Ontario
Brantford, ON
Overview
Description
The city is a rare find in Southwestern Ontario for its independent government within Brant County while ushering a more community-driven style of events year round.
Highlights
There is also an opportunity to stay connected with Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from its distance.
Housing
Average Rent Prices (By Type)
1 Bedroom Apartment: $1215/month
2 Bedroom Apartment: $1422/month
3 Bedroom Apartment: $1401/month
Apartments For Rent
Note: Searches can be filtered by price range and lowest to highest.
AirBNB (Monthly Rentals)
Settling In
IEHPs visiting or looking for immediate accommodations can book a stay at the following hotels, motels and/or inns:
- Brant Inn
- Comfort Inn Brantford
- Best Western Brantford Hotel
- Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Brantford
- Days Inn by Wyndham Brantford
- Holiday Inn Express and Suites Brantford
Data collected from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) - Housing Market Information Portal. Updated October 2023.
Living
Local Grocers
Several notable grocers around the city include:
- Jay's NOFRILLS Paris
- FreshCo Market & Icomm
- Sobeys Shellard Lane
- Food Basics (Lynden Road)
- Metro (St. Paul Ave)
- Zehrs King George
- Emaan Grocers
- Apna Spice & Groceries
- Desi Supermart
- Lococo's (Lynden) - Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Meats
- Bhathal Grocery
Local Shopping
IEHPs can access an extensive list of local and international stores that cater to their interests. This includes retails products ranging from high to low end, with an added touch of home grown, hand-made and artisanal goods.
IEHPs can visit some of these shopping centres in Brantford, Ont.
Community
Diversity
IEHPs will be settling in a predominantly English and French speaking community, while Brantford's diverse communities will include predominantly Indian, Jamaican, Italian, Nigerian and Filipino residents.
Places of Worship
Brantford, Ontario includes a number of places to connect, pray and volunteer:
- Evangel Church
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Pard Road North)
- #ForParis Centre
- Brant Community Church
- Al-Islah Islamic Center Brantford On
- Brantford Mosque مسجد
- Baitul Haleem Ahmadiyya Mosque
- Jamia Masjid Bilal & Community Centre (Paris, Ont.)
- Sikh Association of Brantford
- Gurdwara Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Population data collected from Statistics Canada's 2021 Census of Population Profile Report
Education
Schools
IEHPs with younger family members can enroll in the following schools. Brantford, Ont. hosts two school boards: Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) and the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB).
- Central Public School
- Russell Reid Public School
- Grandview Public School Brantford
- Greenbrier Public School
- Agnes G. Hodge Public School
- Walter Gretzky Elementary School
- Major Ballachey School
- King George School
- Prince Charles Elementary School
- Lansdowne-Costain Public School
- Brantford Christian School
- St Peter's School
- James Hillier Public School
- Princess Elizabeth Public School
- Holy Cross School
- Brantford Collegiate Institute (High School)
- Graham Bell-Victoria Public School
- Edith Monture Elementary School
- Centennial-Grand Woodlands Public School
- St. John’s College (High School)
- École Dufferin (French)
- Banbury Heights Public School
- Brier Park Public School
- North Park Collegiate and Vocational School (High School)
- Cedarland Public School
- St. Patrick School
- St. Leo School
- Bellview Public School
- Assumption College School
- Our Lady of Providence School
- Resurrection School
- Ecole Confédération (French)
Brantford, Ontario is home to a campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, the city's main post-secondary educational institution. You can view their undergraduate and graduate programs here.
Conestoga College and Anderson College also offer a variety of diploma and degree programs in the city.
Libraries
The Brantford Public Library system serves as the city's accessible educational study hub with spaces to commune, study, research and borrow materials relevant for IEHPs. The library also provides resources for newcomers, volunteer opportunities and drop-in adult programs with events year-round.
There are 2 main libraries and 1 kiosk with the BPL system. You can view the full directory here.
Preschool & Child Care
Parents and guardians can find a number of programs and facility based care for their child using the Licensed Child Care directory by the Government of Ontario.
You can access the directory here and find your respective region using the search box.
Attractions
Brantford, Ontario is packed with endless activities run by the city, its own communities and annual festivals steeped in tradition to keep IEHPs exploring during their stay. IEHPs can expect seasonal options indoors and outdoors.
Attractions (overview)
Discover Brantford is the city's curated and updated online resource for recommendations on seasonal events and some of the first destinations to visit as IEHPs settle into their new communities.
IEHPs interested in keeping up with some of Brantford's annual festivals year-round can expect some of the following events:
- Paris Coin & Collectibles Show
- Brantford Bulldogs Hockey Games (Year-Round)
- BSO 2024 Book Fair
- Brantford Garden Club Annual Plant Sale
- PHS Garden Tour
- River Heritage Festival
- Annual EWEPNA Handmade Christmas Market
IEHPs can attend concerts with touring bands and artists at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts.
Annual conventions and Brantford's very own Comic-Con also take place annually at the Branlyn Community Centre. Moviegoers can also catch the latest flicks at the Galaxy Cinemas Brantford. You can view showtimes and other theatres here.
Brantford's vast groups also organize their own events to consider from meetups to networking and cultural gatherings. You can view some of the latest events here.
Nature/Trails
Nature (overview)
Brantford, Ontario is full of small to medium hiking trails for IEHPs looking for fresh air. The city boasts dozens of parks, conservation areas and rivers for IEHPs to discover.
Its Grand River dividing the city and connecting to the Brant Conservation Area gives IEHPs the benefit of easy-access hiking trails spanning miles.
IEHPs can visit these public passages with a variety of wildlife, scenic resting spots and parks available.
Hiking
Hiking trails can vary from short strolls to longer treks.
Some of Brantford's most popular trails include:
- Brant Conservation Area (city provided trail)
- Gordon Glaves Grand River Loop
- Fordview Trail and Glikinson Trail Loop
Recreation
Recreation (overview)
Brantford, Ont. offers its own suite of sports complexes, gymnasiums and recreational centers to promote physical and spiritual activity.
IEHPs can access the following community centers with a mix of free and paid for drop-in programs:
- Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre
- Woodman Park Community Centre
- Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre
- Branlyn Community Centre
- Steve Brown Sports Complex (& Lions Park Arena)
- Brantford Aquatic Club
- Laurier Brantford YMCA
Some of Brantford's facilities across the city offer subscriptions and drop-in opportunities for activity, including swimming, basketball, soccer, tennis, pickleball and volleyball.
With the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, IEHPs can view Brantford's various programs, drop-in activities and other classes here.
Healthcare/Emergency Services
911
IEHPs and other Brantford residents in need of emergency services can dial 9-1-1 for medical and lifesaving attention.
The Brant-Brantford Paramedic Services send Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulances from your nearest station.
The 911 includes 24/7 access to fire, ambulance and further emergency needs with the Brantford Police Service.
This information was gathered in part by the Emergency Services page by the City of Brantford. You can access more information here.
Medical Care
IEHPs can expect options for immediate and emergency healthcare at the Brantford General Hospital.
Residents can also visit a local walk-in clinic for a variety of prescriptions, diagnosis for small to mild ailments and access to other specialists:
- Blue Ridge Walk-in clinic
- Brantford Commons Medical Centre & Pharmacy
- Brantford West Medical Centre
- Grey Gretzky Medical Centre
- Conklin Medical Centre
- Grand River Community Health Centre
- Henry Medical Centre
- Brantford Children's Urgent Walk-In Clinic
City Services
Municipal
The City of Brantford includes a directory of its Mayor, Kevin Davis and other councillors within an IEHPs' ward.
The list includes contact information for a number of additional services.
ServiceOntario
Documentation
ServiceOntario is the province's public office system for government-related documentation, issuing identifications and replacing stolen or lost certificates. Offices for ServiceOntario and select ServiceCanada locations may vary with availability, in-person wait times or specific offerings.
ServiceOntario
Service Canada, both in-person and online, typically offer the following:
- Passport Issuing (including replacements and renewal)
- Driver's License (including issuing, replacements and renewal)
- Ontario Health Insurance Plan Card (OHIP) - (including issuing, updating and replacements)
- Canada Pension Plan (including updating beneficiaries, disability benefits and further information)
- Direct Deposit (updating information)
- Employment Insurance and fulfilling requirements for regular payments.
- Questions and answers about moving provinces or exchanging ID cards (or from Ontario to Alberta).
Brantford, Ontario has one ServiceOntario office located at 325A West Street, Unit 103 within the West Mall Business Center.
For further information and lookahead services, IEHPs can access the online version of ServiceOntario here.