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John Yakabuski

2025-09-02T10:16:13Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = John Yakabuski
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO|size=100%}}
| image = John Yakabuski.jpg
| caption = Yakabuski in 2021
| office = [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry|Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry]]
| premier = [[Doug Ford]]
| term_start = November 5, 2018
| term_end = June 18, 2021
| predecessor = [[Jeff Yurek]]
| successor = [[Greg Rickford]]
| office1 = [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)|Minister of Transportation]]
| premier1 = [[Doug Ford]]
| term_start1 = June 29, 2018
| term_end1 = November 5, 2018
| predecessor1 = [[Kathryn McGarry]]
| successor1 = [[Jeff Yurek]]
| parliament2 = Ontario Provincial
| term_start2 = October 2, 2003
| term_end2 = January 28, 2025
| predecessor2 = [[Sean Conway (Canadian politician)|Sean Conway]]
| successor2 = [[Billy Denault]]
| riding2 = [[Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke (provincial electoral district)|Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke]]
| party = [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Progressive Conservative]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|6|14}}
| birth_place = [[Barry's Bay]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| residence = [[Barry's Bay]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| father = [[Paul Yakabuski]]
| profession = Businessman
| spouse = Vicky
| children = 4
}}

'''John A. Yakabuski'''<ref>{{cite tweet |user=ONPARLeducation|number=1547261235305058304|date=13 July 2022 |title=Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867.}}</ref> {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO}} (born June 14, 1957) is a Canadian [[politician]] who served as [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry|Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry]] from 2018 to 2021 in the [[Doug Ford]] cabinet. He was a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] who was elected in the eastern Ontario riding of [[Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke (provincial electoral district)|Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke]] in 2003. His father, [[Paul Yakabuski]], was also a Tory [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) for the area from 1963 to 1987.

==Background==
Yakabuski is a former real estate sales representative, and was for twenty years the owner and operator of Yakabuski's Home Hardware in [[Barry's Bay, Ontario|Barry's Bay]], Ontario. At the time of his election, he was a member of the steering committee of St. Francis Memorial Hospital's Capital Equipment Campaign. He is also active in the local [[Lutheran]] church. His late brother, Kim Yakabuski, was the life partner of former Liberal [[Attorney-General of Ontario|Attorney-General]] [[Ian Scott (Ontario politician)|Ian Scott]]. His brother, Konrad Yakabuski, is a columnist for ''[[The Globe and Mail]]''. He and his wife Vicky have four children.<ref>{{cite news |title=MPP Yakabuski's son lost, found for Mother's Day |url=http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2010/05/09/mpp-yakabuskis-son-lost-found-for-mothers-day |first=Stephen |last=Uhler |newspaper=The Daily Observer |date=May 9, 2010 |location=Pembroke, Ont}}</ref>

==Politics==
Yakabuski was elected to the Barry's Bay municipal council in 1997, and was responsible for overseeing various issues concerning the region's amalgamation. He did not seek re-election in 2000.

Yakabuski was elected to the Ontario legislature in the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 provincial election]], defeating [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] Derek Nighbor by 595 votes.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630054309/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=June 30, 2015 }}</ref> This result was regarded by some as an upset, as it was the only formerly Liberal seat to be won by the Tories in an election that saw the Liberals elected to a strong majority government. Moreover, the seat had been held for many years by Liberal [[Sean Conway (Canadian politician)|Sean Conway]] (Yakabuski's second cousin). Yakabuski won the election despite publicizing of his earlier convictions by the opposition press.<ref name=tense>{{cite news |title=Tense battle goes to Yakabuski |first1=Zev |last1=Singer |first2=Scott |last2=Beaty |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |date=October 3, 2003 |page=F6}}</ref>

In the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 provincial election]], he was easily re-elected, defeating Liberal candidate Sean Kelly by over 15,000 votes.<ref name="2007 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=12 (xxi) }}</ref> He was re-elected in both the [[2011 Ontario general election|2011 provincial election]]<ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=14 }}</ref> and the [[2014 Ontario general election|2014 provincial election]].<ref name="2014 results">{{cite web|title=General Election by District: Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=074 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614002905/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=074 |archive-date=June 14, 2014 }}</ref>

Yakabuski was the Labour and Training Critic in the Official Opposition and the Whip of the Official Opposition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontariopc.com/News/Details/Ontario-PC-Leader-Patrick-Brown-Announces-Critic-Shuffle|title = PC Party of Ontario – for the People}}</ref> He ran for the position of [[Interim leader (Canada)|interim leader]] of the party following the resignation of [[Tim Hudak]] but was passed over in favour of [[Jim Wilson (Ontario politician)|Jim Wilson]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Progressive Conservatives pick Jim Wilson as interim leader |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/07/02/progressive_conservatives_pick_jim_wilson_as_interim_leader.html |access-date=July 2, 2014 |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=July 2, 2014}}</ref>

Yakabuski was appointed the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in the Cabinet of Doug Ford.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/john-yakabuski|title = John Yakabuski | Legislative Assembly of Ontario}}</ref> He was dropped from cabinet in the 2021 reshuffle by Premier Doug Ford, and was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the [[Premier of Ontario]].

Yakabuski was re-elected in the [[2022 Ontario general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-02 |title=PC John Yakabuski is re-elected in Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke |language=en-CA |work=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/ontario-election/results/2022/06/02/pc-john-yakabuski-is-re-elected-in-renfrewnipissingpembroke.html |access-date=2022-06-03 |issn=0319-0781}}</ref><ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-election-2022-renfrew-nipissing-pembroke-results-1.6473591</ref> On June 29, 2022, Yakabuski was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Parks and Conservation.

===Electoral record===
{{2022 Ontario general election/Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke}}
{{2018 Ontario general election/Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke}}
{{2014 Ontario general election/Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke}}
{{CANelec/top|ON|2011|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|John Yakabuski | 27,594| 70.78| +8.43}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|John O'Leary| 6,231| 15.98| -8.73}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Brian Dougherty| 4,277| 10.97| +3.38}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Kyle Jones| 574| 1.47| -2.96}}
{{CANelec|ON|CoR|Murray Reid| 309| 0.79| +0.59}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes| 38,985|100.0}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|107|0.27}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|39,092|52.69}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|74,191}}
{{CANelec/hold|ON|PC|+8.58}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wemakevotingeasy.ca/media/EO_Site/official_GE/ED074-F0244.pdf|author=Elections Ontario|date=2011|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke|access-date=2 June 2014}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|2007|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|John Yakabuski| 24,981| 62.35| +18.21}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Sean Kelly| 9,902| 24.71| -17.95}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Felicite Stairs| 3,039| 7.59| -4.07}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Mark MacKenzie| 1,773| 4.43| +2.89}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Bruce Dean| 290| 0.72| }}
{{CANelec|ON|CoR|Tilton Beaumont| 80| 0.20| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 40,065| 100.0| | }}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|2003|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|John Yakabuski| 19,274| 44.14| +3.76}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Derek Nighbor| 18,629| 42.66| -10.69}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Felicite Stairs| 5,092| 11.66| +6.44}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Chris Walker| 671| 1.54| +0.89}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 43,666| 100.0| | }}
{{end}}

===Cabinet positions===

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Doug_Ford}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Kathryn McGarry]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)|Minister of Transportation]]
| post1years = June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[Jeff Yurek]]
| post2preceded = [[Jeff Yurek]]
| post2 = [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry|Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry]]
| post2years = November 5, 2018 – June 18, 2021
| post2note =
| post2followed = [[Greg Rickford]]
}}
{{s-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=john-yakabuski}}

{{Ford Ministry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yakabuski, John}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Canadian Lutherans]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:People from Renfrew County]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]

Michael Gravelle

2025-09-02T10:14:12Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1949)}}
{{for|the adoptive parent convicted of child abuse|Michael and Sharen Gravelle}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Michael Gravelle
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO|size=100%}}
| image = Michael Gravelle 2015.jpg
| caption = Gravelle in 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|01|23}}
| birth_place = [[Port Arthur, Ontario]], Canada
| residence =
| parliament1 = Ontario Provincial
| term_start1 = June 8, 1995
| term_end1 = May 3, 2022
| predecessor1 = [[Shelley Wark-Martyn]]
| successor1 = [[Lise Vaugeois]]
| riding1 = [[Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay—Superior North]] [[Port Arthur (provincial electoral district)|Port Arthur]] (1995–1999)
| party = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Ontario Liberal]]
| occupation = Executive assistant, publicist
}}

'''Michael Gravelle''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO}} (born January 23, 1949) is a [[politician]] in [[Ontario]], Canada. He was a [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] who represented the riding of [[Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay—Superior North]] from [[1995 Ontario general election|1995]] to 2022 (known as [[Port Arthur (provincial electoral district)|Port Arthur]] from 1995 to 1999). He served as a member of cabinet during the [[Dalton McGuinty]] and [[Kathleen Wynne]] governments.

==Background==
Gravelle was born in [[Port Arthur, Ontario|Port Arthur]], which is now a part of [[Thunder Bay]], the son of Edmund Gravelle and Jan Shepherd.<ref name="parl">{{cite book |title=Canadian Parliamentary Guide 2005 |year=2005 |last=O'Handley |first=Kathryn |isbn=1-4144-0141-8}}</ref> He was educated at the [[Port Arthur Collegiate Institute]] and [[Lakehead University]], receiving a degree from the latter institution 1968. He was an assistant to Liberal politicians [[Robert Andras]], [[Stuart Lyon Smith|Stuart Smith]] and [[Joe Comuzzi]]. He also worked as a publicist for the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]], and was a founder of the ''North of Superior Film Association''.<ref name="parl"/>

==Politics==
Gravelle was elected to the Ontario legislature in the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 provincial election]], defeating incumbent [[New Democratic Party of Ontario|New Democrat]] [[Shelley Wark-Martyn]] by almost 7,000 votes in the riding of [[Port Arthur (provincial electoral district)|Port Arthur]].<ref name="1995 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=port+arthur&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 8, 1995 |access-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316080249/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=port+arthur&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=March 16, 2014 }}</ref> The election was won by the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]], and Gravelle joined 29 other Liberals in the opposition benches. He supported [[Dwight Duncan]] for the party leadership in 1996.

Gravelle was easily re-elected for the new riding of Thunder Bay—Superior North in the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 provincial election]].<ref name="1999 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=Thunder Bay-Superior+North&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 3, 1999 |access-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082720/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=Thunder |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In the [[2003 Ontario general election|provincial election of 2003]], Gravelle was re-elected with 72.5 per cent of the popular vote, the highest percentage total in the province.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Thunder Bay-Superior+North&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084751/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Thunder |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He was appointed caucus chair on November 25, 2003. In the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 election]], he was returned by a much narrower margin, 46.8 to 38.3, against New Democrat candidate Jim Foulds.<ref name="2007 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=15 (xxiv) }}</ref>

On October 30, 2007, Gravelle was named Ontario [[Minister of Northern Development and Mines (Ontario)|Minister of Northern Development and Mines]].<ref name="McGuinty2007Cab">{{cite news |title=Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area |last1=Ferguson |first1=Rob |last2=Benzie |first2=Robert |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 31, 2007 |page=A13}}</ref> In the summer of 2009, Gravelle's ministry was expanded, adding on the responsibility of forestry. In 2011 he was shuffled to the position of [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]]. In February 2013, [[Kathleen Wynne]] moved him back to the position of Minister of Northern Development and Mines.<ref name="2013WynneCab">{{cite news |title=Ontario's new cabinet |newspaper=Waterloo Region Record |location=Kitchener, Ont |date=February 12, 2013 |page=A3}}</ref> He was reconfirmed in that role after the 2014 election.<ref name="2014WynneCab">{{cite news |title=Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/06/24/ontario_premier_kathleen_wynnes_new_cabinet_unveiled.html |author1=Richard Brennan |author2=Robert Benzie |author3=Rob Ferguson |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=June 24, 2014}}</ref>

He was re-elected in [[2011 Ontario general election|2011]],<ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=17 }}</ref> and [[2014 Ontario general election|2014]].<ref name="2014 results">{{cite web |title=General Election by District: Thunder Bay-Superior North |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=091 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614003100/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=091 |archive-date=June 14, 2014 }}</ref>

In February 2017, Gravelle temporarily stepped aside as minister because of his battle with [[Mood disorder|depression]]; his duties were taken up by fellow cabinet minister [[Bill Mauro]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/gravelle-steps-down-depression-1.3980557|title=Michael Gravelle steps away from cabinet post, cites year-long battle with depression|date=February 13, 2017|newspaper=[[CBC News]]|access-date=February 13, 2017|language=en-CA}}</ref>

The Liberals were heavily defeated at the [[2018 Ontario general election|2018 provincial election]], and Gravelle was left as the only Liberal MPP in [[Northern Ontario]].

In 2020, Gravelle announced that he would be seeking re-election,<ref>{{cite news |title=Gravelle intends to run for re-election |url=https://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/gravelle-intends-to-run-for-re-election/article_90fd8846-14dd-11eb-b094-7b5cea5809b9.html |access-date=13 May 2022 |work=[[The Chronicle-Journal]] |date=9 November 2020}}</ref> however, in April 2022 he announced that his previous cancer had returned,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rinne |first1=Gary |title=Michael Gravelle fights a new battle with cancer |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/michael-gravelle-fights-a-new-battle-with-cancer-5234721 |access-date=13 May 2022 |work=[[TBNewsWatch.com]] |date=5 April 2022}}</ref> and later that month said that he was not able to run for re-election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Long-serving Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle not seeking re-election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/michael-gravelle-re-election-1.6430520 |access-date=13 May 2022 |work=[[CBC News]] |date=25 April 2022}}</ref>

===Cabinet positions===
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Kathleen_Wynne}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Rick Bartolucci]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (Ontario)|Minister of Northern Development and Mines]]
| post1years = 2013–2018
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[Greg Rickford]]
}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Dalton_McGuinty}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post2preceded = [[Linda Jeffrey]]
| post2 = [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]]
| post2years = 2011–2013
| post2note =
| post2followed = [[David Orazietti]]

| post1preceded = [[Rick Bartolucci]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (Ontario)|Minister of Northern Development and Mines]]
| post1years = 2007–2011
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[Rick Bartolucci]]
}}
{{s-end}}

===Electoral record===
{{CANelec/top|ON|2018|Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay—Superior North|percent=yes|change=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle|11,973|39.86|-16.14}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|[[Lise Vaugeois]]|11,160|37.16|+7.74}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Derek Parks|5,395|17.96|+10.79}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Amanda Moddejonge|838|2.79|-0.8}}
{{CANelec|ON|Northern Ontario|Andy Wolff|376|1.25|+0.76}}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Tony Gallo|148|0.49|-2.84}}
{{CANelec|ON|Trillium|Louise Ewen|145|0.48|}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|30,035|100.0  }}

{{CANelec/total|Turnout||55.0|}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|54,627}}
{{CANelec/hold|ON|Liberal|-11.93}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2018/results/officialresults-yellowbook/votescastbycandidate/pdf/Valid%20Votes%20Cast%20for%20Each%20Candidate%20-%202018%20Provincial%20General%20Election.pdf|title=Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate|page=11|publisher=Elections Ontario|access-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228175029/https://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2018/results/officialresults-yellowbook/votescastbycandidate/pdf/Valid%20Votes%20Cast%20for%20Each%20Candidate%20-%202018%20Provincial%20General%20Election.pdf|archive-date=28 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON |2014 |Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district) |Thunder Bay—Superior North|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle|15,503|56.00|+11.00}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Andrew Foulds|8,144|29.42|-5.43}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Derek Parks|1,985|7.17|-10.34}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Joseph LeBlanc|993|3.59|+1.47}}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Tamara Johnson|922|3.33|+2.82}}
{{CANelec|ON|Northern Ontario Heritage|Paul Sloan|136|0.49|}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|27,683|100.00}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|262|0.94}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|27,945|50.41}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|55,436}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=091|date=2014|author=Elections Ontario|title=General Election Results by District, 091 Thunder Bay-Superior North|access-date=13 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614003100/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=091|archive-date=14 June 2014}}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON |2011 |Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district) |Thunder Bay—Superior North|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle | 11,765| 45.00| -1.78}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|[[Steve Mantis]]| 9,111| 34.85| -3.41}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|[[Anthony LeBlanc]]| 4,578| 17.51| +8.11}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Scot Kyle | 555| 2.12| -3.43}}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Tony Gallo | 133| 0.51| }}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes| 26,142|100.0}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|97|0.37}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|26,239|48.20}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|54,443}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wemakevotingeasy.ca/media/EO_Site/official_GE/ED091-F0244.pdf|author=Elections Ontario|date=2011|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thunder Bay—Superior North|access-date=1 June 2014}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON |2007 |Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district) |Thunder Bay—Superior North|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle| 13,373| 46.78| -25.28}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Jim Foulds| 10,938| 38.26| +23.32}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Scott Hobbs| 2,688| 9.40| -0.16}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Dawn Kannegiesser| 1,586| 5.55| +2.11}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 28,585| 100.0  | | }}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|169|0.59}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|28,754|53.91}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|53,341}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/9DEC8B9F-1C22-4D8B-AF59-F50F83CBF090/0/091ThunderBaySuperiorNorthpollbypoll.pdf|author=Elections Ontario|date=2007|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thunder Bay—Superior North|access-date=1 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501154832/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/9DEC8B9F-1C22-4D8B-AF59-F50F83CBF090/0/091ThunderBaySuperiorNorthpollbypoll.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2014}}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON |2003 |Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district) |Thunder Bay—Superior North|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle| 21,938| 72.45| +11.55}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Bonnie Satten| 4,548| 15.02| -3.53}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Brent Sylvester| 2,912| 9.62| -8.36}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Carl Rose| 882| 2.91| +1.70}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|30,280 | 100.00| | }}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|160|0.53}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|30,440|55.60}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|54,753}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/district/default.jsp?e_code=0&rec=19604&district=thunder%20bay&rec-page=10&flag=E&layout=Gf|author=Elections Ontario|date=2003|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thunder Bay—Superior North|access-date=1 June 2014}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON |1999 |Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district) |Thunder Bay—Superior North|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle| 19,249| 60.9| +11.98}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Nathalie Galesloot | 5,864| 18.55| -7.11}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Ed Linkewich | 5,683| 17.98| -4.47}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Robert Woito | 431| 1.36| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Carl Rose| 382| 1.21| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 31,609| 100.00| | }}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|232|0.73}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|31,841|54.94}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|57,961}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/district/default.jsp?e_code=0&rec=18169&district=thunder%20bay&rec-page=10&flag=E&layout=G|author=Elections Ontario|date=1999|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thunder Bay—Superior North|access-date=1 June 2014}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON |1995 |Port Arthur (provincial electoral district) |Port Arthur|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Michael Gravelle|14,281| 48.92| +9.76}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|(x)[[Shelley Wark-Martyn]] |7,490| 25.66| -17.22}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Jim Doherty |6,554| 22.45| +8.59}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Anita Harris|683| 2.34| -1.76}}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Paul Weber|18| 0.62| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 29,190| 100.00| | }}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|322|1.09}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|29,512|61.91}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|47,672}}
{{end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.michaelgravelle.ca/}}
*{{Ontario MPP biography2|Michael-Gravelle}}

{{Wynne Ministry}}
{{McGuinty Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gravelle, Michael}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Franco-Ontarian people]]
[[Category:Lakehead University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:Politicians from Thunder Bay]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]

David Zimmer

2025-09-02T10:11:40Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{about|the Canadian public official}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = David Zimmer
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO|size=100%}}
| image = David Zimmer.png
| caption = Zimmer in 2010
| parliament1 = Ontario Provincial
| term_start1 = October 2, 2003
| term_end1 = June 7, 2018
| predecessor1 = [[David Young (Ontario politician)|David Young]]
| successor1 = [[Stan Cho]]
| riding1 = [[Willowdale (provincial electoral district)|Willowdale]]
| party = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Ontario Liberal]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|04|07}}
| birth_place = [[Kitchener, Ontario]], Canada
| residence = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| occupation = Lawyer
}}

'''David Zimmer''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO}} (born April 7, 1944) is a former Canadian politician in [[Ontario]], Canada. He was the [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] for [[Willowdale (provincial electoral district)|Willowdale]] from 2003 to 2018. He served in the cabinet of [[Kathleen Wynne]], succeeding Wynne herself as the [[Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (Ontario)|Minister of Aboriginal Affairs]] in 2013 (restyled Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in 2016) for the full five years and four months length of the [[Wynne ministry|Wynne Ministry]]'s.

==Background==
Zimmer was born in [[Kitchener, Ontario]]. He attended University of Ottawa Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario.

From 1982 to 1984, Zimmer was Director of the [[Humane Society]] and from 1993 to 1995 was President of the [[Alzheimer Society of Canada]]. He also served as an administrative law instructor in the [[Law Society of Upper Canada|Law Society]]'s Bar Admission Course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.udiontario.com/issupd/upd031023.htm |title=McGuinty Announces Cabinet Committees and Parliamentary Assistants (23-Oct-03) |publisher=www.udiontario.com |access-date=May 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218071709/http://www.udiontario.com/issupd/upd031023.htm |archive-date=December 18, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1994, Zimmer was appointed by the federal government to the [[Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada]] as its assistant deputy chairman heading the Toronto office, and was shortlisted for the national chairmanship in 1999.<ref>"Ottawa considers new refugee board chief ; Successful candidate faces declining public confidence in system". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', Sep 20, 1999, p.1.</ref> In 2001, he was appointed chairperson of Toronto's [[public housing]] provider, the [[Toronto Community Housing Corporation]].

== Political career ==

=== Early involvement ===
He first sought elected office as an [[alderman]] in Kitchener in the 1970s but was not successful. While living in Kitchener, he was active in the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative Party]]. When the Kitchener—Wilmot [[List of Ontario provincial electoral districts|provincial electoral district]] was created in 1975, Zimmer served as the founding president of the local PC riding association, and managed the 1981 campaign for the local PC candidate Alan Barron. He left the PC Party and joined the Liberals in 1985 , citing disenchantment with both federal leader [[Brian Mulroney]] and provincial leader [[Frank Miller (Canadian politician)|Frank Miller]].<ref>"PC director bolts ranks for Liberals". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 2, 1985, p.8.</ref>

Zimmer acted as legal counsel to candidates of both [[Liberal Party of Canada]] and [[Ontario Liberal Party]] in a number of high profile dispute prior to his election. He was legal counsel for [[Maurizio Bevilacqua]] in the two year saga following his 1988 election, where the close results were extensively contested in court and was eventually voided by the [[Ontario Supreme Court]].<ref>"Election result overturned again". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', December 17, 1988, p.A14.</ref> He also chaired the federal party's permanent appeal committee, overseeing numerous appeals during the [[1990 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|1990 leadership contest]] and from nomination contests prior to the party's victory in [[1993 Canada Election|1993]].

=== Member of Provincial Parliament for Willowdale ===
In the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 Ontario provincial election]], Zimmer ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of [[Willowdale (provincial electoral district)|Willowdale]], defeating [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] incumbent and sitting [[Minister of Municipal Affairs (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs]] [[David Young (Ontario politician)|David Young]] by 1,866 votes.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=willowdale&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911222344/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Willowdale&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=September 11, 2014}}</ref> The contest, billed in the press as "the battle of the Davids",<ref>"Battling Davids don't sling shots". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', Sep 23, 2003, p.C2.</ref> was considered a key race to watch given Young's profile as a possible future PC leader and Willowdale's long history of being represented by prominent PC ministers.<ref>"Young tries to hold key riding; Willowdale". ''The North York Mirror'', 26 Sep, 2003, p.5.</ref> Willowdale was where the PC came the closest to retaining a seat within the City of Toronto in 2003. Despite the competitive contest, Zimmer maintained cordial relations with Young and Young's predecessor [[Charles Harnick]], both predecessors to Zimmer not only as MPP for Willowdale but also as [[Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Ontario)|Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs]] in the Progressive Conservative Ministry of [[Mike Harris]]. Zimmer fended off a challenge by high profile local councillor [[David Shiner (politician)|David Shiner]] in [[2007 Ontario general election|2007]],<ref name=ts>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/ontarioelection/article/265720 |title=Willowdale: Zimmer trumpets victory over 'high-profile' councillor |newspaper= Toronto Star|date=October 11, 2007|author= John Goddard |access-date=May 22, 2010 }}</ref> and was re-elected again [[2011 Ontario general election|2011]],<ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=19 }}</ref> and [[2014 Ontario general election|2014]],<ref name="2014 results">{{cite web |title=General Election by District: Willowdale |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=101 |access-date=August 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923154203/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=101 |archive-date=September 23, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> increasing his share of vote and margin of victory each time.

Between 2003 and 2011, Zimmer served as [[Parliamentary Assistant]] to [[Attorney General of Ontario|Attorneys General]] [[Michael Bryant (politician)|Michael Bryant]] and [[Chris Bentley (politician)|Chris Bentley]]. Between 2011 and 2013, Zimmer served as Parliamentary Assistant to [[Kathleen Wynne]], then [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]] and [[Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Ontario)|Minister of Aboriginal Affairs]]. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (2003–06, 2007–11, 2012), Standing Committee on Estimates (2006–07), Standing Committee on Justice Policy (2006–11), Standing Committee on General Government (2012), Select Committee on Elections (2008–09), and Select Committee on the proposed transaction of the TMX Group and the London Stock Exchange Group (2011).

In 2004, his motion to create an "Elder Abuse Awareness Day" was passed with support from all parties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ontario marks first provincial Elder Abuse Awareness Day |work=Canada NewsWire |date=October 19, 2004}}</ref> He also assisted former Ontario Attorney General [[Michael Bryant (politician)|Michael Bryant]] with legislation to ban pit bulls in Ontario. In 2006, he sponsored a Private Member’s Bill which will suspend the driver’s license of anyone who is convicted of impaired boating. It passed with unanimous consent of all parties in the Ontario Legislature.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=b51b68ea-a815-4274-afb5-6855d321f48c&k=45695 |title=Ontario tightens penalties for impaired boat operators |publisher=www.canada.com |access-date=May 22, 2010 |date=June 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108173054/http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=b51b68ea-a815-4274-afb5-6855d321f48c&k=45695 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Zimmer was awarded the Greatest Local Hero Award by the ''North York Town Crier'' for his volunteer and community work in Willowdale.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} In 2005, he received a "Social Work Doctors’ Colloquium" Award of Merit for his work toward a just and caring society.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zimmer honoured for social work |work=The North York Mirror |date=March 18, 2005}}</ref> He has also been cited for work on Ontario Municipal Board reform and the new City of Toronto Act, which gives Toronto greater power to manage its own affairs.

During [[2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election|Ontario Liberal Party's 2012-13 leadership election]], Zimmer along with [[Linda Jeffrey]], [[Reza Moridi]] and [[Mario Sergio (politician)|Mario Sergio]], were the first four caucus supporters of [[Kathleen Wynne]]'s candidacy, declaring their support at Wynne's campaign launch on November 5, 2012.

=== Minister tasked with indigenous relations & reconciliation ===
In February 2013, Zimmer, who was Premier [[Kathleen Wynne]]'s parliamentary assistant in the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, was appointed by Wynne to succeed herself as the [[Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Ontario)|Minister of Aboriginal Affairs]].<ref name="2013WynneCab">{{cite news |title=Ontario's new cabinet |newspaper=Waterloo Region Record |location=Kitchener, Ont |date=February 12, 2013 |page=A3}}</ref> Zimmer helmed the ministry, the second smallest in the government,{{efn|by headcount and by budget (larger only than [[Ministry of Francophone Affairs|Francophone Affairs]])}} during a period indigenous issues increasingly became a front burner, mainstream area of political discourse, rapidly gaining awareness among the voting public and unprecedent attention from the Ontario government led by Wynne and the [[29th Canadian Ministry|federal administration of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau]]. Under Zimmer's watch, the indigenous affairs ministry was thrusted into roles with much greater prominence and sensitivities while substantially expanded its scope in many of the government's economic policy initiatives.

Wynne placing importance on indigenous issues as both a cross-government priority and a personal priority, and her personal affinity with Zimmer for being one of her earliest backers, were among the key enablers Zimmer's and his ministry's success in securing significant, in some cases unprecedented, progress on many longstanding challenges. For most of his tenure, the ministry's most senior civil servant and its chief political advisor{{efn|Respectively the Deputy Minister and Chief of Staff.}} were both long-time associates of Wynne. Zimmer oversaw Ontario's Response to the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Canada)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]], including a $250 million special investment package, close to twice the ministry's annual budget, on an integrated suite of education, health, cultural and social services programs focused on reconciliation and addressing the legacy and negative impacts of [[Canadian Indian residential school system|residential schools]]. As part of Ontario's response, in June 2016, his ministerial title was renamed to Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation,<ref name="2016WynneCab">{{cite news |title=Kathleen Wynne's shuffled cabinet features 40% women |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-cabinet-changes-1.3632476 |publisher=CBC News |date=June 13, 2016}}</ref> a move later reversed when the Liberals were ousted from government.

Zimmer placed specific focus on the indigenous relationship aspect of his role. He was determined to personally visit as many of Ontario's First Nation Communities as possible, including remote reserves in extremely poor conditions that are difficult to reach. Long long tenure as a minister with a standalone mandate meant he was able to personally represent the government in the home communities of his stakeholders. By the end of his tenure, he personally visited 129 of Ontario's 133 First Nations.

Zimmer held the record as Ontario's [[Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (Ontario)|longest serving minister for indigenous affairs]] until late 2023 when his successor [[Greg Rickford]], who held the role as supplementary to various economic portfolios during different periods surpassed his record of 5 years and 4 months. Zimmer's tenure was the longest continuous period during which the ministry had a dedicated minister at the cabinet table.{{efn|Previously [[Brad Duguid]] led the ministry solely for 16 months.}} His successor [[Greg Rickford]] at the height of his power was charged with leading natural resources, forestry, northern development, mines, and energy in addition to the indigenous ministry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indigenous Affairs could get a shakeup| first=David| last=Reevely| date=June 26, 2018| newspaper=[[National Post]]}}</ref> Despite heading the most bloated cabinet in the province's history, with six ministers minding those same resources portfolio in late 2024, Premier Ford never appointed a full time minister to the indigenous affairs ministry. As of early 2025, Zimmer remains the ministry's last dedicated minister.

Zimmer was one of three ministers who held the same portfolio throughout [[Wynne ministry|Wynne's premiership]], along with [[Ministry of Finance (Ontario)|finance minister]] [[Charles Sousa]] and [[Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry|north development & mines minister]] Michael Gravelle.

The Liberals suffered their worst result in the party's 161-year history in [[2018 Ontario general election|2018]], and Zimmer was defeated locally in Willowdale by [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] candidate [[Stan Cho]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/07/willowdales-stan-cho-take-pcs-into-liberal-territory.html| title=Willowdale's Stan Cho take PCs into Liberal territory| first=Donovan| last=Vincent| date=June 7, 2018| newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> who continues Willowdale's tradition as a ministerial seat in the [[Ford ministry|Ford Ministry]].

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Kathleen_Wynne}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1 = [[Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (Ontario)|Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation]]{{efn|From 2013 to 2016 portfolio was named Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.}}
| post1years = 2013-2018
| post1note =
| post1preceded = [[Chris Bentley (politician)|Chris Bentley]]
| post1followed = [[Greg Rickford]]
}}
{{s-end}}

=== Post Queen's Park ===

Since leaving Queen's Park, Zimmer works part time as a public affairs consultant. He resumed his volunteer role chairing the [[Ontario Liberal Party]]'s dispute resolution body throughout the [[2020 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election|2020]] and [[2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election|2023]] leadership contests, and was one of three panelists who co-led the party's post-mortem review of its [[2022 Ontario general election|2022 electoral defeat]].

===Electoral record===
{{Ontario provincial election, 2018/Willowdale}}

{{CANelec/top|ON|2014|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|David Zimmer|24,300|52.58|+1.58}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Michael Ceci|15,468|33.47|+0.08}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Alexander Brown |4,693|10.15|-2.63}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Teresa Pun |1,758|3.80|+1.65}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|46,219|100.0  ||}}
{{CANelec/hold|ON|Liberal|+1.58}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref name="2014 results"/>}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|2011|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|David Zimmer|22,034|51.00| }}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Vince Agovino|14,428|33.39| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Alexander Brown|5,522|12.78| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Michael Vettese|930|2.15| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Amy Brown|293|0.68| }}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref name="2011 results"/>}}
{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2007 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|David Zimmer|21,065|47.7| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|[[David Shiner (politician)|David Shiner]]|15,418|34.9| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Rini Ghosh|3,755|8.5| }}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Torbjorn Zetterlund |2,920 |6.6 | }}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Heath Thomas|469|1.1| }}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|Kristin Monster|405|0.9| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Charles Roddy Sutherland|121|0.3| }}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref name="2007 results">{{cite web |url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=17 (xxvi) |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2003 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|David Zimmer|21,823|46.97|4.69}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|[[David Young (Ontario politician)|David Young]]|19,957|42.95|-7.57}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Yvonne Bobb|3,084|6.64|2.38}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Sharolyn Vettese |933 |2.01 |1.26}}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|Rina Morra|442|0.95|0.02}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Vaughan Byrnes|227|0.49|0.14}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref name="2003 results"/>}}
{{end}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{OntarioMPPbio|id=david-zimmer}}

{{Wynne Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zimmer, David}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kitchener, Ontario]]

Howard Hampton

2025-09-02T10:00:15Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1952)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Howard Hampton
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO|size=100%}}
| image = Howard Hampton, Toronto City Summit Alliance (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hampton in 2003
| office1 = Leader of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]]
| term_start1 = June 22, 1996
| term_end1 = March 7, 2009
| predecessor1 = [[Bob Rae]]
| successor1 = [[Andrea Horwath]]
| office2 = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start2 = 1999
| term_end2 = 2011
| predecessor2 = ''Riding established''
| successor2 = [[Sarah Campbell]]
| constituency2 = [[Kenora—Rainy River (provincial electoral district)|Kenora—Rainy River]]
| term_start3 = 1987
| term_end3 = 1999
| predecessor3 = [[Jack Pierce (politician)|Jack Pierce]]
| successor3 = ''Riding abolished''
| constituency3 = [[Rainy River (electoral district)|Rainy River]]
| party = [[Ontario New Democratic Party|Ontario New Democratic]]
| birth_name = Howard George Hampton
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|5|17|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Frances]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| residence = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| relatives = [[Elie Martel]] (father-in-law)
| spouse = [[Shelley Martel]]
| children = Sarah Hampton Jonathan Hampton
| occupation = Lawyer
}}

'''Howard George Hampton''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECO}} (born May 17, 1952) is a politician who was a [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|member of Provincial Parliament]] for the province of [[Ontario]]. He served in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]], Canada, from 1987 to 1999 in the electoral district of [[Rainy River (electoral district)|Rainy River]], and from 1999 to 2011 in the redistributed electoral district of [[Kenora—Rainy River (provincial electoral district)|Kenora—Rainy River]]. A member of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]], he was also the party's leader from 1996 to 2009. Hampton retired from the legislature at the [[2011 Ontario general election|2011 Ontario provincial election]]<ref name="Hampton retires">{{cite news|last=Robert|first=Benzie|title=Former NDP leader Howard Hampton quits|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1032630--former-ndp-leader-howard-hampton-quits|access-date=2011-07-30|newspaper=The Toronto Star|location=Toronto|date=2011-07-30}}</ref> and subsequently joined [[Fasken Martineau|Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP]] as a member of the law firm's [[corporate social responsibility]] and aboriginal affairs groups.<ref name=fasken>{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Jeff|title=Former Ontario A-G joins Fasken Martineau|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/streetwise/former-ontario-a-g-joins-fasken-martineau/article2206882/|access-date=October 20, 2011|newspaper=Globe and Mail|date=October 19, 2011|archive-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223112604/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/streetwise/former-ontario-a-g-joins-fasken-martineau/article2206882/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

His wife, [[Shelley Martel]], was also an MPP until 2007, representing [[Nickel Belt (provincial electoral district)|Nickel Belt]].<ref>''George Hampton, Ontario NDP leader's father, dies of heart attack'', Niagara Falls Review (ON). Canada, Wednesday, January 4, 2006, p. A8. accessed on October 6, 2006.</ref>

==Early life, education, and early career==
Hampton was born in [[Fort Frances]], [[Ontario]] to a [[blue collar]] family, George (April 17, 1928 - January 2, 2006) and Elsie (November 8, 1931 - April 18, 2016) Hampton.<ref name=Barrie>''Howard Hampton's father dies'', Barrie Examiner (ON). News, Wednesday, January 4, 2006, p. A8. accessed on October 6, 2006.</ref><ref>https://memorials.northridgefuneralhome.com/elsa-hampton/2478584/obituary.php</ref> He was a good student, but also athletically gifted and politically active. He first joined the NDP when he was a teenager.

Hampton took an [[undergraduate degree]] in [[philosophy]] and [[religion]] from [[Dartmouth College]] in New Hampshire, where he played varsity hockey for the school's Division I [[NCAA]] [[ice hockey]] team.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Internet Hockey Database - Howie Hampton |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=43463 |publisher=HockeyDB.com |access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref> He later obtained a degree in education from the [[University of Toronto]] and a [[law degree]] from the [[University of Ottawa]]. He worked as a [[lawyer]] for the [[Canadian Labour Congress]], and for the [[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party|provincial NDP]] government of [[Allan Blakeney]] in [[Saskatchewan]].

==Enters provincial politics==
Hampton sought election to the Ontario legislature under the NDP banner in the [[1977 Ontario general election|1977 provincial election]], placing third against incumbent [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[T. Patrick Reid|Pat Reid]] and [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] Gordon Armstrong in [[Rainy River (electoral district)|Rainy River]].<ref name="1977 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Ontario provincial election results riding by riding |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=June 10, 1977 |page=D9}}</ref> He ran for the riding again in the [[1985 Ontario general election|1985 provincial election]], and lost to Progressive Conservative candidate [[Jack Pierce (politician)|Jack Pierce]] by 278 votes.<ref name="1985 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Results of vote in Ontario election |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 3, 1985 |page=13}}</ref>

==Cabinet minister==
Hampton was elected to [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]] on his third attempt, in the [[1987 Ontario general election|provincial election of 1987]].<ref name="1987 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Results from individual ridings |newspaper=The Windsor Star |date=September 11, 1987 |page=F2}}</ref> He was re-elected in the [[1990 Ontario general election|1990 provincial election]], in which the NDP won a majority government.<ref name="1990 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 7, 1990 |page=A12}}</ref> On October 1, 1990, he was appointed [[Ontario Attorney General|Attorney General]] in the government of [[Bob Rae]].<ref name="1990RaeCabinet">{{cite news |title=Ontario cabinet |newspaper=The Windsor Star |date=October 1, 1990 |page=A4}}</ref>

By all accounts, Hampton and Rae were not cabinet allies. Hampton disapproved of many of the Rae government's centrist policies; in particular, he opposed Rae's decision to retreat from an election pledge to introduce public automobile insurance in the province. Journalist [[Thomas Walkom]] has argued that Rae deliberately undermined Hampton's control over the Attorney General's office, staffing the ministry with bureaucrats to which he was ideologically incompatible. However, Walkom has also noted that Hampton supported Rae's decision to impose a [[Social Contract]] of wage restraints and cost-saving measures on Ontario public servants.

Following a cabinet shuffle on February 3, 1993, Hampton was demoted to [[Ontario Minister of Natural Resources|Minister of Natural Resources]], responsible for [[Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Ontario)|Native Affairs]]. [[Marion Boyd]] replaced him as Attorney General.<ref name="1993RaeCabinet">{{cite news |title=Rae chops 10 ministries 'leaner' cabinet sworn in |first=William |last=Walker |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=February 3, 1993 |page=A1}}</ref> The NDP was defeated in the [[1995 Ontario general election|provincial election of 1995]], and Hampton was re-elected over Progressive Conservative [[Lynn Beyak]] by only 205 votes.<ref name="1995 Election Results">{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=rainy+river&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 8, 1995 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Cabinet posts===
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Bob_Rae}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post2preceded = [[Bud Wildman]]
| post2 = [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]]
| post2years = 1993–1995
| post2note = Also Responsible for Native Affairs
| post2followed = [[Chris Hodgson]]

| post1preceded = [[Ian Scott (Ontario politician)|Ian Scott]]
| post1 = [[Attorney General of Ontario|Attorney General]]
| post1years = 1990–1993
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[Marion Boyd]]
}}
{{s-end}}

==Ontario NDP Leader==
[[File:Howard Hampton Speech CUPE3903.jpg|thumb|Howard Hampton at [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]] addressing [[CUPE]] 3903 members protesting against back to work legislation during a York University strike]]
After Rae retired from provincial politics, Hampton became the [[1996 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election|leader of the NDP]] on June 22, 1996, beating [[Frances Lankin]], who was seen as a Rae ally and whom many had considered the front-runner, on the third ballot. Leadership candidate [[Peter Kormos]] and his support generally went to Hampton rather than Lankin, which was seen as important to Hampton's victory. [[Tony Silipo]] also ran for the leadership and would become Hampton's Deputy Leader until 1999.<ref name=Barrie />


In the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 Ontario election]], some progressives and union leaders, who had been a crucial source of NDP support before 1995, attempted to defeat [[Mike Harris]], the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Progressive Conservative]] premier, by abandoning the NDP for the [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberals]]. This [[tactical voting]], commonly called "strategic voting," did not succeed in ousting the Harris government, but nearly decimated the NDP, as they took just nine seats and 12 per cent of the popular vote in their worst election showing since the 1950s. As Hampton was not judged to have been at fault, he stayed on as leader. Hampton himself faced a challenging re-election; the Harris government had reduced the number of ridings in Ontario from 130 to 103, and Hampton faced off against [[Frank Miclash]], the Liberal MPP for the adjoining [[Kenora (provincial electoral district)|Kenora]] riding, in the amalgamated riding of [[Kenora—Rainy River (provincial electoral district)|Kenora-Rainy River]]. Hampton defeated Miclash by 3,000 votes.

[[Image:Mohamed Boudjenane group victory.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Howard Hampton shares the stage at Mohamed Boudjenane's nomination meeting with fellow NDP politicians and candidates. Pictured from left to right; [[Rosario Marchese]], MPP [[Trinity–Spadina]]; Mohamed Boudjenane, provincial candidate for [[Etobicoke North (federal electoral district)|Etobicoke North]]; '''Howard Hampton''', Ontario NDP Leader; and Ali Naqvi, federal NDP candidate for Etobicoke North.July 9, 2007.]]
Hampton endorsed [[Bill Blaikie]] in the latter's unsuccessful bid for the federal [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]] leadership in 2002. This decision was unpopular with some other members of his caucus, including Deputy Leader [[Marilyn Churley]] who was a leading supporter of [[Jack Layton]].

In Harris' second term, the government unveiled plans to privatize the public electricity utility, [[Ontario Hydro]]. Hampton quickly distinguished himself as an advocate of maintaining public ownership of the utility, and published a book on the subject, ''Public Power'', in 2003. Harris' successor as premier, [[Ernie Eves]], ultimately reached the decision not to sell the hydro utility.

Hampton and the NDP won only seven seats in the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 Ontario election]], losing [[official party status]] for the first time since [[1963 Ontario general election|1963]]. However, Hampton retained his seat and the party increased its share of the popular vote by 2 per cent. After intense lobbying to lower the minimum number of seats for party status, a compromise was reached which allowed additional funding for the NDP and more inquiry opportunities during [[Question Period]].

Ultimately, this controversy was all for nought as on May 13, 2004, the NDP regained official party status in a [[by-election]] in [[Hamilton East (federal electoral district)|Hamilton East]], where city councillor [[Andrea Horwath]] was elected to fill the vacancy left by the death of Liberal member [[Dominic Agostino]]. When [[Marilyn Churley]] resigned her [[Toronto—Danforth (provincial electoral district)|Toronto—Danforth]] seat in May 2005, the NDP was granted official party status at first until the by-election, and then until the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 provincial election]]; NDP candidate [[Peter Tabuns]] won the seat.

The Ontario NDP increased its seat count to nine in September 2006, when well-known local [[United Church]] minister [[Cheri DiNovo]] won a byelection. The seat became vacant when Liberal MPP [[Gerard Kennedy]] resigned to seek the [[Liberal Party of Canada]] [[2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|leadership]].

Hampton launched the Ontario NDP's 2007 provincial election campaign at the party's Fresh Ideas New Energy January 2007 policy convention. Hampton's keynote speech focused on the party's campaign to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour, and signalled the NDP's renewed focus on matters of economic justice.<ref>Kerry Gillespie, "[https://www.thestar.com/Unassigned/article/175702 NDP leader wants $10 wage vote] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013194827/http://www.thestar.com/Unassigned/article/175702 |date=2012-10-13 }}", ''Toronto Star'', January 28, 2007</ref> The NDP also unveiled a new logo and look.<ref>Canada News Wire, "[http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/January2007/26/c9871.html Ontario's NDP moves forward with confidence, new look] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100105/http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/January2007/26/c9871.html |date=2007-09-29 }}", January 26, 2007</ref>

Hampton's NDP increased its seat count to 10 in February 2007, when businessman and community activist [[Paul Ferreira]] defeated star Liberal candidate [[Laura Albanese]] in a byelection in the Toronto riding of [[York South—Weston (federal electoral district)|York South-Weston]]. The seat became vacant when Liberal cabinet minister [[Joe Cordiano]] resigned. The NDP's campaign for the $10 minimum wage and its opposition to a controversial 25 per cent pay raise for MPPs were cited as key factors in the upset win.<ref>Rob Ferguson, "[https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/02/09/ndp_pulls_upset.html NDP pulls upset]", ''Toronto Star'', February 8, 2007</ref>

Despite several encouraging opinion polls that predicted a gain of several seats, Hampton's NDP failed to increase its seat count beyond 10 in the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 provincial election]]. While there was speculation following the election that he may retire, Hampton announced at the November 24, 2007, NDP provincial council that he was staying as party leader.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stuffco |first=Jared |date=November 25, 2007 |title=Hampton to stay at NDP helm |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/hampton-to-stay-at-ndp-helm/article_3ac265af-5343-5d7f-98a8-0801f801882c.html |url-status=live |work=[[Toronto Star]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |access-date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113172050/https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/hampton-to-stay-at-ndp-helm/article_3ac265af-5343-5d7f-98a8-0801f801882c.html |archive-date=January 13, 2024}}</ref> However, in April 2008, he indicated he was considering his political future<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=April 7, 2008 |title=Hampton to outline political future |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-bay-nugget-hampton-to-outline-poli/138648981/ |work=[[North Bay Nugget]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |page=A7 |access-date=January 13, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and, on June 14, 2008, he announced that he would not stand for re-election as party leader at the March 2009 party convention.<ref>Keith Leslie, [https://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/443215 "Hampton to step down as NDP leader: Sources"], ''Toronto Star''. June 13, 2008.</ref> He remained an MPP for the remainder of his parliamentary mandate, but did not run in the [[2011 Ontario general election|2011 election]].

==Recent career==
Hampton currently lives Fort Frances. He and his wife Shelley Martel are separated.

After leaving politics, Hampton worked for several years for the Toronto law firm [[Fasken Martineau]].<ref name=fed/>

In November 2014, Hampton was appointed as a consultant to [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|federal NDP]] leader [[Thomas Mulcair]] on the [[Northern Ontario Ring of Fire]] mining development. After several months of being encouraged by the party to run as its candidate in [[Kenora (federal electoral district)|Kenora]] against federal Natural Resources minister [[Greg Rickford]],<ref name=fed>{{cite news|title=NDP seeking Howard Hampton's return to politics|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-seeking-howard-hampton-s-return-to-politics-1.2940286|access-date=February 2, 2015|work=CBC News|date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> Hampton announced that he would seek the party's nomination in the riding for the [[42nd Canadian federal election|October 19, 2015 federal election]]; he subsequently won the nomination. The federal riding includes much of Hampton's old provincial riding.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Jamie|title=Former Ontario NDP leader makes jump into federal politics|url=http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/371715/Former_Ontario_NDP_leader_makes_jump_into_federal_politics|access-date=29 May 2015|agency=TBNewswatch|date=29 May 2015}}</ref> Hampton finished second behind the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] candidate, former MP and cabinet minister [[Bob Nault]], pushing Rickford into third place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/liberals-defeat-conservative-cabinet-minister-in-kenora-1.3279570|title=Liberals defeat Conservative cabinet minister in Kenora|publisher=CBC News|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=December 1, 2015}}</ref>

==Election results==

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|Kenora (federal electoral district)|Kenora|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Bob Nault]]|10,898|35.39}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Howard Hampton|10,379|33.71}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[Greg Rickford]]|8,760|28.45}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Ember C. McKilop|501|1.63}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Kelvin Boucher-Chicago|162|0.53}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|30,791|100.00}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|2007|Kenora—Rainy_River_(provincial_electoral_district)|Kenora-Rainy River|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Howard Hampton|14,281|60.62|+0.87}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Wood|5,752|24.42|-1.31}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Penny Lucas|2,757|11.70|-1.05}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Jo Jo Holiday|769|3.26|+1.49}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|23,559|100.00}}
{{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|row}}
|align="left" colspan=2|[[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democrat]] '''hold'''
|align="right"|'''Swing'''
|align="right"| +1.09
{{end}}

^ Change is from redistributed results

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|2003|Kenora—Rainy_River_(provincial_electoral_district)|Kenora-Rainy River|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Howard Hampton|15,666|60.12|+15.38}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Geoff McClain|6,746|25.69|-9.45}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Cathe Hoszowski|3,343|12.83|-4.36}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Dan King|305|1.17|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|26,060| 100.0| | }}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|1999|Kenora—Rainy_River_(provincial_electoral_district)|Kenora-Rainy River|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Howard Hampton|14,269|44.74}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|[[Frank Miclash]]|11,209|35.14}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|[[Lynn Beyak]]|5,483|17.19}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Richard Bruyere|934|2.93}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 31,895| 100.0}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=howard-hampton|old_id=42|name=Howard Hampton}}

{{Ontario NDP Leaders}}
{{Ontario general election, 2007A}}
{{Rae Ministry}}
{{Ontario Attorneys General}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hampton, Howard}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Attorneys general of Ontario]]
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey players]]
[[Category:Canadian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Dartmouth College alumni]]
[[Category:Lawyers in Ontario]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Ontario New Democratic Party]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party candidates for the Canadian House of Commons]]
[[Category:Ontario candidates for Member of Parliament]]
[[Category:Ontario New Democratic Party MPPs]]
[[Category:People from Fort Frances]]
[[Category:University of Ottawa alumni]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:University of Ottawa Faculty of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]

Southern Ontario

2025-09-02T09:55:42Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Primary region of Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement



| name = Southern Ontario
| official_name = Southern Ontario
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[List of regions of Canada|Primary region]]

| image_map = Map of Ontario SOUTHERN.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| caption = Southern Ontario
| map_caption = ██ Core area ██ Extended area
| coordinates = {{coord|44|00|N|80|00|W|type:adm1st_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Canada}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Ontario}}

| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = 
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 114,217
| area_total_sq_mi = 44,099
| area_blank1_title = Core area
| area_blank1_km2 = 101,264
| area_blank1_sq_mi = 39,098
| area_blank2_title = Extended area
| area_blank2_km2 = 12,953
| area_blank2_sq_mi = 5,001

| population_as_of = [[2021 Canadian census|2021]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 13,481,332
| population_blank1_title = Core area
| population_blank1 = 13,367,749
| population_blank2_title = Extended area
| population_blank2 = 113,583
| population_density_km2 = 118.0

| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = −05:00
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −04:00

| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Canada|Postal code]] prefixes
| postal_code = [[List of postal codes of Canada: K|K]], [[List of postal codes of Canada: L|L]], [[List of postal codes of Canada: M|M]], [[List of postal codes of Canada: N|N]]
| area_codes = [[Area codes 519, 226, 548, and 382|226]], [[Area codes 705, 249, and 683|249]], [[Area codes 905, 289, 365, and 742|289]], [[Area codes 613, 343, and 753|343]], [[Area codes 905, 289, 365, and 742|365]], [[Area codes 416, 647, 437, and 942|416]], [[Area codes 416, 647, 437, and 942|437]], [[Area codes 519, 226, 548, and 382|519]], [[Area codes 519, 226, 548, and 382|548]], [[Area codes 613, 343, and 753|613]], [[Area codes 416, 647, 437, and 942|647]], [[Area codes 705, 249, and 683|705]], [[Area codes 905, 289, 365, and 742|905]]
| population_demonym = Southern Ontarian
}}

'''Southern Ontario''' is a [[list of regions of Canada|primary region]] of the Canadian [[provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[Ontario]]. It is the most densely populated and southernmost region in Canada, with approximately 13.5 million people, approximately 36% of Canada's population of 37 million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Statistics Canada|title=Census of Population|date=15 January 2001 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm?MM=1|access-date=March 9, 2022|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The region lies south of the province's other primary region, [[Northern Ontario]], although the exact northern boundary of Southern Ontario is disputed. However, its core region is situated south of [[Algonquin Park]], the latter being in an area of transition between [[Temperate coniferous forest|coniferous forest]] north of the [[French River, Ontario|French]] and [[Mattawa River|Mattawa]] Rivers and southern [[Temperate deciduous forest|deciduous forest]]. It covers between 14 and 15% of the province, depending on the inclusion of the [[Parry Sound District, Ontario|Parry Sound]] and [[District Municipality of Muskoka|Muskoka]] districts which also lie in the transitional area between northern and southern forest regions.
Southern Ontario differs greatly from [[Northern Ontario]], having a much higher population density, a different climate, and a different culture than its northern counterpart. It is broken into smaller subregions, including [[Central Ontario]], [[Eastern Ontario]], the [[Golden Horseshoe]], and [[Southwestern Ontario]].

The core area of Southern Ontario is part of the [[Quebec City–Windsor Corridor]], which extends northeast into southern [[Quebec]]. The transitional northern area of this primary region extends north to the Mattawa River and occupies part of the [[Grenville orogeny|Grenville Geological Province]] of the [[Canadian Shield]], which also extends northeast into southern Quebec; most of Northern Ontario lies within the [[Superior craton|Superior Geological Province]].

==Identity==
Southern Ontario can be distinguished from Northern Ontario because it is far more densely populated and contains most of the province's cities, major roads, and institutions. Northern Ontario, in contrast, contains more natural resources and remote wilderness. Although it has no saltwater coastline, the region has an abundance of freshwater coastlines on three [[Great Lakes]] ([[Lake Huron|Huron]], [[Lake Erie|Erie]] and [[Lake Ontario|Ontario]]), as well as smaller lakes such as [[Lake Simcoe]] and [[Lake Saint Clair (North America)|Lake St. Clair]]. It is a major [[vineyard]] region and producer of [[Canadian wine]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.winesofcanada.com/regions.html|title=Canada's Wine Regions}}</ref>

While Southern Ontario has been a part of the province of Ontario since its establishment at [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] in 1867, previously forming the colony of Upper Canada, a large portion of Northern Ontario did not become part of Ontario until 1912.

==History==
{{Main|History of Ontario}}
[[File:UndergroundRailroadmonumentWindsor.jpg|right|upright|thumb|[[Underground Railroad]] monument, Windsor]]

The French explored and colonized Territorial Southern Ontario in the 17th century and forged relations with the [[Wyandot people|Wyandot]] ''Huron'' people, based around the Georgian Bay/Lake Simcoe area. Other [[Iroquois|Iroquoian]] speaking people to the south were the [[Petun]] and [[Attawandaron|Neutral Nation]], and further northeast, [[Algonquian peoples|Algonquin]]s inhabited the upper Ottawa River/Madawaska Valley areas and the [[Mississaugas]] moved south from northern Lake Huron, settling lands in both the [[Kawartha Lakes|Kawartha]] region and just west of Toronto.

Following the [[Seven Years' War]], the British wrested control of Southern Ontario, and more significant colonization efforts were spurred on by the arrival of [[United Empire Loyalist]]s brought on by the [[American Revolution]].

Southern Ontario was where a large portion of the battles took place during the [[War of 1812]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warof1812.ca/battles.htm |title=Battles |work=The War of 1812 Website |publisher=The Discriminating General |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> and was a major destination for escaping slaves using the [[Underground Railroad]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackhistorysociety.ca/URR.htm |title=Showing Gratitude during Black History Month |publisher=Ontario Black History Society |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref>

Following the enactment of [[Prohibition in the United States]] in 1919, Southern Ontario immediately became a hotbed of smuggling alcohol ''(spirit)'' across the border.

==Demographics==
Southern Ontario is home to over 94%, or 12.1 million, of Ontario's total population of 12.9 million (and about 35% of Canada's total population), compared to approximately 750,000 in Northern Ontario. This is due to many factors, including the more arable land in the south, its more moderate climate, well-used transportation (water, land, and air) routes, as well as a long history of early European [[settlers]] and [[colonialism]].

For thousands of years, Ontario has been home to [[indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] [[aboriginal peoples in Canada|aboriginal]] communities, with numerous nations with differing languages at the time of European contact. Over 200,000 aboriginal Canadians live in Southern Ontario today.

Southern Ontario was colonized by the [[French colonial empire|French]] and the [[British Empire|British]]. After the area began to be developed for European settlement, especially after the American Revolutionary War, other [[European colonialism|European]] immigrants arrived as well, with increased immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since the late 20th century, many immigrants have come from Asia and other parts of the world. The region is one of the top destinations for immigrants worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/economy/demographics/census/cenhi5.html |title=Census 2001 Highlights: Factsheet 5: Immigration to Ontario }}</ref> particularly the [[Greater Toronto Area]].

{{Wide image|Toronto skyline tommythompsonpark.jpg|1000px|Toronto skyline in 2005}}

==Economy==
The area has a large manufacturing sector. Since the mid-2000s, Ontario has produced more vehicles per year than the state of [[Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investmentexecutive.com/client/en/News/DetailNews.asp?id=27404&IdSection=148&cat=148 |title=Ontario auto industry outpaced Michigan last year |date=February 1, 2005 |publisher=Investment Executive |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928104837/http://www.investmentexecutive.com/client/en/News/DetailNews.asp?id=27404&IdSection=148&cat=148 |archive-date=2011-09-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a cross-border definition, a swath of Southern Ontario could be considered a part of the [[Rust Belt]].<ref>Craig S. Campbell, "Rust Belt," in The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia, eds. Richard Sisson, Christian Zacher, and Andrew Cayton, Indiana University Press, 2007, p. 78.</ref> Factory closings because of industry restructuring and globalization (corresponding movement of jobs overseas and to non-unionized labour markets in the United States) have for the past few decades taken their toll. This is most evident in the region's southern tier cities, which have large automobile or associated industrial bases, such as [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[London, Ontario|London]], [[St. Thomas, Ontario|St. Thomas]] and [[St. Catharines, Ontario|St. Catharines]]. Still affected by these factors, but to a lesser extent, is [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], the centre of steel production, and [[Sarnia, Ontario|Sarnia]], the centre of petrochemical production. The province's two largest cities, Toronto and Ottawa, have moved increasingly to a service and knowledge economy. Toronto is home to the country's financial sector, including the [[Big Five (banks)|major Canadian banks]] and [[Toronto Stock Exchange]]. Ottawa, the national capital, is home to the [[Government of Canada]] and most government [[Structure of the Canadian federal government|departments]] and agencies, in addition to having a strong technology sector.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ottawa's economy expected to weather pandemic better than other Canadian cities {{!}} CBC News|language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-local-economy-pandemic-conference-board-of-canada-1.5567632|access-date=2021-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dept|first=Finance|date=2019-08-07|title=Economy and demographics|url=https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget/financial-reports-and-statements/long-range-financial-plans/long-range-financial-plan-iii-part-1-and-part-2/economy-and-demographics|access-date=2021-01-28|website=ottawa.ca|language=en}}</ref>

Some parts of Southern Ontario are heavily entwined with bordering cities in [[New York (state)|New York]] and Michigan in terms of industry and people. The focus areas are the [[Buffalo Niagara Region|Buffalo–Niagara]], [[Sarnia]] and [[Detroit–Windsor]]. Many people work and live on opposite sides of the border. The [[NEXUS]] program for frequent travelers across the border<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pcbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html |title=NEXUS |author=Canada Border Services Agency }}{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> is increasing in popularity among bordering communities. Other areas with heavy trade traffic with Southern Ontario include [[Montreal]] and the province of [[Quebec]], parts of northern [[Ohio]], and western [[Pennsylvania]].

Most of the province's agriculture is found here. That includes most of Ontario's berry growers, who are represented by {{visible anchor|Ontario Berries}}.<ref name="On-Berr">{{cite web | access-date=2022-08-16 | title=Berry Growers Ontario | website=[[Ontario Berries]] | url=https://www.ontarioberries.com/}}</ref>

==Tourism==
Southern Ontario is well known for its attractions and tourism. Some popular tourist attractions include the [[CN Tower]], [[Parliament Hill]], [[Niagara Falls]], [[National Gallery of Canada]], [[Canada's Wonderland]], [[Canadian National Exhibition|CNE]], [[Caesars Windsor]], [[Canadian War Museum]], [[Toronto Zoo]], [[Hockey Hall of Fame]], [[Ripley's Aquarium of Canada]], [[Royal Canadian Mint]], [[Marineland of Canada|Marineland]], [[Rideau Canal|The Rideau Canal]], the [[Canadian Museum of History]] and the [[Royal Ontario Museum]].

[[Niagara Falls]] is the 6th most visited attraction by domestic and international tourists worldwide, with over 14 million tourists annually. In 2006, [[Toronto]] was the 14th most visited city by international tourists in the world, with over 4.1 million visitors in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euromonitor.com/top-150-city-destinations-london-leads-the-way/article |title=Top 150 City Destinations: London Leads the Way |author=Caroline Bremner |date=October 2007 |publisher=Euromonitor International |access-date=May 19, 2011}}</ref> [[Ottawa]] is the most visited city in Canada by domestic tourists, hosting over 6.9 million Canadian visitors per year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.obj.ca/Local/Sports-and-entertainment/2013-08-01/article-3335119/Cashing-in%3A-The-economic-impact-of-an-Ottawa-casino/1 |title=Cashing in: The economic impact of an Ottawa casino |date=August 2013 |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013173415/http://www.obj.ca/Local/Sports-and-entertainment/2013-08-01/article-3335119/Cashing-in%3A-The-economic-impact-of-an-Ottawa-casino/1 |archive-date=2013-10-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Southern Ontario is home to several professional sports teams, including the [[Ottawa Senators]] and [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] in the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]; the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in [[Major League Baseball]]; the [[National Basketball Association|NBA's]] [[Toronto Raptors]]; soccer's [[Toronto FC]] in [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] and [[Atlético Ottawa]] in the [[Canadian Premier League]]; and three teams in the [[Canadian Football League]]—the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]], [[Ottawa Redblacks]], and [[Toronto Argonauts]]. The region also hosts the [[Canadian Open (golf)|Canadian Open]] in golf and [[Canadian Open (tennis)|Rogers Cup]] in tennis.{{efn|"Rogers Cup" is the current sponsored name. The men's version, held in Toronto in even-numbered years, is generically known as the Canada Masters, and the women's version, held in Toronto in odd-numbered years, is generically known as the Canadian Open.}}
[[Image:Niagara falls at Night.jpg|thumb|275px|Niagara Falls in 2009]]
The area sponsors many internationally renowned festivals and events, including [[Toronto International Film Festival]], [[Winterlude]], [[Caribana Festival (Canada)|Caribana]], [[Ottawa Bluesfest|Bluesfest]], [[Pride Week (Toronto)|Pride Week]], [[Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest|Kitchener Oktoberfest]], [[Havelock Country Jamboree|Havelock Jamboree]], [[Honda Indy Toronto|Toronto Indy]], [[Sarnia Bayfest]], [[Canada Day]] in Ottawa, [[Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival|International Freedom Festival]] in [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Stratford Festival]], [[Shaw Festival]] and [[Virgin Festival]].

Several large legal gambling establishments have been built throughout the Province,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olg.ca/slots-casinos/index.jsp |title=Slots and Casinos |publisher=Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704144341/http://www.olg.ca/slots-casinos/index.jsp |archive-date=2011-07-04 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> with [[Caesars Windsor]] and [[Fallsview Casino]] being the two flagship casinos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caesarswindsor.com/casinos/casino-windsor/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml |title=Caesars Windsor |publisher=Caesars License Company, LLC |access-date=May 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com/ |title=Fallsview Casino Resort Home |publisher=Fallsview Casino Resort |access-date=May 19, 2011}}</ref> In addition to casinos, Ontario has many legal [[horseracing]] facilities with [[slot machines]]. Racetrack slots are located throughout the Province. All gaming in the Province is overseen by the [[Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation]] (OLG), and the [[Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agco.on.ca/en/home/index.aspx |title=Welcome to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario |access-date=May 28, 2011}}</ref>

Southern Ontario has many natural attractions. [[Wasaga Beach, Ontario|Wasaga Beach]], [[Grand Bend, Ontario|Grand Bend]], [[Sauble Beach, Ontario|Sauble Beach]], and [[Sandbanks Provincial Park|Sandbanks]] are beaches along the [[Great Lakes]]. The [[Niagara Escarpment]] offers hiking, skiing, and hundreds of waterfalls, including [[Niagara Falls]]. The [[Ottawa River]] has white-water rafting which attracts [[Rafting|rafters]] and [[Kayaking|kayakers]] from all over the world. [[Ontario Parks]] governs all provincial parks, and [[Parks Canada]] governs all [[National Parks of Canada|national parks]].

==Cities==
Southern Ontario is home to both Canada's capital city (Ottawa), and Canada's largest city (Toronto).

Southern Ontario communities have 13 telephone [[List of Ontario area codes|area codes]]: 226, 249, 289, 343, 365, 382, 416, 437, 519, 548, 613, 647, 705, and 905.

Statistics Canada's measure of a "metro area", the [[Census Metropolitan Area]] (CMA),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/reference/dict/geo009.htm |title=Geographic Units: Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA) |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=May 28, 2011 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930150918/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/reference/dict/geo009.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220209/t002a-eng.htm |title=Population and population growth rate of census metropolitan areas in Canada, 2011 to 2016 and 2016 to 2021, ranked by percentage of growth in 2021 |date=9 February 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> roughly bundles together population figures from the core municipality with those from "commuter" municipalities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data |date=2008-11-05 |access-date=2009-04-01 |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=202&PR=35&S=0&O=A&RPP=50 |publisher=Statistics Canada |archive-date=2009-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504145258/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=202&PR=35&S=0&O=A&RPP=50 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Note: A city's [[metropolitan area]] may actually be larger than its CMA. For example; [[Oshawa]] is part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]]; however, it is considered its own CMA. {{See also|Golden Horseshoe|Detroit–Windsor|National Capital Region (Canada)}}
[[File:Ottawa from McKenzie King Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Ottawa in 2005]]
{| class="wikitable"
|- "
!Southern Ontario Cities {{tooltip|†|Not all metropolitan areas listed.}}
!2021
!2016
!2011
!2006
!2001
|-
|[[Greater Toronto Area|Toronto]] CMA
|6,202,225
|5,928,040
|5,583,064
|5,113,149
|4,682,897
|-
|[[National Capital Region (Canada)|Ottawa]] CMA
|1,488,307
|1,323,783
|1,236,324
|1,130,761
|1,067,800
|-
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] CMA
|785,184
|747,545
|721,053
|692,911
|662,401
|-
|[[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]]–[[Cambridge, Ontario|Cambridge]]–[[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]] CMA
|575,847
|523,894
|477,160
|451,235
|414,284
|-
|[[London, Ontario|London]] CMA
|543,551
|494,069
|474,786
|457,720
|435,600
|-
|[[St. Catharines]]–[[Regional Municipality of Niagara, Ontario|Niagara]] CMA
|433,604
|406,074
|392,184
|390,317
|377,009
|-
|[[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] CMA
|422,630
|398,718
|319,246
|323,342
|307,877
|-
|[[Oshawa]] CMA
|415,311
|379,848
|356,177
|330,594
|296,298
|-
|[[Barrie]] CMA
|212,856
|197,059
|187,013
|177,061
|148,480
|-
|[[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] CMA
|172,546
|161,175
|159,561
|152,358
|146,838
|-
|[[Guelph]] CMA
|165,588
|151,984
|141,097
|127,009
|117,344
|-
|[[Brantford]] CMA
|144,162
|134,203
|135,501
|124,607
|118,086
|-
|[[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]] CMA
|128,624
|121,721
|118,975
|116,570
|110,876
|}

==Census divisions==
The region is broken up into 40 [[census division]]s, including 22 [[county|counties]], eight [[regional municipality|regional municipalities]], nine [[Census divisions of Ontario#Single-tier municipalities|single-tier municipalities]] and depending on its inclusion, one [[List of districts in Ontario|district]]. The line between the counties and regions of the south and the districts of the north can be considered a boundary between Southern and Northern Ontario.

This is disputed, however, as the demarcation line that is referenced in provincial documents is the Nipissing Passageway, originally an [[Great Trail|Indian trail]] between Georgian Bay and the [[Ottawa River]]. The trail follows the [[French River (Ontario)|French River]] from [[Georgian Bay]] to [[Lake Nipissing]]. At [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], {{convert|2|km|mi}} of land separates Lake Nipissing from Trout Lake. From Trout Lake, the trail follows the [[Mattawa River]] to the [[Ottawa River]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.ca/AllAboutCanoes/book_french.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801133948/http://www.canoe.ca/AllAboutCanoes/book_french.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |title=French River: Canoeing the River of the Stick-Waivers |author=Peake, Michael |work=All About Canoes |publisher=Canoe.ca |access-date=May 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eco.on.ca/eng/index.php/pubs/eco-publications/challenges-to-sustainability-in-northern-ontario.php |title=Challenges to Sustainability in Northern Ontario |author=Woodrow, Maureen |publisher=Environmental Commissioner of Ontario |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003122128/http://www.eco.on.ca/eng/index.php/pubs/eco-publications/challenges-to-sustainability-in-northern-ontario.php |archive-date=2009-10-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
*[[County of Brant|Brant]] (144,771)
*[[Bruce County, Ontario|Bruce]] (73,396)
*[[Chatham–Kent]] (104,316)
*[[Dufferin County|Dufferin]] (66,257)
*[[Regional Municipality of Durham|Durham]] (696,992)
*[[Elgin County, Ontario|Elgin]] (94,752)
*[[Essex County, Ontario|Essex]] (422,860)
*[[Frontenac County, Ontario|Frontenac]] (161,780)
*[[Grey County|Grey]] (100,905)
*[[Haldimand County|Haldimand]]-[[Norfolk County, Ontario|Norfolk]] (116,872)
*[[Haliburton County, Ontario|Haliburton]] (20,571)
*[[Regional Municipality of Halton|Halton]] (596,637)
*[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] (569,353)
*[[Hastings County, Ontario|Hastings]] (145,746)
*[[Huron County, Ontario|Huron]] (61,366)
*[[Kawartha Lakes]] (79,247)
*[[Lambton County|Lambton]] (128,154)
*[[Lanark County, Ontario|Lanark]] (75,760)
*[[Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario|Leeds & Grenville]] (104,070)
*[[Lennox and Addington County, Ontario|Lennox & Addington]] (45,182)
*[[Middlesex County, Ontario|Middlesex]] (500,563)
*[[District Municipality of Muskoka|Muskoka]]1 (66,674)
*[[Regional Municipality of Niagara|Niagara]] (477,941)
*[[Northumberland County, Ontario|Northumberland]] (89,365)
*[[Ottawa]] (1,017,449)
*[[Oxford County, Ontario|Oxford]] (121,781)
*[[Parry Sound District, Ontario|Parry Sound]]1 (46,909)
*[[Regional Municipality of Peel|Peel]] (1,451,022)
*[[Perth County, Ontario|Perth]] (81,565)
*[[Peterborough County|Peterborough]] (147,681)
*[[Prescott and Russell United Counties, Ontario|Prescott and Russell]] (95,639)
*[[Prince Edward County, Ontario|Prince Edward]] (25,704)
*[[Renfrew County, Ontario|Renfrew]] (102,394)
*[[Simcoe County|Simcoe]] (533,169)
*[[Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties|Stormont, Dundas and Glengary]] (114,637)
*[[Toronto]] (2,794,356)
*[[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo]] (587,165)
*[[Wellington County, Ontario|Wellington]] (241,026)
*[[Regional Municipality of York|York]] (1,173,334)
{{div col end}}
 
1 Muskoka and Parry Sound are commonly regarded as transitional regions between Southern and Northern Ontario. Both divisions may be regarded as northern districts geographically, culturally, and politically in some contexts.

The 2011 census revealed that the major urban divisions of York, Halton, Peel, and Ottawa had the largest growth. While the heavy industrial divisions of Chatham, Lambton, and Essex,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wechealthunit.org/about-us/reports/2009_WEC_populationreport.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115143333/http://www.wechealthunit.org/about-us/reports/2009_WEC_populationreport.pdf |archive-date=2013-01-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as the mostly recreational divisions of Huron<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huroncounty.ca/econdev/downloads/StateofHuronEconomy10.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827032349/http://huroncounty.ca/econdev/downloads/StateofHuronEconomy10.pdf |archive-date=2011-08-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Prince Edward had a decrease in population.

==Higher education==
Southern Ontario has long been an international destination for higher learning. It houses numerous internationally acclaimed public [[Higher education in Ontario|universities and colleges]] amongst its 13 [[List of universities in Ontario|universities]] and 20 [[List of colleges in Ontario|colleges]]. It is also home to numerous private post-secondary institutions.

== Culture ==
Many notable Canadians have been based in Southern Ontario, as it is Canada's most populated area. Toronto is notable for its [[Multiculturalism in Canada|multiculturalism]] and cosmopolitan nature:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toronto: 'most multicultural city in the world' |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/newimmigrants/2014/10/19/Toronto-bills-itself-as-the-most-multicultural-city-in-the-world/stories/201409260206 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=2015-10-27}}</ref> Southern Ontario also features in the literary genre of [[Southern Ontario Gothic]], a major strand in Canadian literature.

==Transportation==
[[File:401atDVP.jpg|thumb|Highway 401 at the [[Don Valley Parkway]] in Toronto]]
[[File:Ottawa River Parkway interchange.jpg|thumb|[[Kichi Zibi Mikan]] interchange in [[Ottawa]]]]
Southern Ontario has a highly developed transport system, including many [[highways]], airports, ports, trains, and buses. The freeway system in Southern Ontario is referred to as the [[Provincial highways in Ontario|King's highways]] system, or the [[400 series highways]]. The freeways are digitally monitored by the [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)]] using the [[Freeway Traffic Management System|COMPASS-Freeway Traffic Management System]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/trip/ |title=Welcome to the Traveller's Road Information Portal (TRIP) |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Transportation |access-date=May 28, 2011}}</ref> With the long-awaited upgrade of Highway 406, all the freeways in Ontario are at least 4 lanes wide, fully controlled with interchanges and divided. The major freeways are [[Ontario Highway 400|400]], [[Ontario Highway 401|401]], [[Ontario Highway 402|402]], [[Ontario Highway 403|403]], [[Ontario Highway 404|404]], [[Ontario Highway 405|405]], [[Ontario Highway 406|406]], [[Ontario Highway 407|407 (Toll)]], [[Ontario Highway 409|409]], [[Ontario Highway 410|410]], [[Ontario Highway 412|412]], [[Ontario Highway 416|416]], [[Ontario Highway 417|417]], [[Ontario Highway 418|418]], [[Ontario Highway 420|420]], [[Ontario Highway 427|427]], [[Don Valley Parkway]], [[Gardiner Expressway]], [[Queen Elizabeth Way]], [[Queensway (Ottawa)|Queensway]], [[Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway]], [[Red Hill Valley Parkway]], [[Conestoga Parkway]], and the [[E. C. Row Expressway]].

Southern Ontario also has several [[Canada–United States border|border crossings]] with the United States. The [[Ambassador Bridge]], unfinished [[Gordie Howe International Bridge]], [[Detroit–Windsor Tunnel]], and [[Blue Water Bridge]] connect the region with the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]], while the [[Peace Bridge]], [[Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls)|Rainbow Bridge]], [[Whirlpool Rapids Bridge]], [[Lewiston–Queenston Bridge]], [[Thousand Islands Bridge]], [[Ogdensburg–Prescott International Bridge]], and [[Seaway International Bridge]] link Southern Ontario with the U.S. state of [[New York (state)|New York]].

The region has a long history of marine transportation, with hundreds of millions of tonnes of cargo moving along the [[Great Lakes]], and [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] each year. The [[Welland Canal]] is a vital part of the [[Great Lakes Waterway]], allowing ships to avoid [[Niagara Falls]]. The [[St. Clair River]] and [[Detroit River]] are also well travelled rivers between Lake Huron and Lake Erie in the [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Sarnia]] area. Major regional ports include the [[Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority|Port of Hamilton]] and Port of Windsor, with smaller ports in [[Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority|Oshawa]], [[PortsToronto|Toronto]], [[Goderich, ON|Goderich]] and Sarnia. Southern Ontario also has thousands of other freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as the [[Trent-Severn Waterway]] and [[Rideau Canal]].

Inter-city train service in the region is provided mainly by [[Via Rail]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/trains |title=Trains by Region |work=viarail.ca |publisher=Via Rail Canada Inc. |access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> The [[Greater Toronto area]] also has a commuter train system called the [[GO Transit|GO Train]], which is supplemented by a network of bus services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/Default.aspx |title=GO Transit |publisher=GO Transit |access-date=June 3, 2011 |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315051856/http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There are several major international airports, including the busiest airport in the country, [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] (ranked 15th busiest worldwide by flights in 2014), [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport]], [[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]], [[London International Airport (Ontario)|London International Airport]], and [[Region of Waterloo International Airport]]. Many Southern Ontarians living close to the [[Michigan]] or [[New York State]] borders use either [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport]] or [[Buffalo Niagara International Airport]] as their local airport.

==Climate==
[[File:Waves on the Beach.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Typical Great Lakes beach]]
Southern Ontario has a [[humid continental climate]] with four distinct seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/ontclimate/ontclimate.html |title=Ontario Climate |date=April 7, 2011 |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> The average highs in July for the region range between {{convert|25|and|29|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The average high in January ranges from {{convert|-6|to|0|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The highest recorded temperature in Southern Ontario was {{convert|45|and|52|°C|°F|abbr=on}} with the [[humidex]]. During cold snaps, winter temperatures can occasionally drop below {{convert|-30|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The climate found over most of southern Ontario falls within the ''Dfb'' and '' Dfa'' climate subtypes, much warmer or milder than the northern part of the province due to lower latitude, presence of bodies of water, and intense urbanization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.plantmaps.com/koppen-climate-classification-map-canada.php|title=Interactive Canada Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Map|website=www.plantmaps.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref>

Harsh weather is not uncommon in the region. In the summer months, Southern Ontario is susceptible to [[tornadoes]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=6C5D4990-1 |title=Weather and Meteorology: Hazardous Weather; Summer Weather; Summer Hazards |date=Aug 4, 2010 |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> but far more often, straight line wind damage, hail and localized flooding from severe thunderstorms. Although the majority of tornadoes rarely cause excessive damage, the region is on the periphery of [[Tornado Alley]] and [[Fujita scale|(F4)]] tornadoes touchdown every few decades, causing widespread damage. Southern Ontario also gets [[hurricane]] remnants, [[floods]], [[ice storms]], heavy [[fog]], [[hail]], and [[blizzard]]s.

Small [[earthquakes]] occur in the region. The {{M|w}} 5.8 [[1944 Cornwall–Massena earthquake|Cornwall–Massena earthquake occurred in 1944]] and had a maximum [[Mercalli intensity scale|Mercalli intensity]] of VII (''Very strong'').

Many tourists visit the area in the autumn months to look at the bright, vibrant colours of [[Autumn leaf color|fall foliage]].

Southern Ontario has a very different climate from the rest of the country. It is the only area of Canada that has [[Carolinian forest]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carolinian.org/SpeciesHabitats_Forests.htm |title=What is a Carolinian Forest? |publisher=Carolinian Canada |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> Many trees, plants, and wildlife in Southern Ontario are not found anywhere else in Canada. Some rare trees in this region include the [[Liriodendron tulipifera|tulip tree]], [[Asimina triloba|pawpaw]] fruit tree, and the [[Magnolia acuminata|cucumber tree]]. The Carolinian forests of Southern Ontario have in large part been destroyed by development sprawl. Very few original growth areas remain.

The region has the most freshwater beaches in the nation. With relatively warm waters by mid-summer due to the hot and humid summer months with significant coastlines of white sand, the major beaches in the region are visited by millions of tourists every summer. The most popular beaches are [[Wasaga Beach, Ontario|Wasaga Beach]], [[Grand Bend, Ontario|Grand Bend]], [[Sauble Beach, Ontario|Sauble Beach]], and [[Sandbanks Provincial Park|Sandbanks]].

==See also==
* Subregions in Southern Ontario
**[[Central Ontario]]
**[[Eastern Ontario]]
**[[Golden Horseshoe]]
**[[Southwestern Ontario]]
*[[Great Lakes region]]
*[[Great Lakes Megalopolis]]

==Footnotes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
*''Chapman, L. J. and Putnam, D. F. The Physiography of Southern Ontario. 3rd ed. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1984. (Ontario Geological Survey. Special volume 2) {{ISBN|0-7743-9422-6}}.''

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061205030430/http://soto.on.ca/ Southern Ontario Tourism]
*[http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/map/southindexpdf.htm Southern Ontario Road Map]

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Southern Ontario
| North = [[Northern Ontario]] / [[Quebec]]
| Northeast = [[Quebec]]
| East = [[New York State]]
| Southeast = [[New York State]] / [[Pennsylvania]]
| South = [[Ohio]]
| Southwest = [[Ohio]] / [[Michigan]]
| West = [[Michigan]]
| Northwest = [[Northern Ontario]]
| image =
}}

{{Ontario}}
{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geographic regions of Ontario]]

Central Ontario

2025-09-02T09:51:31Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Secondary region of Ontario, Canada}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement


| official_name = Central Ontario
| settlement_type = [[List of regions of Canada|Secondary region]]
| nickname =
| image_map = COntarioTopographical.png
| mapsize = 250px
| subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Ontario]]
| unit_pref = 
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 39,814
| area_total_sq_mi = 15,372
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 1,123,307
| population_as_of = [[Canada 2016 Census]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_note =
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| postal_code_type = Postal code prefixes
| postal_code = [[List of K Postal Codes of Canada|K]], [[List of L Postal Codes of Canada|L]], [[List of M Postal Codes of Canada|M]], [[List of N Postal Codes of Canada|N]]
| area_codes = [[Area codes 519 and 226|519/226]], [[Area codes 905 and 289|905/289]], [[Area codes 613 and 343|613/343]], [[Area code 705|705]]
| name =
| population_demonym = Central Ontarian
}}

'''Central Ontario''' is a secondary region of [[Southern Ontario]] in the [[Canadian province]] of [[Ontario]] that lies between [[Georgian Bay]] and the eastern end of [[Lake Ontario]].

The population of the region was 1,123,307 in 2016; however, this number does not include large numbers of seasonal [[cottage country]] residents, which at peak times of the year swell its population to well in excess of 1.5 million. Although it contains many small and medium-sized urban centres, much of Central Ontario is covered by farms, lakes (with freshwater beaches), rivers or sparsely populated forested land on the southern edge of the [[Canadian Shield]].

==Definitions==

Central Ontario is located within the primary region of [[Southern Ontario]], which places it geographically in the south-central part of the province. Although most of the census divisions (which in Ontario take the form of counties, regional and district municipalities, territorial districts, and some cities) in the south-central tier of the province are commonly grouped as a distinct secondary provincial region, nearly all of them have affiliations or orientations towards other primary or secondary provincial regions to the north, south, and east.

The Parry Sound territorial or judicial district and Muskoka district municipality are geographically within Central Ontario but are administered as part of the primary region of [[Northern Ontario]] by federal economic development programs because of these districts' special economic circumstances. Parry Sound, but not Muskoka, is also classed administratively with an ''extended'' primary Northern Ontario region by the provincial government for reasons similar to those at the federal level. The southern part of the territorial or judicial district of Nipissing lies in Central Ontario which extends geographically as far north as the Mattawa River. However like Muskoka and Parry Sound, all of Nipissing is treated administratively as part of Northern Ontario.

[[Grey County, Ontario|Grey]] and [[Bruce County, Ontario|Bruce]] counties may on occasion be included with Central Ontario as they are near or north of [[44th parallel north|44 degrees]] latitude, but are far more often treated as part of [[Southwestern Ontario]]. They are also part of the [[Georgian Triangle]] area, which includes parts of both Central and Southwestern Ontario. Further east at about the same latitude, [[Simcoe County, Ontario|Simcoe]], [[Peterborough County, Ontario|Peterborough]], and [[Northumberland County, Ontario|Northumberland]] counties and the City of [[Kawartha Lakes]] also have a southward orientation as part of the [[Golden Horseshoe|Greater Golden Horseshoe]] region centered around the west end of [[Lake Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Places to Grow Act, 2005 - Ontario Regulation 416/05 - Growth Plan Areas |date=24 July 2014 |url=https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050416 |publisher=Government of Ontario |access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>

Even further east, [[Hastings County, Ontario|Hastings County]] and [[Prince Edward County, Ontario|Prince Edward County]] may be considered part of Central Ontario by different sources but are more often included with the secondary region of [[Eastern Ontario]], mostly because they share the same telephone area codes ([[Area codes 613 and 343|613 and 343]]), have better transportation links to this region, and are part of the coverage area of Kingston-area media. This leaves [[Haliburton County, Ontario|Haliburton County]] as the only census division in Central Ontario that has no affiliations with any other secondary provincial regions of Ontario.

==Geography==
[[File:Lake Simcoe.JPG|right|thumb|260px|[[Lake Simcoe]]]]
[[File:Algonquin Provincial Park-Rock Lake from Booth's Rock Trail Lookout- Ontario (2).jpg|260px|thumb|[[Algonquin Provincial Park]]]]
The Canadian Shield runs over the northern part of Central Ontario, a recreational area with a much-increased summer-time population, including the wilderness of [[Algonquin Provincial Park]]. Often referred to as 'Cottage Country', this area's lakes and rivers are dotted with numerous cottages, some of them seasonal, but in recent years there is a growing trend for some of these 'summer cottages' to be used as year-round residences due to a number of factors, abundance of outdoor recreation, baby-boom retiree population, increased local services and improved wireless communication.

The [[Trent-Severn Waterway]], constructed over many years in the mid-19th century, spans Central Ontario via a series of boat [[canal locks|locks]], connecting [[Georgian Bay]] with [[Lake Ontario]], entering the bay at [[Port Severn]] and Lake Ontario at the [[Trent River (Ontario)|Trent River]] on the [[Bay of Quinte]] at [[Trenton, Ontario|Trenton]] (access to Lake Ontario also can be had by using the [[Murray Canal]]). Bypassing many rapids, this waterway is used by pleasure boaters and anglers during the summer months.

Along the northern edge of Central Ontario, are some of the highest elevations in [[Southern Ontario]]. These [[Highland (geography)|highlands]] are known as the [[Opeongo Hills]], and they stretch into portions of [[Eastern Ontario]] as well.

==Climate==

The climate of this area is a [[humid continental climate]] with large seasonal variation moderated somewhat by the [[Great Lakes]]. Summers are warm and humid (sometimes hot) but are shorter than further south with generally cooler nights. Winters are cold with significant snowfalls; some snowbelt areas receive an average of over {{cvt|300|cm}} per year. Severe summer storms are also commonplace, particularly in [[Simcoe County]] which for Ontario has a high [[tornado]] prevalence and was the site of the infamous [[1985 United States-Canadian tornado outbreak|Barrie Tornado]] in 1985.

==Administrative divisions==

===Single-tier municipalities===
* [[Kawartha Lakes, Ontario|Kawartha Lakes]]
* [[Prince Edward County, Ontario|Prince Edward County]]

===Separated municipalities===
* [[Barrie|City of Barrie]]
* [[Belleville, Ontario|City of Belleville]]
* [[Orillia|City of Orillia]]
* [[Peterborough, Ontario|City of Peterborough]]
* [[Quinte West|City of Quinte West]]

===Districts===
* [[Parry Sound District, Ontario|Parry Sound District]]

===Regional municipalities===
* [[District Municipality of Muskoka]]

===Counties===
* [[Dufferin County, Ontario|Dufferin County]]
* [[Haliburton County, Ontario|Haliburton County]]
* [[Hastings County, Ontario|Hastings County]]
* [[Northumberland County, Ontario|Northumberland County]]
* [[Peterborough County, Ontario|Peterborough County]]
* [[Simcoe County, Ontario|Simcoe County]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Geographic location
| Northwest = [[Northern Ontario]]
| North = [[Northeastern Ontario]]
| Northeast = [[Eastern Ontario]]
| West = [[Georgian Triangle]]
| Centre = Central Ontario
| East = [[Eastern Ontario]]
| Southwest = [[Southwestern Ontario]]
| South = [[Golden Horseshoe]]/[[Greater Toronto Area]]
| Southeast = ''[[Lake Ontario]]''
| image =
}}

{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}

{{coord|44|N|79|W|display=title}}

[[Category:Central Ontario| ]]

Loyalist, Ontario

2025-09-02T09:44:20Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Township in Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Loyalist
| official_name = Township of Loyalist
| settlement_type = [[List of township municipalities in Ontario|Township]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]])
| motto = "A Loyal Three Made Stronger In One"
| image_skyline = Bath ON.jpg
| image_caption = Main street in Bath
| image_flag = Flag of Loyalist Township, Ontario.svg
| flag_size = 120x100px
| image_shield =
| shield_size = 100x90px
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| pushpin_map = Canada Southern Ontario
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Canada]]
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Lennox and Addington County|Lennox and Addington]]
| established_title = Settled
| established_date =
| established_title2 = Formed
| established_date2 = {{Start date|1998|01|01}}
| government_type = Township
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Jim Hegadorn]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://loyalist.civicweb.net/portal/members.aspx?id=8 | title=Loyalist Township - Members }}</ref>
| leader_title1 = Federal riding
| leader_name1 = [[Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga]]
| leader_title2 = Prov. riding
| leader_name2 = [[Hastings—Lennox and Addington (provincial electoral district)|Hastings—Lennox and Addington]]
| area_total_km2 =
| area_land_km2 = 342.72
| area_water_km2 =
| area_footnotes = <ref name=SCref21>{{SCref |year=2021 |unit=csd |code={{#property:P3012}} |access-date=2024-10-24}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_footnotes = <ref name=SCref21/>
| population_total = 17943
| population_density_km2 = 52.4
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| postal_code_type = [[Canadian postal code|Postal Code]]
| postal_code = K0H
| area_codes = [[Area codes 613 and 343|613, 343]]
| coordinates = {{coord|44|14|37|N|76|46|09|W|region:CA-ON|notes= <ref name="CGNDB">{{cite cgndb|id= FEUSV|title= Loyalist|access-date= 2021-01-06}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Loyalist''' is a [[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]] [[List of township municipalities in Ontario|township]] in central eastern [[Ontario]], Canada on [[Lake Ontario]]. It is in [[Lennox and Addington County]] and consists of two parts: the mainland and [[Amherst Island]]. It was named for the [[United Empire Loyalist]]s, who settled in the area after the [[American Revolution]].

Loyalist Township was formed on January 1, 1998, through the amalgamation of Amherst Island Township, [[Ernestown Township, Ontario|Ernestown Township]], and Bath Village.<ref name=restruct>{{cite web |title=Municipal restructuring activity summary table - Dataset - Ontario Data Catalogue |url=https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/municipal-restructuring-activity-summary-table |website=data.ontario.ca |publisher=Government of Ontario |access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref>

==Communities==
The primary centres of settlement in Loyalist are [[Amherstview, Ontario|Amherstview]], Bath and Odessa. Smaller communities include Asselstine, Bayview, Emerald, Ernestown, Links Mills, McIntyre, Millhaven, Morven, Nicholsons Point, Stella, Storms Corners, Switzerville, Thorpe, Violet and Wilton. Since Loyalist Township is the only municipal level of government in the area, the boundaries of most ''mainland'' settlements are unofficial and matters of tradition.

===Amherstview===
Amherstview is named for [[Amherst Island]], located directly to the south in Lake Ontario. When the community was first established in the 1950s, the spelling was generally "Amherst View". The community is the eastern end of the [[Loyalist Parkway]], a stretch of [[Ontario Highway 33|Highway 33]] that travels along [[Lake Ontario]], in an area in which many [[United Empire Loyalists]] settled. As of 2021, Amherstview has a population of about 6500.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.loyalist.ca/en/business-and-development/resources/Documents/OP-TEXT.pdf| title = Loyalist Township Official Plan| page = 9| access-date = 26 January 2021}}</ref>

Amherstview is home to Fairfield House which is situated in Fairfield Park on the shore of Lake Ontario. Fairfield House was constructed in 1793 by the Fairfield family who were among the first Loyalists to settle the area. It served as the family home and a portion of the building was also used as a tavern for some time. The wood and limestone building is now a museum exhibiting period artifacts and furniture and offering guided tours.

Fairfield Park itself stretches along more than 600 m of Lake Ontario shoreline. The park is a popular picnicking area and is also well used by swimmers and scuba divers. Limestone shelf rock formations leading into the water simplify the launching and landing of kayaks and canoes although suitable facilities for larger watercraft do not exist. The park is home to many species of trees including [[Quercus rubra|red oak]], [[Populus|poplar]], [[willow]], [[shagbark hickory]], [[Fraxinus|ash]], [[maple]], [[Eastern White Cedar|cedar]], [[Tilia|linden]], and [[spruce]]. Extensive banks of [[lilac]] provide flowers and fragrance in season and many of the larger trees in the park are fitted with strings of lights for display at Christmas.

Amherstview is also home to the Henderson Recreation Centre. The centre houses a public library, a 25 m public swimming pool, and an arena and also includes an outdoor soccer field. The arena is the home rink for the [[Amherstview Jets]] hockey team.

===Bath===
[[File:Flag of Bath, Ontario.svg|thumb|Flag of Bath, adopted in 1997]]
[[File:Hawley House, oldest house in Ontario.jpg|thumb|Hawley House, oldest house in Ontario, c. 1785]]
[[File:Bath street scene (I0001516).tif|thumb|Bath street scene, 1926]]
Bath was first settled by the United Empire Loyalists in 1784, making it one of the oldest communities in Ontario. It was served by an early colonial road, the 1784 [[Ontario Highway 33|Bath Road]], which follows the lakefront as the [[Loyalist Parkway]]. Discharged soldiers from Jessup's Rangers were the first settlers. The economic development of the community was enabled by a sheltered harbour and road connections with Kingston stimulated economic development. By mid-century Bath was a prosperous point of trade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_1_5750_1.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403154221/http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_1_5750_1.html |archive-date=2012-04-03 }} Ontario Heritage Trust Founding of Bath</ref> After the town had been divided up between the families of Hawley, Davy, Rose and Amey, it was John Davy who was first to lay down roads on his lot #10. By 1804 the whole village had been prepared for settlement and surveyed. The village was originally named Ernestown, but was renamed Bath in 1819 after the [[Bath, Somerset|city in England]].

A bustling lakefront manufacturing village with 400-1000 people in the 1850s, Bath began to lose industrial importance to [[Greater Napanee|Napanee]] (and to cities like Kingston/Belleville) after being successively bypassed by the [[Ontario Highway 2|York Road]] (1817), the [[Grand Trunk Railway]] (1856) and the [[Ontario Highway 401|401]] motorway (1964). The closest rail access was an 1856 [[Ernestown Railway Station|Ernestown rail station]] built to the west of [[Ontario Highway 133|Camden East Road]] in a rural area, similar in design to [[Napanee railway station|Napanee]]'s historic station; it is now boarded up and inaccessible.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnr-in-ontario.com/Reports/RSR-089.html |title=RSR-89: CNR — Ernestown, Ontario |publisher=Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada |date=1991-09-11 |access-date=2013-09-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927185021/http://www.cnr-in-ontario.com/Reports/RSR-089.html |archive-date=2013-09-27 }}</ref>

The town of Bath as of 2016 has a population of 2,154. This is an increase of 10.1% from 2011 when they had a population of 1,957.

===Odessa===
[[File:Odessa ON.JPG|thumb|left|Odessa]]
Odessa, originally named Millcreek, was renamed in 1855 by its postmaster to commemorate the 1854 British siege of the Black Sea port at [[Odesa]] in Ukraine during the [[Crimean War]].<ref>[http://www.loyalisttownship.ca/index.cfm/discover-loyalist/community-profiles/odessa/] The original name of Odessa was Mill Creek. In 1838 the York Road passed through the village giving its economy a boost. In 1855, the village was renamed by its postmaster to commemorate the siege of the Black Sea port of Odesa (now in Ukraine) in 1854 by the British Fleet during the Crimean War.</ref> The village is home to [[Ernestown Secondary School]], which services about 650 students from Loyalist Township (formerly Ernestown Township), [[Greater Napanee|Napanee]] and [[Stone Mills]]. The township offices and a fire hall are on Odessa's [[Ontario Highway 2|Main Street]]. There is a small fairground. An [[Ontario Provincial Police]] detachment serves [[Ontario Highway 401]] and is home to the [[Tactics and Rescue Unit]] Eastern Region.

The water supply of the community of Odessa within the Township of Ernestown was studied in 1972,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/TOWNSHIPOFERNEST00SNSN09098.ome] Township of Ernestown : a survey of the surface and ground water conditions in the community of Odessa, by Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Sanitary Engineering Branch. Regional Engineers Section. Published 1973.</ref> which led to the planning of infrastructure improvements. The highest point in the village is the water tower. Visible for several kilometres in all directions, the water tower has been outfitted as a wireless communications facility. The village bills itself as "home of the Babcock Mill," which historically was powered by Millhaven Creek which runs through the heart of Odessa. In the 2020s Odessa has experienced increased residential development which will ultimately see it approximately double in population.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

===Amherst Island===
{{main|Amherst Island}}
[[File:Amherst Island, Stella Village.jpg|thumb|right|Amherst Island, Stella Village]]
Stella and Emerald are located on Amherst Island. Stella is the downtown, where the ferry docks are, and lends its name as the surviving Canada Post Office for Amherst Island. Emerald is a collection of half a dozen houses and a church towards the west end of the Island. Amherst Island is located about {{convert|3|km}} offshore from mainland Loyalist Township, and is serviced by a people, cyclist, automobile and truck ferry from Millhaven. Amherst Island was farmed for generations by Irish tenants who leased from an Irish Lord through his manager, and many ''Islanders'' are descendants of those late settlers. Today the agricultural canvas has become an art colony, retirement/ cottage country, with active service groups, a radio station, [[CJAI-FM|Amherst Island Radio CJAI 101.3 FM]], and the LCBO convenience store, that all add to the Island's ''frison''.

== Demographics ==
In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Loyalist had a population of {{val|17943|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|6830|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|7145|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:17943-16971}}|16971|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|16971|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|342.72|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|17943|342.72|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=SCref21/>
{{Canada census
|location = Loyalist
|2021_population=17,943 | 2021_pop_delta=+5.7 | 2021_land_area=342.72 | 2021_pop_density=52.4
|2021_median_age=45.2 | 2021_median_age_m=44.0 | 2021_median_age_f=46.4
|2021_total_pvt_dwell=7,145 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=6,830 |2021_mean_hh_income=95,000
|2021_geocode=2021A00053511005 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19
|2016_population=16,971 | 2016_pop_delta=+4.6 | 2016_land_area=341.02 | 2016_pop_density=49.8
|2016_median_age=45.0 | 2016_median_age_m=44.0 | 2016_median_age_f=46.1
|2016_total_pvt_dwell=6,710 | 2016_mean_hh_income=80,691 | 2016_access_date=2019-06-19
|2011_population=16,221 | 2011_pop_delta=+7.7 | 2011_land_area=341.04 | 2011_pop_density=47.6
|2011_median_age=43.6 | 2011_median_age_m=42.4 | 2011_median_age_f=45.0
|2011_total_pvt_dwell=6,174 | 2011_mean_hh_income=69,324 | 2011_access_date=2012-02-15
|2006_population=15,062 | 2006_pop_delta=+3.2 | 2006_land_area=340.02 | 2006_pop_density=44.3
|2006_median_age=42.7 | 2006_median_age_m=42.2 | 2006_median_age_f=43.1
|2006_total_pvt_dwell=5,814 | 2006_mean_hh_income=62,099 | 2006_access_date=2012-02-15
|2001_population=14,590 | 2001_pop_delta=+0.3 | 2001_land_area=340.15 | 2001_pop_density=42.9
|2001_median_age=39.1 | 2001_median_age_m=38.5 | 2001_median_age_f=39.6
|2001_total_pvt_dwell=5,394 | 2001_mean_hh_income=51,870 | 2001_access_date=2012-02-15
}}

{{Historical populations
|title = {{Nowrap|Historical census populations –}} Loyalist, Ontario
|align = none
|cols =
|width = 20em
|footnote =
|source = Statistics Canada<ref name=SCref21/><ref>[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]], [[Canada 2001 Census|2001]], [[Canada 2006 Census|2006]] census</ref>
|[[1996 Canadian census|1996]]| 14551
|[[2001 Canadian census|2001]]| 14590
|[[2006 Canadian census|2006]]| 15062
|[[2011 Canadian census|2011]]| 16221
|[[2016 Canadian census|2016]]| 16971
|[[2021 Canadian census|2021]]| 17943
}}

Mother tongue (2021):<ref name=SCref21/>
* English as first language: 92.1%
* French as first language: 2.8%
* English and French as first language: 0.6%
* Other as first language: 3.9%

==Economy==
There is a [[Bombardier Transportation]] engineering and manufacturing facility located in Millhaven. The {{convert|480|acre|ha|adj=on}} site was originally opened by the now-defunct [[Urban Transportation Development Corporation]] around 1978.<ref name=railwayage>{{cite news |title=Ontario transit update: Hamilton LRT, GO extension, Bombardier LRV assembly |first=John |last=Thompson |date=December 5, 2018 |newspaper=[[Railway Age]] |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/light-rail/ontario-transit-update-hamilton-lrt-go-extension-bombardier-lrv-assembly/ |access-date=August 9, 2022}}</ref>

In 2010, Bombardier received a $1.5 million grant from the province's Eastern Ontario Development Fund to invest in the facility. By 2011, there were 250 full-time employees.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombardier builds monorail test track for massive international projects in Kingston |date=July 2011 |newspaper=Ontario Construction Report |url=https://ontarioeast.ca/sites/default/files/Bombardier.pdf}}</ref> Throughout the late 2010s, the facility was used for vehicle manufacturing, testing, and retrofitting work on various Canadian [[light rail]] and metro rail projects, including Toronto's [[Eglinton Crosstown]], Waterloo Region's [[Ion light rail]], Edmonton's [[Valley Line (Edmonton)|Valley Line]], and part of a large order of [[Toronto streetcar]]s, tested on a specially constructed [[TTC gauge]] track.<ref name=railwayage />

==Culture==
[[The Tragically Hip]] have a recording studio located in Bath called [[The Bathouse Recording Studio]]. The band's lead singer, [[Gordon Downie]], was born and raised in Amherstview and attended Amherstview Public School (AVPS).

A 100% volunteer-run community radio station, [[CJAI-FM|Amherst Island Radio CJAI 101.3 FM]], broadcasts from Stella. The township is also served by media from [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]].

The Township hosts a Winter Carnival each year toward the end of January. A popular event associated with the Carnival is the Christmas Tree Bonfire. In the weeks after Christmas, residents pile their dead Christmas trees at the Odessa Fair Grounds. On an evening during the Carnival, the trees are set blaze as the centrepiece to a night of skating, outdoor games, and the roasting of hotdogs and marshmallows.

==Transportation==
The township is served by provincial [[Ontario Highway 401|Highway 401]] Highway 2, and [[Ontario Highway 33|Highway 33]].

Public transportation between Amherstview and Kingston is provided by [[Kingston Transit]].

Public transportation between Odessa and Kingston is provided by Loyalist Link, a service provided by the Loyalist Township under contract with [[Stock Transportation]]. This service launched on November 4th, 2024, and will continue to run until December 31st, 2025.

A toll ferry, the [[MV Frontenac II|Frontenac II]], operates between Millhaven (on the Ontario mainland) and Stella (on Amherst Island). As of January, 2021, the toll is $10 for a return trip ticket on a standard car or light truck. There is a nominal charge for bicycles and motorcycles while walk-on passengers are free.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.loyalist.ca/en/living-in-loyalist/amherst-island-ferry.aspx#Fares| title = Amherst Island Ferry | page = 1| access-date = 26 January 2021}}</ref>

==Education==
Primary and secondary education is provided at a number of schools operated by either the Limestone District School Board or the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, including [[Amherstview Public School]] (K-8) and [[Ernestown Secondary School|Ernestown Intermediate and Secondary School]] (7-12). The nearest post-secondary education (community college and university) is in the adjacent city of [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]. One of the first schools in Upper Canada was opened in the village of Bath in 1811.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/plaques/bath-academy-1811|title=The Ontario Heritage Trust|date=8 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bathmuseumontario.com/bath-academy|title = Bath Academy}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
*[[Emily Julian McManus]] (1865–1918), poet, author, and educator
*[[William Metzler]] (1863–1943), mathematician
*[[Gord Downie]] (1964–2017), musician

==See also==
*[[List of townships in Ontario]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Loyalist
| North = [[Stone Mills]]
| Northeast = [[South Frontenac]]
| East = [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]
| Southeast = ''[[Lake Ontario]]'' [[Frontenac Islands]]
| South = ''[[Lake Ontario]]''
| Southwest =
| West = [[Greater Napanee]]
| Northwest =
}}

[[Category:Township municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Lennox and Addington County]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Ontario in Canada]]

Lake of Bays

2025-09-02T09:42:22Z

2605:B100:30B:92BA:7401:6E47:F80F:40D9:

{{Short description|Township in Ontario, Canada}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Lake of Bays
| official_name = Township of Lake of Bays
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of township municipalities in Ontario|Township]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]])
| image_skyline = {{#property:P18}}
| image_caption = Municipal office in Dwight
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_size =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Canada Southern Ontario
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_label = Lake of Bays
| pushpin_mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|45|18|27|N|79|00|23|W|region:CA-ON|display=title,inline}}
| coordinates_footnotes =<ref name="CGNDB">{{cite cgndb|id= FBVWT|title= Lake of Bays|accessdate= 2014-07-01}}</ref>
| subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{CAN}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{ON}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Census divisions of Ontario|Regional district]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[District Municipality of Muskoka|Muskoka]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = {{#property:P571}}
| government_type = Township
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Terry Glover
| leader_title1 = [[House of Commons of Canada|MP]]
| leader_name1 = [[Scott Aitchison]] ([[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]])
| leader_title2 = [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|MPP]]
| leader_name2 = [[Graydon Smith]] ([[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|OPC]])
| area_footnotes = <ref name=SCref21/>
| area_total_km2 =
| area_land_km2 = 667.43
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes = <ref name=SCref21/>
| population_total = 3759
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 5.6
| population_note =
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| postal_code_type = Postal code span
| postal_code = {{#property:P281}}
| area_codes = [[Area codes 705 and 249|705, 249]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Lake of Bays''' is a [[township (Canada)#Ontario|township]] within the [[District Municipality of Muskoka]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]].<ref name="CGNDB" /><ref name="OntGeoNamesMap">{{cite web|url=http://www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on.ca/Geonames/Index.html?site=Geographic_Names&viewer=Geonames&locale=en-US |title= Ontario Geonames GIS (on-line map and search)|publisher= [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry|Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry]]|year= 2014|access-date= 2020-07-01}}</ref><ref name="AOCToporama">{{cite web|url=http://atlas.gc.ca/toporama/en/index.html |title= Toporama (on-line map and search)|work= [[Atlas of Canada]]|date= 12 September 2016|publisher= Natural Resources Canada|access-date= 2020-07-01}}</ref><ref name="Restructuring">{{cite map|url= http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=6576|title= Restructured municipalities - Ontario map #5|year= 2006|series= Restructuring Maps of Ontario|publisher= [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing]]|accessdate= 2020-07-01|archive-date= 2020-05-11|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200511165309/http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=6576|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="OntarioRoadMap">{{cite map|url=http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/publications/official-road-map/pdfs/map-5.pdf |format= PDF|title= Map 5|series= Official road map of Ontario|publisher= [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario]]|scale= 1 : 700,000|date= 2018-01-01|accessdate= 2020-07-01}}</ref> The township, situated {{convert|193|km|mi}} north of [[Toronto]], is named after the [[Lake of Bays (Muskoka District)|Lake of Bays]]. In the 2021 census, the township had a population of 3,759 and encompassed {{convert|667.43|km2}} of land.<ref name=SCref21/>

Located in the northeast corner of Muskoka, Lake of Bays offers a [[natural landscape]] of [[forests]], [[rock (geology)|rock]]s, [[lake]]s and [[wetlands]]. It is an important destination for cottaging, recreation and tourism in Ontario. Currently, the economy of the township is primarily based on [[tourism]], [[recreation]], and the service sector with [[forestry]] and [[aggregate (composite)]] extraction contributing as well.

== History ==
The Township of Lake of Bays was established on January 1, 1971, from the former Townships of Franklin, Ridout, McLean, and Sinclair/Finlayson (unorganized) as part of the reorganization of the District of Muskoka.<ref name=census1971/>

In the early 20th century, several grand resort hotels opened on the lake, among them the [[Wawa Hotel|Wawa]] (built in 1908 and destroyed by fire in 1923) and the Bigwin Inn, a resort that operated on [[Bigwin Island]] from 1920 until the late 1960s. These hotels were sought-after destinations for many rich and famous individuals and groups at the time, including Hollywood stars like [[Clark Gable]], writers like [[Ernest Hemingway]] and, during the Second World War, the [[Dutch royal family]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Where Legends Live|url=http://www.bigwinisland.com/About_Us/Bigwin_History.aspx|website=Bigwin History|publisher=Bigwin Island Golf Club|accessdate=21 February 2016}}</ref>

The township was once home to what was known as the smallest commercial railway line in the world, the [[Huntsville and Lake of Bays Transportation Company]] [[portage railway]]. Between 1904 and 1958 it ferried passengers between North Portage on [[Peninsula Lake]] to South Portage on Lake of Bays, a distance of {{Convert|2|km}}. The train, named the ''Portage Flyer'', was discontinued in 1958 and was relocated to an amusement park near [[St. Thomas, Ontario]], until 1984. Much of the original components have since been repatriated and continue to operate on the grounds of Muskoka Heritage Place near Huntsville.

== Geography ==
===Communities===
[[File:Baysville ON.JPG|thumb|right|Baysville]]
[[File:Dorset Ontario.JPG|thumb|right|Dorset]]
The township includes the communities of:
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Baysville
* Bigwin
* Birkendale
* Bona Vista
* Bondi Village
* Britannia
* Brooks Mills
* Browns Brae
* [[Dorset, Ontario|Dorset]] (partially)
* Dwight
* Fox Point
* Glenmount
* Grandview
* Grassmere
* Grove Park
* Hillside
* Limberlost Lodge
* Lumina
* Maple Ridge
* Millar Hill (ghost town)
* Nith Grove
* North Portage
* Norway Point
* Port Cunnington
* Sea Breeze
* South Portage
* Wahawin
{{Div col end}}

A small community developed on the subdivided landholdings of a sawmill built by William Brown in the 1870s. The economic development of Baysville was enabled by good road and steamboat connections. Baysville developed into a popular region for vacationers and sportsmen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Founding of Baysville, The |url=https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/plaques/founding-of-baysville |publisher=Ontario Heritage Trust |accessdate=June 21, 2019}}</ref>

=== Bodies of water ===
[[File:Lake of Bays Ontario.JPG|thumb|right|Lake of Bays in Dwight]]
* Cooper Lake
* Echo Lake
* Ellis Lake
* [[Lake of Bays (Muskoka lake)|Lake of Bays]]
* [[Oxtongue River]]
* [[Peninsula Lake]]
*Ril Lake
* Rusynyk Bay
* Tackaberry Lake

== Demographics ==
In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Lake of Bays had a population of {{val|3759|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|1760|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|4324|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:3759-3167}}|3167|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|3167|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|667.43|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|3759|667.43|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=SCref21/>
{{Canada census
|location = Lake of Bays
|2021_population=3,759 | 2021_pop_delta=+18.7 | 2021_land_area=667.43 | 2021_pop_density=5.6
|2021_median_age=58.4 | 2021_median_age_m=58.4 | 2021_median_age_f=58.8
|2021_total_pvt_dwell=4,324 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=1,760 |2021_mean_hh_income=90,000
|2021_geocode=2021A00053544027 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19
| 2016_population = 3,167| 2016_pop_delta=-9.7 | 2016_land_area=677.91 | 2016_pop_density=4.7
| 2016_median_age = 57.5 | 2016_median_age_m=57.2 | 2016_median_age_f=57.7
| 2016_total_pvt_dwell = 4,388 | 2016_mean_hh_income=69,888 | 2016_access_date=2019-06-21
| 2011_population = 3,506<ref name=2011censuscorrection/> | 2011_pop_delta=-1.8 | 2011_land_area=677.58 | 2011_pop_density=5.2
| 2011_median_age = | 2011_median_age_m= | 2011_median_age_f=
| 2011_total_pvt_dwell = 4,850<ref name=2011censuscorrection/> | 2011_mean_hh_income= | 2011_access_date=2012-03-08
| 2006_population = 3,570 | 2006_pop_delta=+23.1 | 2006_land_area=671.46 | 2006_pop_density=5.3
| 2006_median_age = 50.7 | 2006_median_age_m=50.3 | 2006_median_age_f=51.0
| 2006_total_pvt_dwell = 4,338 | 2006_mean_hh_income=54,821 | 2006_access_date=2012-03-08
| 2001_population = 2,900 | 2001_pop_delta=+1.8 | 2001_land_area=671.41 | 2001_pop_density=4.3
| 2001_median_age = 48.3 | 2001_median_age_m=48.1 | 2001_median_age_f=48.5
| 2001_total_pvt_dwell = 4,378 | 2001_mean_hh_income=41,786 | 2001_access_date=2012-03-08
}}

{{Historical populations
|title = {{Nowrap|Historical census populations –}} Lake of Bays
|align = none
|cols = 2
|footnote = 2011 Population figure based on revised count. Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes.
|source = Statistics Canada<ref name=SCref21/><ref name=census1971>{{cite journal |title=1971 Census of Canada - Population Census Subdivisions (Historical) |journal=Catalogue 92-702 Vol I, part 1 (Bulletin 1.1-2) |date=July 1973 |pages= |publisher=Statistics Canada}}</ref><ref name=2011censuscorrection/>
| 1971 |1729
| 1976 |2078
| 1981 |2123
| 1986 |2298
| 1991 |2775
| 1996 |2850
| 2001 |2900
| 2006 |3570
| 2011 |3506
| 2016 |3167
| 2021 |3759
}}

==In film==

The 1949 [[James A. Fitzpatrick|FitzPatrick]] Traveltalk ''Ontario: Land of Lakes'' includes a segment on [[Bigwin Island#Bigwin Inn|Bigwin]] Inn.

In 1963, the former Dorset Fire Tower was shown in the opening credits of the old [[CBC Television|CBC]] TV show ''[[The Forest Rangers (TV series)|The Forest Rangers]]''. The tower can also be seen in the 1999 Canadian documentary ''Over Canada: An Aerial Adventure''.

The lake scenes from the Canadian film starring [[Gordon Pinsent]] called ''[[Away From Her]]'' were also shot in the township on the south shore of Lake of Bays across from Price's Point.

== Notable residents ==
*[[Art Asbury]], speed boat racer and one-time world speed record holder.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Art Asbury |url=http://artasbury.com/about-2/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224524/http://artasbury.com/about-2/ |archivedate=December 2, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of townships in Ontario]]
*[[Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=2011censuscorrection>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/news-nouvelles/corr/cgen004-eng.cfm | title=Corrections and updates: Population and dwelling count amendments, 2011 Census | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 14, 2013 | accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name=SCref21>{{SCref |year=2021 |unit=csd |code={{#property:P3012}} |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Lake of Bays
| North = [[Kearney, Ontario|Kearney]]
| Northeast = [[Unorganized South Nipissing District|Unorganized South Nipissing]]
| East = [[Algonquin Highlands]]
| South = [[Minden Hills]]
| Southwest = [[Bracebridge, Ontario|Bracebridge]]
| West = [[Huntsville, Ontario|Huntsville]]
| Northwest = [[Perry, Ontario|Perry]]
}}
{{Muskoka District}}

[[Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Municipalities in the District Municipality of Muskoka]]
[[Category:Township municipalities in Ontario]]