Ontario is located in the central region of Canada. It’s surrounded by Quebec to the east, the Hudson Bay to the north, Manitoba to the west and the Great Lakes to the south.
Records from the 2016 census established the number of people living in Ontario at 13,448,494. The majority of the citizens descend from England and other European countries, like Scotland, Ireland and Italy.
Immigration has largely contributed to the growth of the Ontarian population, and during the most recent decades, citizens from South Asia, The Caribbean, Latin America and Africa have also expanded their communities in the province.
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is designed to offer a permanent resident status to the candidates that showcases the skills, education, and experience required to help boost the economy of the province.
The program takes applications under the following streams:
1. Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
2.PhD Graduate Stream
3.French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
4.Human Capital Priorities Stream
5.Skilled Trades Stream
6.Entrepreneur Stream
7.Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream (currently closed)
8.Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (currently closed)
9.Masters Graduate Stream (currently closed)
To get a nomination, there are three categories of qualification: The employer job offer, the human capital, and the category business category.
WHAT IS ONTARIO KNOWN FOR
As of March 2019, the population of Ontario was estimated to be about 13.5 million people. It is the most populated province in Canada.
There are over 250,000 lakes in Ontario, which comprises one-fifth of the world’s fresh water supply.
Ontario has the only truly authentic castle in North America, Casa Loma, located in Toronto.
Ontario has an area of 1,076,395 square kilometers, the 4th largest province in Canada.
Ontario has the longest freshwater beach in the world (Wasaga Beach).
Ontario has the most populous city of Canada, Toronto (approximately 2.75 million people).
The majority of the people living in Ontario live in the cities near the shores of the Great Lakes.
About 66% of Ontario’s land is considered forested land.
There are more than 3,600 species of plants, 154 species of fish, 50 species of amphibians and reptiles, 483 species of birds, and more than 81 species of mammals in the province.
The minimum wage is $14.00 per hour (Canadian Dollar)
THE MAIN CITIES IN ONTARIO
Toronto: With 2,731,571 residents as of 2016, Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and its most populous city. It is considered the center of the economic and trading development of the region.
In 2016, the city was named the most multicultural city of the world by BBC Radio, with over 51% of the population being born outside of Canada, comprising over 230 different nationalities.
An interesting fact about Toronto: While English is the most commonly spoken language in Toronto about 53.8% of the people speaks English, almost 42.3% of the rest of the people speak another language. This diversity is living proof of the role that Canada plays as an immigration destination.
Toronto is the home of many financial institutions, multinational corporations, media and news networks, as well as centers for the arts and culture. It serves as an international hub for business. Yearly, the Toronto International Film Festival is held, attracting thousands of global visitors.
Ottawa is the capital of Canada. In 2019, the city surpassed the one million inhabitants. Ottawa limits with the Quebec border.
English and French are the most common languages spoken in Ottawa. The city is a mix of historic heritage, culture and famous landmarks, such as the Rideau Canal.
The majority of the jobs in Ottawa are provided by the federal government. Other industry segments contributing to the capital’s economy are the biotech, technology, telecommunications, and security and defense sectors.
The city has been described as a place with all the advantages of an urban center with the charm of a small town. There are outdoor activities for the adventurous, cultural and artistic events for the lovers of arts, festivals and events, sports activities, gastronomic experiences for the sophisticated and entertainment and nightlife for everyone.
THE WEATHER IN ONTARIO
The weather in Ontario varies from season to season. Air masses coming from the Artic, Polar and the Gulf of Mexico influence the temperatures, depending on which part of the province you are located.
In general, Ontario has a humid continental weather and three climatic regions: Southern Ontario, thanks to its proximity to the Great Lakes, has softer winters in contrast to the mid-continental areas. Hot summers and cold winters are characteristic of the region. The second region is Central and Eastern Ontario, with a continental climate featuring warm summers and longer winters. The waters from Lake Superior and the Hudson Bay effect Northern Ontario, triggering cooler summers compared to Central and Southern Ontario. The region has higher precipitations, and near to Lake Huron winters are severe and extreme.
THE EDUCATION IN ONTARIO
Like other Canadian regions, education in Ontario is publicly funded and divided in three stages: early education, elementary and secondary school, which provides equal opportunities to all the students that enroll.
To be admitted into college or a university, you will need a high school diploma. Ontario has 20 public universities, 24 colleges and more than four hundred private career colleges. Each college has different requirements for admissions.
If you require financial aid, there are loans, grants and scholarship programs you can apply.
Top 10 universities in Ontario Canada for International Students
University of Toronto.
University of Waterloo.
York University.
McMaster University.
University of Ottawa.
University of Guelph.
Western University.
Queen's University.
THE EMPLOYMENT
The service sector is the largest providing job opportunities in Ontario. More than 5.3 million people have jobs in the business, financial, scientific, and arts services, making up about 76.9% of the region’s economy.
The province also offers plenty of opportunities in a diversity of industries, such as technology, finance and manufacturing. Some of the most important manufacturing industries in Ontario are the automotive, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical and information and communication technologies.
Other sectors contributing to the flourishing economy of Ontario are the forestry sector, generating almost 200,000 direct and indirect jobs across the province, and the mining industry, a worldwide recognized leader in both productivity and environmental standards.
TOURISM
Canada is a country with a rich tourism industry and the province of Ontario offers first-class experiences for the visitors in search of outdoor or historic adventures, incredible attractions, shopping and high-end entertainment.
Niagara Falls, in Ontario, is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Canada. This worldwide famous waterfall can be looked from boats tours, and the surrounding areas include casinos, hotels, restaurants and many other attractions.
The greater Niagara Falls area also is home to Ontario’s wine country, a region featuring vineyards, restaurants, tours and other activities.
The national parks in Ontario provide visitors with spots to practice outdoor activities. More than 10 million visitors go to Ontario’s parks every year and enjoy fishing, hiking, swimming, sightseeing and camping.
Ontario has a remarkable infrastructure that allows tourists to get to and around the area by train, boats or by vehicle. The province has an incredible variety of museums, zoos, floral gardens, theme and amusement parks, as well as beautiful natural landscapes that you shouldn’t miss.
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ONTARIO
Canada has a universal and public healthcare system funded by the government. Ontario citizens and residents do not pay premiums or personal costs for receiving basic healthcare services. With a healthcare card, you have access to endless health services.