View source for Golden Horseshoe

{{other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| official_name      = Golden Horseshoe
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = Secondary region
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = Map of Ontario GOLDEN HORSESHOE.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of the Golden Horseshoe in Ontario.<br /><span style="color:#F07568;">██</span> Core area <span style="color:#9BCB65;">██</span> Greater Golden Horseshoe
<!-- Location ------------------>| subdivision_type   = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = Canada
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ontario]]
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_blank1_title  = Core area
| area_blank1_km2    = 10097.45
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = 
| area_blank2_title  = Extended area
| area_blank2_km2    = 21464.12
| area_blank2_sq_mi  = 
| area_total_km2     = 31561.57
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| population_as_of   = [[2021 Canadian census|2021]]<!-- Do not change until the 2026 census is released per [[CANPOP]] -->
| population_blank1_title = Core area
| population_blank1  = 7,759,635<!-- Do not change until the 2026 census is released per [[CANPOP]] -->
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_est     = 11,139,265<ref name=":0" />
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_blank2_title = Extended area
| population_blank2  = 2,005,553
| population_total   = 9,765,188
<!-- GDP --------------->| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[Canadian dollar|CA$]]574.7&nbsp;billion<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000)|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610046801|website=Statistics Canada|date=May 17, 2023|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122184338/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610046801|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[US$]]433.2 billion<br />(2019)
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| coordinates        = {{coord|43.6|-79.73|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = 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 code 226|226]], [[Area code 249|249]], [[Area code 289|289]], [[Area code 365|365]], [[Area code 416|416]], [[Area code 437|437]], [[Area code 519|519]], [[Area code 548|548]], [[Area code 647|647]], [[Area code 705|705]], [[Area code 905|905]]
}}

The '''Golden Horseshoe''' ({{langx|fr|Fer à cheval doré}}) is a secondary region of [[Southern Ontario]], Canada, which lies at the western end of [[Lake Ontario]], with outer boundaries stretching south to [[Lake Erie]] and north to [[Lake Scugog]], [[Lake Simcoe]] and [[Georgian Bay]] of [[Lake Huron]]. The region is the most densely populated and [[Industrialisation|industrialized]] in Canada. Based on the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]], with a population of 7,759,635<!-- Do not change until the 2026 census is released per [[CANPOP]] --> people in its core and 9,765,188<!-- Do not change until the 2026 census is released per [[CANPOP]] --> in its greater area, the Golden Horseshoe accounts for over 20 percent of the population of Canada and more than 54 percent of Ontario's population.<ref>{{cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Statistics Canada|date=2001-01-15|title=Census of Population|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm|access-date=2022-02-10|website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> The population of the greater area is estimated to have exceeded 11,000,000 people in 2024.<ref name=":0" /> The Golden Horseshoe is part of the [[Quebec City–Windsor Corridor]], itself part of the [[Great Lakes megalopolis]].

The core of the Golden Horseshoe starts from [[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]] at the eastern end of the [[Niagara Peninsula]] bordering the [[United States]] via [[New York (state)|New York]] and extends west, wrapping around the western end of Lake Ontario at [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] and then turning northeast to [[Toronto]] (on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario), before finally terminating at [[Clarington]] in [[Regional Municipality of Durham|Durham Region]]. The term '''''Greater Golden Horseshoe''''' is used to describe a broader region that stretches inland from the core to the area of the [[Trent–Severn Waterway]], such as [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]], in the northeast, to [[Barrie]] and Lake Simcoe in the north, and to the [[Grand River (Ontario)|Grand River]] area, which includes cities such as [[Brantford]] and [[Guelph]], to the west. The extended region's area covers approximately {{convert|33500|km2|mi2|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}, out of this, {{convert|7300|km2|mi2|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} or approximately 22 percent of the area is covered by the environmentally protected [[Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)|Greenbelt]]. The Greater Golden Horseshoe forms the neck of the [[Ontario Peninsula]]<!--Please do not remove without consensus-->.

==Etymology==
[[File:Golden Horseshoe snowily wrapping the end of Lake Ontario.jpeg|thumb|left|The western end of [[Lake Ontario]] during the winter. The region takes its name from the [[horseshoe]] shape.]]
The ''horseshoe'' part of the region's name is derived from the characteristic [[horseshoe]] shape of the west end of Lake Ontario. The ''golden'' part is historically attributed to the region's wealth and prosperity, according to the ''[[Canadian Oxford Dictionary]]''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Barber |editor-first=Katherine |encyclopedia=Canadian Oxford Dictionary |title=Golden Horseshoe |url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195418163.001.0001/m_en_ca0028885 |access-date=11 September 2017 |edition=2nd |year=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn= 9780195418163 |quote=ORIGIN: So called with reference to the area's wealth and horseshoe-like shape.}}</ref>

The phrase ''Golden Horseshoe'' was first used by [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]] president Herbert H. Rogge in a speech to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce on January 12, 1954:

{{blockquote|text=Hamilton in 50 years will be the forward cleat in a "golden horseshoe" of industrial development from Oshawa to the [[Niagara River]]&nbsp;... {{convert|150|mi|km|disp=sqbr}} long and {{convert|50|mi|km|disp=sqbr}} wide&nbsp;... It will run from Niagara Falls on the south to about Oshawa on the north and take in numerous cities and towns already there, including Hamilton and Toronto.<ref name=Bank>{{cite web|title=Fast Facts from Hamilton's Past |url=http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/Localhistory/Fast+Facts.htm |access-date=2007-01-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905060213/http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/Localhistory/Fast+Facts.htm |archive-date=2006-09-05}}</ref>}}

The speech writer who actually penned the phrase was Charles Hunter MacBain, executive assistant to five Westinghouse presidents including Rogge.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Strada|first1=Eric|title=Looking Back: The Golden Truth|url=http://www.bizmagazine.ca/sitepages/?aid=3623&cn=LOOKING%20BACK&an=The%20Golden%20Truth%20%7C%20Q1%202011|website=Biz Magazine|publisher=Postmedia Network|access-date=September 13, 2017}}</ref>

==Definition==
The Golden Horseshoe was officialized on July 13, 2004, in a report from the provincial Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal titled ''Places to Grow'', in which the region's borders extended west to [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo Region]], north to [[Barrie]] / [[Simcoe County]], and northeast to the [[Peterborough County|county]] and city of [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pir.gov.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/cma_4_35657_1.html |title=Places to Grow |access-date=2006-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907081829/http://www.pir.gov.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/cma_4_35657_1.html |archive-date=2006-09-07 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  A subsequent edition released on February 16, 2005, broadened the term further, adding [[County of Brant|Brant]], [[Haldimand County|Haldimand]] and [[Northumberland County, Ontario|Northumberland]] Counties to the region. The Greater Golden Horseshoe region is officially designated in Ontario Regulation 416/05<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> under the ''Places to Grow Act''. The designation Greater Golden Horseshoe has legal significance with respect to taxation: in April 2017, the Government of Ontario announced plans to impose a 15 per cent Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST) on non-Canadian citizens, non-permanent residents and non-Canadian corporations (with exceptions or rebates for [[refugee]]s, qualifying students and certain people working in Ontario<ref>{{cite news|title=Ontario slaps 15% tax on foreign buyers, expands rent control in 16-point plan to cool housing|last=Marr|first=Garry|url=http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/mortgages-real-estate/ontario-slaps-15-tax-on-foreign-buyers-expands-rent-control-in-16-point-plan-to-cool-housing|newspaper=Financial Post|date=20 April 2017|access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref>) buying residential properties containing one to six units in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH).<ref>{{cite web|author1=Office of the Premier|title=News Release: Making Housing More Affordable|url=https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/04/making-housing-more-affordable.html|publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario|access-date=30 April 2017|date=April 20, 2017|quote=introducing a 15 per cent Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST) on non-Canadian citizens, non-permanent residents and non-Canadian corporations buying residential properties containing one to six units in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH).}}</ref>

The provincial transit authority [[Metrolinx]] makes use of the term Greater Golden Horseshoe. The Metrolinx definition is consistent with the original 2004 ''Places to Grow'' definition. However, the city and county of Peterborough is not included.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/Default.aspx|title=For a Greater Region|agency=Metrolinx|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307185859/https://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==
===Population===
{{see also|Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area}}
<!-- populations come from each article, which in turn come from the 2016 Census -->
<!-- list of municipalities comes from here: http://placestogrow.ca/index.php?Itemid=14&id=430&option=com_content&task=view -->
{{Historical populations
| title = Core region{{efn|Combined population of [[Toronto]], [[Regional Municipality of Peel|Peel Region]], [[Regional Municipality of York|York Region]], [[Regional Municipality of Durham|Durham Region]], [[Regional Municipality of Halton|Halton Region]], [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], and [[Regional Municipality of Niagara|Niagara Region]].|name=CoreRegion}} population history
| type  = Canada
| align = right
| footnote = ''Source: [[Statistics Canada]]''
| [[2001 Canadian census|2001]]|5,982,668
| [[2006 Canadian census|2006]]|6,487,892
| [[2011 Canadian census|2011]]|7,005,491
| [[2016 Canadian census|2016]]|7,402,321
| [[2021 Canadian census|2021]]|7,759,635
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Section
! Census division
!2024 Population Estimate<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2025-01-16 |title=Population estimates, July 1, by census division, 2021 boundaries |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710015201 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www150.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
!2023 Population Estimate<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2024-05-22 |title=Population estimates, July 1, by census division, 2021 boundaries |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710015201 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=www150.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
!2021 Population Census<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population Density (/km<sup>2</sup>) in 2021
|-
| Core || [[Regional Municipality of Durham|Durham Region]] 
|792,615
|766,855
|696,992
|2,524
|276
|-
| Core || [[Regional Municipality of Halton|Halton Region]] 
|656,926
|642,955
|596,637
|964
|619
|-
| Core || [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] 
|632,111
|615,244
|569,353
|1,118
|509
|-
| Core || [[Regional Municipality of Niagara|Niagara Region]] 
|539,180
|525,352
|477,941
|1,854
|258
|-
| Core || [[Regional Municipality of Peel|Peel Region]] 
|1,662,864
|1,585,424
|1,451,022
|1,247
|1,164
|-
| Core || [[Toronto]] 
|3,273,119
|3,110,984
|2,794,356
|630
|4,434
|-
| Core || [[Regional Municipality of York|York Region]] 
|1,285,154
|1,248,078
|1,173,334
|1,758
|667
|-
| Core 
| data-sort-value="zzzz" | ''Total core'' 
|8,841,969
|8,494,892
|7,759,635
|10,096
|769
|-
| Extended || Brant ([[County of Brant]] and [[Brantford]]) 
|174,324
|168,477
|144,771
|916
|158
|-
| Extended || [[Dufferin County]] 
|72,358
|71,384
|66,257
|1,486
|45
|-
| Extended || [[Haldimand County|Haldimand-Norfolk County]]
|130,217
|128,572
|116,872
|1,250
|93
|-
| Extended || [[Kawartha Lakes]] 
|84,988
|85,215
|79,247
|3,084
|26
|-
| Extended || [[Northumberland County, Ontario|Northumberland County]] 
|96,257
|95,826
|89,365
|1,905
|47
|-
| Extended || Peterborough ([[Peterborough County]] and the city of [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]])
|167,979
|162,808
|147,681
|3,834
|39
|-
| Extended || Simcoe ([[Simcoe County]], [[Barrie]] and [[Orillia]]) 
|598,785
|588,560
|533,169
|4,946
|108
|-
| Extended || [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo Region]] 
|706,875
|675,227
|587,165
|1,369
|429
|-
| Extended || Wellington ([[Wellington County, Ontario|Wellington County]] and [[Guelph]]) 
|265,513
|262,165
|241,026
|2,753
|88
|-
|-
| Extended
| data-sort-value="zzzy" | ''Total extended'' 
|2,297,296
|2,238,234
|2,005,553
|21,545
|93
|-
| data-sort-value="zzzz" | '''Total''' ||'''all''' 
|'''11,139,265'''
|'''10,733,126'''
|'''9,765,188'''
|'''31,640'''
|'''309'''
|}

=== Ethnicity ===
The Golden Horseshoe is among the most [[Multiculturalism in Canada|multicultural]] regions in Canada.

In 2021, there were 3,762,090 people of European heritage, forming a plurality of the population (49.0%); the next largest groups were those of South Asian descent (1,273,525 people or 16.6%) and those of East Asian heritage (813,015 people or 10.6%)
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the Golden Horseshoe Core Region{{efn|name=CoreRegion}} (2001−2021)
! rowspan="2" |[[Panethnicity|Panethnic]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |2021
! colspan="2" |2016
! colspan="2" |2011
! colspan="2" |2006
! colspan="2" |2001
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[European Canadians|European]]{{efn|Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.|name=euro}}
| 3,762,090
| {{Percentage | 3762090 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 3,998,525
| {{Percentage | 3998525 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 4,093,475
| {{Percentage | 4093475 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 4,069,110
| {{Percentage | 4069110 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 4,085,430
| {{Percentage | 4085430 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]]
| 1,273,525
| {{Percentage | 1273525 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 1,023,140
| {{Percentage | 1023140 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 868,125
| {{Percentage | 868125 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 712,975
| {{Percentage | 712975 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 494,850
| {{Percentage | 494850 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[East Asian Canadians|East Asian]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.|name=EastAsian}}
| 813,015
| {{Percentage | 813015 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 754,190
| {{Percentage | 754190 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 638,740
| {{Percentage | 638740 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 585,980
| {{Percentage | 585980 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 488,990
| {{Percentage | 488990 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Black Canadians|Black]]
| 563,330
| {{Percentage | 563330 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 493,510
| {{Percentage | 493510 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 435,750
| {{Percentage | 435750 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 385,400
| {{Percentage | 385400 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 333,540
| {{Percentage | 333540 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Southeast Asia]]n{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name=SoutheastAsian}}
| 424,690
| {{Percentage | 424690 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 366,470
| {{Percentage | 366470 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 345,015
| {{Percentage | 345015 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 260,385
| {{Percentage | 260385 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 200,375
| {{Percentage | 200375 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Middle Eastern Canadians|Middle Eastern]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.|name=MiddleEastern}}
| 327,375
| {{Percentage | 327375 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 254,730
| {{Percentage | 254730 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 189,875
| {{Percentage | 189875 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 143,570
| {{Percentage | 143570 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 105,040
| {{Percentage | 105040 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]]
| 179,580
| {{Percentage | 179580 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 149,995
| {{Percentage | 149995 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 131,925
| {{Percentage | 131925 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 111,560
| {{Percentage | 111560 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 83,195
| {{Percentage | 83195 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]
| 82,395
| {{Percentage | 82395 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 80,475
| {{Percentage | 80475 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 63,200
| {{Percentage | 63200 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 46,465
| {{Percentage | 46465 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 35,405
| {{Percentage | 35405 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
| Other/[[Multiracial people|Multiracial]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, {{abbr|n.i.e.|not included elsewhere}}" and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.|name=Other}}
| 251,470
| {{Percentage | 251470 | 7677470 | 2 }}
| 190,805
| {{Percentage | 190805 | 7311815 | 2 }}
| 152,685
| {{Percentage | 152685 | 6918750 | 2 }}
| 114,365
| {{Percentage | 114365 | 6429855 | 2 }}
| 105,490
| {{Percentage | 105490 | 5932330 | 2 }}
|-
! Total responses
! 7,677,470
! {{Percentage | 7677470 | 7759635 | 2 }}
! 7,311,815
! {{Percentage | 7311815 | 7402321 | 2 }}
! 6,918,750
! {{Percentage | 6918750 | 7005491 | 2 }}
! 6,429,855
! {{Percentage | 6429855 | 6487892 | 2 }}
! 5,932,330
! {{Percentage | 5932330 | 5982668 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 7,759,635
! {{Percentage | 7759635 | 7759635 | 2 }}
! 7,402,321
! {{Percentage | 7402321 | 7402321 | 2 }}
! 7,005,491
! {{Percentage | 7005491 | 7005491 | 2 }}
! 6,487,892
! {{Percentage | 6487892 | 6487892 | 2 }}
! 5,982,668
! {{Percentage | 5982668 | 5982668 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses<br>[[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]] sources:<ref name="2021CensusToronto">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Toronto, City (C) Ontario [Census subdivision] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Toronto&DGUIDlist=2021A00053520005&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2021censusPeel">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Peel, Regional municipality (RM) Ontario [Census division] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Peel&DGUIDlist=2021A00033521&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2021censusYork">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population York, Regional municipality (RM) Ontario [Census division] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=York&DGUIDlist=2021A00033519&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2021censusDurham">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Durham, Regional municipality (RM) Ontario [Census division] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Durham&DGUIDlist=2021A00033518&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2021censusHalton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Halton, Regional municipality (RM) Ontario [Census division] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Halton&DGUIDlist=2021A00033524&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2021censusHamilton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Hamilton, City (C) Ontario [Census subdivision] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Hamilton&DGUIDlist=2021A00053525005&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2021censusNiagara">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Niagara, Regional municipality (RM) Ontario [Census division] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Niagara&DGUIDlist=2021A00033526&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><br>[[2016 Canadian census|2016 census]] sources:<ref name="2016CensusToronto">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census Toronto, City [Census subdivision], Ontario and Toronto, Census division [Census division], Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Geo2=CD&Code2=3520&SearchText=Toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2016censusPeel">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census Peel, Regional municipality [Census division], Ontario and Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3521&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=Peel&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2016censusYork">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census York, Regional municipality [Census division], Ontario and Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3519&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=York&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2016censusDurham">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census Durham, Regional municipality [Census division], Ontario and Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3518&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=Durham&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2016censusHalton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census Halton, Regional municipality [Census division], Ontario and Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3524&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=Halton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2016censusHamilton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census Hamilton, City [Census subdivision], Ontario and Hamilton, Census division [Census division], Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3525005&Geo2=CD&Code2=3525&SearchText=Hamilton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2016censusNiagara">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census Niagara, Regional municipality [Census division], Ontario and Ontario [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3526&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=Niagara&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><br>[[2011 Canadian census|2011 census]] sources:<ref name="2011CensusToronto">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, Toronto, C, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Data=Count&SearchText=Toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2011censusPeel">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, Peel, RM, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3521&Data=Count&SearchText=Peel&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2011censusYork">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, York, RM, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3519&Data=Count&SearchText=York&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2011censusDurham">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, Durham, RM, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3518&Data=Count&SearchText=Durham&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2011censusHalton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, Halton, RM, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3524&Data=Count&SearchText=Halton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2011censusHamilton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, Hamilton, C, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3525005&Data=Count&SearchText=Hamilton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2011censusNiagara">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile, Niagara, RM, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3526&Data=Count&SearchText=Niagara&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><br>[[2006 Canadian census|2006 census]] sources:<ref name="2006CensusToronto">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles Toronto Ontario (City) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2006censusPeel">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles Peel Ontario (Regional municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3521&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Peel&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2006censusYork">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles York Ontario (Regional municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3519&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=York&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2006censusDurham">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles Durham Ontario (Regional municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3518&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Durham&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2006censusHalton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles Halton Ontario (Regional municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3524&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Halton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2006censusHamilton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles Hamilton Ontario (City) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3525005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Hamilton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2006censusNiagara">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles Niagara Ontario (Regional municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3526&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Niagara&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><br>[[2001 Canadian census|2001 census]] sources:<ref name="2001CensusToronto">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles Toronto Ontario (City) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3520005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Toronto&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2001censusPeel">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles Peel Regional Municipality Ontario (Regional Municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3521&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Peel&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2001censusYork">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles York Regional Municipality Ontario (Regional Municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3519&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=York&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2001censusDurham">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles Durham Regional Municipality Ontario (Regional Municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3518&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Durham&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2001censusHalton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles Halton Regional Municipality Ontario (Regional Municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3524&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Halton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2001censusHamilton">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles Hamilton Ontario (City) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3525005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Hamilton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="2001censusNiagara">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles Niagara Regional Municipality Ontario (Regional Municipality) |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3526&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Niagara&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>}}
|}

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Toronto|Economy of Hamilton, Ontario}}
{{update|section|date=July 2012}}
The economy of this region is very diverse. {{as of|2007}}, the [[Toronto Stock Exchange]] is the third-largest in North America by market capitalization (after the [[New York Stock Exchange]] and [[Nasdaq]]), and seventh-largest in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/bcfs_400.asp |title=Toronto Stock Exchange is the Third Largest in North America |website=2Ontario.com  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211113516/http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/bcfs_400.asp |archive-date=February 11, 2007}}</ref> 
[[File:Oakville Assembly.jpg|thumb|left|A worker installing car batteries at Ford's [[Oakville Assembly]]. The automotive industry is a major sector of the Golden Horseshoe's economy.]]
Cities including Hamilton, Oshawa, Oakville, Whitby and Kitchener all contain major large-scale industrial production facilities, Hamilton being dominated by the [[Steel#Industry|steel industry]] and Oakville and Oshawa primarily in the [[automotive industry]]. Other significant automotive-production facilities also exist in [[Brampton]], and [[St. Catharines]]. While manufacturing remains important to the economy of the region, the manufacturing sector has experienced a significant decline since 2000 as a result of unfavourable currency exchange rates, increasing energy costs, and reduced demand from the United States, which is by far the largest market for Ontario's goods.

The [[Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority|Port of Hamilton]] and the [[PortsToronto|Port of Toronto]] are the two largest [[inland port]]s on [[Lake Ontario]]. The [[Welland Canal]] system handles tanker ships and recreational traffic through the Great Lakes. Large rail and truck distribution facilities are located in Toronto, [[Vaughan]] and Brampton. Food processing is also a key ingredient in the economy. 
[[File:Wine grapes nearing harvest in Ontario-also example of trellis wire.jpg|thumb|The [[Niagara Peninsula]] is Canada's largest wine-growing region and a major producer of [[Ontario wine]].]]
Niagara Falls has one of the world's largest per-capita tourist economies, benefiting from millions of tourists coming to see its waterfalls, shop in its numerous stores, and visit its many attractions. The winemaking and fruit-growing industries of the [[Niagara Peninsula]] produce wines, in particular, the [[ice wine]] for which the region is known.

{{as of|2014}}, sectors such as [[information technology]], health care, Agtech, tourism, research and finance provide the bulk of growth in the Golden Horseshoe. The cities of [[Brampton]], [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]], [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo Region]] and [[Mississauga]] are emerging as hubs for technology and innovation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brampton.ca/EN/Business/economic-development/Key-Sectors/Pages/Innovation-and-Technology.aspx|title=Innovation & Technology|website=www.brampton.ca}}</ref> The region is one of the largest tech cluster in North America outside of [[Silicon Valley]]. The area is home to more than 15,000 tech companies, including over 5,000 startups, and nearly 300,000 employees in high-tech industries. About two-thirds of those employees are classified as “tech workers,” which includes programmers, developers, etc. with 8 percent of the total workforce employed in tech.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecorridor.ca/|title=The Corridor|website=thecorridor.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.waterlooedc.ca/what-is-toronto-waterloo-corridor|title=What is the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor?|first=Waterloo|last=EDC|website=blog.waterlooedc.ca}}</ref>

==Education==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
[[File:UofTConvocationHall.jpg|thumb|[[Convocation Hall (University of Toronto)|Convocation Hall]] in the [[University of Toronto]]]]
The Golden Horseshoe is home to several [[university|universities]], including the [[University of Toronto]] and [[McMaster University]] in Hamilton, which are ranked 1st and 4th in Canada, respectively, by the [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]].<ref name="ARWU2022-TU">{{cite web |title=University of Toronto rankings |publisher=University of Toronto (Wikipedia entry)}}</ref> Other universities in the region include [[Brock University]] in St. Catharines, [[Trent University]] in Peterborough, [[York University]] in northern Toronto near Vaughan, [[OCAD University]] in downtown Toronto, [[Ontario Tech University]] in Oshawa, [[Toronto Metropolitan University]] (formerly Ryerson University), the [[University of Guelph]], the [[University of Waterloo]], [[Wilfrid Laurier University]] in Waterloo, and the [[Université de l'Ontario français]] in downtown Toronto. The Golden Horseshoe is also home to many colleges.<ref name="ARWU2022-Mac">{{cite web |title=McMaster University rankings |publisher=McMaster University (Wikipedia entry)}}</ref>

Public primary and secondary schooling is typically provided by [[school boards]], largely organized at the municipal or county/regional level. The only school boards that operate throughout the Golden Horseshoe are [[Conseil scolaire Viamonde]], a public French-language school board, and [[Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir]], a public French-language [[separate school]] board. Both of these public French-language school boards operate across the [[Ontario Peninsula]].<ref name="SchoolBoards">{{cite web |title=Golden Horseshoe school boards |publisher=Golden Horseshoe (Wikipedia entry)}}</ref>

==Attractions==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2021}}
[[File:Caribana 2009 (2).jpg|thumb|Toronto Caribbean Carnival, also known as [[Caribana]], is an annual cultural festival held in the City of Toronto.]]
The [[CN Tower]] in [[downtown Toronto]] is among the most internationally notable attractions in the Golden Horseshoe. Other major attractions in downtown Toronto include the [[Royal Ontario Museum]], the [[Art Gallery of Ontario]], [[Ripley's Aquarium of Canada|Ripley's Aquarium]], and the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]].

The region is home to several [[shopping mall]]s such as [[Yorkdale Shopping Centre]], [[Toronto Eaton Centre]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian Shopping Centre Study|url=http://www.retailcouncil.org/sites/default/files/RCCCanadianShoppingCenterStudyFINAL.pdf|publisher=[[Retail Council of Canada]]|access-date=18 January 2017|date=December 2016}}</ref> [[Fairview Mall]], [[Scarborough Town Centre]], and [[Sherway Gardens]]. Located in the suburbs of Toronto are [[Vaughan Mills]] in [[Vaughan]], [[Bramalea City Centre]] in Brampton, [[Square One Shopping Centre]] in [[Mississauga]], and [[Pacific Mall]] and [[Markville Shopping Centre]] in [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]].

Annual cultural festivals that draw tourists and locals alike include the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (formerly known as [[Caribana]]) and [[Taste of the Danforth]] in Toronto.

[[File:Webster Falls - Laslovarga1.jpg|thumb|left|View of [[Webster's Falls]] in Hamilton. The falls is a part of the [[Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve]], which runs across the western portion of the Golden Horseshoe.]]

The [[Niagara Escarpment]], a world [[Man and the Biosphere Programme#Biosphere reserves|biosphere reserve]] as designated by the United Nations, runs from the north at the tip of [[Bruce Peninsula]] and then east through the region cutting the Niagara Gorge at Niagara Falls. The [[Bruce Trail]] runs along the escarpment through mostly protected woodlands. The [[Cheltenham Badlands]] in [[Caledon, Ontario|Caledon]] is an [[Environmental degradation|environmentally degraded]] area along the Niagara Escarpment. Similar protection of some wooded areas exists on the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]] running east–west in the north end of the Greater Toronto Area, although development pressures continue to threaten the natural habitat.

The Niagara Region has become one of the major [[wine]]-production areas in Canada. The Golden Horseshoe contains many small towns with historic main streets, most notably the community of [[Niagara-on-the-Lake]], located near the [[Niagara River]]. [[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]] has [[Niagara Falls|one of the world's largest waterfalls]] and attracts millions to [[Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls|Clifton Hill]], a neighbourhood with souvenir stores, small attractions, restaurants and skyline-defining hotels. There are also two casinos: [[Casino Niagara]] and [[Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort]].

[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] has the historical reputation of being a blue-collar city; however, waterfront redevelopments and large-scale [[gentrification]] have been rapidly changing the perception of the city, although it retains a dominant industrial base. Hamilton has over [[List of waterfalls in Hamilton, Ontario|a hundred waterfalls]] and cascades throughout the region.

[[File:Leviathan Lift and Sculpture.jpg|thumb|View of the [[Leviathan (Canada's Wonderland)|Leviathan roller coaster]] at [[Canada's Wonderland]] in [[Vaughan]]; Canada's Wonderland is owned by [[Six Flags]] since the merger of the park's former owner [[Cedar Fair]] and [[Six Flags (1961–2024)|Six Flags]] in 2024]]

Seasonal [[amusement park]]s and large outdoor attractions in the Golden Horseshoe include [[Canada's Wonderland]], run by [[Six Flags]], in Vaughan; [[Wet'n'Wild Toronto]] (formerly Wild Water Kingdom) in [[Brampton]]; [[African Lion Safari]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] and [[Cambridge, Ontario|Cambridge]]; and the defunct [[Marineland of Canada|Marineland]]<!--Don't replace with new name until it becomes official and released to the public; don't mention United as it is not fully confirmed--> in Niagara Falls. Though technically a [[State fair|provincial fair]], the [[Exhibition Place]] just west of downtown Toronto hosts the annual [[Canadian National Exhibition]], while the nearby [[Ontario Place]] is being redeveloped.

===Sports===
[[File:Toronto vs Tampa Aug 11 2018.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Toronto Blue Jays]] game at the [[Rogers Centre]] in [[2018 Toronto Blue Jays season|2018]]]]
The Golden Horseshoe is home to many amateur and professional sports clubs, and university and college varsity programs. Many professional sports clubs in the city form a part of a larger [[sports league]]. Most university varsity programs are regulated by [[U Sports]], while college varsity programs are regulated by the [[Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association]].

In addition to the number of sports clubs and programs based in the region, the Golden Horseshoe has also hosted several international [[multi-sport event]]s, including the [[1930 British Empire Games]] (predecessor to the [[Commonwealth Games]]), the [[1976 Summer Paralympics]], the [[2015 Pan American Games]] and [[2015 Parapan American Games|Parapan American Games]], the [[2017 Invictus Games]], the [[2017 North American Indigenous Games]], and the [[2018 NACAC Championships]]. Although much of the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] was held in [[Montreal]], several matches for the [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|event's soccer tournament]] were played in Toronto. Toronto is among various cities in North America to host select matches for the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+Professional sports teams based in the Golden Horseshoe:
!Team
!City
!League
!Sport
|-
|[[Toronto Blue Jays]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Major League Baseball]]
|Baseball
|-
|[[Toronto Maple Leafs (semi-pro baseball)|Toronto Maple Leafs]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Intercounty Baseball League]]
|Baseball
|-
|[[Toronto Raptors]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[National Basketball Association]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[Toronto Tempo]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Women's National Basketball Association]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[Raptors 905]]
|[[Mississauga]]
|[[NBA G League]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[Brampton Honey Badgers]]
|[[Brampton]]
|[[Canadian Elite Basketball League]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[Niagara River Lions]]
|[[St. Catharines]]
|[[Canadian Elite Basketball League]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[Scarborough Shooting Stars]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Canadian Elite Basketball League]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[KW Titans]]
|[[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]]
|[[Basketball Super League (North America)|Basketball Super League]]
|Basketball
|-
|[[Oshawa FireWolves]]
|[[Oshawa]]
|[[National Lacrosse League]]
|Box lacrosse
|-
|[[Toronto Rock]]
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
|[[National Lacrosse League]]
|Box lacrosse
|-
|[[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
|[[Canadian Football League]]
|Canadian football
|-
|[[Toronto Argonauts]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Canadian Football League]]
|Canadian football
|-
|[[Toronto Marlies]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[American Hockey League]]
|Ice hockey
|-
|[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[National Hockey League]]
|Ice hockey
|-
|[[Toronto Sceptres]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Professional Women's Hockey League]]
|Ice hockey
|-
|[[Toronto FC]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Major League Soccer]]
|Soccer
|-
|[[Toronto FC II]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[MLS Next Pro]]
|Soccer
|-
|[[Forge FC]]
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
|[[Canadian Premier League]]
|Soccer
|-
|[[York United FC]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Canadian Premier League]]
|Soccer
|-
|[[AFC Toronto]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Northern Super League]]
|Soccer
|}
Note that the Toronto Blue Jays temporarily played their home games in the United States (more specifically [[Dunedin, Florida]] and [[Buffalo, New York]]) due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in North America]] in [[2020 Toronto Blue Jays season|2020]] and [[2021 Toronto Blue Jays season|2021]], while the Toronto Raptors played their home games in the United States (more specifically [[Tampa, Florida]]) during the pandemic to minimize cross-border travel.

In May 2024, the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) announced that its 14th franchise had been awarded to Toronto-based [[Kilmer Sports Ventures]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=WNBA Expands to Canada with Toronto Selected as the League's 14th Team|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/expansion-toronto-2026-announcement|publisher=[[Women's National Basketball Association]]|date=23 May 2024|access-date=21 Oct 2024}}</ref> Known as the [[Toronto Tempo]], the team is expected to play its home games at the [[Coca-Cola Coliseum]] in Exhibition Place starting in its debut in [[2026 WNBA season|2026]].

==Transportation==
{{see also|Transportation in Toronto}}
[[File:QEW into Mississauga.png|thumb|The [[Queen Elizabeth Way]] is a major [[controlled-access highway]] that connects the [[Greater Toronto Area]] with the [[Niagara Peninsula]].]]
The Golden Horseshoe is served by a [[400-series highways|network of expressways]]; central among these are the [[Queen Elizabeth Way]] and [[Ontario Highway 401|Highway 401]], the latter of which is one of the widest and busiest expressways in the world.

[[File:Davisville_TTC_Rocket_5836_d40.JPG|thumb|A [[Toronto Rocket]] train at the [[Toronto subway]]'s [[Davisville station]] on [[Line 1 Yonge–University]]]]
Public transit in the region is coordinated by [[Metrolinx]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/aboutus/about_us_index.aspx|title=About Us|agency=Metrolinx|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref> Regional transit is provided by [[GO Transit]] trains and buses, and by intercity bus operators such as [[Ontario Northland Motor Coach Services|Ontario Northland]] and [[Coach Canada]]. GO Transit's train network encompasses seven commuter rail lines linking municipalities in the Golden Horseshoe to Toronto's [[Union Station (Toronto)|Union Station]], which is the busiest railway station in Canada and the second-busiest railway station in North America, with 72 million passengers per year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-08|url=http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/aboutus/QF_InfoToGo_EN_03-15-v3.pdf|title=Archived copy|access-date=2020-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508141957/http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/aboutus/QF_InfoToGo_EN_03-15-v3.pdf|archive-date=2016-05-08}}</ref> [[GO Expansion|Expansion]] is underway to facilitate all-day 15-minute or better commuter train service, electrification and increased ridership on five of the busiest lines.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Metrolinx: It's Happening - GO Expansion|url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/go-expansion.aspx|access-date=2020-09-17|website=www.metrolinx.com}}</ref> Local transit is provided by municipal agencies, the largest of which is the [[Toronto Transit Commission]], which operates [[Toronto subway|three subway lines and one former light metro line]] and an extensive [[Toronto Transit Commission bus system|bus]] and [[Toronto streetcar system|streetcar network]]. Rapid transit systems that operate primarily outside Toronto include the [[Viva Rapid Transit|VIVA bus rapid transit]] in York Region, the [[Ion rapid transit|ION light rail system]] in [[Kitchener-Waterloo]], and the [[Mississauga Transitway|Mississauga transitway]]. [[Line 5 Eglinton|Line 5]] and [[Line 6 Finch West|Line 6]] are under construction LRT lines in Toronto that are part of its subway system and will open in the fourth quarter of 2025. The [[Ontario Line]] is another subway line under construction in Toronto, albeit using different technology. The [[Hurontario LRT]] is currently under construction in Peel Region, as well as various bus rapid transit projects in Peel and York Regions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Metrolinx: For a Greater Region - Projects|url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=www.metrolinx.com}}</ref>

The primary airport of the region is [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] (officially Lester B. Pearson International Airport), located in Mississauga. Handling 50.5 million passengers in 2019, it is the busiest in Canada and the [[List of busiest airports by passenger traffic|31st busiest in the world]]. Other regional airports of significance include [[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]] located in southern Hamilton, which is a major regional freight and courier location as well as the [[Region of Waterloo International Airport]] in Kitchener; [[Buttonville Municipal Airport|Buttonville Airport]] (closed since November 2023) and [[Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport|Billy Bishop Airport]] in the [[Greater Toronto Area]]. Within driving distance is [[Buffalo Niagara International Airport]] in [[Cheektowaga, New York]], in the United States. Buffalo Niagara carries the second-largest passenger volume in the region, serving over 5 million passengers in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/travel/bnia-celebrates-major-milestone/71-63d09d28-eb5f-454a-952b-ff4ff4ff7a61|title=BNIA celebrates major milestone|website=wgrz.com|date=28 December 2018 }}</ref> It is frequently used by Canadian passengers flying to US destinations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/02/08/buffalo-bellingham-us-airports-court-canadian-fliers/79842960/|title=From Buffalo to Bellingham, U.S. airports court Canadian fliers|website=USA Today|date=2016-02-08}}</ref>[[File:Downtown Toronto in September 2018 (Early Sunday Morning, view from a kayak).jpg|right|thumb|alt=A spear-like tower is between a white-domed structure and small buildings on the left, and increasingly taller buildings to the right. In the foreground is a lake, with a few visible buoys, and the background is a deep blue sky with a few clouds near the horizon.|Skyline of [[Downtown Toronto]] in 2018. The city is the financial anchor of the Golden Horseshoe.]]
[[Image:HamiltonOntarioSkylineC.JPG|right|thumb|alt=A tree-lined highway is in the foreground, angled diagonally from bottom right to middle left of the image. Buildings are in the centre, and the background is a sky meeting rolling hills in the distance.|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] lies at the western edge of [[Lake Ontario]].]]
[[File:Cataratas del Niágara 31.jpg|thumb|alt=A spike tower with a pod is lit along its length on the right. Other buildings sit on the right while a river and large waterfall occupies the left.|[[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]] is a major tourist destination, situated at the southeastern portion of the Golden Horseshoe.]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage inline|Golden Horseshoe}}
*[https://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/ The City Of Waterfalls]

{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}
{{Adjacent communities
 | Northwest = [[Georgian Triangle]]
 | North = [[Central Ontario]]
 | Northeast = [[Central Ontario]] / [[Eastern Ontario]]
 | West = [[Southwestern Ontario]]
 | Centre = Golden Horseshoe
 | East = [[Eastern Ontario]] / [[Western New York]]
 | Southwest = [[Southwestern Ontario]]
 | South = [[Upstate New York]] / [[Niagara Frontier]]
 | Southeast = ''[[Lake Ontario]]'' / [[Finger Lakes]]
 | image = 
}}
{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}
{{Portal bar|Ontario|Canada}}

[[Category:Golden Horseshoe| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Ontario]]
[[Category:Geographic regions of Ontario]]
[[Category:1950s neologisms]]