Oshawa: local rooms, events and more

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Metro area · Ontario · 415k people

Oshawa

Locals say Durham Region · “The 'Shwa”

Where the lake meets the assembly line.

Oshawa Generals RedAuto Industry Blue

Welcome to Durham Region! Whether you're here for a Generals game, a lakeshore stroll, or to explore our auto heritage, you'll find a friendly community with plenty of local pride. Kick back, enjoy a butter tart, and ask us about the best hidden trails.

Clubs for Oshawa

No clubs for Oshawa yet.

The room

Oshawa Quiet now Where the lake meets the assembly line.

One room for everyone around Oshawa. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Oshawa. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Parkwood Estate National Historic Site with mansion and gardens.
Canadian Automotive Museum Cars and local auto industry history.
Tribute Communities Centre Home of the Oshawa Generals and major concerts.
Ontario Tech University Modern university with a growing campus.
Lakeview Park Lakeshore park with beach, rose garden, and trails.
Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden Free public gardens with themed displays.

Outdoors Walk or bike the Waterfront Trail
Outdoors Hike in Durham Regional Forest
With kids Visit the Canadian Automotive Museum
With kids Catch an Oshawa Generals game
Evenings Live music at local pubs
Evenings Comedy nights
Locals love Lakeshore parks
Locals love Conservation areas

Through the year

Oshawa Art in the Park July Annual outdoor art show and sale in Memorial Park, July.
Oshawa Fall Fair September Agricultural fair with midway, animals, and local exhibits, September.
Whitby Harbour Day August Family festival at the harbour with music, food, and boat rides, August.
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Race Events Summer Major race weekends including the Grand Prix of Mosport, summer.
Oshawa Generals Playoff Games Spring OHL playoff hockey at Tribute Communities Centre, spring.

Four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Spring and fall are pleasant but variable. Best: Summer is the best time to be out—warm and sunny.

Talk like a local

“the 'Shwa”: Nickname for Oshawa
“the lake”: Lake Ontario
“the 401”: Highway 401
“the Gens”: The Oshawa Generals hockey team

Getaways

Port Hope Charming small town with heritage downtown and Ganaraska River.
Toronto Big city attractions, sports, and culture.
Kawartha Lakes Cottage country with lakes and trails.
Cobourg Beach town with a long sandy shore and Victorian downtown.

Local flavour

Teams

Oshawa Generals OHL
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks U Sports

Also rooting for Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

Eat and drink

Poutine A Canadian staple, widely available in local chip trucks and diners.
Butter tarts A classic Ontario treat, found at local bakeries and farmers' markets.
Souvlaki

Where people go

Auto assembly plants Historic GM facilities, now partly redeveloped, are landmarks of the city's industrial past.
Lakeshore parks Lakeview Park and the waterfront trail are popular for walks and picnics.
Hockey arenas Community rinks and the Tribute Communities Centre are gathering spots.
Durham Region forests The Oak Ridges Moraine and local conservation areas offer hiking and nature.

Heritage and traditions

Oshawa and Durham Region take pride in their rich automotive heritage, the legacy of the McLaughlin family, and a strong sense of community with diverse cultural traditions.

This time of year in Oshawa

Apple picking at local orchards Fall Fall tradition in Clarington and surrounding areas.

Say it like a local: “Sorry” — The standard Canadian apology, often used casually.

Festivals

Bowmanville Old Boys Reunion July A beloved summer fair with a parade, midway, and community spirit.
Oshawa Ukrainian Festival June Celebrates Ukrainian heritage with food, dance, and music.
Whitby Dragon Boat Festival July Races at Whitby Harbour with a festive lakeside atmosphere.
Oshawa Jazz and Blues Festival July Local and national acts perform in parks and venues.
Clarington Applefest September Harvest celebration in Bowmanville with apple treats and crafts.
Whitby Ribfest August Barbecue competition and family fun at the harbour.

Landmarks with a story

Oshawa Museum (Guy House) A historic house museum telling the story of Oshawa's early days.
Whitby Courthouse Now the Whitby Public Library, this 19th-century building is a civic landmark.
St. George's Anglican Church One of Oshawa's oldest churches, with beautiful stained glass.
Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection A spiritual and cultural centre for the Ukrainian community.
Bowmanville Museum Housed in a former jail, it preserves the town's heritage.
Lynde House Museum An 1800s home in Whitby, now a museum with period rooms.

Food traditions

Perogy suppers at Ukrainian churches A Lenten tradition where the community gathers for handmade perogies.
Cabbage rolls and borscht Ukrainian comfort food served at festivals and family gatherings.
Fish and chips on Fridays A British working-class tradition still enjoyed at local pubs.

Music and arts

Robert McLaughlin Gallery The largest public art gallery in Durham Region, showcasing Canadian art.
Oshawa Little Theatre Community theatre productions with local talent.
Oshawa Symphony Orchestra Performs classical and pops concerts throughout the year.
Oshawa Folk Arts Council Promotes multicultural dance, music, and crafts.

A little history

19th century Founding as a carriage-making centre
Late 1800s–early 1900s McLaughlin family establishes carriage and automobile manufacturing
1918 General Motors of Canada is established in Oshawa
1937 The 1937 GM strike, a pivotal moment in Canadian labour history
World War II Wartime production of military vehicles and munitions

Rivalries

Oshawa Generals vs. Peterborough Petes Long-standing OHL rivalry.

Game day Oshawa Generals games
Game day Minor hockey tournaments
Outdoors Cross-country skiing in Durham Regional Forest
Outdoors Snowshoeing along the waterfront
With kids Children's programs at the Oshawa Museum
With kids Saturday trips to the Oshawa Farmers' Market

People in Oshawa speak with a typical Canadian accent, using 'eh' and 'sorry' liberally. They say 'pop' for soda and 'washroom' for restroom, and often pronounce 'about' as 'aboot' in a soft way.

Only here

The GM plant is the largest in Canada, earning Oshawa the nickname 'Motor City.'
The Oshawa Generals are one of the oldest junior hockey teams in the world.
The name 'Oshawa' comes from the Ojibwa word for 'crossing place.'
Parkwood Estate is a National Historic Site with stunning gardens.

New here? A few tips

Winter is long and cold; invest in a good parka, boots, and a toque.
A car is almost essential; public transit is limited outside the core.
Try the Ukrainian food—perogies and cabbage rolls are local favourites.
Visit the Canadian Automotive Museum to understand the city's heart.
Learn to say 'eh'—you'll fit right in.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Nearby

Every area

North DurhamOntarioLake days and long country lanes.Port HopeOntarioHistoric charm by the Ganaraska TorontoOntarioA world within a city, where every culture finds a home.Kawartha LakesOntarioWhere every lake has a story and every sunset is a postcard.CobourgOntarioSmall-town charm on the big lake.PeterboroughOntarioWhere every road leads to water BarrieOntarioThe Bay City: a city that hugs the bay NiagaraOntarioWhere the falls thunder and the vines grow.

Oshawa. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.