Uxbridge, Ontario

Uxbridge
—  Township  —
Coat of arms
Uxbridge within the Durham Region
Coordinates: 44°07′N 79°08′W / 44.117°N 79.133°W / 44.117; -79.133Coordinates: 44°07′N 79°08′W / 44.117°N 79.133°W / 44.117; -79.133
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Durham Region
Established	1973
Government
– Mayor	Gerri Lynn O'Connor
– Governing body	Uxbridge Township Council
Area[1]
– Land	420.65 km2 (162.4 sq mi)
Elevation	273 m (896 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
– Total	19,169
– Density	45.6/km2 (118.1/sq mi)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC−5)
– Summer (DST)	Eastern (EDT) (UTC−4)
Website	www.town.uxbridge.on.ca

Uxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Durham, in the Greater Toronto Area.

The main centre in the township is the namesake community of Uxbridge. Other communities within the township include Coppins Corners, Goodwood,^[2] Leaskdale, Roseville, Sandford, Sandy Hook, Siloam, Victoria Corners and Zephyr.

History

Uxbridge was surveyed in 1805 as part of York County. It was named for Uxbridge, England, of which the name is derived from "Wixan's Bridge"^[3]. The Wixan were a 7th-century Saxon tribe from Lincolnshire who also began to settle in what became Middlesex.^[4] Anglo-Saxons began to settle and farm in the area of Uxbridge, England in the 5th century, clearing the dense woodland and remaining there for around 500 years.^[4] Uxbridge, UK became part of the Elthorne Hundred with other villages in the area. The town later appears in records from 1107 as "Woxbrigge".^[5]

The first settlers in the area were Quakers who started arriving in 1806 from the Catawissa area of Pennsylvania. The community's oldest building, the Uxbridge Friends Meeting House, was built in 1820 and overlooks the town from Quaker Hill, a kilometre to the west.

The township was incorporated as a municipality in 1850 and became part of the newly formed Ontario County two years later.

The first passenger carrying narrow gauge railway in North America, the Toronto and Nipissing Railway arrived in Uxbridge in June 1871, and for over a decade Uxbridge was the headquarters of the railway. In 1872, the Village of Uxbridge was separated from the Township and incorporated as a separate entity.

With the creation of the Regional Municipality of Durham in 1974, Uxbridge Township was amalgamated with the Town of Uxbridge and Scott Township to create an expanded Township of Uxbridge

Uxbridge today

Today, Uxbridge serves as a mostly suburban community in northern Durham Region. Major manufacturing employers include Pine Valley Packaging (packaging, containers and portable shelters), Koch-Glitsch Canada (mass transfer systems) and Hela Canada (spice and ingredient manufacture). Many residents commute to other centres in Durham and York Regions and beyond.

The 30-bed Uxbridge Cottage Hospital is a site of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Corporation.

Uxbridge is twinned with Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in the United States, from which many of its settlers originated.

Uxbridge has three community newspapers, the Uxbridge Standard, the Uxbridge Times Journal and the Cosmos. It is also served by a monthly community magazine and events guide, Uxbridge Town Talk.

Demographics

According to the 2006 Census, the township has a population of 19,169 over an area of 420.65 km². The population has increased 10.3% since 2001 and has a density of 45.6 people per square kilometre.

Attractions

Thomas Foster Memorial

In 2009 Uxbridge Township received federal designation by Industry Canada as The Trail Capital of Canada, resulting from the over 220 kilometers of managed trails on over 8,000 acres (32 km²) of protected greenspace within its borders. Uxbridge trails run through and alongside historic villages, mixed forests, meadows, ponds, streams, and wetlands. A number of major trail systems run through the Township, including the Oak Ridges Trail and the Trans-Canada Trail.

The Uxbridge-Scott Museum and Archives possesses a number of artifacts, mostly related to the township's agricultural heritage and the genealogy of its residents. The Museum also includes nine heritage buildings as well as heritage herb and flower gardens. During the annual Heritage Days festval, the museum grounds are host to the "Steam Show" featuring steam-engines and steam-based agricultural machinery, among other attractions.^[6]

There are also a number of attractions related to the history of the area. Uxbridge's Elgin Park, named after Lord Elgin, was the site of a picnic held by 19th century Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in a re-election bid. In addition, the Thomas Foster Memorial Temple, erected in 1935-36 by the former mayor of Toronto, is situated a short distance north of town. Inspired by Foster's visit to India, the Temple was designed by architects J.H. Craig (1889-1954) and H.H. Madrill (1889-1998). Finally, the former home of famed author Lucy Maud Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame is situated in Leaskdale. Montgomery lived in the area from 1911 to 1926, and wrote half of her books at what is now the site of the Leaskdale Manse Museum.

Uxbridge is the northern terminus of the York Durham Heritage Railway, which runs from Stouffville.

Since 1995, the Lions Club has hosted Art in the Park, held the second week in August. Also known as Summerfest, this juried art show attracts artists from across the province.

Since 1886, the Uxbridge Fall Fair has been held annually during the second week in September. Events include a tractor pull and a demolition derby. The Uxbridge Studio Tour and Sale is also held in September, giving visitors an opportunity to meet with local artists in their studios and explore the creative process.

Since 1988, Uxbridge has hosted an annual Heritage Christmas Craft Show, held the second Saturday in November. A Santa Claus Parade is also held annually in late November.

Since 2008 there has been an annual Uxbridge Ribfest, usually during a middle weekend of July. It is run by the town branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 170).^[7]

Throughout the year, a number of theatrical and musical productions are held at the Music Hall. Movies are shown at a local unique movie theatre, named The Roxy.^[8]

The Highlands of Durham Games are held in Elgin Park near the end of July. These games focus on Celtic traditions and offer a variety of entertainments.

Education

Public elementary schools

• Joseph Gould Public School
• Quaker Village Public School
• Scott Central Public School
• Uxbridge Public School
• Goodwood Public School

Separate elementary schools

• St. Joseph's Catholic School

Independent schools

• Uxbridge Montessori School

High schools

• Uxbridge Secondary School

Colleges

• Durham College (North Campus Uxbridge)

Historical figures

• Joseph Gould farmer, businessman and political figure in Ontario, Canada
• Lucy Maud Montgomery Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.
• Laura Secord Canadian hero during the War of 1812, was granted 172 acres (0.70 km²) of land in Uxbridge

Notable residents

• Hayden Christensen, Canadian actor
• Kenneth Welsh, Canadian actor
• Graham Greene, Canadian actor
• Chris Begg, pitched for Canada's baseball team at the 2008 Olympics.
• Ted Barris, Canadian Author and CBC Radio Host.
• Gary Roberts, NHL player who enjoyed success with the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs, currently resides in Uxbridge.^[9]
• Mike Holmes, a Canadian professional contractor best known for his television show Holmes on Homes
• Jeff Keeping professional Canadian football defensive tackle and offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
• Bill Starke professional Canadian football WR for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

In film

• The CBC's series Road to Avonlea was shot on location at an exterior village set located in Uxbridge.
• The 1996 film Christmas in My Hometown, starring Tim Matheson and Melissa Gilbert, was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 1996 film The Long Kiss Goodnight starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 1996 film The Stupids starring Tom Arnold was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 1999 film A Map of the World starring Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2001 film Driven starring Sylvester Stallone and Burt Reynolds was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2001 film Serendipity starring John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, and Jeremy Piven was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2001 film Prancer Returns starring John Corbett, Stacy Edwards, Michael O'Keefe, Jack Palance, and Gavin Fink was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2002 film Undercover Brother starring Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, and Dave Chappelle was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2002 film Men With Brooms with Paul Gross, Leslie Nielsen, and Connor Price was partially filmed in Uxbridge
• The 2004 film The Prince & Me starring Julia Stiles was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2005 film A History of Violence starring Viggo Mortensen was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2007 film Lars and the Real Girl starring Ryan Gosling was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
• The 2009 film Grey Gardens starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange was partially filmed in Uxbridge.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Statistics Canada 2006 Census - Uxbridge community profile
2. ^ For a complete history of Goodwood, see Eleanor Todd, Burrs and Blackberries from Goodwood (Goodwood, ON: 1980).
3. ^ Uxbridge, English Place-Name Society database at Nottingham University
4. ^ ^{a b} Cotton 1994, p.8
5. ^ Sherwood 2007, p.5
6. ^ "40th Annual Heritage Days". Uxbridge Historical Centre. http://www.uxbridgehistoricalcentre.com/steamdays.html. Retrieved 2011-06-14. 
7. ^ "The Uxbridge Fall Fair". http://www.uxbridge.com/fallfair/index.html. Retrieved March 7, 2011. 
8. ^ "Roxy Theatres". http://www.roxytheatres.com/. Retrieved March 7, 2011. 
9. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090310.wsptroberts0310/BNStory/Sports/?page=rss&id=..wsptroberts0310

External links

• Township of Uxbridge
• Downloadable 1:50 000 topographical map of Uxbridge (map 31D03), by the Ministry of Natural Resources