About Durham Region
The region of Durham
With a population of almost 600,000, the Regional Municipality of Durham, located along the eastern border of Toronto and York Region, offers a wealth of entertainment and cultural amenities.
Arts and culture
The Durham Council for the Arts, established in 1963, as well as the PineRidge Arts Council, support and promote the arts throughout Durham Region. There are a number of excellent art galleries, including The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, which houses more than 3,500 Canadian art masterpieces as well as paintings by the Group of Seven.
The Oshawa-Durham Symphony Orchestra has become one of Canada's best regional orchestras. Music and drama can be enjoyed at many community theatres across the region. Several heritage and historical museums provide a glimpse into Durham's past.
Health-care facilities
Durham Region has one of the largest community hospital networks in Ontario. Four hospital sites, under the umbrella of Lakeridge Health Corporation, serve the East and North Durham area. Its largest facility, located minutes from the university campus in Oshawa, recently underwent a large expansion and is the location of a regional cancer centre currently under construction and other new facilities. Two hospital sites under the umbrella of Rouge Valley Health System serve West Durham and are also undergoing expansion to continue to provide excellence in quality patient care.
Sports and recreation
In addition to being the hockey home to the Oshawa Generals, who will begin playing out of a new downtown sports and entertainment complex in late 2006, the region has a wealth of sports complexes, fitness centres and golf courses. You'll find downhill and cross-county skiing facilities within 30 minutes or less of the campus. As well, you can enjoy hiking, walking, in-line skating and biking along many scenic trails.
Shopping and movie theatres
The Oshawa Centre, a short transit ride from campus, is one of the largest indoor malls in Canada. Many brand-name and specialty shops and restaurants can be found along with a theatre complex. With a total of nearly 70 screens in Durham Region, you have your pick of several current movies.
Transportation
Durham Region Transit provides easy access to GO bus and train service (with daily service to Toronto), Greyhound bus service, and Via rail passenger and commuter trains. Certain weekday GO trains can take you from Oshawa to downtown Toronto in only 45 minutes. From Union Station it's a short walk to the Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome), the Hummingbird Centre, the Eaton Centre as well as hundreds of shops, restaurants and clubs.