Durham Region

The Regional Municipality of Durham was created January 1, 1974 as a Regional Government in the Province of Ontario under The Regional Municipality of Durham Act, 1973 of the Ontario Legislature. The Region of Durham is situated in the highly developed and populated economic centre of Ontario. Durham Region lies immediately to the east of the City of Toronto within the Greater Toronto Area and encompasses an area of approximately 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 square miles). The area is characterized by a variety of landscapes and communities. A series of major lakeshore urban communities contrast with a variety of small towns, villages, hamlets and farms which lie immediately inland. A recent report by the Planning Department estimates that the population of the Region of Durham was 531,000 in May 2001. A target of 760,000 people has been estimated for the number of people living in the Region by the year 2011, and a target of 970,000 people by the year 2021 - more than double the 1991 population.

A detailed map of Durham Region

There are eight Area Municipalities in Durham Region (the Cities of Oshawa and Pickering, the Towns of Ajax, and Whitby; the Municipality of Clarington and the Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge). Each has its own website which can be accessed by clicking on the map or on the name of the individual municipalities.

Click on the map or on name of the town or city to go to the respective municipality website.

Region of Durham
City of Pickering
Town of Ajax
Town of Whitby
City of Oshawa
Township of Uxbridge
Township of Brock
Township of Scugog
Municipality of Clarington

Total Population: 561,258
Your Community Facts Sheet

• Pickering and Ajax are the municipalities with the largest immigrant population in the region, with 30% of the population being foreign born.
• There is significant growth in the population identified as Sri Laken, Pakistani, African, and Romanian.

Source: Region of Durham Community Trends Report, 2008

Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program:
Provide by the Community Development Council Durham to support newly arrived immigrants to integrate in the Canadian Culture.

• Recruiting for the Newcomer (Youth Advisory Committee) - The role of the Newcomer Youth Advisory Committee will be to act as a voice for the newcomer and immigrant youth communities. Youth leaders will take part in a series of workshops to build skills in civic engagement and leadership.
• Community Sunday Supper - The Pingle family has generously donated their orchard in which to hold this Sunday Supper event. Durham residents will break bread with one another in a three-course locally sourced family-style pass-the-potatoes-please dinner.
• World Refugee Day - to inform you about the accomplishments and resiliency of refugees in Durham and to research the current situation of the many refugees around the world, and in Canada.
• Thew Newcomer walking Group in Ajax - designed for newcomers to Canada living in and around Ajax who are interested in walking, being mroe active, creating new friendships and connecting with other people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.