Brantford, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
</div> | |
| Motto:<TR><TD COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR> | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City Information | |
| Established: | May 31, 1877 |
| Area: | 75 km² |
| Population:
- 2001 census | |
| Population density: | 1152.2/km² |
| Time zone: | Eastern: UTC -5 |
| Postal code span: | N3P, N3R, N3S, N3T, N3V |
| Local area code: | 519, 226 |
|
Latitude:
| |
| Elevation: | 248 m MSL |
| Government | |
| Mayor: | Mike Hancock List of mayors of Brantford, Ontario |
| Governing body: | Brantford City Council
<tr><td>Member of Parliament</TD><TD>Lloyd St. Amand (Liberal)</td></tr> <tr><td>Member of Provincial Parliament</TD><TD>Dave Levac (Liberal)</td></tr> |
| http://www.brantford.ca | |
| 1(sc) According to the Canada 2001 Census. Template help Edit Template Image:Flag of Canada.svg | |
Brantford (2001 population 86,417)[2] is a city located on the Grand River in southwestern Ontario, Canada. This single-tier municipality was once part of Brant County.
The City Limits sign currently displays a population of 90 000 people.
Brantford is connected to London in the west and Hamilton in the east by Highway 403 and to Cambridge to the north by Highway 24. Highway 424, connecting Highway 401 from Cambridge to Highway 403 in Brantford, should begin construction by the end of the decade.
Contents |
[edit] History
The city was first settled in 1784 when Captain Joseph Brant and the Six Nations Indians left New York to settle in Canada. As a reward for their loyalty to the Crown, they were given a large land grant 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 native settlement was abandoned except for the Mohawk Chapel which remains Ontario's oldest church.
Brantford was incorporated as a city in 1877.
[edit] Economy
Brantford was an important Canadian industrial center for the first half of the 20th Century, and was once the third largest city in Ontario. The city is at the deepest navigable point of the Grand River and was once the 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 and the Cockshutt Plow Company. 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, Koering Waterous, Harding Carpets, and other manufacturers. The closure of the businesses left thousands of people unemployed and created one of the most economically depressed areas in the country. However, the unemployment rate has steadily improved, from almost 14% in 1993 down to 6.6% in 2005. This improved employment picture led to the rate of personal bankruptcy in Brantford falling by 2.3% in 2005.
The completion of the Brantford to Ancaster section of Highway 403 in 1997, provided 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. However, Wescast recently closed their local foundry, although their corporate headquarters will remain in Brantford.
On February 16 2005, Brant County, including Brantford, was added to the Greater Golden Horseshoe along with Haldimand and Northumberland counties.
[edit] Education
Statistics from the 2001 Census indicate that 40% of Brantford residents had not earned a high-school diploma, compared to the provincial average of 33%.
The average annual income is 9% less than the national average.
The W. Ross Macdonald School for blind and deafblind students is located in Brantford.
[edit] Universities/Colleges
- Mohawk College, has a satellite campus in Brantford, and offers programs in the downtown.
- Laurier Brantford, a campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, 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 University, joint program with Wilfrid Laurier.
[edit] Secondary Schools
- Assumption College School
- Brantford Collegiate Institute & V.S.
- North Park Collegiate & V.S.
- Pauline Johnson Collegiate & V.S.
- St. John's College
- Tollgate Technological Institute (formerly known as Herman E. Fawcett).
[edit] Politics
The city council was elected to a four-year term in November, 2006, and is headed by Mayor Mike Hancock. Two councillors were elected to represent each of five wards. The current councillors are: Jennifer Kinneman and Mark Littell(Ward 1), Vince Bucci and John Sless (Ward 2), Greg Martin and Dan McCreary (Ward 3), Richard Carpenter and James Calnan (Ward 4), and John Bradford and Marguerite Ceschi-Smith (Ward 5). [[[[]]===Members of Parliament===
| Party | Member of Parliament | From | To | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Liberal | Edmund Burke Wood | 1867 | 1872 | Brant South |
| 2. | Liberal | William Paterson | 1872 | 1896 | Brant South |
| 3. | Conservative | Robert Henry | 1896 | 1896 | Brant South |
| 4. | Liberal | Charles B. Heyd | 1897 | 1904 | Brant South |
| 5. | Conservative | William F. Cockshutt | 1904 | 1908 | Brantford |
| 6. | Liberal | Lloyd Harris | 1908 | 1911 | Brantford |
| - | Conservative/ Unionist | William F. Cockshutt | 1911 | 1921 | Brantford |
| 7. | Liberal | William Gawtress Raymond | 1921 | 1925 | Brantford |
| 8. | Conservative | Robert Edwy Ryerson | 1925 | 1935 | Brantford City |
| 9. | Liberal | Ross Macdonald | 1935 | 1953 | Brantford City/ Brantford |
| 10. | Liberal | James E. Brown | 1953 | 1957 | Brantford |
| 11. | Progressive Conservative | Jack Wratten | 1957 | 1962 | Brantford |
| - | Liberal | James E. Brown | 1962 | 1967 | Brantford |
| - | New Democratic Party | Jim Morrison | 1967 | 1971 | Brantford/ Brant |
| 12. | New Democratic Party | Derek Blackburn | 1971 | 1993 | Brant |
| 13. | Liberal | Jane Stewart | 1993 | 2004 | Brant |
| 14. | Liberal | Lloyd St. Amand | 2004 | present | Brant |
[edit] Media
[edit] Print
Brantford has a daily newspaper printed 6 times a week(excluding Sunday) owned by Osprey Media Group Inc., the Brantford Expositor.
[edit] Radio
[edit] Television
Brantford is served by Rogers Television, a local community television station which provides local Hockey and Baseball coverage as well as special event coverage. This network is exclusive to Rogers Cable members.
[edit] Film
Scenes from the film Silent Hill were filmed in downtown Brantford. Many local towns people were allowed to view the set during filming.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Air
The Brantford Airport located on the outskirts of the city serves as a small municipal airport. It hosts the an annual air show, featuring the Snowbirds. The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton is located 20 minutes from Brantford, as well as the Toronto Pearson International Airport located about an hour from Brantford.
[edit] Rail
The Brantford Train Station is located near downtown Brantford. The station is along the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. The main passenger rail that passes through the station is VIA Rail, which features daily routes to Union Station.
[edit] Bus
Brantford Transit provides local transportation around Brantford. Greyhound and Coach Canada also provide transit to Hamilton and Toronto.
[edit] Highways
- Highway 403, East Hamilton, West Woodstock, London.
- Highway 24, North Cambridge
- Highway 424, Proposed highway connecting Highway 401 from Cambridge to Highway 403 in Brantford
[edit] Entertainment
Brantford has many forms of entertainment available within the city. It houses the normal cinemas, bowling alleys, and other more traditional entertainment centres but also is home to the Brantford Charity Casino and weekly pro-wrestling right next to the casino in the form of the Pure Wrestling Association.
The Sanderson Centre offers live performances.
The Kinsmen Club of Brantford offer many entertaining events throughout the year, including a weekly Kingo (Bingo) game which runs every Thursday evening.
[edit] Sports Teams/Tournaments
[edit] Local Rep Teams & Tournments
- Brantford 99er's Hockey Team
- Brantford Ice Cats Girls Hockey Team
- Brantford Bison's Football Team
- Brantford Red Sox Baseball Team
- The Wayne Gretzky International Hockey Tournament[3] is held in Brantford annually
- The Walter Gretzky House Leauge Tournament is a tournament that is held yearly
[edit] Current Intercounty/Major Teams
- Brantford Red Sox of the Intercounty Baseball League who play at Arnold Anderson Stadium
- Brantford Blast of the Major League Hockey who play at the Brantford Civic Centre
- Brantford Golden Eagles of the Ontario Hockey Association who play at the Brantford Civic Centre
[edit] Defunct Teams
- Brantford Alexanders(1978 to 1984), a former team of the Ontario Hockey League who played at the Brantford Civic Centre
- Brantford Smoke(1991-1998) of the CHL, Colonial Hockey League who played at the Brantford Civic Centre. The team moved to Asheville until 2002
[edit] Other
- Brantford will host the 2008 Allan Cup, which will be celebrating 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.
[edit] People
[edit] Film and Television
- Phil Hartman, actor, star of popular 90's sitcom NEWS RADIO, voice of Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure on The Simpsons until he was murdered in 1998
- Michelle Nolden, actress, Dr. Amy Bowen in Crossing Jordan
- Jay Silverheels, former actor
- Paul Jewell
- Richard Stewart, star of Jesus & Friends
Alicia, up-and coming film director
[edit] Journalists
- David Judd, chief editor of the Brantford Expositor
- Norman Duncan, New York Evening Post
[edit] Inventors
- Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone. Brantford is called the "Telephone City" because Bell invented it while living at the Bell Homestead located on the outskirts of the city. The first long distance telephone call was made on August 10, 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell from downtown Brantford to his assistant in Paris, Ontario.
- James Hillier, inventor of electron microscope.
[edit] The Arts
- Lawren Harris, founder of the Group of Seven.
- Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake), aboriginal poet.
- [[Albert Wade Hemsworth]] (1916-January 21, 2002) was a Canadian songwriter. Although he was not a prolific composer, having written only about 20 songs during his entire career, several of his songs (most notably "The Wild Goose", "The Blackfly Song" and "The Log Driver's Waltz") are among the most enduring classics in the history of Canadian folk music.
[edit] Politics
- Henry Cockshutt, Lieutenant-governor of Ontario
- Henry Hagey, lawyer and Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
[edit] Athletes
- Wayne Gretzky, hockey superstar.
- Dave Dodds, soccer superstar.
- Chris Gratton, professional hockey player.
- David Hearn, professional golfer.
- Mike Beres, Olympic badminton player.
- Valerie Loker, Commonwealth badminton player.
- Kevin Sullivan, Olympic runner.
- Aaron Carpenter, Canadian rugby player.
- Nick Kaczur, American football player.
- Quincy Mack, basketball player and motivational speaker.
- Doug Jarvis, former professional hockey player
- Bill Watkins, former manager in Major League Baseball
- Greg Stefan, former professional hockey player
- Roy Kurtz, former professional CFL football kicker
- Josh Gratton, Professional Hockey Player
- Rob Pikula, Canadian football player
The Six Nations 40, Ontario Native Reserve is adjacent to Brantford and is the largest in Canada.
[edit] Service Clubs
Kinsmen Club of Brantford (Kin Canada Bursaries)
Kiwanis Club Of Brantford
Rotary Club of Brantford
Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise
Kiwanis Club of Grand River
[edit] See also
- List of mayors of Brantford, Ontario
- Brant (electoral district)
- Brantford City Council
- Service Clubs
[edit] External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- City of Brantford
- Brantford Heritage Inventory
- Kinsmen Club of Brantford Inc.
- Laurier Brantford
- St. John's College
- Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School
- North Park Collegiate & Vocational School
- Brantford Collegiate Institute & Vocational School
- Assumption College School
| North: Cambridge | ||
| West: Woodstock, London | Brantford | East: Hamilton |
| South: Simcoe |
no:Brantford pl:Brantford (Ontario) pt:Brantford sv:Brantford, Ontario
