Ontario

== Culture ==
{{See also|Category:Works about Ontario|Hollywood North|4=Southern Ontario Gothic|5=Northern Ontario#Culture|6=Franco-Ontarians#Culture}}

Outdoor recreation is popular in Ontario and the region is home to numerous cultural events and festivals. There is no single regional dish in Ontario. Local fish and wild game, such as [[walleye]] and [[moose]], are sometimes consumed. Poutine, a dish that originated in Quebec, is also popular in Ontario.

In 2019, the government of Ontario passed legislation that established the [[Poet Laureate of Ontario]].<ref name="CBCnews">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gord-downie-poet-laureate-position-1.5392988|title='His legend lives on': Ontario to get poet laureate in memory of Gord Downie|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=December 12, 2019|access-date=December 13, 2019|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212231458/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gord-downie-poet-laureate-position-1.5392988|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Museums ===
{{Main|List of museums in Ontario}}
[[File:Royal Ontario Museum in Fall 2021.jpg|thumb|Royal Ontario Museum in fall of 2021]]
The largest museum in both Ontario and Canada is the [[Royal Ontario Museum]], located in Toronto and founded in 1912. Receiving over one million visitors each year, it is also Canada's most popular museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Ontario Museum {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-ontario-museum |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223170143/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-ontario-museum |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ROM Announces Record-Breaking 1.35 Million Visitors Annual Attendance |url=https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/rom-announces-record-breaking-135-million-visitors-annual |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Royal Ontario Museum |language=en |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828170324/https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/rom-announces-record-breaking-135-million-visitors-annual |url-status=live }}</ref> It features 40 exhibits containing "art, culture and nature from around the world."<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Museum |url=https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/rom |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Royal Ontario Museum |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503090455/https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/rom |url-status=live }}</ref> Iconic objects include: the world's largest faceted [[cerussite]] gem, [[Light of the Desert]]; four large totem poles, [[Nisga'a and Haida Crest Poles of the Royal Ontario Museum|Nisga'a and Haida]]; and a [[Neo-Babylonian]] wall relief, [[Striding Lion]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iconic Objects: The Must-See Treasures of the ROM |url=https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/iconic-objects-the-must-see-treasures-of-the-rom |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Royal Ontario Museum |language=en |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221072318/https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/iconic-objects-the-must-see-treasures-of-the-rom |url-status=live }}</ref> Ontario is also home to a number of national museums, due to the location of [[Ottawa]]. These include, among others, the [[Canadian War Museum]], dedicated to [[Military history of Canada|Canada's military history]], the [[Canadian Museum of Nature]], dedicated to [[natural history]] and the [[Canada Science and Technology Museum]], dedicated to the [[Technological and industrial history of Canada|history of science and technology in Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=15 top museums in Canada {{!}} Destination Canada |url=https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-ca/things-to-do/learning-coast-coast-15-best-canadian-museums |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=travel.destinationcanada.com |date=February 19, 2016 |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825062913/https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-ca/things-to-do/learning-coast-coast-15-best-canadian-museums |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-29 |title=Ottawa's seven national museums |url=https://ottawatourism.ca/en/ottawa-insider/ottawa-s-seven-national-museums |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Ottawa Tourism |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502212124/https://ottawatourism.ca/en/ottawa-insider/ottawa-s-seven-national-museums |url-status=live }}</ref> There are also numerous other smaller, regional museums located in Ontario.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional Museum Networks {{!}} Ontario Museum Association |url=https://members.museumsontario.ca/programs-events/advocacy/regional-museum-networks |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=members.museumsontario.ca |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531104525/https://members.museumsontario.ca/programs-events/advocacy/regional-museum-networks |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Music and arts ===
{{See also|Music of Ontario|Canadian art}}
[[File:The Tragically Hip Star on Canada's Walk of Fame.jpg|thumb|[[The Tragically Hip]] star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto]]
Ontario has a particularly prominent role in [[Music of Canada|Canadian music]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Industry Profile - Music |url=https://www.ontariocreates.ca/research/industry-profile/ip-music |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Ontario Creates |language=en}}</ref> The provincial capital city of [[Toronto]], Canada's largest municipality,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Canada |first1=Government of Canada, Statistics |title=Census in Brief: Municipalities in Canada with the largest and fastest-growing populations between 2011 and 2016 |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/98-200-x/2016001/98-200-x2016001-eng.cfm |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |date=February 8, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> is home to much of the English Canadian music industry and many individual musicians, and the most popular destination for musicians from other parts of Canada, besides [[French-Canadian]] musicians, looking to advance their careers.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} In classical music, the [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]],<ref name="sym">{{cite web |title=Toronto Symphony Orchestra |url=https://www.tso.ca/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=tso.ca}}</ref> and the [[National Arts Centre Orchestra]]<ref>{{cite web |title=NAC Orchestra |url=https://nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=nac-cna.ca |language=en}}</ref> are renowned internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orchestras {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/orchestras-emc |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref> Many smaller Ontario cities have orchestras of their own as well. The [[Canadian Opera Company]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Opera Company |url=http://www.coc.ca/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=www.coc.ca |language=en}}</ref> also based in Toronto, is the country's largest and most influential producer of opera productions. Other institutions in the province include the [[Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada)|Royal Conservatory of Music]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The Royal Conservatory of Music {{!}} The finest instrument is the mind.® |url=https://www.rcmusic.ca/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=www.rcmusic.ca |language=en}}</ref> [[MuchMusic]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Much.com {{!}} Watch Shows Online |url=http://www.much.com/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=Much.com}}</ref> [[National Ballet of Canada]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The National Ballet of Canada |url=https://national.ballet.ca/Meet/About-National-Ballet |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=national.ballet.ca |language=en}}</ref> and concert venues such as [[Roy Thomson Hall]],<ref name="roy">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.masseyhallandroythomsonhall.com/about/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall}}</ref> [[Massey Hall]],<ref name="roy" /> the [[National Arts Centre (building)|National Arts Centre]],<ref>{{cite web |title=National Arts Centre {{!}} Canada is our stage |url=https://nac-cna.ca/en/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |website=nac-cna.ca |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Four Seasons Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts {{!}} Canadian Opera Company |url=https://www.coc.ca/venue-information/fourseasonscentre |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.coc.ca}}</ref>

=== Media ===
{{As of|2022}}, Ontario has 357 newspapers, 32 of which are [[Daily newspaper|daily]], the highest in any province.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snapshot 2022 Canada's Newspaper Industry |url=https://nmc-mic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SNAPSHOT-2022-REPORT_Total-Industry-03.31.2023.pdf |access-date=20 October 2023 |website=[[News Media Canada]]}}</ref> Ontario is home to the largest newspaper{{Efn|in weekly circulation}} in Canada, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://nmc-mic.ca/about-newspapers/faq/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=News Media Canada |language=en-US}}</ref> and Canada's [[newspaper of record]], [[The Globe and Mail]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Clement |first=Wallace |url=https://archive.org/details/understandingcan0000unse_e3q5/page/343 |title=Understanding Canada: Building on the New Canadian Political Economy |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |year=1996 |isbn=9780773515031 |page=[https://archive.org/details/understandingcan0000unse_e3q5/page/343 343]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2009-01-11 |title=Globe and Mail to cut jobs |newspaper=[[Straits Times]] |location=Singapore |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Money/Story/STIStory_324744.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130083617/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Money/Story/STIStory_324744.html |archive-date=2009-01-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=June 2, 2009 |title=What's behind the shake up at 'Canada's newspaper of record'? |work=[[rabble.ca]] |url=http://www.rabble.ca/news/2009/06/shake-globe |url-status=live |access-date=2010-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013095321/http://rabble.ca/news/2009/06/shake-globe |archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=The Globe and Mail |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/235427/The-Globe-and-Mail |access-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425174541/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/235427/The-Globe-and-Mail |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |author=Brian Duignan |url-status=live}}</ref> Both are daily broadsheets based in Toronto.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} There are also numerous weekly newspapers for individual communities,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-03 |title=Brands - Metroland Media |url=https://metroland.com/brands/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |language=en-CA}}</ref> though print publications for these papers have been on a downwards trend due to local news being shared on sites like [[Facebook]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Decaire |first=Celeste |date=16 September 2023 |title=Small-town community papers take big hit after Metroland files for bankruptcy |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/weekly-print-papers-cancelled-across-ontario-1.6968892 |access-date=20 October 2023 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2023 |title=Not all small newspapers in southwestern Ontario are closing. One town just got a new one |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/local-newspaper-closures-southwestern-ontario-metroland-layoffs-1.6975180 |access-date=20 October 2023 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

=== Songs and slogans ===
[[File:1997 Ontario license plate CAJA♔723.jpg|thumb|An [[Vehicle registration plates of Ontario|Ontario licence plate]] with the slogan ''Yours to Discover'' at the bottom of the plate]]
In 1973, the first slogan to appear on [[Vehicle registration plates of Ontario|licence plates in Ontario]] was "Keep It Beautiful". This was replaced by "Yours to Discover" in 1982,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.15q.net/on.html |title=Ontario |publisher=15q.net |date=February 24, 2007 |access-date=May 6, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422161516/http://15q.net/on.html |archive-date=April 22, 2009 }}</ref> which was originally used as a tourism slogan beginning in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradburn |first=Jamie |date=April 5, 2019 |title=And you're gonna love it: How Ontario became 'Yours to Discover' |url=https://www.tvo.org/article/and-youre-gonna-love-it-how-ontario-became-yours-to-discover |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=www.tvo.org}}</ref> Plates with the French equivalent, {{lang|fr-CA|Tant à découvrir}}, were made available to the public beginning in May 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/frenchplate/frenchplate.shtml|title=New French Slogan Licence Plate for Passenger Vehicles|publisher=Government of Ontario|date=June 10, 2010|access-date=July 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728021257/http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/frenchplate/frenchplate.shtml|archive-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> (From 1988 to 1990,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontarioroadmaps.ca/Official_Ontario/Official_Maps_producedB.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808015042/http://www.ontarioroadmaps.ca/Official_Ontario/Official_Maps_producedB.htm|archive-date=August 8, 2007 |title=Official Ontario Road Maps Produced 1971–2006 |publisher=Ontarioroadmaps.ca |access-date=October 17, 2010}}</ref> "Ontario Incredible"<ref>{{cite journal |title=Measuring the Returns to Tourism Advertising |first1=David W. |last1=Butterfield |first2=Kenneth R. |last2=Deal |first3=Atif A. |last3=Kubursi |journal=Journal of Travel Research |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=12–20 |year=1998 |doi=10.1177/004728759803700102|s2cid=154905439 }}</ref> gave "Yours to Discover" a brief respite.) In 2020, as part of a licence plate redesign, the slogan was changed to "A Place to Grow," inspired by the song [[A Place to Stand, a Place to Grow]]. This decision was reversed in the same year, due to visibility concerns.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-09 |title='A Place to Grow': Ontario to scrap 'Yours to Discover' slogan on licence plates |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-a-place-to-grow-ontario-to-scrap-yours-to-discover-slogan-on/ |access-date=2023-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2020 |title=Ford government's blue licence plates officially scrapped, 'Yours to Discover' is back |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/blue-licence-plates-scrapped-1.5557952 |access-date=October 25, 2023 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> The slogan on licence plates remains "Yours to Discover".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Renew your licence plate {{!}} ontario.ca |url=http://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-your-licence-plate |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=www.ontario.ca |language=en}}</ref>

[[A Place to Stand, a Place to Grow]] is a song commissioned by the government of Ontario for its pavilion in [[Expo 67]], and an unofficial anthem of the province.<ref name="aplaceto">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/16/ontarios-catchy-a-place-to-stand-theme-grows-up.html|title=Ontario's catchy 'A place to stand' theme grows up|last=Hong|first=Jackie|work=The Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|access-date=September 29, 2020|date=September 16, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011050739/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/16/ontarios-catchy-a-place-to-stand-theme-grows-up.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As a part of the [[Canada 150]] celebrations in 2017, the provincial government released an updated rendition.<ref name="aplaceto" /> In 2007, the provincial tourism agency commissioned a new song, "There's No Place Like This" is featured in [[television advertisement|television advertising]], performed by Ontario artists including [[Molly Johnson]], [[Brian Byrne]], [[Keshia Chanté]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontariotravel.net/TcisCtrl?site=consumers&key1=home&language=EN&modus=otsplmen01 |title=There's more to discover in Ontario |publisher=Ontariotravel.net |access-date=October 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610042246/http://www.ontariotravel.net/TcisCtrl?site=consumers&key1=home&language=EN&modus=otsplmen01 |archive-date=June 10, 2008}}{{better source needed|date=February 2014}}</ref> as well as [[Tomi Swick]] and [[Arkells]].

=== Professional sports ===
{{main|List of professional sports teams in Ontario}}

The province has professional sports teams in [[baseball]], [[basketball]], [[Canadian football]], [[ice hockey]], [[lacrosse]], [[rugby league]], [[rugby union]] and [[Association football|soccer]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:1em; clear:right; text-align:left; line-height:normal;"
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!City
!Stadium

|-
|[[Atlético Ottawa]]
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|[[Canadian Premier League|CPL]]
|[[Ottawa]]
|[[TD Place Stadium]]
|-
|[[Belleville Senators]]
|[[Ice hockey]]
|[[American Hockey League|AHL]]
|[[Belleville, Ontario|Belleville]]
|[[CAA Arena]]
|-
|[[Forge FC]]
|Soccer
|CPL
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
|[[Tim Hortons Field]]
|-
|[[Guelph Nighthawks]]
|[[Basketball]]
|[[Canadian Elite Basketball League|CEBL]]
|Guelph
|[[Sleeman Centre (Guelph)|Sleeman Centre]]
|-
|[[Hamilton Honey Badgers]]
|Basketball
|CEBL
|Hamilton
|[[FirstOntario Centre]]
|-
|[[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
|[[Canadian football|Football]]
|[[Canadian Football League|CFL]]
|Hamilton
|Tim Hortons Field
|-
|[[KW Titans]]
|Basketball
|[[National Basketball League of Canada|NBLC]]
| [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]]
| [[Kitchener Memorial Auditorium]]
|-
|[[London Lightning]]
|Basketball
| NBLC
| [[London, Ontario|London]]
| [[Budweiser Gardens]]
|-
|[[Niagara River Lions]]
|Basketball
| CEBL
| [[St. Catharines]]
| [[Meridian Centre]]
|-
|[[Ottawa Blackjacks]]
|Basketball
| CEBL
| Ottawa
| [[TD Place Arena]]
|-
|[[Ottawa Redblacks]]
|Football
|CFL
|Ottawa
|TD Place Stadium
|-
|[[Ottawa Senators]]
|Ice hockey
|[[National Hockey League|NHL]]
|Ottawa
|[[Canadian Tire Centre]]
|-
|[[Ottawa Titans]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[Frontier League|FL]]
|Ottawa
|[[Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park]]
|-
|[[PWHL Toronto]]
|Ice Hockey
|[[Professional Women's Hockey League|PWHL]]
|Toronto
|[[Mattamy Athletic Centre]]
|-
|[[Raptors 905]]
| Basketball
| [[NBA G League|G League]]
|[[Mississauga]]
| [[Paramount Fine Foods Centre]]
|-
|[[Sudbury Five]]
| Basketball
| NBLC
| [[Greater Sudbury]]
| [[Sudbury Community Arena]]
|-
|[[Toronto Argonauts]]
|Football
|CFL
|[[Toronto]]
|[[BMO Field]]
|-
|[[Toronto Arrows]]
|[[Rugby union]]
|[[Major League Rugby|MLR]]
|Toronto
|[[York Lions Stadium]]
|-
|[[Toronto Blue Jays]]
|Baseball
|[[Major League Baseball|MLB]]
|Toronto
|[[Rogers Centre]]
|-
|[[Toronto FC]]
|Soccer
|[[Major League Soccer|MLS]]
|Toronto
|BMO Field
|-
|[[Toronto FC II]]
| Soccer
| USL
| Toronto
| Lamport Stadium
|-
|[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
|Ice hockey
|NHL
|Toronto
|[[Scotiabank Arena]]
|-
|[[Toronto Marlies]]
|Ice hockey
|AHL
|Toronto
|[[Coca-Cola Coliseum]]
|-
|[[Toronto Raptors]]
|Basketball
|[[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
|Toronto
|Scotiabank Arena
|-
|[[Toronto Rock]]
|[[Lacrosse]]
|[[National Lacrosse League|NLL]]
|Hamilton
|FirstOntario Centre
|-
|[[Toronto Wolfpack]]
|[[Rugby league]]
|[[North American Rugby League|NARL]]
|Toronto
|Lamport Stadium
|-
|[[Windsor Express]]
|Basketball
|NBLC
| [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]]
| [[WFCU Centre]]
|-
|[[York United FC]]
|Soccer
|CPL
|Toronto
|[[York Lions Stadium]]
|}

=== Notable residents ===
{{Main|List of people from Ontario}}