|
|
 |
| |
|
Home > Travel Canada > Canada Destinations > Whitby, Ontario (Town)
Whitby, Ontario (Town)
Canada is a country in the northern half of North America. Whitby is a town located east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is the seat of Durham Region, Ontario in Canada. The Town of Whitby was incorporated in 1855, three years after it was chosen as the seat of government for the newly formed County of Ontario. Although settlement dates back to 1800, it was not until 1836 that a downtown business center was established by Whitby's founder Peter Perry.
Whitby Township, now the Town of Whitby was named after the seaport town of Whitby, Yorkshire, England. In addition to Whitby, Yorkshire, the Town of Whitby is also officially twinned with Longueuil, Quebec and Feldkirch, Austria. When the township was originally surveyed in 1792, the surveyor, from the northern part of England, named the townships east of Toronto after towns on England's northeastern coast. The original name of Whitby is Danish, when the Danes invaded Britain. It is a contraction of Whitteby, meaning White Village. The allusion may be to the white lighthouse on the pier at Whitby, Yorkshire, and also at Whitby, Ontario.
Whitby's chief asset was its fine natural harbour on Lake Ontario, from which grain from the farmland to the north was first shipped in 1833. In the 1840s a road was built from Whitby Harbour to Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay, to bring trade and settlement through the harbour to and from the rich hinterland to the north. In the 1870s a railway was constructed to Port Perry and Lindsay from Whitby Harbour. Its estimated 2005 population was 116,000.
The town government consists of a mayor and four councillors, each representing an individual ward. There are also three regional councillors elected at large. They sit on both the town and Durham Region Councils, as does the mayor. The current mayor is Pat Perkins. As of late 2006, there were 18 elementary schools and four secondary schools. This team featured long-time president of the Boston Bruins, Harry Sinden.
Today, one can also learn about its history, from its earliest times and gain enthusiasm in its natural beauty and populace. Whitby enjoys a very positive reputation with worldwide travelers. It is definitely one of the popular tourist attractions. It is worth paying a visit while touring the country. This place leaves a pleasing and unforgettable memory and justifies the proud cultural tradition also.
Back to Canada Destinations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|