Brantford

Brantford is a former industrial city of 105,000 people (2021) on the Grand River in Southwestern Ontario. "The Telephone City", it is where Alexander Graham Bell said he invented his telephone, and from where he placed the first long-distance call to nearby Paris (Ontario). His Tutela Heights home, south of the city, is an international tourist attraction. For ice hockey fans, it's also famous as the hometown of the legendary Wayne Gretzky.

Brant County surrounds the City of Brantford. It had a population of 37,000 in 2016. It includes the pretty riverside community of Paris. The Brant census division includes the Six Nations Reserve, which has about 13,000 residents, but is not part of the county.

Understand

Brantford is named after Joseph Brant, an important Mohawk First Nations (Aboriginal) chief during the American Revolutionary War and later, who led his people in their first decades in Upper Canada. Many of his descendants, and other First Nations citizens, live on the nearby Reserve of Six Nations of the Grand River, 20 km from Brantford; it is the most populous reserve in Canada.

History

The Iroquoian-speaking Attawandaron, known in English as the Neutral Nation, lived in the Grand River valley area before the 17th century; their main village and seat of the chief, Kandoucho, was identified by 19th-century historians as having been located on the Grand River where present-day Brantford developed. This community, like the rest of their settlements, was destroyed when the Iroquois declared war in 1650 over the fur trade and exterminated the Neutral nation.

In 1784, Captain Joseph Brant and the Mohawk people of the Iroquois Confederacy left New York State for Canada. As a reward for their loyalty to the British Crown, they were given a large land grant, referred to as the Haldimand Tract, on the Grand River. The original Mohawk settlement was on the south edge of the present-day city at a location favourable for landing canoes. Brant's crossing (or fording) of the river gave the original name to the area: Brant's ford.

The area began to grow from a small settlement in the 1820s as the Hamilton and London Road was improved. By the 1830s, Brantford became a stop on the Underground Railroad. From the 1830s to the 1860s, several hundred people of African descent settled in the area around Murray Street, and in Cainsville. In Brantford, they established their own school and church, now known as the S.R. Drake Memorial Church. In 1846, it is estimated 2000 residents lived in the city's core while 5199 lived in the outlying rural areas.

By 1847, Europeans began to settle further up the river at a ford in the Grand River and named their village Brantford. The population increased after 1848 when river navigation to Brantford was opened and again in 1854 with the arrival of the railway to Brantford.

Because of the ease of navigation from new roads and the Grand River, several manufacturing companies could be found in the town by 1869.

Visitor Information
  • City of Brantford Tourism
  • 🌍 Brantford Visitor and Tourism Centre, 254 N Park St (At the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre). Tu-Sa 9AM-Noon, 1PM-5PM. (updated Feb 2023)

Get in

By car

Brantford is on Highway 403 at Highway 24, 90 minutes from Toronto, 45 minutes from downtown Hamilton, accessible by several major roads. For downtown, exit at King George Rd./Fairview Dr.

From the west, Highway 403 comes from Woodstock.

Highway 24 comes south from Cambridge, and north from Simcoe.

By bus

By train
See also: Rail travel in Canada

🌍 Brantford railway station, 5 Wadsworth St. (updated Mar 2021)

By plane

Brantford Municipal Airport is west of the city. The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton is about 35 km east of Brantford. Toronto Pearson International Airport is in Mississauga, about 100 km northeast of Brantford.

Get around
  • Brantford Transit, ☏ +1 519-753-3847. 9 regular routes operating on a half-hour schedule from the downtown Transit Terminal on Darling Street, with additional school service. $3, children 12 and under free. (updated Jun 2019)
  • City Taxi, ☏ +1 519-759-7800. (updated Jun 2019)
  • Brant Taxi, ☏ +1 519-752-1010. (updated Jun 2019)
  • Bell City Cabs, ☏ +1 519-759-1300. (updated Jun 2019)

See
  • 🌍 Alexander Graham Bell Homestead, 94 Tutela Heights Rd. (just outside the City of Brantford; take Brantford Southern Access Road, turn left on Mount Pleasant Street and left on Tutela Heights Road), ☏ +1 519-756-6220. Tu–Sa 9:30AM–4:30PM. The location of the invention of the telephone, Bell's house, now a museum, has been restored to its 1870s appearance and also includes an exhibit illustrating history of the telephone. $5 for adults, $3.75 for seniors and students. 
  • 🌍 Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks, Mohawk Street (on the outskirts of Brantford), ☏ +1 519-756-0240. This was the first Protestant Church built in Ontario, and the first Royal Chapel to belong to First Nations (Aboriginal) people. It was built by the British Crown in 1785 for the Mohawk and Iroquois people (Six Nations of the Grand River) was dedicated in 1788 as a reminder of the original agreements made with the British during the American Revolution. In 1904 the chapel received Royal status from King Edward VII in memory of the longstanding alliance. It is a spiritual and restful place and it is calming to roam the peaceful graveyard which surrounds the chapel. Joseph Brant and his son John Brant are buried here. 
  • 🌍 Chiefswood, Highway 54 (south of Brantford). May 23-October 9, and between October and May by appointment only. Brantford was the birthplace and home of Mohawk poet E. Pauline Johnson, and her home is now a National Historic Site. $5 for adults, $4 for students; seniors and children under 12 years of age are free. 
  • 🌍 Canadian Military Heritage Museum, 347 Greenwich St, ☏ +1 519-759-1313. Here you will discover Canada's military history, from the United Empire Loyalists of the 1700s, to the peace keepers of today. There are artifacts from the war of 1812, the South African War, and World Wars I & II. Motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy the Motorcycle Museum which is also on the site. 
  • 🌍 Brant County Courthouse, Wellington Street between George Street and Market Street. The stone and brick courthouse was built on land purchased from the Six Nations in 1852. The structure housed court rooms, county offices, a law library and a gaol. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Woodland Cultural Centre (Mohawk Institute Residential School), 184 Mohawk St, ☏ +1 519-759-2650, . Tu-Fr 10AM–3PM, Sa 11AM–4PM. The Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve took over a residential school building and converted it into a cultural centre containing 3 art galleries, a history museum and a library. The centre is a memorial to the Indigenous children who suffered abuse at the former school. Visits may require an appointment. The website provides a download for a self-guided tour. adults $7. (updated Jul 2021)

Do

Brantford's location along the Grand river makes it an excellent spot for water activities, especially canoeing and Kayaking.

  • Brantford hosts the Annual Gretzky Hockey Tournament in which teams from North America and sometimes Europe come to compete.
  • Brantford has a junior B hockey club called the Brantford Golden Eagles who play at the Civic Center located on Market Street. The senior team for Brantford is called the Brantford Blast; they also play at the Civic Center. You can watch these games for a ticket price ranging from $5–15.
  • Brantford also has a baseball club called the Brantford Red Sox which play at Arnold Anderson Stadium at Cockshutt Park. You can also watch these games for a fair price.
  • Great plays and musicals at the Sanderson Centre on Dalhousie Street, across from Harmony Square.
  • The Ford Plant was founded in 2003, and is Brantford's most popular music venue. Numerous bands have played there, and they continue to put great shows on. The general admission is usually ranging from $5–15 depending on the bands which are performing.

There are also many festivals during certain seasons of the year and a cinema which is on King George Road at the plaza.

The Tourism Centre for Brantford is off of Wayne Gretzky Parkway close to the Lynden Park Mall.

Festivals
  • Brantford Kinsmen Ribfest held in early August at the Civic Centre. Live music, crafts, and most importantly, BBQ ribs, chicken and sauces that compete for awards across North America.
  • Brantford International Villages Festival in July Four Fabulous Days of Culture! Each location/hall is where the various ethnic communities of Brantford are ready to entertain you. Your four-day passports or one day pass gives you access to all villages. Free transportation between Villages enables you to sample and explore the diversified cultures of our community. You will enjoy continuous cultural entertainment including music, dancing, unique cuisine and beverages plus cultural displays of costumes and history.

Buy
  • 🌍 Lynden Park Mall, 84 Lynden Rd. Brantford's only mall with more than 10 stores. It is a fairly sized mall with numerous stores, and only one level. Parking is all around the mall. (updated Nov 2023)

Eat
  • 🌍 Angel's Diner, 125 King George Rd, ☏ +1 519-757-1777. Su 8AM-4PM, M 8AM-3PM, Tu-Sa 8AM-8PM,. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Zander's Fire Grill and Brew Lounge, 190 King George Rd, ☏ +1 519-304-7625. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-1AM. Live music, rock-and-roll theme, burgers, wings, pastas, ribs. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Sociable Kitchen & Tavern, 45 King George Rd, ☏ +1 519-751-4042. M-F 11AM-midnight, Sa Su 10AM-midnight. Diverse menu including vegan and gluten-free choices. Sharing plates $14-20, mains $18-30. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 The Olde School Restaurant, 687 Powerline Rd (at Paris Road West), ☏ +1 519-753-3131. Tu-F 11:30AM-10:30PM, Sa 4:30-10:30PM, Su 11:30AM-10:30PM. A converted schoolhouse dating back to the 1870s, with a nostalgic collection of school days memorabilia. Nightly entertainment in the piano bar. Wheelchair accessible. Dinner mains $30-60, lunch mains $15-27. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Taal Fine Indian Cuisine, 578 Colborne St E, ☏ +1 519-752-3788. M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, M-Th Su 4:30-9PM, F 4:30-10PM, Sa noon-10PM. Buffet: lunch $13, dinner $16. (updated Nov 2023)

Drink

There are numerous bars in Brantford where you can go for a drink. The downtown core alone has most of them.

  • 🌍 Boston Pizza, 50 Market St. noon-9PM daily. though a restaurant in most cities, is a very popular bar in Brantford that is packed on weekends and even has a bouncer to keep out the rowdy ones. (updated Nov 2023)

Two bars are side to side and very popular among students in Brantford. The occasional drunken bar fight will happen, but it is generally safe.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Stay safe

Brantford is a dangerous city during the night hours. From the Lorne Bridge down to Stanley Street is where most of the crime takes place. Assaults and robberies are common in these areas, as in Eagle Place which is located east of the downtown core. Police presence is most frequented in these areas; drunken bar fights are an every night thing in Brantford on the weekends, and sometimes week nights. The Brantford downtown has come a long way since the year 2000; the city has put money into the downtown core, and continues to build new buildings and more local friendly attractions. Wilfrid Laurier University is across from the Eaton Square, which is in the downtown core. Police have stepped up and cut down crime since Maclean's magazine ranked Brantford 11th worst city in Canada for its crime rate. If you take the necessary precautions and walk with groups you will unlikely encounter any problems, but if you are alone you may be target for criminals or drug addicts looking for their next fix.

Go next
Routes through Brantford
London ← Woodstock ←  W  E  → Burlington → Toronto
London via ← Woodstock ←  W  E  → Hamilton → Brampton


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