Brantford, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River
in Southern Ontario
, Canada
. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent
. However Brantford and the County of Brant are grouped in the same census division
.
Brantford is connected to Woodstock
in the west and Hamilton
in the east by Highway 403 and to Cambridge
to the north and Simcoe
to the south by Highway 24
.
Brantford is sometimes known by the nickname The Telephone City as former city resident Alexander Graham Bell
conducted the first distant telephone call from the community to Paris, Ontario
in 1876. It is also the birthplace of hockey player Wayne Gretzky
, comedian Phil Hartman
, as well as Group of Seven
member Lawren Harris
.
The Attawandaron, or Neutral Nation
, lived in the Grand River valley area before the 17th century; their main village and seat of the chief, Kandoucho
, was identified by 19th-century historians as having been located on the Grand River where Brantford lies today. This town, like the rest of their settlements, was destroyed when the Iroquois declared war in 1650 and exterminated the Neutral nation.
In 1784, Captain Joseph Brant
and the Six Nations Indians left New York
for Canada. As a reward for their loyalty to the British Crown, they were given a large land grant, referred to as the Haldimand Tract
, on the Grand River. The original Mohawk settlement was on the south edge of the present-day city at a location favourable for landing canoes. Brant's crossing of the river gave the original name to the area: Brant's ford. By 1847, European settlers began to settle further up the river at a ford in the Grand River
and named the village Brantford. The Mohawk Chapel
, part of the original Mohawk settlement, is Ontario's oldest Protestant church. Brantford was incorporated as a city in 1877.
The history of the Brantford region from 1793 to 1920 is described at length in the book At The Forks of The Grand
.
Brantford had a population of 90,192 people in 2006, which was an increase of 4.4% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Brantford was $52,330. Based on the 2006 census, Brantford had an average property value of $200,319. The median mortgage payment was $933. The median rent for Brantford in 2006 was $700.
. This industry, more than any other, provided the well-paying and steady employment that allowed Brantford to sustain economic growth through most of the 20th century.
By the 1980s and 1990s, the economy of Brantford was in steady decline as a result of the bankruptcies of White Farm Equipment
, Massey-Ferguson (and its successor, Massey Combines Corporation), Koering-Waterous, Harding Carpets, and other manufacturers. The bankruptcies and closures of the businesses left thousands of people unemployed and created one of the most economically depressed areas in the country. The unemployment rate, however, has steadily decreased in more recent years, from almost 14% in 1993 down to 6.3% in 2006. This improved employment picture led to the rate of personal bankruptcy in Brantford falling by 6.2% in 2006.
The completion of the Brantford to Ancaster
section of Highway 403 in 1997, was intended to provide an increased incentive for business to locate in Brantford because of easy access to Hamilton
and Toronto
, as well as being along the quickest route through southern Ontario between Detroit and Buffalo
. In 2004 Procter & Gamble
and Ferrero SpA
chose to locate in the city. Though Wescast Industries, Inc. recently closed their local foundry, their corporate headquarters will remain in Brantford. SC Johnson Canada has their headquarters and a manufacturing plant in Brantford, connected to the Canadian National network.
On February 16, 2005, Brant, including Brantford, was added to the Greater Golden Horseshoe
along with Haldimand and Northumberland
counties.
The W. Ross Macdonald School
for blind and deafblind
students is located in Brantford.
The current Brantford City Council
was elected in the 2010 municipal election
and is headed by Mayor Chris Friel
, who previously served as mayor from 1994 to 2003. The council, in addition to Friel, includes Larry Kings and Jan Vander Stelt (Ward 1), Vince Bucci and John Utley (Ward 2), Debi Dignan-Rumble and Dan McCreary (Ward 3), Richard Carpenter and Dave Wrobel (Ward 4), and David Neumann and Marguerite Ceschi-Smith (Ward 5). http://www.brantford.ca/govt/council/members/Pages/default.aspx/
At the federal and provincial levels of government, Brantford is part of the Brant riding
.
Print
The Brantford Expositor
, which started printing in 1852, is published six times a week (everyday excluding Sunday), and is published by Osprey Media
.
The Brant News is a weekly paper (delivered Thursday) that also carries breaking news online on their website, and is published by Metroland Publishing Group.
. Otherwise, Brantford is served by stations from Toronto
, Hamilton
and Kitchener
.
and Where the Truth Lies
, which were filmed at the Brantford Airport. An episode of Due South
, "Dr. Long Ball", was filmed at Arnold Anderson Stadium in Cockshutt Park. A more recent filming was Weirdsville
, which was filmed downtown in 2006. "Silent Hill
" was filmed in the downtown in 2005. Many Brantfordians observed in jest that very little work needed to be done to make downtown look decayed and haunted. Brantford's Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts was used as "The Rose" mainstage theatre of the "New Burbage Festival" in the series Slings & Arrows.
is located west of the city. It hosts an annual air show
, featuring the Snowbirds
. The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
in Hamilton is located about 35 km east of Brantford. Toronto Pearson International Airport
is located in Mississauga
, about 100 km northeast of Brantford.
has daily passenger trains on the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor
. Trains travel between Windsor
and Union Station
in Toronto
. Street rail began in Brantford in 1886 with emission free carriages which by 1893 had been converted to electric. The City of Brantford took over these operations in 1914. Around 1936 buses began to replace street cars and by the end of 1939 the change over was complete.
services the city with nine regular routes operating on a half-hour schedule from the downtown Transit Terminal on Darling Street, with additional school service.
Greyhound Canada has intercity service to Toronto, Hamilton, London, Windsor and other cities.
All Around Transportation operates a Paris/Brantford shuttle bus.
The The Sanderson Centre
offers performances of musicals, operas, concerts, and other performing arts.
The Kinsmen Club of Brantford
offer entertainment throughout the year, including a weekly game which runs every Thursday evening at the Bellview Community Center in Eagle Place and Brantford's Own Annual Ribfest held in August.
The Ford Plant
, which opened in 2002, was an independent, not-for-profit music venue that hosted all-ages concerts by many musical artists, including Arcade Fire, Wintersleep
, Blue Rodeo
, and more. In October 2010, the venue closed its doors for good, following its final Murdered City Music Festival.
Festival each July 1. A grassroots, not-for-profit, organization was formed in the fall of 2004 after a call from the Mayor to re-establish the event when nobody was able to organize one in 2004. Since then Brantford’s Canada Day Festival has presented family events and Canadian Juno Award
winning entertainment. A 2006 and 2009 Shining Stars Tourism Awards winner and with a budget of nearly $250,000.00, this one day festival draws an estimated crowd of 35,000 or more people.
Past main stage headliners have included:
, Baptist
, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic
, Pentecostal, Salvation Army
, Presbyterian
, United
, Christadelphian, and Mormon. There is a mosque and also one Sikh
temple. Brantford is also home to the national headquarters of the Congregational Christian Churches in Canada
.
with:
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
. However Brantford and the County of Brant are grouped in the same census division
Census divisions of Canada
The census geographic units of Canada are the country subdivisions defined and used by Canada's federal government statistics bureau Statistics Canada to conduct the country's five-yearly census...
.
Brantford is connected to Woodstock
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
in the west and Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
in the east by Highway 403 and to Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
to the north and Simcoe
Simcoe, Ontario
Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada located near Lake Erie. It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County....
to the south by Highway 24
Highway 24 (Ontario)
Highway 24 is a highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which presently begins at Highway 3 in Simcoe, and ends at Highway 401, in Cambridge. Highway 24 runs in a north/south direction and has been in service since 1927...
.
Brantford is sometimes known by the nickname The Telephone City as former city resident Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
conducted the first distant telephone call from the community to Paris, Ontario
Paris, Ontario
Paris, Ontario is a community on the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. The town was established in 1850. In 1999, its town government was amalgamated into that of the County of Brant, Ontario, thus ending about 149 years as a separate incorporated municipality.-History:The town was first settled in...
in 1876. It is also the birthplace of hockey player Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, comedian Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman
Philip Edward "Phil" Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Hartman and his family moved to the United States when he was 10...
, as well as Group of Seven
Group of Seven (artists)
The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
member Lawren Harris
Lawren Harris
Lawren Stewart Harris, CC was a Canadian painter. He was born in Brantford, Ontario and is best known as a member the Group of Seven who pioneered a distinctly Canadian painting style in the early twentieth century. A. Y. Jackson has been quoted as saying that Harris provided the stimulus for the...
.
History
Neutral Nation
The Neutrals, also known as the Attawandaron, were an Iroquoian nation of North American native people who lived near the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.-Territory:...
, lived in the Grand River valley area before the 17th century; their main village and seat of the chief, Kandoucho
Kandoucho
Kandoucho, was one of 28 villages of the Neutral Nation, or Attawandaron, in Southern Ontario in the 17th century and the home base for one of their chiefs, Souharissen. The village contained a Jesuit mission called "All Saints"....
, was identified by 19th-century historians as having been located on the Grand River where Brantford lies today. This town, like the rest of their settlements, was destroyed when the Iroquois declared war in 1650 and exterminated the Neutral nation.
In 1784, Captain Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
and the Six Nations Indians left New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for Canada. As a reward for their loyalty to the British Crown, they were given a large land grant, referred to as the Haldimand Tract
Haldimand Proclamation
The Haldimand Proclamation was a decree that granted land to the Iroquois who had served on the British side during the American Revolution. The decree was issued by the Governor of the Province of Quebec, Frederick Haldimand, on October 25, 1784....
, on the Grand River. The original Mohawk settlement was on the south edge of the present-day city at a location favourable for landing canoes. Brant's crossing of the river gave the original name to the area: Brant's ford. By 1847, European settlers began to settle further up the river at a ford in the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
and named the village Brantford. The Mohawk Chapel
Mohawk Chapel
Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, the oldest building in Ontario, is one of six Chapels Royal outside of the United Kingdom, and one of two in Canada, the other being Christ Church Royal Chapel near Deseronto, Ontario. It was elevated to a Chapel Royal by Edward VII in 1904...
, part of the original Mohawk settlement, is Ontario's oldest Protestant church. Brantford was incorporated as a city in 1877.
The history of the Brantford region from 1793 to 1920 is described at length in the book At The Forks of The Grand
At The Forks of The Grand
At The Forks of the Grand is a detailed history of the town of Paris, Ontario, Canada. Volume I covers the historical period of 1793-1920.Writer Donald A. Smith was at one time the principal of Paris District High School....
.
Climate
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 2,000 |
| 1871 | 8,107 |
| 1881 | 9,616 |
| 1891 | 12,753 |
| 1901 | 16,619 |
| 1911 | 23,132 |
| 1921 | 29,440 |
| 1931 | 30,107 |
| 1941 | 31,622 |
| 1951 | 36,727 |
| 1961 | 55,201 |
| 1971 | 64,421 |
| 1981 | 74,315 |
| 1991 | 81,997 |
| 2001 | 86,417 |
| 2006 | 90,192 |
Brantford had a population of 90,192 people in 2006, which was an increase of 4.4% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Brantford was $52,330. Based on the 2006 census, Brantford had an average property value of $200,319. The median mortgage payment was $933. The median rent for Brantford in 2006 was $700.
| City of Brantford 2006 Source: Statistics Canada Statistics Canada Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa.... 2006 | Population | % of Total Population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible minority group | Chinese Overseas Chinese Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese.... |
650 | 0.73 |
| South Asian | 1660 | 2.0 | |
| Filipino Filipino Canadian Filipino Canadians are Canadians of Filipino ancestry. Filipino-Canadians are the fourth-largest subgroup of the Overseas Filipinos.Canada only had a small population of Filipinos until the late 20th century. To date, there are currently around 400,000 Filipino Canadians in Canada, most of them... |
625 | 0.8 | |
| Black Black Canadian 'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin... |
1580 | 1.9 | |
| Arabs | 190 | 0.2 | |
| Latino Latino The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."... |
360 | 0.4 | |
| Southeast Asian | 570 | 0.7 | |
| Korean | 200 | 0.2 | |
| Japanese | 90 | 0.1 | |
| Mixed Race | 190 | 0.2 | |
| Other | 180 | 0.2 | |
| Total Visible Minorities | 6,200 | 6.8 | |
| Total Aboriginal Identity Population | 3440 | 4.0 | |
| White/Caucasian | 79,205 | 89.2 | |
| Total population | 88,845 | 100 | |
Culture
Brantford is known for celebrating local cultures every July during the International Festivals event.Economy
Brantford was an important Canadian industrial centre for the first half of the 20th Century, and was once the number three city in Canada in terms of cash-value of manufactured goods exported. The city is at the deepest navigable point of the Grand River, and was once a railroad hub of Southern Ontario. The combination of water and rails helped Brantford develop from a farming community into a blue collar industrial city based on the agriculture implement industry centred around companies such as Massey-Harris, Verity Plow and the Cockshutt Plow CompanyCockshutt Plow Company
Cockshutt was a large tractor and machinery manufacturer based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.Originally founded as the Brantford Plow Works by James G. Cockshutt in 1877, the name was changed to the Cockshutt Plow Company when it was incorporated in 1882. After James died shortly thereafter, his...
. This industry, more than any other, provided the well-paying and steady employment that allowed Brantford to sustain economic growth through most of the 20th century.
By the 1980s and 1990s, the economy of Brantford was in steady decline as a result of the bankruptcies of White Farm Equipment
White Farm Equipment
White Farm Equipment is a brand of agricultural machinery, now discontinued except for planter, and owned by AGCO.-History:In 1960, the White Motor Company entered the agriculture market with the purchase of the Oliver Farm Equipment Company. In 1962, White acquired the Cockshutt Farm Equipment...
, Massey-Ferguson (and its successor, Massey Combines Corporation), Koering-Waterous, Harding Carpets, and other manufacturers. The bankruptcies and closures of the businesses left thousands of people unemployed and created one of the most economically depressed areas in the country. The unemployment rate, however, has steadily decreased in more recent years, from almost 14% in 1993 down to 6.3% in 2006. This improved employment picture led to the rate of personal bankruptcy in Brantford falling by 6.2% in 2006.
The completion of the Brantford to Ancaster
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
section of Highway 403 in 1997, was intended to provide an increased incentive for business to locate in Brantford because of easy access to Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, as well as being along the quickest route through southern Ontario between Detroit and Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. In 2004 Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
and Ferrero SpA
Ferrero SpA
Ferrero SpA is an Italian manufacturer of chocolate and other confectionery products, founded by confectioner Pietro Ferrero in 1946 and based in Alba, Piedmont, Italy. The company achieved success headed by Pietro's son Michele Ferrero, then Michele's son Pietro , who oversaw global business...
chose to locate in the city. Though Wescast Industries, Inc. recently closed their local foundry, their corporate headquarters will remain in Brantford. SC Johnson Canada has their headquarters and a manufacturing plant in Brantford, connected to the Canadian National network.
On February 16, 2005, Brant, including Brantford, was added to the Greater Golden Horseshoe
Golden Horseshoe
The Golden Horseshoe is a densely populated and industrialized region centred around the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Georgian Bay. Most of it is also part of the Quebec City...
along with Haldimand and Northumberland
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
counties.
Education
Statistics from the 2006 Census indicate that 28% of Brantford residents had not earned any certificate, diploma, or degree.The W. Ross Macdonald School
W. Ross Macdonald School
The W. Ross Macdonald School was founded in 1872 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and provides instruction from kindergarten to secondary school graduation for blind and deafblind students....
for blind and deafblind
Deafblindness
Deafblindness is the condition of little or no useful sight and little or no useful hearing. Educationally, individuals are considered to be deafblind when the combination of their hearing and vision loss causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they...
students is located in Brantford.
Universities and colleges
- Mohawk CollegeMohawk CollegeMohawk College is a public College of Applied Arts and Technology located in the Golden Horseshoe of Ontario, Canada. Mohawk has three main campuses: the Fennell Campus located in Hamilton, the Brantford Campus located in Brantford and the STARRT Institute located in Stoney Creek, as well as the...
, has a satellite campus in Brantford, and offers programs such as Advanced Police Studies, Police Foundations and Law & Security - Laurier BrantfordLaurier BrantfordLaurier Brantford is a satellite campus of Wilfrid Laurier University located in Brantford, Ontario. The other campus of the University is in Waterloo, Ontario....
, a campus of Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, offers undergraduate degrees in their downtown facilities. They include degrees in Contemporary Studies, Criminology, Leadership, Journalism, and a joint program in education offered in partnership with Nipissing University. - Nipissing UniversityNipissing UniversityNipissing University is a public liberal arts university located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, on a site overlooking Lake Nipissing. The university's unique character is defined by its location in Northern Ontario, and a large and highly respected faculty of education...
, joint program with Wilfrid Laurier.
Secondary schools
- Assumption College SchoolAssumption College School (Brantford)Assumption College is a Roman Catholic Secondary School in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.-Mission Statement:"Assumption College Schoolis our catholic learning communityWhere we strive for exellenceand we work to BecomeRespectful,Responsible Individuals...
- Brantford Collegiate InstituteBrantford Collegiate InstituteBrantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, also known as simply "Brantford Collegiate Institute" or "BCI", is a secondary school in the city of Brantford...
- North Park Collegiate & Vocational School
- Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational SchoolPauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational SchoolPauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School in Brantford, Ontario, Canada is a composite high school with collegiate and vocational departments. It was named in honour of the Native Canadian poetess E. Pauline Johnson, who was born nearby....
- St. John's CollegeSt. John's College (Brantford)St. John's College is a Roman Catholic high school located in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. As with many Catholic schools, school uniforms are mandatory during school hours. Several courses in theology/religious studies are mandatory for students attending SJC.-History:In 1941, Brantford Catholic...
- Tollgate Technological Skills Centre (formerly known as Herman E. Fawcett)
- Grand Erie Learning Alternatives (GELA)
Politics
Brantford City Council
The Brantford City Council is the governing body of Brantford, Ontario.The council consists of a mayor and ten councillors, two representing each of five wards...
was elected in the 2010 municipal election
Brantford municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Brantford municipal election was held on October 25, 2010, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school trustees in the city of Brantford, Ontario.-Results:...
and is headed by Mayor Chris Friel
Chris Friel
Chris Friel is a politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He was the mayor of Brantford from 1994 to 2003 and was re-elected to the same position in the 2010 municipal election.-Early life and private career:...
, who previously served as mayor from 1994 to 2003. The council, in addition to Friel, includes Larry Kings and Jan Vander Stelt (Ward 1), Vince Bucci and John Utley (Ward 2), Debi Dignan-Rumble and Dan McCreary (Ward 3), Richard Carpenter and Dave Wrobel (Ward 4), and David Neumann and Marguerite Ceschi-Smith (Ward 5). http://www.brantford.ca/govt/council/members/Pages/default.aspx/
At the federal and provincial levels of government, Brantford is part of the Brant riding
Brant (electoral district)
Brant is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1949 and since 1968.The federal riding was created in 1903. It consisted of Brant County excluding Brantford....
.
Brantford Expositor
The Brantford Expositor is an English language newspaper based in Brantford, Ontario and owned by Osprey Media Group Inc. a subsidiary of Sun Media...
, which started printing in 1852, is published six times a week (everyday excluding Sunday), and is published by Osprey Media
Osprey Media
Osprey Media was a Canadian newspaper regional chain that published 20 daily newspapers, 34 non-daily newspapers, and a number of shopping guides and magazines in the Canadian province of Ontario...
.
The Brant News is a weekly paper (delivered Thursday) that also carries breaking news online on their website, and is published by Metroland Publishing Group.
Radio
- AM 1380 - CKPC (AM)CKPC (AM)CKPC is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 1380 kHz in Brantford, Ontario. Owned and operated by Evanov Communications, the station airs a country music format branded as AM 1380.- History :...
, oldiesOldiesOldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day.... - FM 92.1 - CKPC-FMCKPC-FMCKPC-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 92.1 FM from 571 West Street in Brantford, Ontario. The station broadcasts a Soft AC music format, with a mix of oldies and an evening adult standards program known as The Lounge...
, adult contemporary - FM 93.9 - CFWC-FMCFWC-FMCFWC-FM is a religious radio station broadcasting from Brantford, Ontario at 93.9 MHz on the FM dial.-History:The station first went on the air on October 11, 2001. The station's original frequency was 99.5 FM and was branded as "Freshwind 99.5" when it began broadcasting in early 2002...
, religious
Television
Brantford's only local television service comes from Rogers TV (cable 20), a local community channel on Rogers CableRogers Cable
Rogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
. Otherwise, Brantford is served by stations from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
and Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
.
Film
Several movies have had scenes shot in Brantford, including Welcome to MooseportWelcome to Mooseport
Welcome to Mooseport is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Donald Petrie and starring Ray Romano and Gene Hackman in his final film before retiring from acting...
and Where the Truth Lies
Where the Truth Lies
Where the Truth Lies is a 2005 Canadian/British drama film, written and directed by Atom Egoyan. It stars Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth, and Alison Lohman, and is based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Rupert Holmes.-Plot:...
, which were filmed at the Brantford Airport. An episode of Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
, "Dr. Long Ball", was filmed at Arnold Anderson Stadium in Cockshutt Park. A more recent filming was Weirdsville
Weirdsville
Weirdsville is a black comedy directed by Allan Moyle and written by Willem Wennekers. The film premiered January 18, 2007 at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival. The film has also been shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Raindance Film...
, which was filmed downtown in 2006. "Silent Hill
Silent Hill (film)
Silent Hill is a 2006 horror film directed by Christophe Gans and written by Roger Avary. The story is an adaptation of the Silent Hill series of survival horror video games created by Konami. The film, particularly its emotional, religious and aesthetic content as well as its creature design,...
" was filmed in the downtown in 2005. Many Brantfordians observed in jest that very little work needed to be done to make downtown look decayed and haunted. Brantford's Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts was used as "The Rose" mainstage theatre of the "New Burbage Festival" in the series Slings & Arrows.
Transportation
Air
Brantford Municipal AirportBrantford Airport
Brantford Airport , also known as Brantford Municipal Airport, is a registered aerodrome located west southwest of the City of Brantford, in The County of Brant, Ontario, Canada. Brantford Flight Centre is the fixed base operator run by the Brantford Flying Club, and provides flight training,...
is located west of the city. It hosts an annual air show
Air show
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
, featuring the Snowbirds
Snowbirds
Officially known as the Royal Canadian Air Force's 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds are Canada's military aerobatics or air show flight demonstration team whose purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel". The squadron is based at...
. The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport or Hamilton International, , is an international airport in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is named for John C...
in Hamilton is located about 35 km east of Brantford. Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
is located in Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
, about 100 km northeast of Brantford.
Rail
The train station is located just north of downtown Brantford. Via RailVIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
has daily passenger trains on the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor
Quebec City-Windsor Corridor
Quebec City – Windsor Corridor is the most densely-populated and heavily-industrialized region of Canada. As its name suggests, it extends from Quebec City in the east to Windsor, Ontario in the west, spanning . With more than 18 million people, it contained 51% of the country's population and...
. Trains travel between Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
and Union Station
Union Station (Toronto)
Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Street rail began in Brantford in 1886 with emission free carriages which by 1893 had been converted to electric. The City of Brantford took over these operations in 1914. Around 1936 buses began to replace street cars and by the end of 1939 the change over was complete.
Bus
Brantford TransitBrantford Transit
Brantford Transit is operated by the Transportation Services Department of the City of Brantford, Ontario, to provide bus service for almost 1.3 million passengers per year.- Services :Regular routes operate on a half-hour schedule from the downtown terminal....
services the city with nine regular routes operating on a half-hour schedule from the downtown Transit Terminal on Darling Street, with additional school service.
Greyhound Canada has intercity service to Toronto, Hamilton, London, Windsor and other cities.
All Around Transportation operates a Paris/Brantford shuttle bus.
Provincial Highways
- Highway 403, East Hamilton, West Woodstock.
- Highway 24Highway 24 (Ontario)Highway 24 is a highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which presently begins at Highway 3 in Simcoe, and ends at Highway 401, in Cambridge. Highway 24 runs in a north/south direction and has been in service since 1927...
, North Cambridge, South Simcoe.
Entertainment and attractions
Brantford is home to the Brantford OLG Casino.The The Sanderson Centre
The Sanderson Centre
The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts is a heritage theatre and concert hall located in the heart of downtown Brantford, Ontario. The Sanderson Centre seats 1,125 people and is a home for local performing arts organizations like the Brantford Symphony Orchestra and provides a venue for...
offers performances of musicals, operas, concerts, and other performing arts.
The Kinsmen Club of Brantford
Kin Canada
Kin Canada is a secular Canadian non-profit service organization that promotes service, fellowship, positive values, and national pride....
offer entertainment throughout the year, including a weekly game which runs every Thursday evening at the Bellview Community Center in Eagle Place and Brantford's Own Annual Ribfest held in August.
The Ford Plant
The Ford Plant
The Ford Plant was a not-for-profit music venue founded in 2002, which has expanded at various times into projects such as an art gallery The Ford Plant was a not-for-profit music venue founded in 2002, which has expanded at various times into projects such as an art gallery The Ford Plant was a...
, which opened in 2002, was an independent, not-for-profit music venue that hosted all-ages concerts by many musical artists, including Arcade Fire, Wintersleep
Wintersleep
Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Background:Wintersleep formed in 2001 and released two albums with Dependent Music, a music label and artists' collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994....
, Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
, and more. In October 2010, the venue closed its doors for good, following its final Murdered City Music Festival.
Brantford's Canada Day Festival
Brantford hosts the region’s largest Canada DayCanada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
Festival each July 1. A grassroots, not-for-profit, organization was formed in the fall of 2004 after a call from the Mayor to re-establish the event when nobody was able to organize one in 2004. Since then Brantford’s Canada Day Festival has presented family events and Canadian Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
winning entertainment. A 2006 and 2009 Shining Stars Tourism Awards winner and with a budget of nearly $250,000.00, this one day festival draws an estimated crowd of 35,000 or more people.
Past main stage headliners have included:
- 2005 – Jeff HealeyJeff HealeyNorman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey was a blind Canadian jazz and blues-rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical and personal popularity, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
- 2005 – LighthouseLighthouse (band)Lighthouse is a Canadian rock band formed in 1968 in Toronto which included horns, string instruments, and vibraphone; their music reflected elements of rock music, jazz, classical music and swing...
- 2007 – The TrewsThe TrewsThe Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Sean Dalton...
- 2008 – Theory of a DeadmanTheory of a DeadmanTheory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...
- 2009 – Theory of a DeadmanTheory of a DeadmanTheory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...
Current intercounty or major teams
- Brantford Red SoxBrantford Red SoxThe Brantford Red Sox are an independent, minor league baseball team of the, semi-pro, Intercounty Baseball League based in Brantford, Ontario. They play their home games at Arnold Anderson Stadium.-History:...
of the Intercounty Baseball LeagueIntercounty Baseball LeagueThe Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919....
who play at Arnold Anderson Stadium - Brantford Braves of the Junior Intercounty Baseball League who also play at Arnold Anderson Stadium
- Brantford BlastBrantford BlastBrantford Blast are a Canadian senior ice hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey Association's Allan Cup Hockey, from Brantford, Ontario. The team was established in 2000, and play their games at the Brantford Civic Centre.-Competitive hockey back in Brantford:...
of the Major League HockeyMajor League HockeyAllan Cup Hockey is the top tier Canadian Senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. As a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada, the league contends for the famed Allan Cup. The league came to its latest incarnation when it lost several teams leaving it with two...
who play at the Brantford Civic CentreBrantford Civic CentreThe Brantford Civic Centre is a 2,981 seat arena in Brantford, Ontario. It was built as a Canadian Centennial project in 1967. It is home to the Brantford Golden Eagles of the Ontario Hockey Association, and the Brantford Blast of Major Hockey League... - Brantford Galaxy SC of the Canadian Soccer LeagueCanadian Soccer LeagueThe Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
who play at Lion's Park. - Brantford Golden EaglesBrantford Golden EaglesThe Brantford Eagles are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey AssociationOntario Hockey AssociationThe Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
who play at the Brantford Civic Centre - Brantford HarlequinsBrantford HarlequinsThe Brantford Harlequins Rugby Football Club, also known as the "Quins", is a collection of rugby union teams situated in Brantford, Ontario. The current teams include two ORU Senior Men's teams, one Niagara Rugby Union Men's team, and one Niagara Rugby Union Women's Team.- History :The Harlequins...
of the Ontario Rugby UnionOntario Rugby UnionThe Ontario Rugby Union is the provincial governing body for the sport of rugby union in the Canadian province of Ontario.There are currently 8 competitions which are sanctioned by the ORU:*Marshall Premiership*Keenan Division*Bardon Division...
Defunct teams
- Brantford AlexandersBrantford AlexandersThe Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario.-History:...
(1978 to 1984), a former team of the Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
who played at the Brantford Civic Centre. They are now the Erie Otters. - Brantford SmokeBrantford SmokeThe Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
(1991–1998) of the CoHL, Colonial Hockey League who played at the Brantford Civic Centre. The team moved to Asheville until 2002. - Brantford Blaze of the Canadian National Basketball LeagueCanadian National Basketball LeagueThe Canadian National Basketball League was a professional basketball league based in southern Ontario aiming to attract Canadian players who played overseas to join their league. In November 2002 they announced their inaugural season would be in the spring-summer of 2003...
.
Tournaments
- The Wayne Gretzky International Hockey Tournament is held in Brantford annually
- The Walter Gretzky House League Tournament is a tournament that is held yearly
- Swim International is held annually in November
- The Walter Gretzky Hockey fest
Other
- Brantford hosted and won the 2008 Allan CupAllan CupThe Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the event. - The Brantford Golf & Country Club was founded in 1879. It is the fourth oldest golf club in North America. It is ranked 29th on Score Golf's "Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada" 2006 list.
Service clubs
- Kinsmen Club of Brantford
- KiwanisKiwanisKiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Club of Brantford - Kiwanis Club of Grand River
- Rotary Club of Brantford
- Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise
- Brantford Lions Club
- North Brantford Lions Club
Religion
Brantford is home to many churches and religious temples. It is estimated there are over 35 churches in Brantford, including AnglicanAnglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, Baptist
Baptists in Canada
-Statistics and changes:According to the Canada 2001 Census, the number of people in Canada who identify themselves as Baptist is 729,470, about 2.5% of the population, an increase of about 10% in the 10 years since the 1991 census ....
, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
, Pentecostal, Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
, United
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, Christadelphian, and Mormon. There is a mosque and also one Sikh
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
temple. Brantford is also home to the national headquarters of the Congregational Christian Churches in Canada
Congregational Christian Churches in Canada
The Congregational Christian Churches in Canada is an evangelical, Protestant, Christian denomination, headquartered in Brantford, Ont., and a member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship.-Organization and leadership:...
.
Twin city
Brantford is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
| Ostrów Wielkopolski Ostrów Wielkopolski Ostrów Wielkopolski is a town in central Poland with 72,360 inhabitants , situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship; the seat of Ostrów Wielkopolski County.-History:Recently, a small fortified dwelling dating from the 10th century was discovered on the north-east side of... in Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
See also
- Brant (electoral district)Brant (electoral district)Brant is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1949 and since 1968.The federal riding was created in 1903. It consisted of Brant County excluding Brantford....
- Brantford City CouncilBrantford City CouncilThe Brantford City Council is the governing body of Brantford, Ontario.The council consists of a mayor and ten councillors, two representing each of five wards...
- List of mayors of Brantford, Ontario
- Service Clubs
External links
- City of Brantford
- Brantford Heritage Inventory
- Brant Museum and Archives
- Brantford Public Library
- Laurier Brantford
- Kinsmen Club of Brantford
- The Brantford Expositor
- Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre
- The Brantford Album
- Brantford "The Telephone City"
- Views of Brantford, Canada
- Remember: Brantford 1877-1977
- Album of Honour for Brant County
- Brantford & Area Sports Hall of Recognition
- The Sanderson Centre