Sharing interesting facts about the province of Ontario

Here are the highlights

Location and Size
Ontario, Canada's second largest province, spans more than one million square kilometres. It's larger than France and Spain combined. Positioned between Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, it borders the United States to the south.

Provincial Emblem
The trillium is Ontario’s provincial flower. The white trillium blooms in late April or early May and is often found in deciduous forests and woodlands.

Largest City
Ontario's capital, Toronto, is Canada's largest city, home to nearly three million people. Almost half of the population was born outside Canada, making it one of the world's most multicultural cities.

Tallest Freestanding Structure
The CN Tower in Toronto was the world's tallest freestanding structure when it was completed in 1976. Today, it still holds the title as the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.

Provincial Bird
The common loon is Ontario's provincial bird. Its haunting and distinct call is a familiar sound in Ontario's cottage country.

Natural Feats
Ontario is home to the world's largest freshwater island, Manitoulin Island, and the world's longest street, Yonge Street, which starts in Toronto and extends north to the Minnesota border.

Largest Freshwater Lakes
Ontario is home to The Great Lakes – Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario – which contain a fifth of Earth’s fresh surface water.

Vineyards and Wineries
Ontario is renowned for its vineyards and wineries located predominately within Niagara Peninsula, replete with more than 90 vineyards producing 71% of Canadian wine.

Historic Sites
The province has 177 National Historic Sites, including the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, the longest operational canal system in North America.

Provincial Tree
The Eastern White Pine is Ontario's official tree—a symbol of Ontario's history given how its forest industries were built around this species.

Niagara Falls
One of the world's most remarkable natural wonders, Niagara Falls, is nestled at Ontario's southeastern border. It attracts millions of visitors each year.

Bilingual Province
Although English is the prevalent language spoken in Ontario, it is officially bilingual, with services available in both English and French.

First Nations History
Ontario is home to many First Nations, including the Iroquoianspeaking Wendat, whose highly organized societies inhabited the region for centuries before Europeans arrived.

Provincial Animal
The provincial animal of Ontario is the whitetailed deer, a common sight in southern and central Ontario.

Northern Ontario
Containing a mere 6% of the population, Northern Ontario is geographically vast, with abundant wilderness and natural resources, including the metalrich Canadian Shield.

Education
Ontario is home to 20 public universities and 24 colleges, providing a broad range of full and parttime programs for students domestically and internationally.

Cuisine
Ontario is known for butter tarts, peameal bacon, and the popular Canadian dish poutine—with local ingredients that include Niagara peaches and Niagara or Prince Edward County wines.

Thriving Arts Scene
Ontario hosts numerous arts and music festivals yearly. Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Stratford Festival being two of the global frontrunners.

Ontario’s Climate
Ontario has a humid continental climate, with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Some northern parts have a subarctic climate, with exceptionally cold winters.

First European Settlement
The first European to reach Ontario was French explorer Étienne Brûlé in 1610. The first European settlement, SainteMarie Among the Hurons, was established in 1642.

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