Brampton

Brampton (/ˈbræmptən/ or /ˈbræmtən/) is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Situated in Southern Ontario, it is a suburban city in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and part of Peel Region. The city has a population of 593,638 as of the Canada 2016 Census. Brampton is Canada's ninth-most populous municipality, the seventy-seventh largest city in North America and the third most populous city in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region, behind Toronto and Mississauga.[2]

This article is about the city in Canada. For other uses, see Brampton (disambiguation).
Brampton
City (lower-tier)
City of Brampton
The Brampton Dominion building
Flag
Nickname(s): 
Flower City (previously Flower Town)[1]
Brampton
Location in southern Ontario
Brampton
Brampton (Ontario)
Brampton
Brampton (Canada)
Coordinates: 43°41′N 79°46′W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
RegionPeel Region
Incorporation1853 (village)
 1873 (town)
 1974 (city)
Government
 • MayorPatrick Brown
 • Governing BodyBrampton City Council
(click for members)
 • Federal
representation
 • Provincial
representation
Area
 • Land266.71 km2 (102.98 sq mi)
Elevation
218 m (715 ft)
Population
 • Total593,638 (9th)
 • Density2,229/km2 (5,770/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Bramptonian
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
L6P to L7A
Area code(s)905/289
Websitewww.brampton.ca

Brampton was incorporated as a village in 1853, with a population of 50 residents, taking its name from the market town of Brampton, in Cumbria, England. In 1873, with 2,000 residents, Brampton was incorporated as a town. The city was once known as "The Flower Town of Canada", a title referring to its large greenhouse industry. Today, Brampton's major economic sectors include advanced manufacturing, retail administration, logistics, information, and communication technologies, food and beverage, life sciences, and business services. Mass immigration, notably from the Indian subcontinent, has greatly increased Brampton's population – from 10,000 in the 1950s to over 600,000 today.

History
John Haggert, Brampton's first mayor
Main article: History of Brampton
See also: List of mayors of Brampton, Brampton Fall Fair, and Brampton Library

Prior to the 1830s, most business in Chinguacousy Township took place at Martin Salisbury's tavern. One mile from the corner of Hurontario Street and the 5th Sideroad (now Main and Queen Streets in the centre of Brampton), William Buffy's tavern was the only significant building. At the time, the intersection was referred to as "Buffy's Corners". By 1834, John Elliott laid out the area in lots for sale, calling it "Brampton", which was soon adopted by others.[3]

In 1853, a small agricultural fair was set up by the newly initiated County Agricultural Society of the County of Peel, and was held at the corner of Main and Queen streets. Grains, produce, roots, and dairy products were up for sale. Horses and cattle, along with other lesser livestock, were also sold at market. This agricultural fair eventually became the modern Brampton Fall Fair.

In that same year Brampton was incorporated as a village.[3] In 1866, the town became the county seat and the location of the Peel County Courthouse which was built in 1865–66; a three-storey County jail was added at the rear in 1867.

Edward Dale, an immigrant from Dorking, England, established a flower nursery in Brampton[4] shortly after his arrival in 1863.[5] Dale's Nursery became the town's largest[4] and most prominent employer, developed a flower grading system,[5] and established a global export market for its products.[4] The company chimney was a town landmark,[5] until Brampton Town Council allowed it to be torn down in 1977.[5] At its height, the company had 140 greenhouses,[6] and was the largest cut flower business in North America,[7] producing 20 million blooms and introducing numerous rose and orchid varietals and species to the market.[7] It also spurred the development of other nurseries in the town. Forty-eight hothouse flower nurseries once did business in the town.[5][7]

Now an art gallery, the former Peel County Court House was built in 1865–66
The Alderlea mansion, built c. 1867–1870 for businessman Kenneth Chisholm

In January 1867, Peel County separated from the County of York, a union which had existed since 1851.[8] By 1869, Brampton had a population of 1,800.[9]

A federal grant had enabled the village to found its first public library in 1887, which included 360 volumes from the Mechanic's Institute (est 1858). In 1907, the library received a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, set up by United States steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, to build a new, expanded library; it serves several purposes, featuring the Brampton Library. The Carnegie libraries were built on the basis of communities coming up with matching funds and guaranteeing maintenance.

In 1902, Sir William J. Gage (owner of Gage Publishing, a publishing house specializing in school text books) purchased a 3.25 acres (1.3 hectares) part of the gardens and lawns of the Alder Lea estate (now called Alderlea) that had been built on Main Street by Kenneth Chisolm in 1867 to 1870. (Chisholm, a merchant and founding father of Brampton, had been the Town reeve, then warden of Peel County, then MPP for Brampton and eventually, Registrar of Peel County.)[10] Sir William donated 1.7 acres (0.7 hectares) of the property to the town, with a specific condition that it be made into a park. Citizens donated $1,054 and the town used the funds to purchase extra land to ensure a larger park.[11][12]

A group of regional farmers in Brampton had trouble getting insurance from city-based companies. After several meetings in Clairville Hall, they decided to found the County of Peel Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1955, when the company moved to its third and current location, 103 Queen Street West, it took the new name of Peel Mutual Insurance Company. It reigns as the longest-running company in modern Brampton. Harmsworth Decorating Centre was established in 1890, as Harmsworth and Son, operated out of the family's house on Queen Street West. The current location was purchased on September 1, 1904, after a fire destroyed their original store. Purchased for $1,400, the 24 Main Street South location is the longest-operating retail business in what is now Brampton.

In 1974, the two townships of Chinguacousy and Toronto Gore were incorporated into Brampton. The small pine added to the centre of the shield on the Brampton city flag represents Chinguacousy, honouring the Chippewa chief Shinguacose, "The Small Pine." After this merger, outlying communities such as Bramalea, Heart Lake and Professor's Lake, Snelgrove, Tullamore, and Mayfield, were developed.

In 1963, the town established The Flower Festival of Brampton, based on the Rose Festival of Portland, Oregon in the United States. It began to market itself as the Flower Town of Canada.[5]

In a revival of this theme, on 24 June 2002, the City Council established the "Flower City Strategy",[13][14] to promote a connection to its flower-growing heritage.[15] The intention was to inspire design projects and community landscaping to beautify the city, adopt a sustainable environmental approach, and to protect its natural and cultural heritage.[15] The Rose Theatre was named in keeping with this vision and is to serve as a cultural institution in the city.[5] In addition, the city participates in the national Communities in Bloom competition as part of that strategy.

The Old Shoe Factory, located on 57 Mill Street North, once housed the Hewetson Shoe Company. It was listed as a historical property under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2008. Today it is occupied by various small businesses. The lobby and hallways retain details from 1907. Walls are decorated with pictures and artifacts of local Brampton history and old shoe making equipment.[16]

A self-guided historical walking tour of downtown Brampton called "A Walk Through Time"[17] is available at Brampton City Hall and online at no cost.

Development of Bramalea
Main article: Bramalea, Ontario

Planned as an innovative "new town", Bramalea was developed immediately east of the Town of Brampton in Chinguacousy Township. It was Canada's first satellite community developed by one of the country's largest real estate developers, Bramalea Limited. The name "Bramalea" was created by the farmer William Sheard, who combined "BRAM" from Brampton, "MAL" from Malton (then a neighbouring town which is now part of the city of Mississauga), and "LEA", an Old English word meaning meadow or grassland. He sold the land to Brampton Leasing (the former name of the developer) and built one of Bramalea's first houses on Dixie Road.

The community was developed according to its detailed master plan, which included provisions for a parkland trail system and a "downtown" to include essential services and a shopping centre. The downtown's centrepiece was the Civic Centre, built in 1972 to include the city hall and library. Directly across Team Canada Drive, a shopping centre named Bramalea City Centre was built. These developments were connected by a long tunnel, planned to provide protection from winter weather. But, the tunnel has long since been closed due to safety issues. Urbanists have also found that pedestrians at street level make for much livelier and safer streets. Other features included a police station, fire hall, bus terminal, and a collection of seniors' retirement homes.

Each phase of the new city was marked with progressing first letters of street names. Development started with the "A" section, with street names such as Argyle, Avondale, and Aloma. Developers then created a "B" section, "C" section, and so forth. Children on the boundaries of these divisions would regularly compete in street hockey games, pitting, for example, the "D" section versus the "E" section.

The community was initially developed with a large number of recreational facilities, including tennis courts, playgrounds, hockey/lacrosse rinks and swimming pools. An extensive parkland trail and sidewalk system connects the entire community.

Region of Peel
Brampton in the Region of Peel
The areas of adjacent municipalities (beige) amalgamated with the Town of Brampton (red) in 1974 to create the present city

In 1974, the Ontario provincial government decided to update Peel County's structure. It amalgamated several towns and villages into the new City of Mississauga. In addition, it created the present City of Brampton from the town and the greater portion of the Townships of Chinguacousy and Toronto Gore, and the northern extremity of Mississauga south of Steeles Avenue,[18] including Bramalea and the other communities such as Churchville, Claireville, Ebenezer, Victoria, Springbrook, Coleraine, and Huttonville. While only Huttonville and Churchville still exist as identifiable communities, other names like Claireville are re-emerging as names of new developments.

The province converted Peel County into the Regional Municipality of Peel. Brampton retained its role as the administrative centre of Peel Region, which it already had as county seat. The regional council chamber, the Peel Regional Police force, the public health department, and the region's only major museum, the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, are all located in Brampton.

This change had its critics among those with a strong sense of local identities. Bramptonians feared urban sprawl would dissolve their town's personality. Bramalea residents took pride in the built-from-scratch and organised structure that had come with their new satellite city and did not want to give it up. Others in Bramalea accept they are part of Brampton, and they make up the tri-city area: Brampton, Heart Lake, Bramalea.

In 1972, Chinguacousy built a new civic centre in Bramalea. Two years later, when Brampton and Chinguacousy merged, the new city's council was moved from its modest downtown Brampton locale to the Bramalea building. The library systems of Brampton and Chinguacousy were merged, resulting in a system of four locations.

Some have questioned the future of Peel Region as encompassing all of Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon. The Mississauga council, led by Mayor Hazel McCallion, voted to become a single-tier municipality and asked the provincial government to be separated from Peel Region. They argued the city has outgrown the need for a regional layer of government, and that Mississauga is being held back by supporting Brampton and Caledon with its municipal taxes.

Development as a city
Brampton's City Hall
Main Street in downtown Brampton

The early 1980s brought new residential development, as Brampton released large tracts of land to developers. In 1991, development of the large new suburban community of Springdale began. This area had its largest boom in 1999, when development started to appear as far north as the city's border with Caledon along Mayfield Road. The region designated this border as the line of demarcation for urban development until 2021, although development already began spilling north of Mayfield in the late 2010s. Part of the boundary between Brampton and Vaughan is also nearly completely urbanized.

In the early 1980s, Cineplex Odeon closed the Capitol Theatre in Brampton. The City bought the facility in 1981 under the leadership of councillor Diane Sutter. It adapted the former vaudeville venue and movie house as a performing arts theatre, to be used also as a live music venue. It was renamed the Heritage Theatre. Renovations and maintenance were expensive. In 1983, Toronto consultants Woods Gordon reported to the City that, rather than continue "pouring money" into the Heritage, they should construct a new 750-seat facility with up-to-date features. This recommendation was adopted, and the city designated the 2005/06 as the Heritage Theatre's "grand finale" season. The city funded construction of the new Rose Theatre, which opened in September 2006.

Carabram was founded in 1982, the result of volunteers from different ethnic communities wanting to organise a festival celebrating diversity and cross-cultural friendship. The name was loosely related to Toronto's Caravan Festival of Cultures. Carabram's first event featured Italian, Scots, Ukrainian, and West Indian pavilions. By 2003, the fair had 18 pavilions attracting 45,000 visitors. The national government of Canada had an anchor pavilion in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and for Carabram's 25th Anniversary in 2009.

Brampton has grown to become one of the most diverse cities in Canada. In 1996, the city was 13% South Asian and 8.2% Black.[19] By 2016, the South Asian community grew exponentially to represent 44.3% of the city's population, while the Black population grew to 14%.[20] Responding to a growing multi-cultural population, the Peel Board of Education introduced evening English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at high schools. Originally taught by volunteers, the classes eventually were scheduled as daytime courses taught by paid instructors. In the 1980s, the public and Catholic board expanded its languages programs, offering night classes in 23 languages. These were introduced due to requests by parents, who wanted their children to learn their ancestral languages and heritage.

In the early 1990s, Mayor Ken Whillans gained approval and funding for construction of a new city hall in Brampton's downtown. The facility was designed by local architects and constructed by Inzola Construction and built on the site of a former bus terminal. Whillians did not get to see the opening of the new hall because of his death in August of that same year. With the return of city government to downtown Brampton, politicians and businesses allied to revitalize the core.

Changes continue to reflect the growth of the city. In 1992 the City purchased the Brampton Fairgrounds, to be used for other development. The Agricultural Society relocated in 1997 outside the boundaries of the city to Heart Lake and Old School roads. In 1997 the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) decided to amalgamate Georgetown and District Memorial Hospital, Etobicoke General Hospital, and Peel Memorial Hospital as the William Osler Health Centre. It became what is now the province's 6th-largest hospital corporation.

Brampton's 2003 Sesquicentennial celebrations boosted community spirit, reviving the tradition of a summer parade (with 100 floats), and creating other initiatives. To commemorate the town's history, the city under Mayor Fennell reintroduced floral projects to the community. These have included more plantings around town, the revival in 2005 of the city Parade, and participation in the Canada Communities in Bloom project.

Geography and climate

Brampton has a total land area of 265 square kilometres (102 sq mi). The City of Brampton is bordered by Highway 50 (Vaughan) to the East, Winston Churchill Boulevard (Halton Hills) to the West, Mayfield Road (Caledon) to the north (except for a small neighbourhood, Snelgrove, which is part of Brampton despite extending somewhat north of Mayfield Road) and the hydro corridor (Mississauga) to the south except at Finch Avenue (at this point, Finch Avenue serves as the border between the two cities).

Brampton features a continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) which is typical to much of Peel Region and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area.

Demographics
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
185850—    
18712,090+4080.0%
18812,920+39.7%
18913,252+11.4%
19012,748−15.5%
19113,412+24.2%
19214,527+32.7%
19315,532+22.2%
19415,975+8.0%
19518,389+40.4%
196118,467+120.1%
197141,211+123.2%
1981149,030+261.6%
1991234,445+57.3%
1996268,251+14.4%
2001325,428+21.3%
2006433,806+33.3%
2011523,906+20.8%
2016593,638+13.3%
Brampton annexed Chinguacousy—which included the highly populated community of Bramalea—and Toronto Gore Townships in 1974.
The 2011 population count was revised in 2016.[2]

As of the Canada 2016 Census, The largest ethnic group in Brampton are South Asians who account for 44.3% of the population. Other large groups include Europeans with 26%, Black with 13.9%, Filipino with 3.4%, Latin American with 2.4%, East Asians with 1.5%, and Southeast Asia with 1.4%.[28][20][29][30][31][32]

Religion

The largest religion in Brampton is Christianity (50.5%). The largest denominations in the city are Catholicism (26.0%), followed by Protestant denominations, including Anglican, United, Lutheran, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventists, and Christian Reformed, while the remaining numbers of Christians consist mostly of Eastern Orthodox Churches. Other religions with a notable presence include Sikhism (18.8%), Hinduism (12.1%), and Islam (7.1%). Proportionally, Brampton has one of the largest Sikh and Hindu population among all Canadian cities. Nearly 10 percent of the population does not identify with a particular religion.[28] The Toronto Ontario Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is located in Brampton.[33]

Religion in Brampton (2011)

  Christianity (50.5%)
  Sikhism (18.8%)
  Hinduism (12.1%)
  Islam (7.1%)
  Other or not religious (14.9%)

Population growth

With a population of 593,638,[2] Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area, and the ninth-largest city in Canada. With the median age at 33.7, it is the youngest community in the GTA.

Brampton has attracted residents and businesses due to its proximity to the Pearson International Airport and road infrastructure, population growth, cost of land, and more favourable corporate tax structure. It is becoming a prime location for corporate head offices, factories, warehouses, etc., as well as the typical domestic goods and services required to provide for the population.

Languages

The 2011 census found that English was spoken as primary language by 51.71% of the population. The next most common language was Punjabi, spoken by 17.51% of the population, followed by Urdu at 2.79%, and Portuguese and Gujarati at 2.12% each.[34]

Mother tongue Population Percentage
English 269,790 51.71%
Punjabi 91,345 17.51%
Urdu 14,580 2.79%
Portuguese 11,095 2.12%
Gujarati 11,040 2.12%
Spanish 10,225 1.96%
Hindi 10,060 1.93%
Tamil 9,530 1.83%
Tagalog (Filipino) 8,785 1.68%
Italian 7,990 1.53%

Economy

Companies with headquarters in Brampton include Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Rogers Communications Inc.,[35] Chrysler Canada Brampton Assembly Plant,[36] Maple Lodge Farms,[35] Canadian Tire Corp,[35] Coca-Cola Bottling Company Ltd.,[35] Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories,[37] and Olymel L.P,[35] and formerly Zellers (offices and distribution).[38]

The international companies of Brita, and Clorox have their Canadian national headquarters in the city. It is also the location of the Canadian Forces Army Reserve unit The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment).[39]

Other major companies operating in Brampton include CN Rail Brampton Intermodal Terminal,[40] Best Buy,[41] Amazon,[42] Ford Nestlé,[43] Hudson's Bay Company (HBC),[44] Frito Lay Canada, MDA Space Missions,[45] Goemans Appliances,[46] and Parkinson Coach Line.[47]

An automobile manufacturing facility was opened by American Motors (AMC) in 1960 as the Brampton Assembly Plant. In 1986, AMC developed a new, state-of-the-art operation at Bramalea. After AMC was acquired by Chrysler in 1987, AMC's Canadian division and its plants were absorbed; the older facility in Brampton closed in 1992. The newest factory was renamed Brampton Assembly; it is one of the city's largest employers, with almost 4,000 workers when running at capacity.[48] Alstom has an assembly plant in Brampton to fulfill their contract with Metrolinx to build Alstom Citadis Spirit LRV cars for Finch West, Hurontario and Eglinton LRT lines.

Education

The Algoma University @ Brampton School of Business & Economics offers courses at Market Square Business Centre, 24 Queen Street East. [49] The closest universities to Brampton (offering a wider range of programs) include York University in north Toronto and University of Toronto Mississauga.

Along with that, Sheridan College, Davis campus is another major public higher education institution serving Brampton which also has campuses in Oakville and Mississauga. In 2017, Davis added the Skilled Trades Centre, for training in skilled trades and apprenticeship programs, previously offered in Oakville.[50]

A plan by Ryerson University, in partnership with Sheridan College was to establish a new campus in Brampton with a goal of opening in 2022 with $90 million in funding offered by the provincial government in April 2018.[51][52] On 23 October 2018 however, the new Provincial government (elected in June) withdrew the funding for plans such as this, effectively cancelling the project.[53]

Two main school boards operate in Brampton: the Peel District School Board, which operates secular anglophone public schools, and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, which operates Catholic anglophone public schools. Under the Peel District School Board, the secondary schools are Bramalea, Brampton Centennial, Central Peel, Chinguacousy, Fletcher's Meadow, Harold M. Brathwaite, Heart Lake, Louise Arbour, Mayfield, North Park, Judith Nyman, Sandalwood Heights, Turner Fenton, David Suzuki, Castlebrooke Secondary School, and Jean Augustine, one of the newest. A total of 85 elementary and middle schools feed these high schools in the city.

Under the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the secondary schools are Cardinal Leger, Holy Name of Mary, Notre Dame, St. Augustine, St. Edmund Campion, St. Roch, St. Marguerite d'Youville, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Cardinal Ambrozic. A total of 44 Catholic elementary and middle schools feed these high schools in the city.

The Conseil scolaire Viamonde operates secular Francophone schools serving the area. The Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir operates Catholic Francophone schools serving the area.

Culture
The Rose Theatre Fountain Stage
LCD video screen at Garden Square, downtown
A Peel Art Gallery, Museum, Archives building, formerly the Peel County Court House
Brampton Jain Temple in Brampton

Several cultural entities in the city operate under the umbrella of the Brampton Arts Council. Located in the city is the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA, formerly the Peel Heritage Complex), which is run by the Region of Peel.[54]

The Rose Theatre (originally the Brampton Performing Arts Centre), opened in September 2006. The city had expected the facility to generate $2.7 million in economic activity the first year, growing to $19.8 million by the fifth year. The Rose Theatre far surpassed projections, attracting more than 137,000 patrons in its inaugural year, which exceeded its five-year goal. The arrival of so many new patrons downtown has stimulated the development of numerous new businesses nearby. A new Fountain Stage was unveiled in June 2008 at the nearby Garden Square.

Brampton has six library locations to serve its half-million residents. With a ratio of one library per more than 80,000 residents, it has the lowest library ratio among major Canadian cities.

Festivals in the city include the annual Festival of Literary Diversity, a literary festival devoted to writers from underrepresented groups such as people of colour and LGBTQ writers.[55]

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in Brampton includes a museum, art gallery, and archives. Since opening in 1968, the art gallery section (previously known as the Art Gallery of Peel) has exhibited local, national, and international artists, both contemporary and historical from their permanent collection.

The City of Brampton's long-standing heritage conservation program was recognised with the 2011 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership. In 2010 the city received an 'honourable mention' under the same provincial awards program.

Sites of interest

Major shopping areas include Bramalea City Centre, Shoppers World, and "big box centre" Trinity Commons. The downtown area has some retail; the Centennial Mall and the Brampton Mall are also of note.

Media
Main article: Media in Peel

Brampton was one of the first areas where Rogers Cable offered its service. The city started a community access channel in the 1970s, which still operates. While some programs on the channel are produced in its Brampton studios, most are based in its Mississauga location. Christian specialty channel Vertical TV is based in Brampton.

The Brampton Guardian is the community's only newspaper. The city's first newspaper, The Daily Times, stopped circulation in the early 1980s. For a little over a year, The Brampton Bulletin attempted to challenge the Guardian, but it was dismantled after a series of editor changes.

Brampton is the official city of license for two radio stations, CIAO and CFNY. Both stations address their programming toward the entire Greater Toronto Area rather than exclusively to Brampton.

Sports and recreation
Sports teams of Brampton
Club League Sport Venue Established Disestablished Championships
Brampton A's National Basketball League of Canada Basketball Powerade Centre 2013 2015 0
Brampton Admirals Ontario Junior Hockey League Hockey Brampton Memorial Arena 2018 0
Brampton Battalion OHL Hockey Powerade Centre 1998
2013 0
Brampton Bears Northern Football Conference Football 1985 1995
Brampton Beavers Marshall Premiership Rugby "The Beaver Dam" at MGS Sports Park 1963
Brampton Beast ECHL Hockey CAA Centre 2013 0
Bramalea Blues Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League Hockey Powerade Centre 1972 2010 1
Brampton Bombers Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Hockey Brampton Memorial Arena 2012 0
Brampton Thunder Canadian Women's Hockey League Hockey Powerade Centre 1999 2017 0
Brampton Capitals Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League Hockey Brampton Memorial Arena 1984 2012 4
Brampton Excelsiors Major Series Lacrosse Senior "A" Lacrosse League. Box Lacrosse CAA Centre 1912 30
Junior Excelsiors OLA Junior A Lacrosse League Box Lacrosse Brampton Memorial Arena 1971 4
Junior "b" Excelsiors OLA Junior B Lacrosse League Box Lacrosse Victoria Park Arena 2012 0
Brampton Royals Central Ontario Baseball Assoc. Baseball Dave Dash Memorial Field 1948 3
Brampton Senior Royals Central Ontario Major Baseball Assoc. Baseball Dave Dash Memorial Field 2004 0
Bramalea Satellites Northern Football Conference Football 1974 1975
Brampton United FC Canadian Soccer League, National Division Soccer Victoria Park Stadium 2002 1

Brampton is home to one professional sports franchise, the Brampton Beast of the ECHL, which plays at the CAA Centre, formerly the Powerade Centre. From 2013 to 2015, the Powerade Center was also the home of the Brampton A's in the National Basketball League of Canada, however, they relocated to Orangeville, Ontario, to decrease costs of operations of switching the arena floor from ice hockey to basketball.

The numerous sporting venues and activities includes the outdoor ice path for skating through Gage Park. Chinguacousy Park includes a ski lift, a curling club, and Tennis Centre for multi-season activities. In the summer, amateur softball leagues abound. Crowds line the beaches at Professor's Lake for the annual outdoor "shagging" display.

Every year since 1967, the Brampton Canadettes have hosted the Brampton Canadettes Easter Tournament in hockey.[61] Women's and girls' hockey teams invade Brampton for 3½ days of head-to-head competition. Teams of all ages and categories from across Canada and the United States compete in this annual tournament. Teams from England, Switzerland, Japan, Kazakhstan and Russia attend this international tournament. Thousands of players and spectators pass through the doors during the tournament. There is no limit on the number of teams in a division.

The Intermediate AA and Midget AA divisions are highly scouted by local and United States colleges and universities seeking recruits for varsity teams. Teams from as far as Alaska and Calgary, Quebec and Carolina, Michigan and Minnesota, as well as virtually all hockey centres in Ontario, will compete in a minimum of 3 games each over the course of the tournament. Including championship finals, over 600 games are played in 3½ days.

Infrastructure

Health and medicine
Main articles: Brampton Civic Hospital and Peel Memorial Hospital

Courts

Grenville & William Davis Courthouse, Ontario Court of Justice, is located in Brampton at 7755 Hurontario Street (Hurontario Street at County Court).

Transportation

Public transit
Main articles: Brampton Transit and GO Transit
Brampton Transit bus at the now-relocated Bramalea City Centre Terminal

Local transit is provided by Brampton Transit, with connections to other systems such as MiWay, York Region Transit, Go Transit, and Toronto Transit Commission. Brampton Transit also operates a bus rapid transit system, "Züm" (pronounced Zoom), along Main/Hurontario Streets, Steeles Avenue, Queen Street/Highway 7, Bovaird Drive–Airport Road, and Queen Street West–Mississauga Road, which form the backbone to its bus network.

There is GO Bus service to York University and subway stations at Yorkdale Mall and York Mills in Toronto. There are three GO Train stations in Brampton along the Kitchener line: Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant.

Rail

Both Canadian National Railways and the Orangeville-Brampton Railway short line (formerly part of the Canadian Pacific Railway line) run through the city. CN's Intermodal Yards are located east of Airport Road between Steeles and Queen Street East. The CN Track from Toronto's Union Station, is the Kitchener GO Transit Rail Corridor providing commuter rail and bus services to and from Toronto with rail station stops at Bramalea, Downtown Brampton, and Mount Pleasant. Via Rail connects through Brampton as part of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.

Air

Canada's busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), is located near Brampton, in Mississauga.[62] For general aviation, the city is served by the privately owned Brampton Airport (CNC3), located to the north of the city in neighbouring Caledon.

Road

Brampton is served by several major transportation routes: Highway 401 from Toronto is a short distance south in Mississauga, and can be reached by Highway 410, which runs north–south through the middle of the city. Highway 407 runs along the southern portion of the city, just north of the boundary with Mississauga. Steeles Avenue, which runs north of the 407, is another thoroughfare from Toronto. Main Street, a part of the historic road, Hurontario Street, and formerly Highway 10, is the city's main north–south artery. The former Highway 7, (now Regional Road 107) is another east–west corridor, incorporates the eastern part of Queen Street (which is the city's main east–west street) and the western part of Bovaird Drive.

Representation in other media

Notable people
Main article: List of people from Brampton

Four people from Brampton have received the Order of Canada: Robert William Bradford, former Director of the National Aviation Museum; Michael F. Clarke, director at Evergreen, the Yonge Street Mission for street youth in Toronto; Howard Pawley, professor and former Premier of Manitoba; and William G. Davis, former Premier of Ontario.

Sports
Rick Nash in 2006, playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets

Politics
See also: Brampton City Council

Three Canadian premiers got their start in Brampton; Premiers Tobias Norris and Howard Pawley OC of Manitoba, and "Brampton Billy", Ontario premier William Grenville Davis CC. Other notable politicians include John Coyne, and Conservative opposition leader Gordon Graydon. Alberta politician and businessman Sir James A. Lougheed was born in Brampton, and served 30 years in Senate; Regina mayor David Lynch Scott was born here.

President of the Treasury Board Tony Clement spent time as a Brampton MPP. John McDermid held various cabinet positions under Brian Mulroney, Bal Gosal Minister of State-Sport, and former Mayor Linda Jeffrey held cabinet positions at the provincial level.

Ruby Dhalla represented the riding of Brampton—Springdale in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2011 as a member of the Liberal Party. Dhalla and British Columbia Conservative MP Nina Grewal were the first Sikh women to serve in the Canadian House of Commons. Parm Gill was elected as the member of parliament from the Conservative Party of Canada for the riding of Brampton-Springdale in 2011, who was also appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veteran Affairs in 2013.

Jagmeet Singh began his political career in Brampton running in two elections in 2011, defeated in the federal election in May but elected Member of Provincial Parliament for Bramalea—Gore—Malton in October. In 2015 he became deputy leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party. In 2017 he became leader of the federal NDP, the first member of a visible minority to become permanent leader of a major federal party in Canada.

Arts

Authors born in or living in Brampton include Rohinton Mistry, Jesse Thistle, and Edo Van Belkom.

Visual arts notables from Brampton include etcher Caroline Helena Armington,[65] Ronald Bloore, Member of the Order of Canada; Organiser and member of the "Regina Five",(1960)[66] watercolourist Jack Reid, and William Ronald, who was raised in town. Norman Mills Price. Animators David Feiss and Jay Stephens grew up here.

Music acts from Brampton include Punk band The Flatliners, R&B singer Keshia Chanté, country singer Johnny Reid, "Metal Queen" Lee Aaron and pop singer Alyssa Reid. Country singer and "World Champion Yodeler" Donn Reynolds lived here from 1969 to 1997.[67] Barry Stock, guitarist from Three Days Grace was raised in Brampton, and currently resides in Caledon. Singer Alessia Cara, hip-hop artist Roy Woods and hip-hop artist Tory Lanez were also born in Brampton. Hip-hop record producer WondaGurl was also born in Brampton.

Film, television and comedy
Comedian Russell Peters

Two notable comedians hail from Brampton: Scott Thompson and Russell Peters.

Comedic actor Michael Cera was born and raised in Brampton. Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Ashmore (Smallville) are Brampton-raised. Actor Tyler Labine starred in Mad Love.

Other Brampton-born or affiliated actors include Paulo Costanzo, Jordan Gavaris, Gemini Award winner Kris Lemche, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Sabrina Grdevich, Nicole Lyn, Dulé Hill, actor and producer David J. Phillips, reality TV star and art dealer Billy Jamieson, performer George R. Robertson, and performer Sidhu Moose Wala.

Others include voice actor Brenna O'Brien, and on-air media personalities Cassie Campbell, Chris Connor, Chris Cuthbert and Scott McGillivray.

Sister cities

Brampton has two sister cities as well as active economic, historic, and cultural relationships with others.[68][69][70]

Sister cities:

Friendship relationships:[70]

See also

References
  • "(Code 3521010) Census Profile". 2011 census. Statistics Canada. 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-08.

Notes
  1. Rayburn, Alan (2001). Naming Canada: Stories about Canadian Place Names. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-8020-8293-0. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06.
  2. Statistics Canada: 2017
  3. "Brampton's Beginning" in Bramptons's 100th Anniversary as an Incorporated Town: 1873–1973, Brampton: The Corporation of the Town of Brampton and the Brampton Centennial Committee, 1973, originally published in Ross Cumming, ed., Historical Atlas of Peel County, n.p.: Walker and Miles, 1877.
  4. "Discover Brampton's History". City of Brampton. Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  5. Bost, John (30 December 2007). "Without a trace". Book Review. Retrieved 2010-04-08. O'Hara tells the story of how the Dale Estate joined with the town to market the town as the "Flower Town of Canada" by instituting in 1963, The Flower Festival of Brampton, patterned after the great Rose Festival parade of Portland, Oregon.
  6. O'Hara, Dale (September 2007). Acres of Glass: The Story of the Dale Estate and How Brampton Became "The Flower Town of Canada". Eastendbooks. ISBN 978-1-896973-39-5. Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  7. "Brampton's FlowerTown Heritage". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  8. "The creation of the County of Peel, 1851-1867". 25 April 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  9. The province of Ontario gazetteer and directory. H. McEvoy Editor and Compiler, Toronto : Robertson & Cook, Publishers, 1869
  10. "Biography – CHISHOLM, KENNETH – Volume XIII (1901-1910) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  11. "History of Alderlea". www.brampton.ca. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  12. Douglas, Pam (26 March 2015). "Alderlea reborn: Brampton's heritage home now available for rent - BramptonGuardian.com". Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  13. "Flower City Strategy". City of Brampton. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-08. On June 24, 2002, Council received and approved the "Flower City Strategy", with the expressed purpose of recapturing of Brampton's Floral heritage.
  14. "Heritage". City of Brampton. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  15. "Environmental Responsibility". City of Brampton. Archived from the original on 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-04-08. The City is taking steps to reclaim our "flower town" roots through the Flower City Strategy, a multifaceted approach that strives to beautify Brampton, preserve its natural and cultural heritage and protect the environment. An important part of this strategy is adopting a sustainable environmental approach that combines conservation with urban development and design, naturalisation and community landscaping.
  16. Hewetson Shoe Factory. City of Brampton. "A Little Bit of History..." Archived from the original on 2013-05-18. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  17. "A Walk Through Time", City of Brampton, c.2010
  18. "Brampton's historic Churchville village turns 200". Pam Douglas. Brampton Guardian. July 28, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  19. "Electronic Area Profiles: Brampton". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  20. Census Profile, 2016 Census Brampton, Ontario and Peel, Regional municipality, Ontario
  21. "Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport". 1981-2010 Canadian Climate Normals. Environment Canada. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  22. "Toronto Lester B. Pearson INT'L A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  23. "Daily Data Report for February 2017". Environment Canada. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  24. "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  25. "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 2: Temperature". Environment Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  26. "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 3: Precipitation". Environment Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  27. "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 7: Bright Sunshine". Environment Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  28. "National Household Survey (NHS) Profile, 2016". 2.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  29. "Ethnic origin population". statcan.ca. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  30. Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census
  31. "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada - Data table". 2.statcan.ca. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  32. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2017-02-08). "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Brampton, City [Census subdivision], Ontario and Ontario [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-14.
  33. "Toronto Ontario Temple". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  34. "Brampton, CY". Census Profile for the Census Subdivision of Brampton (City), Ontario. Statistics Canada. 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  35. "Brampton's Top Employers". Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  36. "Brampton Assembly Plant and Brampton Satellite Stamping Plant". Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. FCA US LLC. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  37. "Dynacare - Head Office, Brampton". Toronto Central Healthline. Central West Local Health Integration Network. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  38. "10 Reasons Why Brampton Needs Zellers Back". Bramptonist. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  39. "The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)". Canadian Army. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  40. "Canadian National Railway". Canada's Top 100 Employers. Mediacorp Canada Inc. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  41. "3 Best Buy Stores in Brampton, Ontario". Best Buy. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  42. "Amazon's Brampton distribution centre hiring seasonal workers". Brampton Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  43. "Nestle in Canada" (PDF). Nestle. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  44. "Hudson's Bay Brampton Bramalea City Centre". Hudson's Bay. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  45. "MDA Locations". MDA. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  46. "Goemans Distribution Centre". Goemans Appliances. Archived from the original on 2018-08-06. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  47. "Parkinson Coach Lines". Parkinson Coach Lines. Parkinson Coach Lines. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  48. McAleer, Brendan. "Made in Canada: A look at the long history of Canadian cars and the people who build them". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  49. "Brampton Campus". Algoma University. 19 April 2018.
  50. "Sheridan - Davis Campus". Sheridan College. 19 April 2018.
  51. "Ryerson University to open new campus in Brampton". Ryerson University. 19 April 2018.
  52. "Site revealed for new Ryerson University campus in Brampton". The Star. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  53. "Ontario government broke promise to fund post-secondary campuses". National Post. 23 October 2018.
  54. "Home - Peel Art Gallery Museum + Archives". m.pama.peelregion.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  55. Deborah Dundas, "Brampton’s book fest The FOLD offers authors but also workshops and dancing". Toronto Star, April 30, 2019.
  56. "Mount Chinguacousy". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  57. "Brampton Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  58. "Historic Bovaird House-Home Page". Archived from the original on 2016-09-10. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  59. "Welcome to the Rose Theatre". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  60. "LESTER B. PEARSON THEATRE". Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  61. "Our Proud Canadian Womens Hockey History". Brampton Canadettes Girls Hockey Association. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  62. Greater Toronto Airports Authority draft plan for Pickering Airport Archived 2006-10-25 at the Wayback Machine, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (2003). Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
  63. "Mehta's film resonates with Indian women". The Star. Toronto. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  64. Campbell, Mogan (2008-01-03). "Local boy not quite local enough for the CFL". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  65. "Caroline Armington - Artist, Fine Art, Auction Records, Prices, Biography for Caroline Helena (Wilkinson) Armington". Askart.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  66. Clara Hargittay (1925-05-29). "Bloore, Ronald". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  67. Brampton Guardian. "Reynolds, Donn". Our Ontario Newspapers. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  68. "Economic Development Committee Committee of the Council of The Corporation of the City of Brampton" (PDF). City of Brampton. City of Brampton. March 2, 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016. City of Brampton currently has two formal Sister Cities; Page 7.1-1
  69. "Brampton Global Partnership Agreements" (PDF). City of Brampton. City of Brampton. April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  70. Criscione, Peter (October 20, 2016). "Brampton Eyes New Relationship With Portuguese City". Brampton Guardian.
  71. "Economic Development Committee" (PDF). City of Brampton. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.