City of Oshawa, On

CITY OF OSHAWA, ON

AS FEATURED IN BUSINESS IN FOCUS MARCH 2016 2 MARCH 2016

CITY OF OSHAWA, ON 3

Long recognized as the Automotive Capital of Canada, Oshawa, Ontario, is a city in transition, with a diversity of key sectors propelling its economic engine forward. With a population of close to 160,000 in 2014, that number is projected to increase to over 177,000 by 2024.

Written by Anne Lindert-Wentzell

ncorporated as a city in 1924 and once referred to as ‘The Building on transportation assets City in Motion’ because of its vibrant automotive industry Ispurred by General Motors of Canada – with which the Formerly referred to as Port Syndenham after the late 1800s city still maintains a strong partnership – the Oshawa of today Governor General of Upper Canada and officially opened affirms its commitment to both business and residents that in 1930, the Port of Oshawa offers deep water port facili- they should ‘Prepare to be Amazed.’ And all for good reason. ties to the St. Lawrence Seaway for inter-lake and overseas shipping. The Port has garnered commitment not only from As the largest municipality in Durham Region, Oshawa is strate- the city to build on its economic significance but also from gically located on Lake Ontario’s shoreline, 60 kilometres from the federal government. It gained Port Authority status in Toronto, Ontario’s downtown core. With excellent transporta- 2012, validating its potential in attracting new business inter- tion infrastructure in place, Oshawa easily meets the needs of ests and meeting the demands of local industry. businesses and residents, and is one of the Best Places to Buy Real Estate, according to 2015’s Money Sense Magazine. “Last year we had the best year for tonnage ever at the Port of Oshawa,” says Mayor John Henry. “Last year was the first year that Although the automotive industry remains a key economic we’ve been able to get rail into the Port. Once the rail operations player in the city, specifically in research, engineering and the start to work in full, you’ll be able to bring product into Oshawa connected car, other key sectors such as healthcare and bio- and ship literally anywhere where there’s rail in North America.” sciences; education; energy generation; transportation and logistics; and information technology are all proving to be In terms of rail capacity at the Port, a new $4.1 million rail spur, instrumental in further economic diversification. funded by the Port Authority and completed last year, along 4

“We’ve always been under the shadow of being an automotive community, but we’re much more than that. We’re a community with high education, great quality healthcare [and] a dynamic downtown.”

with a new $2.5 million cargo pad, enables the handling of Service, provides freight and corporate and executive air larger amounts of cargo, a distinct advantage to capitalizing travel services. The airport is able “to take any aircraft that on the niche cargo market. And it is a huge cargo market flies into Billy Bishop (Toronto Island Airport) or Buttonville indeed, estimated to be $23 million annually. The Canadian (Toronto),” adds Mayor Henry. “It’s the 19th busiest airport in National and Canadian Pacific Railways provide freight service the country with no scheduled air service.” to accommodate freight from eastern Canada to regions in the southwest, western Canada and America’s Midwest. City Manager Jag Sharma affirms that, “With all of our modes of transportation, I think it’s important to recognize the fact The major 401 and 407 highways, major rail corridors and that Oshawa represents the opportunity to provide flexibility transit services provide access to points east and west of the for transportation but also to help stay out of that significant city. Additionally, the regional executive level Oshawa Exec- congestion challenge that certainly is found in other parts of utive Airport, with its 4000 foot runway and Canada Custom the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).” He adds that organizations can 5

“make it to the GTA and around the GTA very effectively with all the different modes of transportation that we have.”

Diversification at its best

Mayor Henry shares that other sectors are instrumental in moving the economy forward. “We have an amazing healthcare component,” he says. Lakeridge Health, one of the largest community hospitals in Ontario, addresses the needs of those in Durham Region and beyond. Lakeridge Health Education and Research Network (LHEARN) is actively involved in research, attracting talent from across the country, and serves as Queen’s University’s family physician and pediatric residency satellite campus. In fact, Lakeridge Health is “recognized as one of the best stroke centres in the country,” the Mayor adds.

In addition, the Robert McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, opened in 2007, enables the treatment of 95 percent of cancer cases locally. “We consistently rank in the top three for cancer care in the Province of Ontario,” adds Mayor Henry.

One can’t ignore the influential presence that Oshawa’s universities and colleges have in terms of providing an innovative, educated workforce. Oshawa is home to a number of post–secondary institutions including Trent University Durham; 6

University of Ontario Institute of Technology; and Durham College. The Automotive Centre of Excellence within University of Ontario of Technology and the Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre (E.R.C.) are also proving instrumental in Oshawa’s future success. In fact, ACE is home to North Amer- ica’s largest climatic wind tunnel and, “We also lead the world in hydrogen technology,” adds Mayor Henry.

“We have direct investment in the university and the college. As a municipality we’ve provided dollars to support them,” he indicates. The city has also participated in the process to create a new campus master plan for the UOIT and Durham College lands in the city’s north end. “We’re supportive of our corridor up by the university and college where we help to create some purpose-built student housing through incentives.” He explains that the city has a residential licensing by-law around the university and college area that protects both students and residents. “That was the first residential licensing by-law that’s been enacted in this country. Now other cities look to us for guidance and leadership in what we’ve been able to do.”

“I’m happy to say that on the old brownfield on the edge of our downtown, we now have close to 700 people working on a space that used G YOUR CRUSHER SPECIALISTS to collect dust a few years ago.”

SINCE 1965 Oshawa has been able to attract a number of new businesses G including Del Monte in the food processing sector and Triad Manufacturers of the Birdsboro-Buchanan line of Jaw Crushers Complete heavy machining and fabricating facilities utilizing the latest Metals International, “who just built a 160,000 square foot steel RemanufacturersCNC machine of tools all makes and CAD/CAM anda sizes technology of Jaws, Cones, fabrication plant in Oshawa,” says Mayor Henry. Examples of other Gyratory Crushers and Hammer Mills complete with warranty G companies attracted to Oshawa include Inuit Air and Optech T BabbittPR serviceEngineering up to purchases 120 inch diameterall types of(Crushers, used crushers Mill and andHydro parts bearings) Incorporated, a world leader in the manufacture of camera G C survey instrumentation for terrestrial and airborne mapping. Complete service and repairs to all Mining Equipment CompleteC service and repairs to all Mining Equipment

Babbitt service up to 120 inch diameter (Crushers, Mill and Hydro bearings) B A vibrant, welcoming downtown Remanufacturers of all makes anda sizes of Jaws, Cones, Complete heavy machining and fabricating facilities utilizing the latest Gyratory CNC Crushers machine and Hammertools and MillsCAD/CAM complete technology with warranty The Mayor shares that there are a number of downtown projects C The onlyP Blake Type Crusher Manufacturer www.prengineering.comto offer a Hydraulic Toggle! currently underway or completed recently to address the needs Manufacturers C of the Birdsboro-Buchanan line of Jaw Crushers of this thriving segment of the city. Such projects as the Atria R Development, a $60 million mixed-use 12-storey project with G apartments, restaurants and stores, will bring a fresh presence

www.prengineering.com to an already vibrant downtown. Also within the downtown, C a new hotel was built last year – the La Quinta Inn and Suites

– and a new Holiday Inn Express is expected to open in March 249 Toronto Avenue, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1H 3C2

T: 905.579.9721 F: 905.434.6878 www.prengineering.com 2016. In addition, the historic former Genosha Hotel is being 249 Toronto Avenue, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1H 3C2 re-purposed into a mixed use apartment building with ground T: 905.579.9721 F: 905.434.6878 www.prengineering.com VISITC US AT MINEXPO (BOOTH 1638)

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floor commercials uses. One can see why Downtown Oshawa was named a Top 100 Neighbourhood for capital growth and investment in Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine's annual neighbourhood report for 2016.

The Mayor also discusses Oshawa’s Plan 20Twenty, a community based plan in partnership with those who have businesses or live in the downtown core. The Plan is essentially a listening opportunity to revitalize the downtown area – to bring a sense of life and engagement to the area. “We meet regularly with the business community and the Chamber of Commerce on issues related to downtown,” he says. Revital- ization comes in many forms – parades, theatres, patios, and places to sit alongside sidewalks are just some examples. “It’s becoming a really friendly people place to go.”

Mr. Sharma confirms that, “we’re investing in our arts and culture… [downtown] is really a significant investment, a significant strategic direction that Council is embracing to say the downtown is really important to us.”

The Mayor explains that, “the biggest incentive we’ve been able to offer is to eliminate the red tape.” A recent Costco project, for example, was completed on a former brownfield within the

City’s Downtown Urban Growth Centre within just 16 months,

G YOUR CRUSHER SPECIALISTS

SINCE 1965 G Manufacturers of the Birdsboro-Buchanan line of Jaw Crushers Complete heavy machining and fabricating facilities utilizing the latest RemanufacturersCNC machine of tools all makes and CAD/CAM anda sizes technology of Jaws, Cones, Gyratory Crushers and Hammer Mills complete with warranty T G BabbittPR serviceEngineering up to purchases 120 inch diameterall types of(Crushers, used crushers Mill and andHydro parts bearings) G C Complete service and repairs to all Mining Equipment CompleteC service and repairs to all Mining Equipment

Babbitt service up to 120 inch diameter (Crushers, Mill and Hydro bearings) B Remanufacturers of all makes anda sizes of Jaws, Cones, Complete heavy machining and fabricating facilities utilizing the latest Gyratory CNC Crushers machine and Hammertools and MillsCAD/CAM complete technology with warranty C The onlyP Blake Type Crusher Manufacturer www.prengineering.comto offer a Hydraulic Toggle! Manufacturers C of the Birdsboro-Buchanan line of Jaw Crushers

R G

www.prengineering.com C

249 Toronto Avenue, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1H 3C2

T: 905.579.9721 F: 905.434.6878 www.prengineering.com

249 Toronto Avenue, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1H 3C2 T: 905.579.9721 F: 905.434.6878 www.prengineering.com VISITC US AT MINEXPO (BOOTH 1638)

www.prengineering.com

meeting the developer’s deadline. “We don’t eliminate the rules; we make sure that it’s understood and we work with them. Whenever there’s a challenge, we work together to resolve that,” says the Mayor. “I’m happy to say that on the old brownfield on the edge of our downtown, we now have close to 700 people working on a space that used to collect dust a few years ago.”

Mr. Sharma agrees. “We’ve been complimented, on a few occasions now, by developers or builders that are telling the region or other municipalities how it’s not necessarily the speed at which they’re working; it’s the speed at which our staff are pushing them in order to make sure that we can get done on time or ahead of time.”

“We meet regularly with the business community and the Chamber of Commerce on

issues related to downtown.” munity remains competitive and innovative through its future planning in light of quickly evolving environments, With development being carried out in every segment of the economies and patterns of urbanization. Oshawa marketplace including residential, multi-unit residential, seniors housing, and commercial and industrial spaces, Mayor Speaking about this recognition, Mayor Henry notes that the Henry explains that, “We’ve always been under the shadow of city’s downtown has a Core 21 facility, a dynamic environment for being an automotive community, but we’re much more than that. small businesses, entrepreneurs, community groups and others We’re a community with high education, great quality healthcare with a vested interest in their community, to meet and share [and] a dynamic downtown. I think people are now realizing that insights and ideas. The Spark Commercialization and Innovation we’re an affordable community too… you can live in Oshawa, Centre, a free advisory service in partnership with the city, assists have the same lifestyle, probably a bigger house for a price which technology companies with coaching, incubation and support would be about one third of the cost of a home in Toronto.” to realize their potential through advice on such matters as prep- aration and startup, marketing, and manufacturing, through the They’re smart and they know it expert guidance of industry professionals.

Oshawa has been recognized as a Smart 21 community Additionally, the recently opened space, The Loft, serves as an for 2016 by the Intelligent Community Forum. There are six incubation space for entrepreneurs to work in partnership with Intelligent Community Indicators determining how a com- the Spark Centre to expand their networks and communicate

OPUC delivers value to our customers by providing reliable electricity distribution service at competitive rates.

OPUC welcomes new businesses to Oshawa opuc.on.ca p: 905-723-4623 f: 905-743-5222 9 with other like minded entrepreneurs and business leaders. Says Mayor Henry, “The Loft is a centre for entrepreneurs, for young people, to come together to work on their ideas in a professional environment. I think that was the real key to the start of the change… some of the businesses that have started up through these hubs have gone on to do some really exciting things.”

He also believes that, “I think for us, being a city that’s alive, that has a great educational component, places for people to go and work in our downtown or anywhere in the city through one of the universities or colleges, all becomes part of that Smart 21 community… it was all of the pieces of the puzzle coming together that got us to be one of those communities.”

Concluding, Mayor Henry affirms that for any business looking for an amazing environment, with affordable housing and a great place for their children and their employ- “Oshawa is home to a number of ees’ children to get a quality post–secondary institutions.” education in a safe community, “Oshawa is your place.” CITY OF OSHAWA, ON

City of Oshawa, Ontario 50 Centre Street South Oshawa ON L1H 3Z7

P: 905-436-3311 E: [email protected] www.oshawa.ca PROJECT PROJECT SUPPORTERS www.core21.ca www.jjmcguire.com www.opuc.on.ca

www.prengineering.com www.evfern.com www.ridertool.com

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