Oshawa, Canada

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Oshawa, Canada

Region: Ontario


Geographic Coordinates: 43.900000, -78.850000
Temperature Range: -40.0°C to 35.0°C (-40°F to 95°F)
Climate: Cold winters, mild springs, warm summers, and cool autumns with precipitation throughout the year.
Population: 166000
Language: English

Oshawa is a bustling city located in Ontario, Canada. It boasts a population of more than 160, 000 people and is the largest city in the Durham Region. The city has been experiencing rapid growth and development over the years. Situated along Lake Ontario’s shores, Oshawa offers breathtaking views of both land and water. The area has a rich history dating back to when indigenous tribes inhabited it. The name Oshawa comes from an indigenous word meaning crossing place, Named after a river that served as an important crossing point for early settlers.

Today, Oshawa is home to several world-class institutions such as Durham College, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Lakeridge Health Corporation, General Motors Canada headquarters and many more. These institutions have played an essential role in shaping Oshawa’s economy by providing jobs for thousands of people. The city has something to offer everyone: outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy numerous parks like Lakeview Park with its beautiful beaches and picnic areas while hikers can explore nature at Harmony Valley Conservation Area or McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve.

Art lovers will appreciate museums like Robert McLaughlin Gallery which showcases contemporary Canadian art while Canadian Automotive Museum exhibits classic cars from different eras. Additionally, Regent Theatre hosts live performances throughout the year ranging from comedy shows to musicals. Foodies will be delighted with delicious cuisines available at various restaurants scattered throughout downtown Oshawa or other parts of town like Simcoe Street North where you will find authentic Asian cuisine or King Street West where you’ll find Italian restaurants offering mouth-watering pasta dishes.

Oshawa offers endless opportunities for residents and visitors alike to explore its rich culture, History and natural beauty. With its thriving economy, Excellent educational institutions, Beautiful parks and beaches plus museums & art galleries; it continues to attract people from all walks of life!



Important Landmarks

  1. Parkwood Estate: This historic mansion, once the home of the McLaughlin family who founded General Motors Canada, is now open to the public for tours and events.
  2. Canadian Automotive Museum: With a collection of over 65 vehicles dating back to 1902, this museum showcases Canada’s automotive history.
  3. Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens: These gardens offer a peaceful escape from the city with walking paths, ponds, and beautiful flowers and plants.
  4. Lakeview Park Beach: Located on Lake Ontario, this beach is a popular spot for swimming and picnicking during summer months.
  5. Oshawa Centre: One of the largest malls in Ontario with over 250 stores and restaurants.
  6. Tribute Communities Centre: This arena hosts concerts and sporting events throughout the year including OHL hockey games featuring the Oshawa Generals team.
  7. The Robert McLaughlin Gallery: Featuring contemporary Canadian art as well as works by local artists from Durham Region.
  8. The Regent Theatre: Built in 1919 as a vaudeville theatre, this historic building now hosts live performances and movies throughout the year.
  9. The Ontario Regiment Museum: This military museum showcases Canada’s military history through exhibits featuring tanks, artillery pieces, and other equipment used by soldiers throughout various conflicts since World War II.
  10. The McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve: This nature reserve offers hiking trails through wetlands and forests along Lake Ontario’s shoreline where visitors can view wildlife such as beavers, deer, foxes, etc.

Primary Industries

  1. Automotive: Oshawa is known for its automotive industry and has been the home of General Motors Canada since 1918. The GM plant in Oshawa produces vehicles such as the Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac XTS, and Buick Regal.
  2. Healthcare: Oshawa is home to Lakeridge Health, a network of hospitals that provides healthcare services to the residents of Durham Region.
  3. Education: The city has several educational institutions such as Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).
  4. Retail: There are several shopping centers in Oshawa including the Oshawa Centre which is one of the largest malls in Ontario.
  5. Manufacturing: Apart from automotive manufacturing, there are other manufacturing companies operating in Oshawa such as Gerdau Ameristeel which produces steel products.
  6. Technology: There are several technology companies operating in Oshawa including IBM Canada which has a research center located within UOIT’s campus.
  7. Tourism: The city attracts tourists with its attractions such as Lakeview Park Beach, Parkwood Estate National Historic Site, and Canadian Automotive Museum.

Noteable History

  1. In 1793, the British Crown granted land to Colonel Samuel McLaughlin, who founded the town of Oshawa.
  2. Oshawa became a hub for automobile manufacturing in the early 20th century, with General Motors establishing its Canadian headquarters in the city in 1918 and building several factories.
  3. The McLaughlin family played an important role in Canada’s automotive industry development by forming a partnership with Buick to create McLaughlin-Buick, which later became General Motors Canada.
  4. Robert Samuel McLaughlin was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to Oshawa’s development by donating funds for public facilities like hospitals and schools.
  5. Parkwood Estate is a National Historic Site of Canada built between 1916-1917 as R.S.McLaughlin’s residence.
  6. Ontario Regiment Museum is located downtown displaying artifacts from World War I & II up to modern times.
  7. Ontario Tech University (formerly UOIT) was established on June 27,2002 as Durham College’s University Project (DCUP) and has since become one of Ontario’s fastest-growing universities offering over fifty programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
  8. Ontario Motor Speedway was a race track that operated from May 1970 until October ’79 attracting high-profile drivers such as Mario Andretti & Richard Petty.
  9. The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team playing out of Tribute Communities Centre representing their city since their inception back in ’33 winning multiple Memorial Cups along with cultivating many NHL players such as Bobby Orr,Eric Lindros etcetera.
  10. The Oshawa Centre is one of the largest malls in Ontario located in the heart of the city opening its doors back in 1956 undergoing several renovations over time keeping up with modern times.

Museums and Things To See

  1. Canadian Automotive Museum
  2. Robert McLaughlin Gallery
  3. Parkwood Estate National Historic Site
  4. Oshawa Community Museum and Archives
  5. The Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum
  6. Tribute Communities Centre (sports and entertainment venue)
  7. Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens
  8. Lakeview Park Beach and Playground
  9. The Regent Theatre (historic movie theater)
  10. Oshawa Little Theatre (community theater)


Sports Teams

  1. The Oshawa Generals is a junior ice hockey team that has been around since 1937. They have won five Memorial Cup championships and are responsible for producing many NHL players, such as Bobby Orr, Eric Lindros, and John Tavares.
  2. The Durham Turfdogs is a professional indoor lacrosse team that was established in 2009. They belong to the Major Series Lacrosse league and have made it to the league finals twice.
  3. The Oshawa Hawkeyes were a senior ice hockey team that played from 1951 to 1960. In 1955, they won the Allan Cup championship.
  4. The Oshawa Green Gaels is a junior box lacrosse team founded in 1948. They have six Minto Cup championships under their belt and are responsible for producing many NLL players.
  5. The Durham Lords represent the athletic teams of Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). They participate in various sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf, cross country running etc., and have won numerous national championships over time.
  6. The Ontario Hockey Academy Wildcats is an elite private high school located in Cornwall, Ontario with its campus recently opening up an extension to their facility at Legends Centre Ice Complex on September 2019.The school’s program includes academic courses as well as intensive training sessions on-ice or off-ice activities which aims to develop student-athletes into successful individuals both academically and athletically.
  7. The varsity sports teams representing UOIT/Durham College known as Ridgebacks participate under this name.The teams include men’s football,women’s field hockey,cross country running,soccer,basketball,mens hockey,wrestling,and lacrosse.


Cultural Events

  1. Oshawa Peony Festival is a delightful event that takes place in June, celebrating the blooming of peonies at the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens. The festival features live music, food vendors, and a stunning display of peonies.
  2. On July 1st, Oshawa hosts Canada Day Celebrations which include a parade, live entertainment and fireworks to honor Canada’s special day.
  3. Fiesta Week is an annual event held in August that celebrates Latin American culture with food vendors, dance performances and cultural displays.
  4. The Durham West Arts Centre Annual Juried Exhibition is held every fall at the Durham West Arts Centre in Oshawa to showcase local artists’ work across various mediums.
  5. Winterfest takes place each December at Lakeview Park in Oshawa featuring ice skating on an outdoor rink, horse-drawn carriage rides and festive activities for families to enjoy together.
  6. Downtown Jazz Festival occurs every September when downtown Oshawa hosts its own jazz festival featuring local musicians as well as international acts over multiple days.
  7. Each November brings the arrival of Christmas trees decorated by local businesses throughout downtown shops for the Durham Festival of Trees which are displayed until after New Year’s day attracting visitors from all over Ontario to see them all lit up!

Cuisine

  1. The Table by Carol: A farm-to-table restaurant that serves locally sourced ingredients.
  2. Buster Rhino’s Southern BBQ: A popular spot for authentic southern-style BBQ.
  3. Avanti Trattoria: An Italian restaurant that offers classic dishes like pizza and pasta.
  4. The Crooked Uncle Bar & Grill: A pub-style restaurant that serves comfort food like burgers and wings.
  5. Thai Culture Cuisine: A Thai restaurant known for their curries and noodle dishes.
  6. Stuttering John’s Smokehouse: Another BBQ joint that offers slow-cooked meats and homemade sauces.
  7. The Fire Hall Bistro: A cozy bistro located in a historic fire hall building, serving up fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, and more.
  8. Kababish Cafe & Grill: An Indian-Pakistani restaurant with a variety of kebabs, curries, biryanis, and naan breads on the menu.
  9. Zante’s Bar & Grill: A Greek-inspired eatery offering traditional dishes like souvlaki skewers and moussaka casserole.
  10. Tandoori Time Indian Cuisine: Another Indian restaurant with an extensive menu of tandoori specialties, vegetarian options, and desserts like gulab jamun (sweet fried dough balls).

Parks and Recreation

  1. Lakeview Park is a great place to spend a day outdoors with its beach, playgrounds, picnic areas, walking trails and splash pad.
  2. The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens are a sight to behold with their beautiful garden and walking trails that make for a peaceful outing.
  3. Rotary Park is perfect for sports enthusiasts as it has sports fields, playgrounds and picnic areas.
  4. The Harmony Valley Conservation Area offers hiking trails where you can spot birds and fish in the nearby waters.
  5. McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve is an excellent spot for nature lovers as it has plenty of opportunities for bird-watching and nature walks.
  6. Legends Centre is an ideal place to stay active with its swimming pools, ice rinks, fitness centres and indoor sports facilities.
  7. Durham College Outdoor Adventure Centre provides exciting outdoor activities such as rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking that will get your adrenaline pumping!
  8. The Oshawa Golf & Curling Club is one of the most popular golf courses in town that attracts many golf enthusiasts each year.
  9. General Motors Centre hosts concerts & sporting events making it an entertainment hub in the city!
  10. Oshawa Zoo & Fun Farm makes for a fun family-friendly attraction where you can pet animals and feed them too!

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