Exploring Ontario

Arts & Culture

From music, art and dance to museums, film and theatre, Ontario has something for everyone! Each year, Ontario’s many cities and towns also celebrate their peoples’ rich heritage with colourful festivals, events and celebrations.

Performing Arts

Wagner’s Ring, a cycle of four operas, requires an orchestra of more than 100 musicians. The orchestra pit at Toronto’s new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts allows even the largest opera production. The Four Seasons is the permanent home of the Canadian Opera Company. The National Ballet of Canada often performs there.

Visual Arts

Toronto attracts the third largest theatre-going audience in the English-speaking world.

Toronto attracts the third largest theatre-going audience in the English-speaking world. Toronto also has a world class symphony, as well as famous opera and ballet companies.

World-renowned architect Frank Gehry re-designed the new Art Gallery of Ontario in 2003. He was born and raised in Toronto, and is best known for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilboa, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. You can also visit A Celebration of Ontario Artists.

Film

The Toronto International Film Festival started out as a small event that showed films from other festivals around the world. Billed as the “Festival of Festivals” at its launch in 1976, it has become one of the world’s most important film festivals. Toronto’s festival organizers take pride in welcoming the entire community, showing a diverse range of films from many cultures, and celebrating Canadian films.

Ontario has something for everyone. It’s a big province, and there is a lot to see and do in both summer and winter. Become a tourist in your new home. Explore Ontario.

Heritage

About six million objects are on display at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto, showing both natural history and world cultures in various themed galleries. In June 2007, the ROM unveiled the Michael Lee Chin Crystal, considered among the most challenging construction projects in North America for its engineering complexity. The Lee-Chin Crystal is composed of five interlocking pieces. The new building was designed by Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind.

fun facts

The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto has over 10,000 shoes on display! Their exhibits range from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut crushing clogs and high fashion platform shoes.

Cultural Festivals

Ontario’s ethnic diversity is celebrated with many local festivals, such as:

the Scottish Highland Games in Fergus
Caribana in Toronto Carnival (one of North America’s biggest cultural street festivals, attracting one million revellers each year)
The Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo

Music events such as:

Jazz festivals in Orillia, Markham, Guelph, Aurora, Ottawa, Prince Edward County and Toronto
Classical music in Elora
Bluesfest in Ottawa

World-famous theatre including:

The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake
The Shakespeare Festival in Stratford

The National Arts Centre in Ottawa is Canada’s largest centre for the performing arts. Home of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, it also features opera, ballet and contemporary dance, as well as theatre in both English and French. Ottawa is also home to Canada’s National Gallery.

Explore Ontario: Be a Tourist in Your New Home

Visit the McMichael Canadian Art Collection to see the finest works of Canada’s famous Group of Seven, as well as Emily Carr, David Milne and acclaimed Inuit artists. Their work is dramatically displayed in a log-and-fieldstone gallery in the charming village of Kleinburg.

Ontario Welcomes You

As a newcomer to Ontario, you may have many questions. The Province of Ontario has many services and programs to help you find the answers, information and support you need to succeed.

Just for Fun!

February 15 marks the day in 1965 when Canada’s red-and-white maple leaf flag was first raised over Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The maple leaf has been used as a national symbol since the early 18th century. Red and white were designated as Canada’s official colours in 1921 by King George V. Learn more about National Flag of Canada Day.

How do I apply to immigrate to Ontario, Canada?

The Government of Canada, through the department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), is responsible for processing immigration applications. You can find information on their website. Ontario has a Provincial Nominee Program, Opportunities Ontario, where Ontario nominates individuals for permanent resident status.
How do I apply for a Social Insurance Number?

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number required for temporary and permanent residents to work legally in Canada and to have access to government programs and benefits. You can apply for a SIN at a Service Canada office. Make sure you bring with you the required documents and a completed application form.
Does the Ontario Government offer health insurance to immigrants?

Permanent residents, temporary workers, convention refugees and others may receive coverage under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) three months after arriving in Ontario. Apply for public as soon as you arrive to ensure you are covered after your first three months. Find more information on OHIP eligibility and health care.
How can I find out about Ontario's Francophone community?

You will find information about the different programs and services available to Francophone immigrants in Ontario in our Living in French section and on Etablissement.org (en français).
What should I do if an employer wants me to work in Ontario?

You must either be a permanent resident or have a work permit in order to work in Ontario. You are also required to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). It may also be necessary to have your international academic credentials assessed and recognized.
What jobs and professions are in demand in Ontario?

You can access job offers, wage information, job demand and skills requirements with the Working in Canada tool. You may also benefit from labour market information that will provide you with current market trends.You can access job offers, wage information, job demand and skills requirements with the Working in Canada tool.
How can I get my education and professional credentials assessed?

You can find information on education and credential assessment on our site and learn about Ontario's professional licensing bodies. You may also want to know about apprenticeship program to work in the trades and about bridge training programs to enter the Canadian market.
Where can I get information about the Ontario economy?

You can find information about Ontario's economy and get economic updates on the Ontario Ministry of Finance's website and find out about the Canadian economy from Industry Canada.
How much does it cost to apply as a business immigrant?

You can find the application fees on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada site and additional information on business immigration such as how much you need to invest in Ontario on Invest in Ontario.
If I am an international student, what are my employment options?

There are employment opportunities for international students while studying in Canada. Certain students are eligible to work in their field of study for up to two years after graduating. Eligible students must apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a work permit. You need a social insurance number to work in Canada.