Tillsonburg, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Tillsonburg is a town in Oxford County
Oxford County, Ontario
Oxford County is a regional municipality and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Southern portion of the province. The regional seat is in Woodstock...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Tillsonburg is a town of 14,822 located about 50 kilometres southeast of London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, on Highway 3
Highway 3 (Ontario)
King's Highway 3, commonly referred to as Highway 3 and historically as the Talbot Trail, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which travels parallel to the shore of Lake Erie. It has three segments, the first of which runs from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor...
at the junction of Highway 19
Highway 19 (Ontario)
King's Highway 19, commonly referred to as Highway 19, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Highway 19 currently runs from Tillsonburg north to a point near Ingersoll. The total length of Highway 19 is presently , which is very similar to its original length in...
the closest route to Highway 401
Highway 401 (Ontario)
King's Highway 401, also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway and colloquially as the four-oh-one, is a 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario stretching from Windsor to the Quebec border...
at Ingersoll, Ontario
Ingersoll, Ontario
Ingersoll is a town in Oxford County on the Thames River in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The nearest cities are Woodstock to the east and London to the west....
. Although the town population is listed as 14,822, the town is a regional hub for business, industry, health care, education, agriculture, government and emergency services which serves a catchment/trade area of nearly 225,000 people.
History
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. A forge and sawmill were erected, roads built which led to the establishment of this small community called Dereham Forge. In 1836 the village was renamed Tillsonburg in honour of its founder. It was also in this year that the main street, Broadway, was laid out to its full 100 feet (30.5 m) width. Because the village was predominantly a logging and wood product centre, the street was constructed wide enough to accommodate turning of three team logging wagons. This width now is unique to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and a tremendous asset toward handling pressures of modern day traffic, by providing the benefits of angle parking. As a logging village, what is now called Broadway, as well as Highway 19, was originally called Plank Line.
The mid-19th century proved to be the first step in the industrialization of this municipality. A water system was devised to not only supply pure water for domestic use, but also to provide water power to such industries as a sawmill, planing mill
Planing mill
A planing mill is a facility that takes cut and seasoned boards from a sawmill and turns them into finished dimensional lumber. Machines used in the mill include the planer and matcher, the molding machines, and varieties of saws...
, grist mill, spinning mill, pottery and a tannery. Many of these new establishments were either owned, started, or financed by George Tillson, great-grandfather of Tillson Harrison
Tillson Harrison
Tillson Lever Harrison was a Canadian physician, army officer and adventurer. Moving to New York and enlisting in the United States Army at an early age, he later returned to Canada to attend the University of Toronto before practising as a physician in a number of dangerous positions, such as the...
, a Chinese humanitarian born in Tillsonburg.
In 1915, a Public Library was built with funds provided by the Carnegie Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, and the town's Memorial Hospital came into existence in 1925.
In the 20s, major enterprises included milk production, manufacture of shoes, tractors, textiles and an increased production of tobacco. The Tillsonburg Livingston's Basketball Team (representative of Tillsonburg's largest industry) won the Canadian Championships in 1952 and represented Canada in the Olympics at Helsinki, Finland. CKOT
CKOT (AM)
CKOT is an AM radio station licenced to Tillsonburg, Ontario. The station was licenced on April 26, 1955 and aired four days later. The station was owned by John B. Lamers, Sr., Ken Orton, and four other shareholders under the name of Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company, Limited...
Radio began broadcasting operations in 1955 and the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Board opened its new auction exchange 3 years later. The Town's Centennial Year (1972) saw the opening of the new $1,000,000 Community Recreation Complex by the Governor-General of Canada, as well as the opening of the Tillsonburg Museum in the old community centre on the shores of Lake Lisgar. A new 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) Library was completed in 1975, and a second indoor skating rink was built in 1977, funded completely by donations from industry, commerce, service clubs, citizens and Wintario
Wintario
Wintario was the first lottery game offered by the Ontario Lottery Corporation in Ontario, Canada.Beginning in May 1975, Wintario, Ontario's flagship lottery was born. Conceived by Ontario's Progressive Conservative Government, Wintario came from an idea that it could raise money for worthwhile...
. In 1979, the hospital built a $7,000,000 addition for offices, improved x-ray and emergency departments, and an expanded Intensive Care Unit
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
. A fire hall was constructed in 1979, replacing the old building which was demolished to make way for a downtown mall.
Annandale National Historic Site
Annandale National Historic Site is a National Historic Site of Canada located in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 1883 by Edwin Delevan Tillson and his wife Mary Ann as part of Mr...
(built by the founding Tillson family) and the Hale Street railway station became public buildings. The former would be restored as a house museum, while the latter would become The Station Arts Centre.
A major residential development geared for seniors - Hickory Hills - was announced in 1985. The development significantly added to the Town's population as well as increased the pool of volunteers for local non-profit agencies.
In 1991, a Food Bank had to be established for the community's needy and continues to be operated on a volunteer basis.
Throughout the early 1990s, volunteers were also busy on the Lake Lisgar Renaissance Project, which sought to revitalize the Lake, and make the park around the Lake more attractive with the construction of a gazebo, water fountain and walkways into the Lake.
That same period saw the closing of two major entertainment outlets: the Skylark Drive-In and the Strand movie theatre, victims of the video store arrival. The original angled marquee architecture of the Strand Theatre is still intact but the building is again unoccupied after brief stints as businesses. To the relief of many, big screen movies came back in Tillsonburg in 1996 with the opening of Broadway Cinemas.
In 1994, the downtown area was significantly enhanced with the construction of the Rotary Club Clock Tower, which incorporated a clock from the town's former Post Office, and a bell from the demolished Town Hall. Soon, it became a community tradition (sponsored by the Rotary Club) for local residents to gather at the Clock Tower to ring in the New Year with fireworks, hot apple cider and the dropping of a ball.
In 1998, The Livingston Centre opened. Named after notable resident Gerry Livingston, the centre provides a wide range of human services in one location. Organizations include:
- Community Living Tillsonburg (Ontario Early Years Centre, Tillsonburg Children's Centre, A Child First-Child Care Supports of Oxford, Family Supports)
- Multi-Service Centre (Adult Basic Literacy; Employment Programs for Youth & Adults; Home Support Programs - personal support & homemaking, assisted living, meals on wheels, transportation, foot & hand care, Home at Last)
- Service Canada (Government of Canada services and benefits, including: passport applications, Employment Insurance programs, Income Security Program applications, Record of Employment website, student services, agricultural services)
- Fanshawe CollegeFanshawe CollegeFanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
Tillsonburg (academic assessment, continuing education, corporate training services, post secondary, job finding club)
- Tillson Avenue Education Centre-Thames Valley District School Board (adult credit courses, self study courses, literacy & upgrading for credit and employment, English as a Second Language, Driver's Education)
- and several associated organizations (Addiction Services of Thames Valley, Community Options for Justice, Credit Counseling Oxford - Family Services Thames Valley, Elgin-Oxford Legal Clinic, Family Service of Thames Valley, Ministry of Children & Youth Services - probation & parole, Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care - OHIP eligibility and entitlement, Ontario Works - Oxford County Social Services, Pediatrician, Veterans Affairs Canada, Women's Emergency Centre).
Further development of residential senior's focused development began in 2001 with the Baldwin Place subdivision located on the western periphery of the town. This development which is currently in Phase 8 will have approximately 300 homes when completed.
The Tillsonburg Community Centre was refurbished in 2004 with renovations and enlargement of the main ice surface to NHL size. The project's scope of work included keeping the whale-back roof as a key architectural feature as well as to increase seating and provide for new recreation and health club facilities.
Recent residential development includes the re-urbanization of the former railway lands on Bridge Street East which is the site of Tillson Landing condominium, the first such highrise construction in more than a decade. Tillson Landing was completed in January 2006.
Another major subdivision containing nearly 400 homes, The Oaks, is currently under construction. This subdivision is located in the south-west area of town on the east side of Quarterline Road between Concession and Baldwin Streets. Additional new subdivision development is concentrated in the west quadrant of town including Park Place, Southridge Heights (Morning Glory), and Brookside Phase 3.
Government
Tillsonburg is one of eight municipalities that make up the County of Oxford. The Mayor also represents the Town as a County Councillor. The County administers social programs, ambulance and paramedic services, planning, water and wastewater services, garbage and landfill operations and the County road system.Tillsonburg is governed by an elected Mayor, Deputy Mayor and five Councillors. Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month in the Council Chambers in the Corporate Municipal Office. They oversee staff and set policy for the various operations and services provided by the Town.
The council of the Town of Tillsonburg was inaugurated and took the oath of office on December 4, 2006 following the municipal election held on November 13.
The town also owns and operates:
- Tillsonburg Municipal AirportTillsonburg AirportTillsonburg Airport, , is located north of Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada.The Tillsonburg Municipal Airport began as a World War II era flight training facility which subsequently was purchased by the Town of Tillsonburg in 1970. The airport is a general aviation facility home to several...
- Lake Lisgar Water Park
- Tillsonburg Public Library
- Tillsonburg Special Events Centre
Through town-sanctioned committees, the following organizations contribute to the vitality of the town:
- Business Improvement Association (BIA)
- Museum Advisory Committee
- Cemetery Advisory Committee
- Airport Advisory Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Culture and Tourism Committee
Health care
- The town has one hospital accredited through the Ontario Ministry of Health. Tillsonburg and District Memorial Hospital is located in the downtown area on Rolph Street. The TDMH serves the town and region. The hospital has an emergency room open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are currently five doctors registered with healthyontario.com as accepting new patients, one of the few communities in Ontario where there is no wait list for a family doctor.
- The home support programs of the Multi-Service Centre (personal support & homemaking, assisted living, meals on wheels, transportation, foot & hand care, Home at Last)are accredited by Accreditation Canada.
Elementary and secondary schools
Tillsonburg elementary and secondary schools are under the control of two school boards, the Thames Valley District School BoardThames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
(TVDSB) and the London District Catholic School Board
London District Catholic School Board
The London District Catholic School Board is a separate school board in south-western Ontario, Canada. It serves students from Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties, and also those from the cities of London, St. Thomas and Woodstock....
(LDCSB).
Annandale School
- Established: 1950
- Population: ~300
- Grades: 7 - 8
- Was once a high school, then a middle school
It became a middle school in 1995, offering Grade 7-9 education. Following the 2009 expansion of Glendale High School (finished September 2010) Annandale ceased to offer Grade 9 education. Grade 9 students began attending Glendale High School.
Maple Lane Public School
- Established: 1965
- Population: ~300
- Grades: JK - 6
- Used to be a middle school (Grades 7-8)
Adult Basic Literacy Program
- a Multi-Service Centre program, located in The Livingston Centre
- Established: 1987
- Literacy instruction is provided to any adults free of charge. Students are encouraged to purchase their books.
Tillson Avenue Education Centre
- Established: 1995
- Adult Day School offering credit courses, independent learning courses, basic literacy, English as a second language (ESL) and driver education.
Industry and economy
Tillsonburg serves a regional tri-county area of 225,000 people at the confluence of Oxford, Elgin and Norfolk counties. The industrial base has become quite diverse during the decline of the once prominent tobacco industry. The area is home to several branch plants of major US-based automotive suppliers including Rieter Automotive, Guardian Industries, TRWTRW
TRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
- 2 plants, and Johnson Controls. There are many service-related industries and home-grown success stories including Verspeeten Transport, Marwood Metal Fabrication Ltd., Otter Valley Foods, E & E McLauglin Ltd., J/E Bearing Ltd., Fleetwood Metal Products, and MIL-SIM-FX International Inc.
The town has a very active and developing downtown core area which includes the Tillsonburg Town Centre mall, built in 1980 and the recently opened big box stores including Canadian Tire, Shopper's Drug Mart and Staples-Business Depot. Newly expanded The Source store and Mark's Work Wearhouse are located in the Tillsonburg Town Centre Mall.
All of the major Canadian chartered banks have branches in the town and there is also a Credit Union.
The town is well served with 3 grocery stores: Sobey's, Zehrs and Metro, of which, Sobey's and Metro are open 24 hours.
Tillsonburg is served by three radio stations; The New Country 107.3 (107.3 CJDL FM), Country 1510 (1510 CKOT AM), Easy 101 (101.3 CKOT FM) and two newspapers; The Tillsonburg News and The Tillsonburg Independent.
The town has been positively impacted by the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, 22 kilometres north of the town, which opened in 1986. The CAMI plant, owned by General Motors of Detroit, Michigan, produces the Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet Equinox
The second generation Equinox was announced by GM on December 21, 2008, and debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 2010 Equinox went on sale in June 2009. It is built on a stiffened version of the same "Theta" platform used in the previous model. The new Equinox...
and GMC Terrain
GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is a mid-size crossover SUV. According to GM, it replaced the GMC Envoy, the Isuzu Ascender, which was discontinued after Isuzu stopped selling their automobiles in America, and Pontiac Torrent, which was sold in the same dealerships prior to GM dropping the Pontiac brand.. Like the...
CUVs.
The announcement of a new Toyota plant in Woodstock, 30 km northeast of Tillsonburg, will have a similarly positive impact on the development of Tillsonburg. In preparation for the increased traffic demands in the County of Oxford, Highway 19 has been upgraded and completely rebuilt north of the town to Highway #401.
The area also has a strong agricultural community with cash crops, hog farming, milk production, tobacco, ginseng and various tertiary crops.
The town has recently become a hub for regional operations of the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
including Oxford County Division Headquarters and also the Southwestern Ontario Forensics laboratory which opened in April 2008.
The town is the 3rd fastest growing community in Oxford County, and ranks as one of the top places to live in Canada.
Tourism
In January 2006 the National PostNational Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
listed Tillsonburg as number 75 on the top 100 places to visit in Canada.
Annandale House
Annandale National Historic Site
Annandale National Historic Site is a National Historic Site of Canada located in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 1883 by Edwin Delevan Tillson and his wife Mary Ann as part of Mr...
was designated a Canadian National Historic Site in 1997.
Tillsonburg is also home to one of the "Large Canadian Roadside Attractions," an electric guitar. The guitar was once accompanied by a piano that functioned as a roadside advertisement for the music store on the same property. Today, the piano portion of the sign and the music store itself are gone. The building is now a residence but the electric guitar remains. Other attractions include the Station Arts Centre with an art gallery and several workshops featuring the works of various local artists, and the Tillsonburg Special Event Centre located in the Forest Hill industrial park. This facility is the largest of its kind in southwestern Ontario. The building has over 50000 square feet (4,645.2 m²) of floor space and can host events from dinners to car shows and exhibitions.
The first ever Canadian Kennel Club
Canadian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. Beyond maintaining the pedigree registry, the C.K.C...
Charity Dog Show ("The Purina National") was held in Tillsonburg at the Tillsonburg Special Event Centre in March, 2007, and drew entries from top show canines from across Canada and the United States. Subsequent shows were held in 2008 and 2009, but the show moved to the Toronto area in 2010.
Camping is available north of town at Casey's Park located on Highway #19 north of Mount Elgin, which is the home of weekly Country Music Jamborees between Victoria Day and Labour Day, where audience members are encouraged to participate on stage. Lake Lisgar, a small lake located in the centre of town, has been rehabilitated and is home for the Tillsonburg Rowing Club and the Lake Lisgar Water Park.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 1,700 |
| 1881 | 1,939 |
| 1891 | 2,163 |
| 1901 | 2,241 |
| 1911 | 2,758 |
| 1921 | 2,974 |
| 1931 | 3,385 |
| 1941 | 4,002 |
| 1951 | 5,330 |
| 1961 | 6,600 |
| 1971 | 6,608 |
| 1981 | 10,487 |
| 1991 | 12,019 |
| 2001 | 14,052 |
| 2006 | 14,822 |
All statistics are based on the 2006 census by Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
.
Age
| | Tillsonburg | | Oxford County | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female |
| Total - All Persons | 14,820 | 6,995 | 7,830 | 102,755 | 50,460 | 52,295 |
| 0 - 4 | 765 | 380 | 385 | 5,945 | 3,075 | 2,870 |
| 5 - 9 | 750 | 395 | 355 | 6,510 | 3,305 | 3,210 |
| 10 - 14 | 880 | 435 | 445 | 7,390 | 3,805 | 3,585 |
| 15 - 19 | 870 | 435 | 430 | 7,275 | 3,685 | 3,590 |
| 20 - 24 | 860 | 445 | 415 | 6,320 | 3,235 | 3,085 |
| 25 - 29 | 825 | 395 | 430 | 5,500 | 2,755 | 2,740 |
| 30 - 34 | 785 | 390 | 400 | 6,045 | 3,035 | 3,005 |
| 35 - 39 | 875 | 440 | 435 | 6,645 | 3,300 | 3,345 |
| 40 - 44 | 1,020 | 485 | 540 | 8,395 | 4,120 | 4,275 |
| 45 - 49 | 1,070 | 490 | 585 | 8,105 | 3,970 | 4,140 |
| 50 - 54 | 950 | 445 | 510 | 7,210 | 3,625 | 3,585 |
| 55 - 59 | 890 | 425 | 465 | 6,425 | 3,195 | 3,225 |
| 60 - 64 | 860 | 385 | 480 | 5,015 | 2,465 | 2,555 |
| 65 - 69 | 805 | 375 | 430 | 4,265 | 2,045 | 2,220 |
| 70 - 74 | 840 | 365 | 470 | 3,805 | 1,760 | 2,050 |
| 75 - 79 | 735 | 325 | 415 | 3,280 | 1,450 | 1,830 |
| 80 - 84 | 635 | 260 | 370 | 2,630 | 1,070 | 1,570 |
| 85+ | 390 | 120 | 280 | 2,000 | 580 | 1,415 |
| Median Age | 43.9 | 41.9 | 45.8 | 39.8 | 38.6 | 40.9 |
| % Over 15 | 83.9 | 82.7 | 84.9 | 80.7 | 79.8 | 81.5 |
Marital status
| | Tillsonburg | | Oxford County | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marital Status | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female |
| Total - Population 15 years and over | 12,425 | 5,780 | 6,645 | 82,910 | 40,280 | 42,625 |
| Single | 3,070 | 1,630 | 1,440 | 22,420 | 12,270 | 10,150 |
| Married | 6,655 | 3,325 | 3,330 | 45,535 | 22,790 | 22,740 |
| Separated | 495 | 215 | 275 | 3,185 | 1,470 | 1,710 |
| Divorced | 930 | 370 | 555 | 5,810 | 2,605 | 3,210 |
| Widowed | 1,285 | 240 | 1,045 | 5,960 | 1,145 | 4,815 |
Languages
| | Tillsonburg | | Oxford County | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female |
| Total - All Persons | 14,635 | 6,930 | 7,705 | 101,460 | 50,070 | 51,385 |
| English Only | 12,460 | 5,900 | 6,565 | 89,875 | 44,395 | 45,485 |
| French Only | 210 | 90 | 120 | 1,100 | 495 | 610 |
| Both English And French | 15 | 0 | 10 | 95 | 35 | 55 |
| Other Languages | 1,950 | 935 | 1,010 | 10,380 | 5,145 | 5,235 |
Ethnicity
| | Tillsonburg | | Oxford County | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female |
| Total - All Persons | 14,635 | 6,930 | 7,705 | 101,460 | 50,075 | 51,385 |
| Visible Minority Population | 585 | 270 | 315 | 2,555 | 1,320 | 1,230 |
| Chinese | 40 | 20 | 15 | 300 | 140 | 155 |
| South Asian | 20 | 10 | 10 | 265 | 125 | 140 |
| Black | 150 | 65 | 85 | 515 | 315 | 195 |
| Filipino | 10 | 0 | 10 | 140 | 65 | 80 |
| Latin American | 15 | 10 | 10 | 110 | 50 | 60 |
| Southeast Asian | 320 | 150 | 170 | 465 | 215 | 250 |
| Arab | 10 | 10 | 0 | 115 | 60 | 50 |
| Japanese | 10 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 120 | 110 |
| All others | 14,055 | 6,660 | 7,395 | 98,905 | 48,745 | 50,160 |
Road and rail
Though not directly on the route, Highway 401Highway 401 (Ontario)
King's Highway 401, also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway and colloquially as the four-oh-one, is a 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario stretching from Windsor to the Quebec border...
passes close to the town, and is served by Highway 19. Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
has weekly bus service to and from Tillsonburg. There is currently no transit system (Tillsonburg Transit ceased operations in 2001 after a 6 year lifespan), however there are 3 taxi cab companies to make up for this.
The Town of Tillsonburg is rail served by the St. Thomas & Eastern Railway, a division of Trillium Railway Co. Ltd, which runs in most cases parallel to Highway 3 in the south end of the town on the former CNR Cayuga subdivision, previously the Canada Air Line. Service on the STER is daily, Monday - Friday.
The Ontario Southland Railway also serves Tillsonburg using the former CPR Port Burwell subdivision running from nearby Ingersoll, parallel to Highway 19 north of town, and then into the north-east end of town. The OSR interchanges with the STER at the south end of town.
Passenger train services are provided by Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in nearby Ingersoll
Ingersoll, Ontario
Ingersoll is a town in Oxford County on the Thames River in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The nearest cities are Woodstock to the east and London to the west....
or Woodstock
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
.
Air
The town is served by the Tillsonburg Municipal Airport, owned and operated by the Town of Tillsonburg. The airport is located 7 kilometers north of the town in Southwest Oxford Township. The airport is home to several aviation-related businesses. The airport has 3 runways, with the primary runway being re-constructed and extended to 5,500', constructed of asphalt. A new terminal building is also under construction with completion expected in January 2010. The airport is used by corporate aircraft including jets. Regular users of the airport also include the Canadian Harvard Aircraft AssociationCanadian Harvard Aircraft Association
The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association is a non-profit charitable organization based in Tillsonburg, Ontario. It was founded with the aim of acquiring, preserving, restoring, maintaining, displaying and demonstrating the North American Harvard aircraft and other training aircraft associated...
, Air Ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
, Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
, the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
and other government agencies.
Scheduled airline passenger service is available at 3 airports within a 1 hour drive from Tillsonburg.
The Region of Waterloo International Airport
Region of Waterloo International Airport
Region of Waterloo International Airport or Kitchener/Waterloo Airport is situated near Breslau, in Woolwich Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada....
o daily non-stop service to Ottawa on Bearskin Airlines, and daily non-stop service to Calgary on WestJet. During the winter months, non-stop passenger service from Kitchener-Waterloo
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. It is often referred to as the Region of Waterloo or just...
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. Service on Northwest/Delta is suspended until further notice effective June 1, 2009.
The John C. Munro International Airport in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, offers daily domestic service to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and seasonal service to the UK and Caribbean.
The London International Airport
London International Airport
London International Airport or London Airport is located northeast of the city of London, Ontario, Canada.In 2009, the airport handled 501,835 passengers, and, in 2010, was the 9th busiest in Canada in terms of aircraft movements, with 141,001. Air Canada, Air Canada Express, United Express ,...
offers daily non-stop service to Winnipeg, Calgary, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ottawa, Chigago-O'Hare and Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Seasonal service to Halifax and Vancouver as well as the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
are also offered from London.
Recreation
- The town has many ravines throughout and a new community trail system is under construction which is scheduled to be completed and opened to the public in 2009.
- Curling is available at the Tillsonburg and District Curling Club.
- Golf is available in and near town with several courses, both 9 and 18 holes.
- Lake Lisgar is home to the Lake Lisgar Water Park which is open from Father's Day to Labour Day.
- The Tillsonburg Senior's Centre, located at the Tillsonburg Community Centre Complex, offers more than 2 dozen activities including a woodworking shop, aerobics, handcrafts, a library, card playing including a bridge club and seasonal activities.
- Hockey and ringette programs are offered at the Tillsonburg Community Centre Complex.
- The Tillsonburg Thunder, Senior A hockey club, play at the Memorial Arena located at the Tillsonburg Community Centre Complex.
- Tillsonburg was the Ontario Major Intermediate AMajor Intermediate A Hockey LeagueThe Major Intermediate A Hockey League was an ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. It existed from 1978 to 1983. Its champion was eligible to compete for the W.G. Hardy Trophy, emblematic of Canadian Intermediate A hockey supremacy.The Georgian Bay...
Hockey champion in the 1954-1955 season - The Tillsonburg Soccer Park is one of the best such facilities anywhere in Ontario, with a land area of 14 acres (56,656 m²). Opened in 2000, this facility draws regional tournaments and players from across the region. The park also includes a full clubhouse with meeting and catering facilities.
- Winter tobagganing is available at The Bridges at Tillsonburg http://thebridgesattillsonburg.com/.
- Area 51 Sportsfield http://www.area-51.on.ca has a large 60 acre (243,000 m²) paintballPaintballPaintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...
field which offers private games for patrons aged 12 and up. - The new Official Tillsonburg Skate park is located in front of the Community Centre.
- Pro Wrestling Xtreme http://www.prowrestlingxtreme.com has been running monthly professional wrestling events at the Lions Auditorium since September 2004.
Radio
- 1510 AM - CKOTCKOT (AM)CKOT is an AM radio station licenced to Tillsonburg, Ontario. The station was licenced on April 26, 1955 and aired four days later. The station was owned by John B. Lamers, Sr., Ken Orton, and four other shareholders under the name of Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company, Limited...
, ((country music)) - 101.3 FM - CKOT-FMCKOT-FMCKOT-FM is a Canadian radio station, airing at 101.3 FM in Tillsonburg, Ontario. The transmitter is located near the interchange of Highway 19 and Highway 401 , close to Ingersoll, with an Effective Radiated Power of 50,000 watts, on a 454 foot-/163 metre-high transmitter...
, "Easy 101" adult contemporary - 107.3 FM - CJDL-FM, "Country 107.3" country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
Newspapers
- The Tillsonburg News, a tri-weekly newspaper, first published in 1863
Magazines
- Eh! Magazine, a Canadian pop culture founded in Tillsonburg. The magazine was sold across Canada and operated out of Tillsonburg between 2003-2005.
Neighbourhoods
- Annandale Heights
- Baldwin Place: Modelled largely after the successful Hickory Hills subdivision, this neighbourhood also features one-storey homes.
- Broadway Acres: A neighbourhood immediately adjacent to Broadway with homes built as far back as the 1960s until today.
- Brookside: One of the newer areas located off Quarterline Road near the Tillsonburg Soccer Park. This area of larger single-family homes has recently been connected with Broadway Acres via the long-awaited extension of Glendale Drive. Monsignor O'Neill and Glendale High School are located nearby.
- Cadman Subdivision
- Claron Heights
- Georgian Heights
- Glenridge
- Hickory Hills: The first of the retirement subdivisions in the town. Planned in the late 1980s this neighbourhood has quaint small homes, all one-storey with attached garages. The residents have their own residents association and community centre.
- The Oakes: New area located off Quarterline Road just South of the Tillsonburg Soccer park.
- Park Place
- Riva Ridge
- Riverview
- Rolling Meadows: also was annexed by the Town of Tillsonburg in the 1970s and features larger homes on sizeable lot frontages. This neighbourhood is in the north end of town with convenient access to Highway #19.
- South Ridge
- Trottier Subdivision
- VanNorman Drive
- Westmount: Originally part of the former Township of Dereham, this neighbourhood boasts a large park and homes spread out over very large lots dating back to 1970.
- Woodhaven
- Woodland Estates
Notable Tillsonburg natives and residents
- Lloyd AndrewsLloyd AndrewsLloyd "Shrimp" Andrews was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 4 seasons in National Hockey League for the Toronto St. Pats.-Playing career:...
, played for the Toronto St. Patrick's from 1921–1925 and won the Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug... - Jeff BesJeff BesJeff Bes , is a retired ice hockey centre who most recently played for the Laredo Bucks in the Central Hockey League...
, won gold medal at World Jr. Championship, drafted to the NHL by the Minnesota North Star in the 3rd round. Plays professional hockey in the Central Hockey League - Colin CampbellColin Campbell (hockey)Colin John Campbell , nicknamed "Sheriff", is a former professional ice hockey defenceman, coach and the former Senior Vice President and current Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League...
, former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player, is now Vice-President of hockey operations of the National Hockey League. An arena commemorating Mr. Campbell's contributions to the Town of Tillsonburg is located at the Tillsonburg Community Centre - Gregory Campbell, plays for the Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and won the Stanley Cup in 2011. - Michael DeGrooteMichael DeGrooteMichael G. DeGroote, OC is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist from Hamilton, Ontario who currently resides in Bermuda. Aside from his business career, he is best known as a major private donor to local educational institutions such as McMaster University and Hillfield Strathallan...
, billionaire, member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit... - Debra DiGiovanniDebra DiGiovanniDebra DiGiovanni is a Canadian stand-up comedian of Italian descent originally from Tillsonburg, Ontario.Her comedy career began with the help of Humber College's inaugural year of their Comedy Writing and Performance course, in 2000 and has since been nominated for the coveted Tim Sims Comedy...
, Comedian, Canadian Comedy AwardCanadian Comedy AwardsThe Canadian Comedy Awards, founded by , are an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in Live, Radio, Film, Television and Internet media over the previous year...
winner - Gary Green, former head coach of the Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, youngest head coach in NHL history - Tillson HarrisonTillson HarrisonTillson Lever Harrison was a Canadian physician, army officer and adventurer. Moving to New York and enlisting in the United States Army at an early age, he later returned to Canada to attend the University of Toronto before practising as a physician in a number of dangerous positions, such as the...
, physician, army officer and adventurer - Harley HotchkissHarley HotchkissHarley Norman Hotchkiss, was a Canadian business and community leader who was best known for his contributions to health and sports development in Canada. He was one of the original owners that brought the National Hockey League's Atlanta Flames to Calgary in 1980 and remained a team owner until...
, executive with the Calgary FlamesCalgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, 2006 Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup... - Gerry Livingston, philanthropist in the areas of sport and social services and sponsor of Canada's Olympic male basketball teams in 1952 and 1960. He received Papal honours in 1962 and died in 1988. The Livingston Centre was named in his honour.
- Christopher MabeeChristopher MabeeChristopher Mabee is a Canadian retired competitive figure skater. He is the 2007 Canadian national silver medalist. He announced his retirement from competitive skating in December, 2008.-Early career:...
, Canadian Figure Skating Championship silver medallist. - Kevin MatisynKevin MatisynKevin James Clarkson known professionally as Kevin Matisyn, is the current singer for the rock band Parabelle. He is the former singer for Evans Blue.-Musical beginnings & Evans Blue:...
, former lead vocalist for the JunoJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nominated rock band Evans BlueEvans BlueEvans Blue is an alternative rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada founded in 2005.- Origins :Evans Blue came together in early 2005. Five musicians, then in three separate bands, met through a local musician's message board... - Joe Pitter, plays bass for the rock band Evans BlueEvans BlueEvans Blue is an alternative rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada founded in 2005.- Origins :Evans Blue came together in early 2005. Five musicians, then in three separate bands, met through a local musician's message board...
- David RokebyDavid RokebyDavid Rokeby is an artist who has been making works of electronic, video and installation art since 1982.His early work Very Nervous System is acknowledged as a pioneering work of interactive art, translating physical gestures into real-time interactive sound environments...
, artist, awarded the Governor General's AwardGovernor General's AwardThe Governor General's Awards are a collection of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor... - Jay TrianoJay TrianoJay Triano is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Triano gained recognition during his tenure as coach of the Canadian men's national team. He is also a former national team player, who competed in two Olympics, starting in 1984...
, the first Canadian-born coach in the NBA, current head coach of the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
** - Shawn TompkinsShawn TompkinsShawn Tompkins was a Canadian kickboxer and mixed martial artist, and later trainer. At the time of his death, he was an instructor at the Tapout Training Center.-Biography and career:...
, long time Mixed Martial Arts trainer**
Popular culture
- Canadians Stompin' Tom ConnorsStompin' Tom ConnorsCharles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC is one of Canada's most prolific and well-known country and folk singers.He lives in Wellington County, Ontario.- Early life :...
as well as The Cash BrothersThe Cash BrothersThe Cash Brothers are a Canadian alternative country/folk rock duo, consisting of brothers Andrew and Peter Cash.-Career:Prior to the creation of The Cash Brothers, Andrew and Peter Cash both had established careers as songwriters and musicians. Andrew was a member of the bands L'Étranger and...
have written songs entitled "Tillsonburg".
Scouting
Tillsonburg was once home to six Scouting groups in Ontario, however currently only two are left in existence. Each scouting organization has served the Tillsonburg community well over the years, aiding in environmental clean-ups, volunteering at the Tillsonburg Fair, and helping with security at events such as Relay for Life to name but a few.2nd Tillsonburg
- Founded in 1933 with a Scout Troop, it would later expand its doors to a Wolf Cub Pack in 1946, a Venturer Company in 1968, a Beaver Colony in 1974, a Rover Crew in 1999, and became Coed the same year. 2nd Tillsonburg is the oldest remaining scout group in town. Meetings are held at St. John's Anglican Church on Ridout Street, with the exception of the Venturer Company which meets at the Gibson House on Concession Street. As a member of Scouts CanadaScouts CanadaScouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
it offers a modernized scouting program for ages five through twenty-six.
5th Tillsonburg Alliance
- Founded in 1993 to meet a growing demand for a new group with a Coed beaver colony, 5th Tillsonburg Alliance expanded in 1994 with a Wolf Cub Pack and Scout Troop, and again in 1995 with a Venturer Company. It was a member of Scouts CanadaScouts CanadaScouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
until 2002 when its Parent Committee unanimously elected to not renew its charter and join the Baden-Powell ScoutsBaden-Powell ScoutsThe Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is a youth organisation found in the United Kingdom, with affiliations in various countries. Baden-Powell Scouting focuses on the importance of tradition in the Scout movement...
instead. Now known as the 5th Tillsonburg Alliance BPSC, it offers a traditional scouting program to everyone beginning at age five with no upper age limit. Meetings are held at the Tillsonburg Alliance Church on Quarterline Road. It is the largest and newest scouting group in town, the first BPSC group in Southwestern Ontario, and was the first all-age BPSC group in Canada.