C2C network Ontario

2012 will see Ontario’s population grow to 13 million people. Canada’s largest province consists of two regions, Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario, with the majority of Ontario’s population located in the south. 

One small area of southern Ontario is known as the Golden Horseshoe. The core of the region starts in the east at Niagara Falls and extends west, wrapping around the western end of Lake Ontario then heading northeast to its anchor city Toronto, before finally terminating at Oshawa, just east of Toronto.  This small area accounts for nearly 20% of Canada’s population and 49% of Ontario’s population.  

Toronto:

Our church planting efforts in Ontario have focused largely on this region, and even more specifically, on Toronto, which is at the heart of the Golden Horseshoe.  Greater Toronto is made up of 5.7 million people.  It is Canada’s largest city, the 5th largest metropolitan area in North America, and of special note, the most ethnically diverse city in the world.  As an example of this diversity, Toronto’s 9-1-1 emergency services are equipped to respond in over 150 languages.

Less than half the population in Toronto claim to be Christian.  Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism are all growing and at present make up over 20% of the city’s population. Another 17% profess no religious affiliation at all. 

Ottawa:

A second area of focus in Ontario has been Ottawa, our nation’s capital.  This city’s nearly one million strong population also symbolizes Canada’s bilingual culture.  Ottawa’s growth is largely a result of relocation to the city, with immigrants accounting for 20% of the population that neither speak English or French as their first language.