Durham (region, Ontario)

Durham is a region of about 650,000 people (2016) in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. While its cities and towns developed separately and have their own histories, since the 1980s, the region have been evolving into Toronto's eastern suburbs as more and more of its residents commute into the bigger city. Durham region has also attracted many new industries and offices because of the lower cost of land. It is also home to one of Ontario's newest universities, Ontario Tech University.

Cities
  • 🌍 Whitby (town) — during the Second World War, it was the location of Camp X, a secret spy training facility established by the "Man Called Intrepid"
  • 🌍 Ajax (town) — founded around a World War II munitions factory, it grew into a bedroom community for Toronto after the war
  • 🌍 Brock (township) — a rural municipality that includes the communities of Beaverton and Cannington
  • 🌍 Clarington (town) — part-countyside, part-industrial town, including Newcastle and Bowmanville
  • 🌍 Oshawa (city) — the home of a massive auto manufacturer facility that has been gradually closing down through the 2010s, it is trying to transition to an education and health sciences hub
  • 🌍 Pickering (city) — the city bordering Toronto, it is also home to the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
  • 🌍 Scugog (township) — a bridge between Toronto's commuter zone and cottage country
  • 🌍 Uxbridge (township) — an historic town that celebrates its Quaker heritage, including Zephyr

Other destinations
  • 🌍 Nonquon Provincial Wildlife Area — a 1,120-hectare (2,800-acre) protected area northwest of Port Perry

Understand

The southern portion of the region, on Lake Ontario is primarily suburban in nature, forming the eastern end of the 905 area code belt of suburbs around Toronto. The northern area comprises rural areas and small towns.

Durham Region had over 250 energy, environment and engineering (EN3) related businesses that employed over 11,000 people. Durham Region's agricultural sector is one of the largest primary goods-producing sectors in the region.

The innovative technology sector is emerging in Durham Region, supported by a Regional Innovation Centre in Oshawa and a technology accelerator in Whitby.

Get in
  • GO Transit, ☏ +1 416-869-3200, toll-free: +1-888-438-6646. GO Transit operates train and bus service from Toronto, and has four train stations and one bus terminal in Durham Region, all with local connections to Durham Region Transit: (updated Feb 2019)
    • 🌍 Oshawa Train Station. GO Transit and Via Rail trains. (updated Feb 2019)
    • 🌍 Whitby GO Station, Brock St S (south of Hwy 401). GO Transit trains and buses. (updated Feb 2019)
    • 🌍 Ajax GO station, 100 Westney Rd S. GO Transit trains and buses. (updated Feb 2019)
    • 🌍 Pickering GO Station, 1322 Bayly St. GO Transit trains. (updated Feb 2019)

Get around

Public transportation
  • Durham Region Transit (DRT), toll-free: +1-866-247-0055, fax: +1 905-579-1050. Durham Regional Transit accepts the Presto card for fare payment. Adult fare is $3.75 (cash), $3.15 (Presto); senior fare is $2.50 (cash), $2.10 (Presto); 80 cents if transferring from GO Transit. Riders may also pay by tapping a credit card on the Presto reader in which case the adult cash fare will be charged. (updated Feb 2023)

Durham Region Transit is the main operator of public transit providing 50 bus routes across the region. The 900 "Pulse" route operates as frequently as every 10 minutes during peak times and operates along Highway 2 from Scarborough to downtown Oshawa. Most other routes run every 30 min, with some busier routes running every 15-20 minutes.

If paying by cash, ask the driver for a transfer to avoid an extra fare when changing DRT buses. If paying by Presto, the transfer info is stored on the card after you tap in. A fare is valid for two hours of travel.

If transferring from GO Transit to DRT to complete a trip, the DRT fare will be free when using a Presto card. Just tap your Presto card on both transit systems to get the free DRT fare. When using a Presto card to transfer from DRT to GO Transit, the DRT fare will be refunded to your card at the end of your trip.

The first digit of the three-digit bus route number indicates the municipality: 1 Pickering, 2 Ajax, 3 Whitby, 4 Oshawa/Courtice, 5 Clarington, 9 Regional routes.

Other

The Uber ride service is available in the region.

See

The Home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, in Leaskdale north of Uxbridge, is a must for fans of the famed author of her Anne of Green Gables novels.

Car buffs will want to visit the Canadian Automotive Museum, in Oshawa to see cars ranging from an early 20th-century fire truck to a steam powered car to a 1983 Delorean.

Parkwood National Historic Site is a grand private estate built in Oshawa in 1917 for Canadian automobile businessman Col. Sam McLaughlin. It includes a mansion with several gardens, Art Deco garden pavilions, and ornate ceilings. It is a National Historic Site.

The nuclear generating stations in Pickering and Darlington have public information centres.

Do

Uxbridge calls itself the Trail Capital of Canada, with 220 km of trails for Hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and skiers on protected greenspace running through historic villages, mixed forests, streams, wetlands, and meadows.

Uxbridge is home to three ski resorts.

Great Blue Heron Casino on the Mississaugas of Scugog First Nations reserve is a destination for gambling, dining and entertainment.

Stay safe

Durham is one of the safest regions in Canada, so there should be no safety problems.

Go next
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