Ontario is located in east-central Canada, and is the most populous of all the provinces, with around 14-million people calling this area their home. It is also the 2nd largest province in Canada, covering 1.076 million km². The province of Ontario houses the national capital city (Ottawa), and the nation’s most populous city (Toronto). Here’s all you need to know about life in Ontario.
Ontario shares a 2700 kilometer border with the United States to the south (Michigan, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania), Manitoba to the west, James Bay and Hudson Bay to the north, and Quebec to the east.
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Ontario has a reputation for having high costs of living, but salaries and the minimum wage of $14 are some of the highest in the country. Known for cleanliness, safety, and an abundance of quality public services, it is no wonder that more than half of the immigrants in Canada choose Ontario.
Though Ontario has high taxes and living costs, their high salaries ensure that residents enjoy one of the highest quality of life rankings in the world.
In many ways, Ontario is the center of most activity in Canada and has created a hub of economic, social, and political opportunities. In fact, the Federal government is the single largest employer of Ontarians.
Ontario has a diverse economy, with the main exports being automobile, machinery, and electrical parts. Most big car brand names are manufactured here, including Chrysler, Ford, and Honda.
Mining has been an economic factor for over 130 years, supplying the world with more than 30 kinds of metal and minerals. The many rivers in the province have created numerous opportunities in the hydroelectric energy field, with much of the country’s electricity originating here.
Southern Ontario provides fertile ground for the effective production of small grains and fruit farming, especially close to the beautiful Niagara Peninsula.
Ontario has the most diverse culture in Canada, with most of the population in the province being of English and European descent. Irish, Italian and Scottish people account for a large group of immigrants, which has also resulted in an astounding number of foreign-born people in the province at over 28%, compared to the country average of less than 20%.
Today, there are over 100 languages spoken in homes throughout the province, though 70% of the population speaks English.
Over 50% of the population follow a Protestant or Catholic faith, with close to 23% declaring no religious affiliation at all. As a diverse province, there are many places of worship for all faiths.
Ontario offers quality, government-funded education to its residents from Kindergarten until the end of their secondary school career.
The province has top-rated universities including the University of Toronto which is ranked 18th in the world. Other Notable universities are the University of Ontario, University of Ottawa, and Queen’s University.