Exploring Ontario

Discovery Travels

From the world’s longest street to the world longest freshwater beach, there’s always more to discover in Ontario! With beautiful lakes and rivers, forests and provincial parks, the province offers rich cultural, archaeological and natural wonders. To get started, you can visit this online exhibit that looks back at tourism in Ontario ever since Niagara Falls was discovered in the 17th century.

Greater Toronto and Niagara

It takes only 58 seconds by elevator to climb the 342 metres to the observation deck of the CN Tower. Built in 1976, the Canadian National Tower in downtown Toronto stands 553 metres in height. It was the world’s tallest building until 2007, when the Burj Dubai was constructed. In 1995, the CN Tower was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World for its feats of engineering.

North America’s largest collection of Aboriginal rock carvings can be seen at Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Here, you can explore 900 pictographs of birds, snakes, turtles and humans chiseled into the white marble rock face 1,200 years ago near Burleigh Falls in the Kawartha Lakes region.

Ottawa and St. Lawrence

The national capital’s Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill is North America’s only replica of London’s famous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Canada’s Changing of the Guard is performed by the Ceremonial Guard, a militia unit made up of the Governor General’s Foot Guards from Ottawa and the Canadian Grenadier Guards from Montreal.

Muskoka Lakes and Georgian Bay

Muskoka Lakes is one of Ontario’s most popular vacation spots, with 2,500 square miles of pine forests, lakes and rivers. It is also home to the world’s first Dark Sky Reserve, located at the Torrance Barrens. A dark sky is important to astronomers. The government decided in 1999 to protect this area, and make sure it would always be free of light pollution from cities, as it is today.

Thousand Islands

There are actually 1,864 islands in the Thousand Islands. The area was originally inhabited by the Iroquois tribes: Mohawk, Oneidas, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. They named it Manitonna, or the “Garden of the Great Spirit.”

Southwestern Ontario

Canada’s first cheese factory dates back to 1840 in the town of Ingersoll, Oxford County. Cheese making was introduced to Canada by English and Scottish immigrants. In early times, cheese was produced with the use of surplus milk right in the farmhouse kitchen. Today, Ontario cheese-makers are producing many kinds of cheese across the province, including more than 30 unique cheeses made from goat’s milk and sheep’s milk.

At London’s Museum of Ontario Archeology, you can travel back 500 years in time by visiting the 16th-century Iroquoian Village, a re-creation of prehistoric Aboriginal life.

The Great North

You can take a swim with the polar bears at the Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village in Cochrane. From there, hop aboard the Polar Bear Express across the Northland to James Bay Frontier communities. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a white beluga whale at the mouth of the Moose River on James Bay.

Explore Ontario: Be a Tourist in Your New Home

Thunder Bay boasts one of the largest settlements of Finnish people outside Finland. Saunas, the shops of “Little Finland” on Bay Street and nordic-style skiing are just a few of the ways the city shows its Finnish heritage. Seinäjoki, in the Southern Ostrobothnia district of Finland, was named Thunder Bay’s first Sister City in 1974.

fun facts

Be an environmental hero! Choose your E-Z One thing at E-Zone for Kids from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

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!

Yonge Street is the longest in the world, starting in downtown Toronto and ending more than 1,900 kilometres north in the town of Rainy River. The road is named in honour of Sir George Yonge (pronounced “young”), Great Britain’s Secretary of War and a member of Upper Canada’s Parliament in the 18th century.

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.