Oshawa City Overview
(Go to the Oshawa Sport Hotels Section)

In the early 18th century Indians of the Mississauga Tribe began trading furs with the French and later the English. At the spot where the Oshawa Harbour is now located, they loaded their furs into canoes and paddled along the shore of Lake Ontario to the trading post at the mouth of the Credit River. This fur trade became so important that the French established a trading post near the mouth of the Oshawa Creek around the year 1750. Thus began the economic history of exporting products from the region now known as the City of Oshawa.

In the late 1790's, Roger Conant, based out of the Village of Oshawa, pursued the fur trade and later the packing business, shipping salmon to the United States. The success of this business contributed toward paving the way for the coming from the United States of other United Empire Loyalists who made their contribution to the beginning of this pioneer community. Among those who came in this initial wave were two skilled mechanics named Beagle and Conklin who became the area's first manufacturers. They made spinning wheels and hand looms, plus other equipment for house and farm.

As immigration to the area continued to build, local mills which had taken advantage of the abundant water power were frequented by farmers from the surrounding countryside. Thus, the need for other services arose. Hotels and inns were erected. Soon other services were added, including stores, churches, a tannery, an additional grist mill, a woolen mill, two distilleries and an ashery. In 1840, the first pier and breakwater at what is now Oshawa Harbour was constructed by the Sydenham Harbour Company.

In 1842, the inhabitants of the area applied to the Government for the establishment of a post office in the settlement. The application was granted but a name had to be chosen for the post office. After several meetings, the consensus was that the name Sydenham, by which the wharf was known, would be acceptable. Two visiting Indians were asked for their opinion of this name. They suggested the Indian name "Oshawa", the literal translation of which is "that point at the crossing of the stream where the canoe was exchanged for the trail". This suggestion was immediately accepted. In 1850, Oshawa was incorporated as a village with a population of approximately 2,000. In January of 1879, Oshawa's status was changed from a village to a town; at this time, Oshawa's population was 3,992.

Today, with a population of some 146,000, the City of Oshawa is ideally situated at the eastern end of what has become known as the Greater Toronto Area, Canada's "Engine of Growth". The City is serviced by the main lines of the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways. Oshawa has excellent harbour facilities (still slated for further expansion) and the Oshawa Municipal Airport provides convenient access to North America for businesses and commuters. Due largely to the General Motors operations, Oshawa ranks high in Canada as a customs port-of-entry. Under the careful guidance of recent City Councils, Oshawa is realizing the rebirth of its downtown core at the original site of Skae's Corners and has developed into a modern city with a balance of residential, commercial, industrial, social and recreational facilities.

Oshawa Ontario has great opportunities for sport tournaments of all kinds. Sport tourism is a part of Oshawa Ontario and it features a wide variety of sport tournament opportunities.