Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806,[2] making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average annual growth rate (2001–2006) of 6.6%. With a median age at 33.7, it is the youngest community in the GTA. Brampton was incorporated as a village in 1853, taking its name from the rural town of Brampton, Cumbria, England.

Brampton was once known as The Flowertown of Canada, a title it earned due to the city's large greenhouse industry. This included Dale's Flowers, a company that won many international rose awards for nearly half a century. Today, the city's major economic sectors include advanced manufacturing, retail administration and logistics, information and communication technologies, food and beverage, life sciences and business services. It houses the national headquarters of Loblaw Companies, HBC/Zellers, Bacardi, Brita and Clorox and other companies.

Culture

There are several cultural entities in the city under the umbrella of the Brampton Arts Council. These include Visual Arts Brampton, the Brampton Historical Society and the Brampton Symphony Orchestra. Also in the city is the Peel Heritage Complex, which is run by the Region of Peel.

The Rose Theatre (originally the Brampton Performing Arts Centre), billed as "a cultural and tourist destination that will attract significant new business to surrounding restaurants, shops and services", opened in September 2006. The City says that the facilities are expected to generate $2.7 million in economic activity the first year and grow to $19.8 million by the fifth year. Despite some cynicism, the Rose Theatre attracted over 137,000 patrons in its inaugural year, surpassing its original five-year goal. Since then, numerous new businesses have opened in the vicinity of the theatre and its Garden Square, where a new Fountain Stage was unveiled in June 2008.

Education

Brampton's only public higher education institution is Sheridan College, which also has a campus in Oakville. Founded in 1967, it is known for its animation and illustration courses, music theatre performance program, and craft and design program. Sheridan has the second largest school of Art and Design in North America.

In Brampton there are 2 main School District. One is the Peel District School Board and the other is Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Under the Peel District School Board there are: Bramalea Secondary School, BCSS, Central Peel Secondary School, Chinguacousy Seconday School, Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School, Harold M. Brathwaite Seconday School, Heart Lake Secondary School, Louise Arbour Secondary School, North Park Secondary School, North Peel Secondary School, Sandalwoood Heights Secondary School, and Turner Fenton Secondary School.

Under Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Cardinal Leger, Holy Name of Mary, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School (Brampton), St. Augustine High School, St. Edmund Campion Secondary School, St. Roch Secondary School, St. Marguerite d'Youville, and St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School.

Transportation

Local transit is provided by Brampton Transit, with connections to other systems such as Mississauga Transit, York Region Transit, and Toronto Transit Commission. Brampton is currently planning a new Bus Rapid Transit system, "Züm" (pronounced Zoom), previously known as AcceleRide along Main/Hurontario and Queen Streets, which would form the backbone to its bus network. Züm received funding from the provincial government in 2006 to begin implementation of this system. The fare is $3.00 for single adult transfer which is valid for 2 hours. There is GO Bus service to York University and subway stations at Yorkdale Mall and York Mills in Toronto.

Both Canadian National Railways and the Orangeville-Brampton Railway short line (formerly part of the Canadian Pacific Railway line) run through the city, CN's Intermodal Yards are located east of Airport Road between Steeles and the former Highway 7/Queen Street East. The CN Track from Toronto's Union Station, is the Georgetown GO Transit Rail Corridor providing commuter rail and bus services to and from Toronto with rail station stops at Bramalea, Downtown Brampton, and Mount Pleasant. VIA Rail connects through Brampton as part of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.