Brampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brampton
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| City of Brampton | |||
The Brampton Dominion building
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| Nickname(s):
Flower City (previously Flower Town)
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 Brampton
Location in Southern Ontario
Brampton
Location in Regional Municipality of Peel
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| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Ontario | ||
| Region | Peel | ||
| Incorporation | 1853 (village) | ||
| 1873 (town) | |||
| 1974 (city) | |||
| Area | |||
| • Land | 265.89 km2 (102.66 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 218 m (715 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 656,480 (9th) | ||
| • Density | 2,469/km2 (6,390/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Bramptonian | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Forward sortation area |
L6P to L7A
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| Area code(s) | 905, 289, 365, and 742 | ||
Brampton is a big city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It's a key part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In 2021, over 656,000 people lived here, making it one of Canada's largest cities!
Brampton got its name from a town in England. It started as a small village in 1853 and grew into a city by 1974. It used to be called "The Flower Town of Canada" because of its many greenhouses and flower businesses. Today, it still uses "Flower City" as its slogan.
The city has grown a lot recently. Even though many people use cars, Brampton also has a large public transportation system called Brampton Transit. Many people in Brampton have South Asian backgrounds, making it a very diverse place!
Contents
History of Brampton
Before British settlers arrived, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation lived on this land. European settlers started coming in the 1600s. In 1818, the Mississaugas signed a treaty, giving the land to the British.
In the 1830s, a man named John Elliott started selling land lots and called the area "Brampton." This name quickly became popular.
Early Days and Growth
In 1853, a small agricultural fair began at the corner of Main and Queen Streets. Farmers sold grains, produce, and animals. This fair eventually became the well-known Brampton Fall Fair. In the same year, Brampton officially became a village.
In 1863, Edward Dale, an immigrant from England, opened a flower nursery. Dale's Nursery grew to be the biggest employer in town. It even created a system for grading flowers and sold them all over the world! At its peak, the company had 140 greenhouses and was the largest cut flower business in North America. This led to Brampton being known as "The Flower Town of Canada."
In 1887, Brampton opened its first public library. Later, in 1907, it received money from the Carnegie Foundation to build a bigger library, which is still part of the Brampton Library system today.
In 1902, Sir William James Gage, who owned a company that made school textbooks, bought some land. He gave part of it to the town to create a park, which is now Gage Park.
Becoming a City
In 1974, Brampton grew much larger. It joined with two nearby areas, Chinguacousy and Toronto Gore. The small pine tree on Brampton's city flag represents Chinguacousy, honoring a Chippewa chief named Shinguacose, which means "The Small Pine." After this, other communities like Bramalea and Heart Lake became part of the city.
In 2002, the city started the "Flower City Strategy." This plan was to honor Brampton's flower-growing past by adding more plants around the city and protecting its natural beauty. The Rose Theatre was named to fit this theme and is now a cultural hub in the city.
The Old Shoe Factory on Mill Street North is a historic building. It used to be the Hewetson Shoe Company. Today, it has small businesses, and you can still see details from 1907, with old shoemaking tools and photos of Brampton's history.
How Bramalea Was Developed
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Bramalea was a special "new town" built in the 1960s. It was Canada's first planned community created by a large real estate company. The name "Bramalea" comes from "BRAM" (Brampton), "MAL" (Malton, a nearby town), and "LEA" (an old English word for meadow).
Bramalea was carefully planned with parks and a "downtown" area. This downtown had a Civic Centre (city hall and library) and a shopping mall, Bramalea City Centre.
The Region of Peel
In 1974, the government changed how Peel County was organized. Brampton became the main administrative center for the new Region of Peel. This means that important regional offices, like the Peel Regional Police and the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, are in Brampton.
Some people had mixed feelings about these changes. People from the original Brampton worried about losing their town's unique feel. Those in Bramalea were proud of their planned community and didn't want to lose that identity.
Brampton as a Modern City
In the early 1980s, Brampton bought an old movie theater and turned it into a performing arts center called the Heritage Theatre. Later, the city decided to build a brand new theatre, the Rose Theatre, which opened in 2006. It has been very successful, bringing many visitors and new businesses to downtown.
Brampton has become one of Canada's most diverse cities. In 1996, about 13% of the city's population was South Asian, and 8.2% was Black. By 2016, these numbers grew a lot, with South Asians making up 44.3% and Black people 14% of the population. To help new residents, schools started offering English classes and even night classes in many different languages.
In 1991, a new city hall was built in downtown Brampton, bringing the city government back to the heart of the city. This building was expanded in 2014.
Cityscape and Geography
Brampton covers about 265 square kilometers. It has clear borders with other cities like Vaughan, Halton Hills, Caledon, Mississauga, and Toronto.
Climate
Brampton has a typical continental climate, meaning it has warm summers and cold winters, just like the rest of the Greater Toronto Area.
People and Culture
Population and Diversity
Brampton has grown very quickly. In 2021, its population was 656,480. This made it the fastest-growing among Canada's largest cities.
The city is very diverse. In 2021, the largest group was people of South Asian origin, making up over half of the population (52.4%). Other large groups include people of European (18.9%) and Black (13.1%) backgrounds.
Religions in Brampton
Religion in Brampton (2021) Christianity (35.7%) Sikhism (25.1%) Hinduism (18.1%) No Religion (10.3%) Islam (9.1%) Buddhism (1.1%) Judaism (0.1%) Indigenous (0.0%) Other Religions (0.4%)
In 2021, the most common religion in Brampton was Christianity (35.7%). This was followed by Sikhism (25.1%), Hinduism (18.1%), and Islam (9.1%). Brampton has the largest Sikh population in Canada and the second-largest Hindu population.
Languages Spoken
In 2021, English was the main language spoken at home by 42.9% of the population. Other common languages include Punjabi (21.7%), Gujarati (3.4%), and Urdu (3.4%). Many people in Brampton know more than one language.
Arts and Festivals
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Brampton has a lively arts scene. The Brampton Arts Council supports many cultural groups. The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) has a museum, art gallery, and historical records.
The Rose Theatre is a popular place for performances. It opened in 2006 and has brought many people to downtown Brampton, helping new businesses grow. There's also a Fountain Stage at the nearby Garden Square.
Brampton has six library locations. The city also hosts the annual Festival of Literary Diversity, which celebrates writers from different backgrounds.
Places to Visit
- Gage Park: A beautiful park with an outdoor ice skating path in winter.
- Chinguacousy Park: Offers a ski lift, curling club, and tennis center. It also has a greenhouse and gardens.
- Heart Lake Conservation Area: A great place for outdoor activities.
- Professor's Lake: A popular spot with beaches in the summer.
- Rose Theatre: A modern performing arts venue.
- Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA): Learn about local history and see art.
- Wet'n'Wild Toronto: A large water park.
For shopping, major areas include Bramalea City Centre, Shoppers World, and Trinity Commons.
Media in Brampton
The Brampton Guardian is the city's main newspaper. Brampton also has community TV channels and is home to two radio stations, CHLO and CFNY-FM, which serve the wider Toronto area.
Sports and Fun
Brampton has many sports teams and places for recreation.
- The Brampton Honey Badgers play basketball in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
- The Brampton Excelsiors are a very successful lacrosse team, winning many championships.
- The Brampton Steelheads play ice hockey in the Ontario Hockey League.
You can also enjoy outdoor ice skating at Gage Park in winter. Chinguacousy Park has a ski lift and curling. In summer, you can find many softball leagues.
Brampton has also hosted big sports events like the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship for hockey.
Economy
Brampton is home to many important companies. Some have their main offices here, like MDA Space Missions (which builds parts for the CanadaArm 3 in space!), Loblaw Companies Ltd. (a big grocery company), and Mandarin Restaurant.
Other large companies with operations in Brampton include Amazon, Ford, Nestlé, Frito Lay Canada, and Coca-Cola.
The Brampton Assembly plant, owned by Chrysler, is one of the city's biggest employers, making cars. William Osler Health System runs two hospitals in Brampton: Peel Memorial and Brampton Civic Hospital.
Education
Brampton has several options for higher education.
- Algoma University at Brampton offers business and economics courses.
- Sheridan College, Davis campus, is a major college with many programs, including skilled trades.
- Toronto Metropolitan University plans to open a medical school in Brampton by 2025.
There are also many private colleges offering specialized training.
For younger students, two main school boards operate in Brampton:
- The Peel District School Board runs public English-speaking schools.
- The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board runs Catholic English-speaking schools.
There are also French-speaking schools available for both public and Catholic students.
Transportation
Getting Around Brampton
Brampton Transit provides local bus service, connecting to other transit systems in nearby cities. Brampton also has a special "Züm" bus rapid transit system with dedicated routes, making travel faster.
GO Transit offers bus and train services. There are three GO Train stations in Brampton: Bramalea, Brampton, and Mount Pleasant, which connect commuters to Toronto.
Roads and Highways
Brampton is well-connected by major roads. Highway 410 runs through the city, connecting to Highway 401 (a major highway) just south of Brampton. Highway 407 also runs along the southern part of the city. Main Street and Queen Street are important roads within Brampton.
Air Travel
Canada's busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, is very close to Brampton in Mississauga. For smaller planes, the privately owned Brampton Airport is located just north of the city in Caledon.
Famous People from Brampton
Many talented people in sports and arts have come from Brampton.
Sports Stars
- Basketball: Tyler Ennis, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett (all played in the NBA)
- Hockey: Rick Nash, Tyler Seguin, Sean Monahan, Cassie Campbell
- Soccer: Atiba Hutchinson, Doneil Henry, Junior Hoilett, Paul Stalteri, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, Liam Millar
- Tennis: Milos Raonic
Artists and Entertainers
- Authors: Rohinton Mistry, Rupi Kaur (poet)
- Musicians: Keshia Chanté, Johnny Reid, Alessia Cara, Roy Woods, Tory Lanez, WondaGurl
- Actors and Comedians: Michael Cera, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Ashmore, Russell Peters
Sister Cities
Brampton has special relationships with cities around the world, called "sister cities," to promote cultural and economic ties.
- Miami Beach, Florida, USA
- Plano, Texas, USA
It also has friendship relationships with:
- Ribeira Grande, Portugal
- Xuzhou, China
- Brampton, England
- Marikina, Philippines
- Gapyeong, South Korea
- Fangshan District, China
Images for kids
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Bramalea City Centre in Bramalea
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Mount Pleasant Village Square
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Springdale
See also
In Spanish: Brampton (Ontario) para niños
