Woodstock, Ontario: Difference between revisions
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In June 2005, [[Toyota]], the world's largest automaker, announced plans to build a new, $800 million automobile assembly plant in Woodstock on a 1,000-acre (4 km²) undeveloped site in the city's northeast end. The plant was expected to employ 2000 people and begin full production of the [[Toyota RAV4]] [[SUV]] in November 2008, at the rate of 150,000 a year. However, due to economic problems and slowing car sales, Toyota cut production by 50% to 75,000 a year and reduced the work force 40% to 1200 people. The other 800 workers are expected to be recalled when car sales increase. It was the first new auto assembly plant to be built in Canada in two decades. |
In June 2005, [[Toyota]], the world's largest automaker, announced plans to build a new, $800 million automobile assembly plant in Woodstock on a 1,000-acre (4 km²) undeveloped site in the city's northeast end. The plant was expected to employ 2000 people and begin full production of the [[Toyota RAV4]] [[SUV]] in November 2008, at the rate of 150,000 a year. However, due to economic problems and slowing car sales, Toyota cut production by 50% to 75,000 a year and reduced the work force 40% to 1200 people. The other 800 workers are expected to be recalled when car sales increase. It was the first new auto assembly plant to be built in Canada in two decades. |
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Late in 2008, the plant began producing vehicles, and on December 4, a ceremony attended by Ontario and federal government representatives as well as top Toyota executives, took place to celebrate its official opening.<ref>http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=60229.</ref> |
Late in 2008, the plant began producing vehicles, and on December 4, a ceremony attended by Ontario and federal government representatives as well as top Toyota executives, took place to celebrate its official opening.<ref>http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=60229.</ref> Mayor Michael Harding used the movie phrase that captured the moment: "If you build it, they will come". |
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===Hino Motors Canada Ltd.=== |
===Hino Motors Canada Ltd.=== |
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Revision as of 13:30, 2 February 2011
City of Woodstock | |
|---|---|
| Motto: The Friendly City [1] | |
 | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| County | Oxford |
| Established | 1851 (as town) |
| 1901 (city) | |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Pat Sobeski |
| • Governing Body | Woodstock City Council |
| • MPs | Dave Mackenzie |
| • MPPs | Ernie Hardeman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 43.79 km2 (16.91 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 300 m (1,000 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 35,480 |
| • Density | 810.3/km2 (2,099/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Postal code span | N4S, N4T, N4V |
| Area code | 226/519 |
| Website | www.city.woodstock.on.ca |
Woodstock (2006 population 35,480) is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern (Southwestern) Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River. It is known as the Dairy Capital of Canada and promotes itself as "The Friendly City."
Vansittart Avenue (named after Admiral Henry Vansittart, an early settler) in Woodstock's west end has one of the finest residential Victorian streetscapes in the province. Woodstock has a community centre that hosts hockey games in addition to most social gatherings.
Government
The city government, Woodstock City Council, consists of four city councillors and two city and county councillors. Pat Sobeski is the current mayor. For provincial and federal elections, Woodstock is included in the riding of Oxford. Currently, the MP of Oxford is Dave MacKenzie (Conservative), and the MPP is Ernie Hardeman (Progressive Conservative).
History
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 1,085 |
| 1871 | 3,982 |
| 1881 | 5,373 |
| 1891 | 8,612 |
| 1901 | 8,833 |
| 1911 | 9,320 |
| 1921 | 9,935 |
| 1931 | 11,395 |
| 1941 | 12,339 |
| 1951 | 15,544 |
| 1961 | 20,486 |
| 1971 | 26,173 |
| 1981 | 26,603 |
| 1991 | 30,075 |
| 2001 | 33,061 |
| 2006 | 35,480 |
The community was first settled in 1800 after it was determined by Sir John Graves Simcoe, governor of what was then known as Upper Canada, that the area would make a good townsite. The early settlers were American immigrants from New York state. Increased immigration from Great Britain followed in the 1820s and 1830s. Woodstock was incorporated as a town in 1851 and a city in 1901.
Devastating tornado
On August 7, 1979, the Woodstock area was hit by three tornadoes, two of which registered at least F4 on the Fujita Scale.[3] On the west side of town along Ingersoll Road, a Dominion Food Store was heavily damaged while the tornadoes skipped over every other home and business. Dickson's Florist was wiped out and the Fry home was moved on its foundation. Father Grondziel of the new Polish Roman Catholic Church, next to the Dominion Food Store, had just stepped into the washroom when one of the tornadoes passed by and took off the roof of the church and everything in the room he had just been in. No one on the street was injured but the cleanup took many weeks. On the south side, the buildings of the Maranatha Christian Reformed Church and the John Knox Christian School were destroyed, and the only fatality occurred when a vehicle on Highway 401 was blown off the road and the lone occupant killed.
Landmarks
Old St. Paul's Anglican Church
One of Woodstock's most notable buildings is Old St. Paul's Anglican Church. Built in 1833 and situated near the intersection of Huron and Dundas Streets, the first sermon was held in the rectory on 29 June 1834. The first person buried in St. Paul's cemetery was a blacksmith named Spencer who died of cholera the day following his arrival in Woodstock in 1834.[4] It is alleged that the church tower was infamously used as a temporary jail during the rebellion of 1837. The church, a beautiful, brick cruciform structure surrounded by Woodstock's oldest cemetery, boasts original box pews and dozens of memorial tablets commemorating prominent Woodstock citizens. The first incumbent was William Craddock Bettridge.
Springbank Snow Countess
The "Springbank Snow Countess" was commemorated by a life-size statue (designed by acclaimed Oxford County agricultural artist Ross Butler which is located on the corner of Dundas and Springbank.
This bell iron and lead statue was made to honour a record-setting milk production by a Holstein (Friesian) cow named Snow Countess.
The statue was first unveiled on August 4, 1937 by the Holstein Frisian Association of Canada. Snow Countess was born on November 18, 1919 and died at age 16 on August 9, 1936. During her lifetime, she produced 9,062 pounds of butterfat, impressive at the time. The statue and granite base cost $4,000 to design and erect.
The cow has become an important symbol to Woodstock and is used in many cultural events, such as the annual Cowapalooza Festival.
The "Capitol Theatre" originally the Woodstock Opera House.
Infrastructure
Pittock Dam
Construction was started on the dam in 1964 and officially completed in 1967. The cost of the dam and land base at that time was close to $6 million. Present annual maintenance costs are about $40,000.[5]
The Pittock Dam is designed for both flood control and flow augmentation purposes. It is designed to benefit water quality downstream during dry summer conditions and provide year round flood control capability to protect downstream communities.
Woodstock Airport
The Woodstock Airport is located 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) west of Woodstock.
Industry
Toyota Plant
In June 2005, Toyota, the world's largest automaker, announced plans to build a new, $800 million automobile assembly plant in Woodstock on a 1,000-acre (4 km²) undeveloped site in the city's northeast end. The plant was expected to employ 2000 people and begin full production of the Toyota RAV4 SUV in November 2008, at the rate of 150,000 a year. However, due to economic problems and slowing car sales, Toyota cut production by 50% to 75,000 a year and reduced the work force 40% to 1200 people. The other 800 workers are expected to be recalled when car sales increase. It was the first new auto assembly plant to be built in Canada in two decades.
Late in 2008, the plant began producing vehicles, and on December 4, a ceremony attended by Ontario and federal government representatives as well as top Toyota executives, took place to celebrate its official opening.[6] Mayor Michael Harding used the movie phrase that captured the moment: "If you build it, they will come".
Hino Motors Canada Ltd.
Early in March 2006, Hino Motors, a Toyota Motor Co. subsidiary, announced that it will be the first Japanese truck manufacturer to build its vehicles in Canada with a new Woodstock plant slated to begin production in April 2006, in the former General Seating plant in the Pattullo Ridge Business Park near Highway 401 and Highway 59.
The $3 million, 120,000 square foot (11,000 m²) plant will employ 45 and assemble 2,000 trucks a year when it begins production.[7]
In late November 2008 the Hino Motors automotive plant was completed.[8]
Woodstock Organ Company
A major Canadian piano and organ and reed organ company operated under the name of Woodstock Organ Company for many years of the early twentieth century. It was owned by D W Karn, who was at one time mayor of Woodstock. Karn had previously operated an organ and piano manufacturing company under his own name.
Media
Woodstock has one daily newspaper owned by Sun Media Corporation, the Woodstock Sentinel-Review.
There are three licensed FM radio stations:
- FM 94.3 - CJFH, "Hope FM" Christian music
- FM 103.9 - CKDK "1039 FM" Adult Greatest Hits
- FM 104.7 - CIHR, "Heart FM" adult contemporary
The city also has a rebroadcaster of Toronto television station Citytv, operating on channel 31 and primarily targeting London and surrounding towns.[9]
Transportation
Intercity transportation includes a VIA Rail train station[10] and a Greyhound Lines of Canada intercity bus depot.[11]
Local public transit service is available daily except Sunday on six routes. No service is provided after 18:30.[12]
Provincial Highway 401 is located at the south and east edges of the city, with the junction of Highway 403 located east of the urban area. Numerous Oxford County highways and other roads also radiate from Woodstock.
Notable natives
- Mary Bothwell, opera singer and painter
- Don Coles, poet
- Andrea Roth, actor
- Garth Turner, business journalist
- Kevin Zegers, actor and model
- Jake Muzzin, professional ice hockey player (Los Angeles Kings, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
- Dane Hartsell, musician/lyricist
Further reading
Art Williams. Bits & Pieces: A Montage of Woodstock, Ontario in Text and Pictures. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills, 1967, 1990.
References
- ^ City of Woodstock: Local History
- ^ Natural Resources Canada - Toporama - varies within city from 280m to 314m.
- ^ 1979 Woodstock tornado (CBC Archives)
- ^ Symons, pp.29-30.
- ^ http://www.thamesriver.on.ca/Water_Management/Pittock_Dam.htm
- ^ http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=60229.
- ^ Urquhart, Bruce (7 March 2006). "Hino coming to Woodstock". Woodstock Sentinel-Review. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
- ^ http://www.hinocanada.com/index-1.html
- ^ Decision CRTC 86-216
- ^ VIA Rail Canada: Woodstock, Ontario
- ^ Greyhound Canada: Woodstock, ON
- ^ City of Woodstock: Public Transit
External links
- City of Woodstock official website
- Oxford County Official website
- Information Oxford Business directory, Events, Social Services etc.
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