Ontario
From OntarioCommunities.com: Recording the history of communities in Ontario, Canada.
OntarioCommunities.com is the web site devoted to recording the human and natural history of Ontario communities both past and present. This site also lists business, church, health, media and recreation information. You may add information about an Ontario city, hamlet, town or village here. To browse a community in Ontario, please click on a letter below. You may also search here.
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Ontario, Canada
Ontario, Canada is the most populous and second-largest in area of Canada's ten (10) provinces second only to Quebec. Located in east-central Canada, Ontario is one of the provinces of Central Canada.
The province takes its name from Lake Ontario, which in turn is derived from the Iroquois word Skanadario, meaning "beautiful lake" or "sparkling water".
A map of Canada showing Ontario as the colour red
Archives of Ontario
Since 1903 we have been collecting historically valuable records created by both the Ontario government and the private sector. Records from businesses, clubs and associations, labour and political organizations, and private individuals complement the official government records. All of these records are made available to the public.
The collection is very large and provides a rich resource for the study of Ontario and its people. It consists of:
- paper records (mostly files and bound volumes) take up over 60,000 metres of shelf space.
- over 3 million photographs
- approximately 150,000 architectural drawings
- over 30,000 maps
- approximately 21,000 hours of sound and moving image recordings
- a library with over 60,000 items
Source: Archives of Ontario
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/
Bird of Ontario
The Common Loon was adopted as Ontario's official bird on June 23, 1994.
Coat of Arms of Ontario
The Coat-of-Arms of the Province consists of a green shield with three golden maple leaves surmounted by the Banner of St. George, a red cross on a silver background. The banner indicates Ontario's close ties with Britain, while the colours, green and gold, are Ontario's official colours; green symbolizes the land. Above the shield is a bear, with a moose and a deer supporting the shield; all representing the rich animal life of the province. The Latin motto is translated as "Loyal She Began, Loyal She Remains." The shield was granted by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria on May 25, 1868, and the crest, supporters and motto by Royal Warrant of King Edward VII on February 27, 1909.
Communities of Ontario
Toronto is the capital and its largest city as well as the largest city in Canada. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is located in Ontario, close to the border with Quebec.
Events In Ontario
A huge array of diverse festivals and events take place all across the province - and all through the year in Ontario.
To find or post events, please visit the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.
Exports from Ontario
Profits, jobs and, in the aggregate, the Ontario economy are dependent on the competitive success of our goods and services in the international marketplace. Exports of goods and services bring in $190 billion annually, account for over 51% of Ontario's economy and support more than 1.6 million Ontario jobs
Percentage share of total Ontario exports (1999) are:
- 49.68% Automotive Products
- 21.75% Machinery & Equipment
- 14.67% Industrial Goods
- 4.20% Forestry Products
- 3.43% Agriculture and Fishing
- 3.25% Consumer Goods
- 3.02% All others
Our largest market is the U.S.A, with Ontario exports (1999) to:
- 92.2% United States
- 3.8% Europe
- 1.9% Asia
- 1.4% Latin America
- 3% Africa/Middle East
Source: Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Facts About Ontario
Ontario is one of the is a magnet for industry, the arts and science. The population is made up of many cultural backgrounds drawn to this vibrant province.
Ontario is a study in contrasts.
- The varied landscape includes the vast, rocky and mineral-rich Canadian Shield, which separates the fertile farmland in the south and the grassy lowlands of the north.
- There are over 250,000 lakes in Ontario -- they make up about one-third of the world's fresh water.
- In summer, temperatures can soar above 30°C (86°F), while in winter they can drop to below -40°C (-40°F).
- Ontario's industries range from cultivating crops, to mining minerals, to manufacturing automobiles, to designing software and leading-edge technology.
- Cultures from around the world thrive and are celebrated in Ontario with festivals such as Caribana (West Indian) and Oktoberfest (German).
- Travellers can enjoy the many experiences Ontario has to offer, from a wilderness expedition in the north, to a "shop till you drop into your theatre seat" city excursion.
Population: Over 12 million
Size: Ontario is Canada's second largest province, covering more than one million square kilometres (415,000 square miles) - an area larger than France and Spain combined.
Land: 894,639 sq. km (344,092 sq. mi.)
Water: 177,398 sq. km (68,490 sq. mi.), which is home to 250,000 lakes, which make up about one-third of the world's fresh water.
North/South Distance: 1,730 kilometres (1,075 mi.)
East/West Distance: 1,680 km (1,050 mi.)
Freshwater Shoreline: 3,081 km (2,362 mi.) along Great Lakes
Saltwater Shoreline: 1,094 km (680 mi.) along James and Hudson bays
Southernmost Point: Middle Island off Pelee Island (Latitude 40x41'; same as Rome, Italy, and Northern California
Northernmost Point: Latitude 56x50' at Ontario-Manitoba border; which is close to that of London, England and Warsaw, Poland
Highest Point: Timiskaming district (693 m/2,274 ft.)
Lowest Point: Hudson Bay shore (sea level)
Source: Ontario Tourism Marketing partnership
[http://www.ontariotravel.net/TcisCtrl?site=consumers&key1=travelTools&key2=travelTips&key3=OnFacts&language=EN&linkType=I
http://www.ontariotravel.net]
Flag of Ontario
The flag of Ontario
The flag of Ontario is called the Red Ensign. It includes the Union Jack, representing Ontario's ties to Great Britain, and the Coat-of-Arms of the Province.
Flower of Ontario
The official flower of Ontario is the trillium, a delicate white three petalled flower that grows in profusion in the wild woodlands of the province in early spring.
Gem of Ontario
Amethyst, the rich purple semi-precious stone, is the official gem of Ontario. Large deposits are found in Northwestern Ontario.
History of Ontario
Canada's second-largest province covers 1,068,639 million square kilometres (412,592 square miles) stretching 1,730 kilometres (1,056 miles) from its most southerly point to the Arctic waters of Hudson Bay, and 1,690 kilometres 91,047 mi.) from west to east. The word Ontario is thought to mean "beautiful waters" in the original Iroquoian language, a fitting description for a land of more than 250,000 lakes and thousands of kilometres of rivers and streams. These glorious freshwater lakes and rivers were created by the retreat of massive glaciers during the last ice age.
It was 10,000 years ago that the first Aboriginal people arrived in what is now Ontario. While some Aboriginal nations settled down to erect villages and farm the land in the south, other nations continued to wander. There were battles between the nations, but by the 1600s they had begun to band together into confederacies and develop a democratic system of government.
The French were the first Europeans to arrive in Ontario, following the path of explorers in the early 1600s. The lucrative fur trade drew the English to the wild shores of Hudson Bay only a few years later, but settlement in earnest began with the Loyalists moving north after the War of American Independence.
Today, there are two Aboriginal language groups in Ontario: Algonquian, spoken by the Algonquin, Ojibwa and Cree; and Iroquoian, spoken by the Iroquois. The French culture is still a part of Ontario, with Franco-Ontarians representing five per cent of the province's population of just over 11 million. Successive waves of immigrants have continued to enrich Ontario's culture, and its cities are microcosms of the world in their rich ethnic variety. Today, Ontario is home to more than 80 cultures.
Source: Ontario Tourism Marketing partnership
http://www.ontariotravel.net
Ontario Legislative Assembly
The coat of arms of Ontario
The Legislative Building at Queen's Park is a popular tourist attraction for thousands of visitors from Ontario, Canada and around the world. Offices occupy much of the Legislative Building, which also includes a formal suite of rooms used by the Lieutenant Governor. At the heart of the building is the Legislative Chamber - also known as the House. Here, when the Legislature is meeting, MPPs make the decisions that shape Ontario's future.
Ontario Ministry of Culture
The Ontario Ministry of Culture encourages the arts and cultural industries, protects Ontario's heritage and advances the public library system in order to maximize their contribution to the province's economic and social vitality.
The ministry implements strategies to promote and market Ontario's cultural and heritage attractions to realize their full economic potential. It works with local communities and cultural agencies to preserve Ontario's culture and heritage.
Ontario Ministry of Culture
http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/index.html
Population of Ontario
As of July 2006 there are 12,686,952 Ontarians (residents of Ontario), representing approximately 37.9% of the total Canadian population and an area of 1,076,395 square kilometres (415,598 sq. mi.).
Tourism to Ontario
Ontario has Canada's largest tourism industry, accounting for 43% of Canada's total visitors and 35% of Canada's tourism revenues. Tourism contributed $7.7 billion to the provincial gross domestic product in 2000.
In 2000 there were 118,515 businesses in Ontario providing tourism-related products and services:
- 4,890 accommodation industry
- 31,232 food and beverage
- 6,874 recreation and entertainment
- 4,336 transportation
- 43,374 tourism-related retail
- 27,809 services (car rental, travel services, car parking, repairing, personal services)
In 2000, the Ontario's tourism industry:
- Accounted for $20.1 billion in tourism expenditures, spent by 115.8 million visitors
- Provided 268,000 direct jobs and an additional 218,000 indirect and induced jobs, representing 8.3% of Ontario's employment
- Generated $8.7 billion in total taxes, of which $3.0 billion was provincial tax revenue
Source: Ontario Ministry of Tourism
http://www.tourism.gov.on.ca/english/index.html
Tree of Ontario
The Eastern White Pine, Ontario's official tree, was an important source of income and trade during the pioneering days, and continues to be a valuable resource for Ontario today.
