This industrial Ontario city is a major automotive center, with General Motors' Canadian headquarters. Located on Lake Ontario's shore, it has cold winters and mild summers.
Oshawa sits on Lake Ontario’s shoreline, 60 kilometers east of Toronto. Its history includes factories and auto plants, but you’ll also find quiet spots by the water. The city is home to General Motors Canada’s headquarters and the Canadian Automotive Museum, which displays vintage cars from the early 1900s. Walk through Parkwood National Historic Site, a 55-room estate built in 1917, or watch a hockey game at the Tribute Communities Centre. Lakeview Park has a sandy beach, and the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens grow over 300 types of peonies. Annual events include the Kars on King car show in August and the Peony Festival in June. The area has been part of Anishinaabeg territory for centuries, with historical markers highlighting Indigenous connections.
Automotive Industry and Local History
Oshawa’s growth began with car manufacturing in the early 20th century. At the Canadian Automotive Museum, you’ll see more than 100 vehicles, including a 1907 McLaughlin-Buick and experimental prototypes from the 1950s. Parkwood National Historic Site, once the home of General Motors Canada’s founder, opens its art deco rooms and gardens for guided tours. The Ontario Regiment Museum lets you explore restored military tanks, some still used in parades and movie productions. For a broader perspective, visit the Oshawa Museum’s three preserved houses, which detail life here from Indigenous settlements to the rise of factories.
Art Galleries and Live Performances
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery focuses on Canadian artists, with a permanent collection that includes abstract works by Painters Eleven co-founder Alexandra Luke. The Regent Theatre, built in 1920, hosts the Ontario Philharmonic orchestra under a ceiling decorated with plaster roses and geometric patterns. Hockey fans pack the Tribute Communities Centre for Oshawa Generals games, while concertgoers attend shows by bands like Arkells or Billy Talent. Local actors perform plays at the Oshawa Little Theatre, a 200-seat venue operating since 1928. Newer spaces like the BOND|ST Event Centre, opened in 2024, hold conferences and electronic music events.
Waterfront Areas and Outdoor Spaces
Lakeview Park stretches along Lake Ontario with a wooden pier, picnic areas, and a playground. The Second Marsh Wildlife Area protects wetlands where herons and ospreys nest—follow the boardwalk trails to spot them. Cyclists can ride on 70 kilometers of bike lanes, including a paved path that connects to Whitby’s waterfront. The McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve has dirt trails through maple forests and marshes frequented by songbirds. In early summer, the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens fill with peonies in shades of pink and white, attracting visitors during the annual Peony Festival.
Festivals and Seasonal Events
Every August, Kars on King takes over downtown Oshawa with rows of polished classic cars, from Ford Model Ts to 1970s muscle cars. The Peony Festival in June includes guided garden walks, live bands, and stalls selling handmade pottery. Oshawa Fiesta Week, organized by the Folk Arts Council, celebrates the city’s cultural diversity with Ukrainian dance troupes, Trinidadian steel drum performances, and food vendors. In December, the Bright and Merry Market fills Memorial Park with stalls selling knitted scarves, wooden toys, and holiday treats. The Ontario Regiment Museum holds Tank Saturdays year-round, where kids can sit inside a Sherman tank or pose for photos in military uniforms.
Shopping Districts and Local Businesses
The Oshawa Centre mall has department stores like Hudson’s Bay alongside smaller shops selling cosmetics, books, and sports gear. Downtown’s King Street has independent businesses, including a record store with vinyl from the 1960s and a boutique crafting custom leather bags. Factories near the Port of Oshawa ship materials like steel beams and road salt across the Great Lakes. Ontario Tech University supports tech startups in fields like clean energy and robotics, contributing to the city’s job market. Affordable housing and tax incentives for new businesses make Oshawa popular with families moving from Toronto.
Travel Tips and Essentials
Summers here are warm, with July temperatures averaging 25°C, while winters drop to -5°C in January with regular snowfall. Most international travelers fly into Toronto Pearson Airport, a 50-minute drive west, or take the GO Train from downtown Toronto’s Union Station. Durham Region Transit buses serve major routes, and the GO Train station connects to Toronto in 75 minutes. Public restrooms and free Wi-Fi are available at the Oshawa Centre, Lakeview Park, and the Tribute Communities Centre. Check city websites for holiday schedules—some museums close on Easter Monday, and parking meters are free on Sundays.
