Our Community

Welcome to Brantford, Ontario, a progressive community located in Canada's economic heartland whose inventive legacy supports a diversified local economy poised for growth and prosperity.

We are a community with a rich history shaped by our location on the Grand River and proximity to major consumer and industrial markets throughout North America. Enterprising revitalization efforts have resulted in a diverse mix of old and new, offering a vibrant atmosphere for residents, visitors, and businesses. Brantford is committed to promoting economic diversity, employment opportunities, and efforts to enhance the quality of life of all its residents.

There's so much to do here in Brantford. It's a great place for staff to live and a great place to raise a family.

Scott Lyons, President, Extend Communications

As a designated Urban Growth Centre in the Provincial Growth Plan, our community is growing. With a proactive local government, robust infrastructure network, and a vast inventory of future development lands, there has never been a more exciting time to live, work, and invest in Brantford.

Brantford at a glance

Brief history

Founded in 1839, Brantford's history is linked to Captain Joseph Thayendanegea Brant, a Mohawk leader, who originally forded the Grand River at a historical spot in the present day downtown core.

Renowned as the “Telephone City,” Brantford was the self-proclaimed “dreaming place” for inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Here he conceived his idea for the telephone.  That's why the daffodil (resembling the classic "candlestick" telephone) is the City's official flower.

Future growth

As an Urban Growth Centre in the Ontario Places to Grow Act, Brantford has great potential. The expansion of our municipal boundaries in 2017 is a key factor contributing to our long-term growth. As these new lands are developed for residential, commercial, and industrial use, the population is projected to reach 165,000 with 80,000 employees by 2051.

The areas of the County of Brant transferred to the City of Brantford’s jurisdiction are described below.  See the accompanying charts, map, and table for details and total sizes.

• North Area: The first area is located north of the City between Powerline Road and Governors Road East. The City anticipates that the lands in the vicinity of and west of Golf Road will be for employment (industrial) uses, while the lands to the east of Golf Road are to be developed for residential, and other related uses including schools, parks and local commercial uses.
• East Area: The second area is located east of Garden Avenue, north of Highway 403. This area is proposed to be developed for employment (industrial) use.
• Tutela Heights: The third area is located on either side of Mount Pleasant Road.  This area is proposed to be developed for residential use.

Chart: Projected population and employment for Brantford up to 2051

Map: 2017 boundary expansion lands

Table: 2017 boundary expansion lands

2017 boundary expansion lands Area Land Use Calculation Acres Hectares All both gross 6,719 2,719 All both net 4,161 1,684 Residential residential gross 4,893 1,980 Residential residential net 2,849 1,153 Employment employment gross 1,826 739 Employment employment net 1,312 531 North Area residential gross 3,459 1,400 North Area residential net 1,945 787 North Area employment gross 1,399 566 North Area employment net 1,043 422 East Area employment gross 430 174 East Area employment net 264 107 Tutela Heights residential gross 1,433 580 Tutela Heights residential net 904 366

Access to markets

Brantford's strategic location enables businesses to reach major North American markets in a single day's drive. Easy access to major highways, internationally connected railways, worldwide cargo and passenger aviation systems as well as our proximity to extensive inland and international marine shipping facilities makes Brantford an even more ideal location. Consider that Brantford is:

• a one day drive to 160 million customers and 60% of all manufacturers in the USA and Canada;

• 100 km (60 miles) to Toronto Pearson International Airport and 35 km (20 miles) to John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport; and,
• serviced by major CN freight lines, as well as VIA passenger rail and GO Transit buses.

Map: Brantford distance to major North American markets