Regional Municipality of York, Ontario
Encyclopedia
The Regional Municipality of York, also called York Region, is a regional municipality
in Southern Ontario
, Canada
, between Lake Simcoe
and Toronto
. It replaced the former York County
in 1971, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area
and the inner ring of the Golden Horseshoe
. The regional seat is in Newmarket
.
The 2006 census
population was 892,712, of which 50,815 residents inhabited rural areas in the municipality, and 841,897 resided in urban areas. Its growth rate of 22.4% from 2001 to 2006 was the third highest amongst all census division
s in Canada, and the Government of Ontario
expects its population to surpass 1.5 million residents by 2031.
in the south. Its eastern border is shared with Durham Region, to the west is Peel Region
, and Simcoe County is to the northwest. A map of the region showing its major roads and communities is available.
Towns and cities in York Region include:
There is also one First Nation with an Indian reserve
, where the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
reside.
York Region's landscape includes farmlands, wetlands and kettle lakes, the Oak Ridges Moraine
and over 2,070 hectares of regional forest, in addition to the built-up areas of its municipalities.
, which consists of 20 elected representatives from each of the constituent towns and cities in the region, including each of the nine mayors and 11 regional councillors, who are elected from the constituent municipalities as follows:
The leader of Council is referred to as "Regional Chair
and CEO". Bill Fisch currently holds this office.
In October 2008, the York Regional Municipality was named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers
by Mediacorp Canada Inc.
of Markham—Unionville
, Newmarket—Aurora
, Oak Ridges—Markham
, Richmond Hill
, Thornhill
, Vaughan
and York—Simcoe
. The same districts are used to elect representatives federally in the Canadian House of Commons
and provincially in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
.
.
The road network in York Region is remarkably 'grid-like', meaning most roads run north-south or east-west. The topography of the land has permitted roads to be set in predominantly straight lines. York Region assigned approximately 50 roads as York Regional Routes, meaning that the cost of maintaining of these roads is paid for by York Region.
The major highways in the Region are:
, Canada's largest airport. Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport
is a regional airport in Markham, used for general aviation and business aircraft. There are also a few unpaved airports serving the region. Hare Field is located in Holland Landing (East Gwillimbury) and Belhaven Airport is located in Georgina.
Until 2001, the towns of York Region operated separate public transit services, which did not connect very well with each other. YRT was created by the Regional Government to combine five of these services:
Since 2001, bus routes have been extensively enhanced in the five communities which had pre-existing services, but YRT's services to East Gwillimbury is limited to two routes, and service to King, Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville are even more limited due to the relatively sparse populations in each of those towns.
and Peel Region
by way of 3 pumping stations and reservoirs (Bayview, Dufferin and Milliken) using water from Lake Ontario
. Keswick and Sutton obtain water from Lake Simcoe
by way of water treatment plants. The remainder of York gets water from underground wells. Some wells are maintained by the region and the rest privately.
Water is distributed from 14 water pumping stations and stored at 37 elevated tanks and reservoirs.
Public schools, with classes up to grade 12, are administered by the York Region District School Board
, which operates 180 schools. In addition, the York Catholic District School Board
operates 95 schools with a curriculum based in Roman Catholic doctrine.
Seneca College
of Applied Arts and Technology has three campuses located in York Region, in King, Markham and Newmarket. York University
is located just outside of York Region's southern border, in Toronto.
In addition, there are many other religious and private schools located in the Region. These include:
York's news media is also served by the outlets based in Toronto.
In Vaughan, the major attractions include the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
, located in the community of Kleinburg and features works by Canadian artists including Inuit
and First Nations
artists. Canada's Wonderland, which features roller coasters and other rides, concerts and fireworks shows, is also in Vaughan.
Heritage sites and historical museums in the Region include:
Following is a sample of other attractions in the area:
(Russia
)
The Region of York signed a "Twinning Agreement
" with the city of Omsk
, Russia
, on August 28, 1997, after it signed a "Friendship Agreement" one year previous.
was 1,016,379 residents. It is the third-largest census division in Ontario, next to that of Toronto and Peel Region, and seventh-largest in Canada. Its population density of 506.7 residents per square kilometre is 11th highest in Canada.
According to the Canada 2006 Census
:
According to the 2006 census visible minorities comprised 37.2% of York Region.
} 16.9%
} 15.1%
} 10.0%
} 9.2%
} 5.6%
} 5.0%
} 4.0%
} 3.6%
} 3.5%
} 2.1%
} 2.0%
} 2.0%
According to the Canada 2001 Census
:
Regional municipality
A regional municipality is a type of Canadian municipal government similar to and at the same municipal government level as a county, although the specific structure and servicing responsibilities may vary from place to place...
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...
, between Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
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...
. It replaced the former York County
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
in 1971, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
and the inner ring of the 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...
. The regional seat is in Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
.
The 2006 census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
population was 892,712, of which 50,815 residents inhabited rural areas in the municipality, and 841,897 resided in urban areas. Its growth rate of 22.4% from 2001 to 2006 was the third highest amongst all census division
Census division
Census division is an official term in Canada and the United States. The census divisions of Canada are second-level census geographic unit, below provinces and territories, and above "census subdivisions" and "dissemination areas". In provinces where they exist, the census division may correspond...
s in Canada, and the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
expects its population to surpass 1.5 million residents by 2031.
Geography
York Region covers 1,776 square kilometres from Lake Simcoe in the north to the city of TorontoToronto
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...
in the south. Its eastern border is shared with Durham Region, to the west is Peel Region
Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Peel is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of three municipalities to the west and northwest of Toronto: the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and the town of Caledon. The entire region is part of the Greater Toronto Area and the inner...
, and Simcoe County is to the northwest. A map of the region showing its major roads and communities is available.
Towns and cities in York Region include:
- Town of AuroraAurora, OntarioAurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
- Town of East GwillimburyEast Gwillimbury, OntarioEast Gwillimbury is a town on the East Holland River in the Regional Municipality of York. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area of south-central Ontario, in Canada. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Township of East Gwillimbury with all the previously incorporated villages and hamlets...
- Town of GeorginaGeorgina, OntarioGeorgina is a town in south-central Ontario, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. It forms part of the northern boundary of the Greater Toronto Area and is situated on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe...
- Township of KingKing, OntarioKing is a township in York Region north of Toronto, within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.The rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine are the most prominent visible geographical feature of King. The Holland Marsh, considered to be Ontario's "vegetable basket", straddles King Township...
- Town of MarkhamMarkham, OntarioMarkham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
- Town of NewmarketNewmarket, OntarioNewmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
- Town of Richmond HillRichmond Hill, OntarioRichmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
- City of VaughanVaughanVaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
- Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville
There is also one First Nation with an Indian reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
, where the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
frame|right|Map of [[York Regional Municipality, Ontario|York Region]] showing Fox, Snake, and Georgina islands.thumb|Georgina Island, Lake Simcoe, Ontario...
reside.
York Region's landscape includes farmlands, wetlands and kettle lakes, the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
and over 2,070 hectares of regional forest, in addition to the built-up areas of its municipalities.
Government
The region is governed by a group known as York Regional CouncilYork Regional Council
York Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970 it consists of 20 representatives: the mayors of each of its nine municipalities , and an additional eleven councillors from the more populous municipalities—four from...
, which consists of 20 elected representatives from each of the constituent towns and cities in the region, including each of the nine mayors and 11 regional councillors, who are elected from the constituent municipalities as follows:
- 1 from each of Georgina and Newmarket
- 2 from Richmond Hill
- 3 from Vaughan
- 4 from Markham
The leader of Council is referred to as "Regional Chair
Regional Chair (Ontario)
In Ontario, Regional Chairs chair the council for the province's regional municipalities. As head of council, they also act as chief executive officer of the municipal corporation, as legislated by section 225 of the Ontario Municipal Act...
and CEO". Bill Fisch currently holds this office.
In October 2008, the York Regional Municipality was named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers
Greater Toronto's Top Employers
Greater Toronto's Top Employers is an annual competition that recognizes the best places to work in the Greater Toronto Area...
by Mediacorp Canada Inc.
Federal and provincial representation
York Region encompasses all or part of the federal electoral districtsElectoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Markham—Unionville
Markham—Unionville
Markham—Unionville is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Boundaries:...
, Newmarket—Aurora
Newmarket—Aurora
Newmarket—Aurora is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The district contains the towns of Newmarket and Aurora....
, Oak Ridges—Markham
Oak Ridges—Markham
Oak Ridges—Markham is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004. Its population in 2006 was 169,645., with 136,755 electors, the highest of any riding in Canada...
, Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill (electoral district)
Richmond Hill is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.It was created in 2003 from parts of Oak Ridges riding.-Geography:...
, Thornhill
Thornhill (electoral district)
Thornhill is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.It covers the community of Thornhill, Ontario, which is made up of portions of Vaughan and Markham, and was created in 1996 from parts of...
, Vaughan
Vaughan (electoral district)
Vaughan is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The riding covers the fast-growing region of Vaughan north of Toronto....
and York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979, from 1988 to 1997 and since 2004.It covers part of the region north of Toronto by Lake Simcoe....
. The same districts are used to elect representatives federally in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
and provincially in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
.
Economy
The economy of York Region is diverse. In general, the economies in its southern communities include a full range of businesses from industrial to high-tech. Further north, beginning in the northern sections of Vaughan and Markham, extensive wetlands and farmland still remain, although new housing developments continually consume space year after year. There are ongoing conflicts between conservationists and developers over land use. Most contentious is the conflict use of the Oak Ridges MoraineOak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
.
Shopping
Major shopping centres located in York Region include:- Hillcrest Mall (Richmond Hill)
- Markville Shopping CentreMarkville Shopping CentreMarkville Shopping Centre is a shopping mall located at 5000 Highway 7 East in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Markville Mall opened in 1982. The mall is owned by Cadillac Fairview, and was named for its proximity to both the historical villages of Markham and Unionville...
(Markham) - Pacific MallPacific MallPacific Mall is an Asian shopping centre located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the northeast side of Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road, right across the municipal border from the City of Toronto, on the site formerly occupied by Cullen Country Barns. The two entrance roads of the mall...
(Markham) - Market VillageMarket VillageMarket Village is a mall in Markham, Ontario and is one of the largest Chinese malls in Toronto and in North America. Located at the corner of Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road, it dominates approximately 325,000 square feet of retail space and consists of over 170 stores.Built by Cedarland...
(Markham) - The Promenade Shopping CentreThe Promenade Shopping CentreThe Promenade Shopping Centre is a shopping mall, located on Bathurst Street and Centre Street in the area of Thornhill in Vaughan, Ontario. It opened on August 4, 1986...
(Vaughan) - Upper Canada MallUpper Canada MallUpper Canada Mall, or simply Upper Canada, is a shopping mall located in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, on the northwest corner of the Davis Drive West and Yonge Street intersection. The mall is owned and operated by Oxford Properties, one of the largest shopping centre development companies in Canada...
(Newmarket) - Vaughan MillsVaughan MillsVaughan Mills is a large shopping centre in Canada located at the southeast corner of Highway 400 and Rutherford Road, in Vaughan, Ontario about 32 km north of Downtown Toronto. The mall is located adjacent to Canada's Wonderland...
(Vaughan) - Woodside Mall (Markham)
- First Markham Place (Markham)
Transportation
See List of York Regional Roads, :Category:York Regional Roads.The road network in York Region is remarkably 'grid-like', meaning most roads run north-south or east-west. The topography of the land has permitted roads to be set in predominantly straight lines. York Region assigned approximately 50 roads as York Regional Routes, meaning that the cost of maintaining of these roads is paid for by York Region.
The major highways in the Region are:
- Highway 7Highway 7 (Ontario)King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
(East-west) - Highway 9Highway 9 (Ontario)King's Highway 9, also known as Highway 9, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Often cited as an example of poor planning, Highway 9 has been divided into two segments since January 1, 1998, when the segment between Harriston and Orangeville was downloaded to...
(East-west) - Highway 11Highway 11 (Ontario)King's Highway 11 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. At , it is the second longest highway in the province after Highway 17. Highway 11 begins at Highway 400 in Barrie, and arches through northern Ontario, around Lake Superior, to the Ontario–Minnesota border...
(north-south) - Highway 27Highway 27 (Ontario)Highway 27, formerly known as King's Highway 27, was a provincially maintained highway in southern Ontario that is now cared for by the city of Toronto, York Region and Simcoe County. It is considered an undivided expressway in Toronto's municipal expressway network...
(north-south) - Highway 48Highway 48 (Ontario)King's Highway 48, also known as Highway 48, is a provincially-maintained highway in southern Ontario that extends from Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham, through Whitchurch-Stouffville, to Highway 12 south-east of Beaverton, Ontario. Prior to 1998, Highway 48 extended from Highway 401 in Toronto to...
(North-South) - Highway 400 (North-South)
- Highway 404 (North-South)
- Highway 407 (East-west)
- Highway 427 (North-South)
Air transportation
Most air travel is served by Toronto Pearson International AirportToronto 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...
, Canada's largest airport. Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport
Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport
Buttonville Municipal Airport or Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport is a medium-sized airport in Buttonville, Ontario, Canada, within Markham, bordering Richmond Hill and north of downtown Toronto. It is operated by Toronto Airways Limited. Due to its proximity to Toronto's suburbs, there are...
is a regional airport in Markham, used for general aviation and business aircraft. There are also a few unpaved airports serving the region. Hare Field is located in Holland Landing (East Gwillimbury) and Belhaven Airport is located in Georgina.
Public transportation
York Region is served by:- York Region TransitYork Region TransitYork Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
(YRT), which includes the VivaViva (bus rapid transit)Viva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was...
bus rapid transitBus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
network - GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
, which offers bus and train services in the Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto AreaThe Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York... - Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
, which has several bus routes which cross York's southern border, and which offer limited services in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham.
Until 2001, the towns of York Region operated separate public transit services, which did not connect very well with each other. YRT was created by the Regional Government to combine five of these services:
- Vaughan TransitVaughan TransitVaughan Transit was the transit provider in the town of Vaughan, in southwest York Region, Ontario, Canada. The service operated from 1973 until 2001, when it was merged into York Region Transit.-Route:...
- Markham TransitMarkham TransitMarkham Transit was a transit system for the Town of Markham, Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1973 and operated by Travelways and Miller Transit Limited on behalf of the Town...
- Richmond Hill TransitRichmond Hill TransitRichmond Hill Transit was created in 1960 to provide public transit service in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It was initially operated by Trailways of Canada Limited, then Travelways starting in 1976 and Laidlaw in the 1980s...
- Aurora TransitAurora TransitAurora Transit operated public transit within the town of Aurora, Ontario, Canada, from 1973 to 1999. Service in the town is now provided by the current York Region Transit system.-History:Aurora's public transit system began operations in 1973...
- merged in 1999 with Newmarket TransitNewmarket TransitNewmarket Transit was the most northerly transit system in York Region, Ontario, Canada. While the town of Newmarket was considerably smaller than any of the three cities in the "southern" part of the York region , the city did have a quality transit service... - Newmarket TransitNewmarket TransitNewmarket Transit was the most northerly transit system in York Region, Ontario, Canada. While the town of Newmarket was considerably smaller than any of the three cities in the "southern" part of the York region , the city did have a quality transit service...
Since 2001, bus routes have been extensively enhanced in the five communities which had pre-existing services, but YRT's services to East Gwillimbury is limited to two routes, and service to King, Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville are even more limited due to the relatively sparse populations in each of those towns.
Water
Water in southern York is provided by Toronto WaterToronto Water
Toronto Water was created following the 1998 amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto to run and maintain Toronto's water supply network.-History:Water treatment was originally established to provide safe drinking water...
and Peel Region
Peel Region
Peel Region may refer to:* Peel , a region south of Perth, Western Australia* Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario...
by way of 3 pumping stations and reservoirs (Bayview, Dufferin and Milliken) using water from Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. Keswick and Sutton obtain water from Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
by way of water treatment plants. The remainder of York gets water from underground wells. Some wells are maintained by the region and the rest privately.
- Georgina - Lake Simcoe and private wells
- East Gwillimbury - region and private wells
- Newmarket - region wells
- Whitchurch-Stouffville - region wells and water from Toronto, private wells
- Markham - water from Toronto and private wells
- Richmond Hill - water from Toronto and private wells
- Aurora - water from Toronto and private wells
- Vaughan - water from Toronto/Peel and private wells
- King - region and private wells
Water is distributed from 14 water pumping stations and stored at 37 elevated tanks and reservoirs.
Treatment Plants
- Sutton Water Treatment Plant - closed
- Georgina Water Treatment Plant - replaces Sutton plant
Education
See :Category:High schools in York RegionPublic schools, with classes up to grade 12, are administered by the York Region District School Board
York Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
, which operates 180 schools. In addition, the York Catholic District School Board
York Catholic District School Board
The York Catholic District School Board is the publicly funded English-language Catholic school district authority for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Its head office is in Aurora....
operates 95 schools with a curriculum based in Roman Catholic doctrine.
Seneca College
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
of Applied Arts and Technology has three campuses located in York Region, in King, Markham and Newmarket. York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
is located just outside of York Region's southern border, in Toronto.
In addition, there are many other religious and private schools located in the Region. These include:
- Academy for Gifted ChildrenAcademy for Gifted ChildrenThe Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E. is a non-denominational, co-educational, private day school that provides differential programming for gifted children, grades one through University Entrance....
(Richmond Hill) - The Country Day SchoolThe Country Day SchoolThe Country Day School or CDS is an independent, non-profit university-preparatory school in King City, Ontario, Canada.It was founded in 1972. It is a member of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools , the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario and the Canadian Educational...
(King City) - Holy Trinity School (Richmond Hill)Holy Trinity School (Richmond Hill)Holy Trinity School is a private, co-educational, university preparatory institution located in Richmond Hill, Ontario affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada. There are approximately 800 students currently enrolled from junior kindergarten to grade 12...
- Leo Baeck Day SchoolLeo Baeck Day SchoolThe Leo Baeck Day School is a Greater Toronto Area Reform Jewish day school composed of over eight hundred students from Nursery to Grade Eight. Named in honour of Rabbi Leo Baeck, it has two campuses, in Thornhill and Toronto.- School information :...
(Thornhill) - Netivot HaTorah Day SchoolNetivot HaTorah Day School) is a private Orthodox Jewish elementary school in Thornhill, Ontario. The school is mostly characterized by its Modern Orthodox and Zionist approach to the entire curriculum, with an emphasis on "Ivrit b'Ivrit" and teachers who are shlichim, Israeli emissaries living in Canada on short...
(Thornhill) - Pickering CollegePickering CollegePickering College is an independent, co-educational school for children in grades from Junior Kindergarten through grade 12. It is located in Newmarket, Ontario in Canada on a 17-hectare property on Bayview Avenue...
(Newmarket) - St. Andrew's CollegeSt. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario)St. Andrew's College, also known as SAC, is an independent school founded in 1899 located in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is a university-preparatory school for boys in grades 6 to 12, with a focus on academic achievement, athletics, and leadership development...
(Aurora) - St. Thomas of Villanova CollegeSt. Thomas of Villanova CollegeSt. Thomas of Villanova College is a middle school and high school in King City, Ontario, Canada. It was established at Mary Lake by lay educators Paul Paradiso and Grant Purdy in 1999 at Mary Lake Augustinian Monastery as a Catholic school together with the Order of Saint Augustine's friars of...
(King City) - Town Centre Montessori Private SchoolTown Centre Montessori Private SchoolTown Centre Montessori Private Schools ,is a private school in Markham, Ontario founded in 1986. It is one of Canada's largest Montessori-based private schools. It is a co-educational school and includes students from Pre-school to Grade 12/University Prep. The Main Campus is located at 155...
(Markham) - Blyth EducationBlyth EducationBlyth Education, simply referred to as Blyth, is a private company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that offers secondary education and educational credit programs.- Blyth Academy :...
(Thornhill)
News media
- York Region Media Group
- First Local/Rogers TV York Region
- CKVRCKVR-TVCKVR-DT, is a television station in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media, it serves as the flagship station of Bell Media's secondary television service, CTV Two, with facilities located at 33 Beacon Road in Barrie...
- A (based in BarrieBarrie, OntarioBarrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
) - CFU758 - 90.7 RAV FM (ThornhillThornhill, OntarioThornhill is a community in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street, the city of...
) - CKDXCKDX-FMCKDX-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 88.5 FM in the Greater Toronto Area. Although officially licensed to Newmarket, the station's studios are located in Toronto...
88.5FM - Foxy 88-5 (NewmarketNewmarket, OntarioNewmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
)
York's news media is also served by the outlets based in Toronto.
Attractions
York Region has an unusual assortment of points of interest, ranging from nature reserves to pioneer-era museums, to a modern amusement park.In Vaughan, the major attractions include the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an art gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada, northwest of Toronto. It houses an extensive collection of paintings by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, and First Nations and Inuit artists....
, located in the community of Kleinburg and features works by Canadian artists including Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
and First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
artists. Canada's Wonderland, which features roller coasters and other rides, concerts and fireworks shows, is also in Vaughan.
Heritage sites and historical museums in the Region include:
- Hillary House National Historic Site (Aurora)
- Georgina Military Museum (Georgina)
- Georgina Village Museum (Georgina)
- King Township MuseumKing Township MuseumThe King Township Museum in King City, Ontario, Canada is a local history museum for the township of King at 2920 King Rd. It was previously known as Kinghorn Museum, and is located on what was once known as Kinghorn, now subsumed by King City....
(King) - Markham Museum (Markham)
- RHLS Narrow Gauge Railway (Whitchurch–Stouffville)http://richmond-hill-live-steamers.tripod.com/
- Sharon TempleSharon TempleThe Temple of the Children of Peace is located in the village of Sharon, Ontario. Generally it is known as the Sharon Temple. It was constructed between 1825 and 1831 by a schismatic Quaker sect led by David Willson on whose property it was built...
(East Gwillimbury) - Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum (Whitchurch–Stouffville)http://www.townofws.com/museum.asp
- York-Durham Heritage Railway (Whitchurch–Stouffville)http://www.ydhr.on.ca/Schedule.html
Following is a sample of other attractions in the area:
- Applewood Farm Winery (Whitchurch–Stouffville)http://www.applewoodfarmwinery.com/
- Canadian Heritage Humber RiverHumber River (Ontario)The Humber River is one of two major rivers on either side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the other being the Don River to the east. It was designated a Canadian Heritage River on September 24, 1999....
- Fred Varley Art GalleryFrederick Horsman Varley Art GalleryFrederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery is an art gallery in Town of Markham, Ontario. The art gallery is named after an artist from the Group of Seven, Frederick Varley. The gallery is located on Unionville Main St. The gallery, which spans 13,935 m2 and includes over a hundred pieces by Frederick...
(Markham) - Canada's Wonderland (Vaughan)
- Oak Ridges Trail
- Puck's Farm (King)
- Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing ArtsRichmond Hill Centre for the Performing ArtsThe Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is a multi-use cultural facility on of land directly on Yonge Street in the heart of Richmond Hill's downtown core, at the corner of Yonge and Wright Streets....
- Sutton-Zephyr Trail
- Willow Springs Winery (Whitchurch–Stouffville)http://www.willowspringswinery.com/
- Words Alive Literary Festival (East Gwillimbury)
- York Demonstration Forest (Whitchurch–Stouffville)
Protected areas
- Baker Sugarbush Conservation Area
- Boyd Conservation AreaBoyd Conservation AreaBoyd Conservation Area is a suburban land preserve owned and operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It also overlaps a life science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest of the same name....
- Bruce's Mill Conservation Area
- Duclos Point Provincial Nature Reserve
- Gold Creek Conservation Area
- Holland Landing Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve
- Kortright Centre for Conservation
- Lake St. George Conservation Area
- Mabel Davis Conservation Area
- Milne Park
- Pickering Lands Preservation Site
- Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=44086352&x=-79452009&z=14&l=0&m=a
- Sheppards Bush Conservation Area
- Sibbald Point Provincial ParkSibbald Point Provincial ParkSibbald Point Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Sutton West, Ontario, Canada on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe, 70 km north of Toronto...
- Thornton Bales King Conservation Area
- Wesley Brooks Memorial Conservation Area (known as "Fairy Lake" locally)
- Whitchurch Conservation Area
- Willow Beach Conservation Area
Sister city
OmskOmsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
(Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
)
The Region of York signed a "Twinning Agreement
Town 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 the city of Omsk
Omsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, on August 28, 1997, after it signed a "Friendship Agreement" one year previous.
Demographics
The Regional Municipality of York is one of the fastest growing census divisions in Canada; from 2001 to 2006, its population increased by 22.4%. The 2009 mid-year population estimate by Statistics CanadaStatistics 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....
was 1,016,379 residents. It is the third-largest census division in Ontario, next to that of Toronto and Peel Region, and seventh-largest in Canada. Its population density of 506.7 residents per square kilometre is 11th highest in Canada.
According to the Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
:
- Population:
- in 2006: 892,712
- in 2001: 729,254
- change: +22.4%
- Land area (square km) 1,761.64
- Total private dwellings: 287,320
- Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 275,673
According to the 2006 census visible minorities comprised 37.2% of York Region.
- Visible Minority groups
- Chinese: 15.6%
- South Asian: 9.1%
- West Asian: 2.4%
- Black: 2.4%
- Filipino: 1.9%
- Korean: 1.2%
- South East Asian: 1.1%
- Latin American: 1.0%
- Arab: 0.8%
- Japanese: 0.2%
- Other: 0.4%
- Multiple Visible Minority: 1.0%
- European Ethnicities
} 16.9%
} 15.1%
} 10.0%
} 9.2%
} 5.6%
} 5.0%
} 4.0%
} 3.6%
} 3.5%
} 2.1%
} 2.0%
} 2.0%
According to the Canada 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
:
- Average value of dwelling: $298,018
- First languageLanguageLanguage may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
s:- EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: 59% - FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: 1% - Other languages: 40%
- English
- Median total income of persons 15 years of age and over: $28,566