with each other and do not live in silos," said Filipe Vernaza, who has lived in the city since 1998. "A typical group of people likely has people from different ethnicities, sexual orientations and religions. Toronto is an extremely open-minded city where you can feel safe being who you are."