Studytour 2012

 

London

Mike van Gils
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Figure 1: Skyline London Ontario

Everyone knows the UK version of London, situated at the bank of the Thames River and home to the Britain royal family. However, the Canadian version is not to be neglected. London is the seat of Middlesex County in the Province of Ontario with around 0.5 million people living in its metropolitan area. The city has developed a strong focus towards education, health care, tourism, and manufacturing.


History

London is relatively young city, as it was first settled in 1801, became a acknowledged village in 1826 and was incorporated as city in 1855 as it reached a population of >10.000 residents. It became a city while surrounded by forest and therefore readily nicknamed ‘The Forest City’. Just like the ‘original’ London after which it was named, it is situated at the bank of the Thames River. In a famous speech of the town major in 1901, three major events were given to explain the development of London. They were: the location of the court and administration in London in 1826, the arrival of the military garrison in 1838, and the arrival of the railway in 1853.

During the interwar period from 1918 to 1939, the city continued to grow steadily, although it was badly affected by the Great Depression. Several large buildings were constructed in this period , but since the end of World War II, London has experienced a growth unprecedented in its history. With the major annexation of 1961, which added 60,000 people to the city, London had grown close to a quarter of a million people in 1976, the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its founding. Major physical changes in London's appearance have occurred. In the old city core, many of the landmarks of the past have gone to be replaced by modern developments. Recent planning decisions have, however, been carefully made to ensure that the character and integrity of the old city is maintained, something which can only result in enhancing the urban environment and in making London a pleasant place for its present and future citizens.

 

Climate

London has a humid continental climate though due to its windward location relative to Lake Huron it is virtually on the hot summer boundary. Because of its location in the continent and its proximity to the Great Lakes, London experiences large seasonal contrast. The summers are usually warm to hot and humid, with a July average of 20.5 °C and highs may rise above 30 °C on an average 8 days per year. The city is affected by thunderstorms more than any other major city in Canada, due to the convergence of breezes originating from Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Its winter snowfall totals are heavy, averaging slightly over 200 centimeters per year. The majority of it comes from lake effect snow and snow squalls originating from Lake Huron, some 60 kilometers to the northwest, which occurs when strong, cold winds blow from that direction.

 

Education

 

 

London public elementary and secondary schools are governed by four school boards – the Thames Valley District School Board, the London District Catholic School Board and the French first language school boards (le Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Oest and le Conseil scolaire de district des écoles catholiques du Sud-Ouest). There are also over twenty private schools in the city.

The city is home to two post-secondary institutions: the University of Western Ontario (UWO) and Fanshawe College, a college of applied arts and technology. The UWO, founded in 1878, has about 3500 full time faculty and staff members and almost 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It placed tenth in the 2008 Macleans magazine rankings of Canadian universities and adds about $1.5 billion to the London economy annually.  UWO has three affiliated colleges: Brescia University College, founded in 1919 (Canada's only university-level women's college), Huron University College, founded in 1863 (also the founding college of UWO) and King's University College, founded in 1954. All three are liberal arts colleges with religious affiliations: Huron with the Anglican Church of Canada, King's and Brescia with the Roman Catholic Church. Fanshawe College has an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students, including 3,500 apprentices and over 500 international students from over 30 countries. It also has almost 40,000 students in part-time continuing education courses.

 

 

 

Figure 2: Middlesex Memorial Tower, University College UWO

 

Industry

London's economy is dominated by medical research, locomotive production, insurance, and information technology. The London Life Insurance Company was founded there, and Electro-Motive Diesels, Inc. (formerly General Motors' Electro-Motive Division) now builds most of its locomotives in London. The headquarters of the Canadian division of 3M are located in London, and both the Labatt and Carling breweries were founded there. Also Kellogg's Canada's 106,000 m2 London plant is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in the Kellogg Company. A portion of the city's population work in factories outside of the city limits, including Ford and the General Motors automotive plant CAMI, and a Toyota plant in Woodstock.

 

Culture

The city is home to many festivals, including Sunfest, the Home County Folk Festival, the London Fringe Theatre Festival, the Expressions in Chalk Street Painting Festival, Rock the Park, Western Fair, the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) and The International Food Festival. The London Rib-Fest, where barbecue ribs are cooked and served, is the second largest barbecue rib festival in North America. Pride London Festival is one of the biggest Pride festivals in Ontario. Sunfest, a World music festival, is the second biggest in Canada after Caribana in Toronto, and is among the top 100 summer destinations in North America. Musically, London is home to Orchestra London, the London Youth Symphony, noise music pioneers the Nihilist Spasm Band, and the Amabile Choirs of London, Canada.

 

Transport

Within London, the lack of a municipal freeway (either through or around the city) as well as the presence of two significant railways (each with attendant switching yards and few over/under-passes) contributes heavily to rush hour congestion. Also contributing is that bus service is currently the only mode of public transit available to the public in London, with no ground light rail or rapid transit networks like those used in other Canadian cities. Recently, London has constructed cycle ways along some of its major arteries in order to encourage a reduction in automobile use.


Niagara Falls

Mike van Gils
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Figure 1: Niagara Falls

Probably 99.99% of the Dutch population is familiar with the Niagara Falls, located on the border between the USA and Canada. The Niagara Falls is a set of two major waterfalls which were formed during the last ice age as the water from the Great Lakes flowed (and still flows, though form Lake Erie) via the falls to the ocean. The falls aren’t exceptionally high, but very wide as almost 450.000 m3 flows over the edge per minute on average. The names of the falls are Horseshoe Falls (Canadian) and the American Falls (USA) and a situation sketch, including a panoramic view of the falls are shown in the figures 2 and 3. The Horseshoe falls are the largest, accounting for 90% of the water flow.

Figure 2: Map of the Niagara Falls

Figure 3: Panorama view of Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial (tourism), and industrial (power) uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century. Since 1950, the Niagara Board of Control (IJC), the water diversion of the falls is regulated. This means there is active control on the water flow of the two falls. Upstream from the Horseshoe Falls lies a weir with movable gates, which allows the flow to be reduced during night and winter when few tourists are around. Some of the flow is diverted to hydroelectric facilities, generating in total 4,4 GW of power. This flow is limited to half the flow from April to November, and 75% during other times.

 

Toronto

Mike van Gils
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Figure 1: Skyline 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. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous city in North America. Its metropolitan area with over 5 million residents is the seventh largest urban region in North America. Toronto is at the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and is part of a densely populated region in Southern Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe, which is home to over 8.1 million residents—approximately 25% of Canada's population.


History

Before 1800

When Europeans first arrived at the site of present-day Toronto, the vicinity was inhabited by the Huron tribes, who by then had displaced the Iroquois tribes that had occupied the region for centuries before 1500. The name Toronto is likely derived from the Iroquois word tkaronto, meaning "place where trees stand in the water". It refers to the northern end of what is now Lake Simcoe, where the Huron had planted tree saplings to corral fish.

French traders founded Fort Rouillé on the current Exhibition grounds in 1750, but abandoned it in 1759. During the American Revolutionary War, the region saw an influx of British settlers as United Empire Loyalists fled for the unsettled lands north of Lake Ontario. In 1787, the British negotiated the Toronto Purchase with the Mississaugas of New Credit, thereby securing more than a quarter million acres (1000 km2) of land in the Toronto area.


1800–1945

In 1813, as part of the War of 1812, the Battle of York ended in the town's capture and plunder by American forces. The surrender of the town was negotiated by John Strachan. American soldiers destroyed much of Fort York and set fire to the parliament buildings during their five-day occupation. The sacking of York was a primary motivation for the Burning of Washington by British troops later in the war. York was incorporated as the City of Toronto on March 6, 1834, reverting to its original native name. The population of only 9,000 included escaped African American slaves. Slavery was banned outright in Upper Canada in 1834. Reformist politician William Lyon Mackenzie became the first Mayor of Toronto.

In the 19th century, an extensive sewage system was built, and streets became illuminated with gas lighting as a regular service. Long-distance railway lines were constructed, including a route completed in 1854 linking Toronto with the Upper Great Lakes. The Grand Trunk Railway and the Northern Railway of Canada joined in the building of the first Union Station in downtown. The advent of the railway dramatically increased the numbers of immigrants arriving, commerce and industry, as had the Lake Ontario steamers and schooners entering port before. This enabled Toronto to become a major gateway linking the world to the interior of the North American continent.

The city received new immigrant groups beginning in the late 19th century into early 20th century. Despite its fast paced growth, by the 1920s, Toronto's population and economic importance in Canada remained second to the much longer established Montreal. However, by 1934, the Toronto Stock Exchange had become the largest in the country.


Since 1945

Following the Second World War refugees from war-torn Europe and Chinese job-seekers arrived, as well as construction laborers, particularly from Italy and Portugal. Following elimination of racially based immigration policies by the late 1960s, immigration began from all parts of the world. Toronto's population grew to more than one million in 1951 when large-scale suburbanization began, and doubled to two million by 1971. By the 1980s, Toronto had surpassed Montreal as Canada's most populous city and the chief economic hub. During this time, in part owing to the political uncertainty raised by the resurgence of the Quebec sovereignty movement, many national and multinational corporations moved their head offices from Montreal to Toronto and other western Canadian cities.


Climate

Toronto's climate is moderate for Canada owing to its southerly location within the country. It has a humid continental climate, with warm, humid summers and cold winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons, with considerable variance in day to day temperature, particularly during the colder weather season. Owing to urbanization and its proximity to water, Toronto has a fairly low diurnal temperature range (day-night temperature difference).

Toronto winters sometimes feature short cold snaps where maximum temperatures remain below −10 °C, often made to feel colder by wind chill. Snowstorms, sometimes mixed with ice and rain can disrupt work and travel schedules, accumulating snow can fall any time from November until mid-April.

Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but summer is usually the wettest season, the bulk falling during thunderstorms. There can be periods of dry weather, but drought-like conditions are rare. The average yearly precipitation is about 830 mm, with an average annual snowfall of about 133 cm.

 

Culture

Toronto is a major scene for theatre and other performing arts, with more than fifty ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, two symphony orchestras and a host of theatres. The city is home to the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Electronic Ensemble, and the Canadian Stage Company. Notable performance venues include the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Roy Thomson Hall, the Princess of Wales Theatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Massey Hall, the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres and the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (originally the "O'Keefe Centre" and formerly the "Hummingbird Centre").

Ontario Place features the world's first permanent IMAX movie theatre, the Cinesphere, as well as the Molson Amphitheatre, an open-air venue for large-scale music concerts. Each summer, the Canadian Stage Company presents an outdoor Shakespeare production in Toronto's High Park called "Dream in High Park". Canada's Walk of Fame acknowledges the achievements of successful Canadians, with a series of stars on designated blocks of sidewalks along King Street and Simcoe Street.

The Distillery District is a pedestrian village containing boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, artist studios and small breweries, including the well-known Mill Street Brewery. A new theatre in the district, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, is the home of the Soulpepper Theatre Company and the drama productions of nearby George Brown College.

Toronto's most prominent landmark is the CN Tower, which once stood as the tallest free-standing land structure in the world at 553 meters. To the surprise of its creators, the tower held the world record for over 30 years.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a major museum for world culture and natural history. The Toronto Zoo, one of the largest in the world, is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 460 distinct species. The Art Gallery of Ontario contains a large collection of Canadian, European, African and contemporary artwork, and also plays host to exhibits from museums and galleries all over the world. The Gardiner Museum of ceramic art is the only museum in Canada entirely devoted to ceramics, and the Museum's collection contains more than 2,900 ceramic works from Asia, the Americas, and Europe.


Figure 2: The Royal Ontario Museum

The Yorkville neighbourhood is one of Toronto's most elegant shopping and dining areas. On many occasions, celebrities from all over North America can be spotted in the area, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival. The Distillery District, Queen West, Harbourfront, the Entertainment District, the Financial District, and the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood are also popular areas for tourists. The Eaton Centre is one of North America's top shopping destinations, and Toronto's most popular tourist attraction with over 52 million visitors annually.

Greektown on the Danforth, is another one of the major attractions of Toronto which boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per kilometer in the world. It is also home to the annual "Taste of the Danforth" festival which attracts over one million people in 2½ days.


Industry

Toronto is a major international center for business and finance. Generally considered the financial capital of Canada, Toronto has a high concentration of banks and brokerage firms on Bay Street, in the Financial District. The Toronto Stock Exchange is the world's seventh-largest stock exchange by market capitalization. All the Big Five banks of Canada are headquartered in Toronto, as are a majority of Canada's corporations.

The city is an important center for the media, publishing, telecommunication, information technology and film production industries; it is home to Bell Media, Rogers Communications, and Torstar. Other prominent Canadian corporations in the Greater Toronto Area include Magna International, Celestica, Manulife Financial, Sun Life Financial, the Hudson's Bay Company, and major hotel companies and operators, such as Four Seasons Hotels and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Although much of the region's manufacturing activities take place outside the city limits, Toronto continues to be an important wholesale and distribution point for the industrial sector. The city's strategic position along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor and its extensive road and rail connections help support the nearby production of motor vehicles, iron, steel, food, machinery, chemicals and paper. The completion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959 gave ships access to the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean.


Facts

Toronto became the largest alcohol distillation (in particular spirits) center in North America; the Gooderham and Worts Distillery operations became the world's largest whiskey factory by the 1860s

The slums also called ‘The Ward’ are now the countries finance center

The low crime rate in Toronto has resulted in the city having a reputation as one of the safest major cities in North America

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the third largest public transit system in North America after the New York City Transit Authority, and the Mexico City Metro

Toronto is the 13 biggest city of the Americas

Toronto is home to Canada's largest gay community and welcomes visitors from all walks of life. Toronto’s Gay Village, or “The Village” as the locals call it, is a predominantly gay neighbourhood nestled amidst Toronto’s downtown core

The cost of living in Toronto was ranked highest in Canada in 2011

White Mountain National Forest

Mike van Gils
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Figure 1: White Mountain National Forest

The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is a federally-managed forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. It was established in 1918 as a result of the Weeks Act of 1911. This law provided 9 million dollars for the state to purchase land in the eastern United States. Land acquired via this law was to be exploited for timber and water power production. The lands were also to be preserved and therefore named National Forests. An important advantage of the forests was enhanced control and cooperation in fire control. The federal acquisition of land had already begun in 1914. The White Mountain National Forest has a total area of 3,175 km2, which is comparable to the size of Luxembourg. Most of the WMNF lies in New Hampshire; a small part (about 5% of the forest) lies in the neighboring state of Maine.

Figure 2: Map of White Mountain National Forest

While often casually referred to as a park, this is a National Forest, used not only for hiking, camping, and skiing, but for logging and other limited commercial purposes. The WMNF is the only National Forest located in either New Hampshire or Maine. Most of the major peaks over 4,000 feet high for peak-bagging in New Hampshire are located in the National Forest. Also over 160 km of the Appalachian Trail traverses the White Mountain National Forest. Six designated Federal Wilderness Areas exist within the Forest. These areas are protected from logging and commercial industries and are used solely for recreational and scientific purposes.

 

Because of its beauty, its proximity to major metropolitan areas, its 1,200 miles (1,900 km) of hiking trails, 23 campgrounds, and the presence of a large number of ski areas within or near its boundaries, the WMNF is one of the most visited outdoor recreation sites east of the Mississippi.

Detroit

Mike van Gils
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Figure 1: Skyline Detroit

Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. This major port city on the Detroit river, which is lying in the Midwestern United States, was founded by the French explorer, adventurer and nobleman Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac. The name is derived from the French word détroit, what means strait. It refers to its location on the river connecting Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Detroit is commonly known for the American automobile industry and has been an important source of popular music legacies, giving it the nicknames Motor City and Motown. In 2010, the city had a population of 713,777 and ranked as the 18th most populous city in the United States. At its peak in 1950, the city was the fifth-largest in the U.S.A., but has since seen a major shift in its population to the suburbs. Between 2000 and 2010, the city's population declined by 25%. The name Detroit sometimes refers to the Metro Detroit area, a sprawling region with a population of 4,296,250 for the Metropolitan Statistical Area, making it the U.S.A.'s eleventh-largest. The Detroit–Windsor area, a critical commercial link straddling the Canada–U.S. border, has a total population of about 5,700,000.


"Welcome to Detroit, The Renaissance City Founded 1701."

Detroit was founded in 1701 and was called Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit. France offered free land to attract families to Detroit, which grew to 800 people in 1765, making it the largest city between Montreal and New Orleans. In 1760, during the French and Indian War, the French surrendered the Fort to the British. The British were the first to name the city Detroit. At the American Civil War, the city was captured by the United States of America.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of the city's Gilded Age mansions and buildings arose. Detroit was referred to as the Paris of the West for its architecture, and for Washington Boulevard. Strategically located along the Great Lakes waterway, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. The city had grown steadily from the 1830s with the rise of shipping, shipbuilding, and manufacturing industries. In 1896, a thriving carriage trade prompted Henry Ford to build his first automobile. In 1903 Ford founded the Ford Motor Company. Ford's manufacturing and those of automotive pioneers William C. Durant, the Dodge brothers, Packard, and Walter Chrysler—reinforced Detroit's status as the world's automotive capital. Industry spurred growth during the first half of the 20th century as the city drew tens of thousands of new residents, particularly workers from the Southern United States, to become the United States' fourth largest. At the same time, tens of thousands of European immigrants located in the city. Social tensions also rose with the rapid pace of growth. The color blind promotion policies of the auto plants resulted in racial tensions that erupted into a full-scale riot in 1943. The Twelfth Street riot in 1967, as well as court-ordered busing accelerated white flight from the city. Commensurate with the shift of population and jobs to its suburbs, the city's tax base eroded. In the years following, Detroit's population fell from a peak of roughly 1.8 million in 1950 to less than half that number today. The gasoline crises of 1973 and 1979 impacted the U.S. auto industry as small cars from foreign makers made inroads. Renaissance has been a perennial buzzword among city leaders, reinforced by the construction of the Renaissance Center in the late 1970s. This complex of skyscrapers, designed as a city within a city, together with other developments, slowed and eventually began to reverse the trend of businesses leaving Downtown Detroit by the late 1990s. In the ensuing years the city began to receive a revival with much of it centered in the Downtown, Midtown, and New Center areas. One Detroit Center arose on the city skyline with three casinos and stadiums where constructed for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers. The city also saw the historic Book Cadillac Hotel and the Fort Shelby Hotel reopen for the first time in over 20 years. Nowadays the city's riverfront is the focus of much development.


Climate

Detroit and the rest of southeastern Michigan have a humid continental climate which is influenced by the Great Lakes. Winters are cold, with moderate snowfall and temperatures at night dropping below −17.8 °C around six times per year, while summers are warm to hot with temperatures exceeding 32.2 °C on 15 days.


Culture

Downtown Detroit is growing in its population of young professionals and retail is expanding. A number of luxury high rises have been built. The east river development plans include more luxury condominium developments. A desire to be closer to the urban scene has attracted young professionals to take up residence among the mansions of Grosse Pointe just outside the city. Detroit's proximity to Windsor, Ontario, provides for views and nightlife, along with Ontario's minimum drinking age of 19. A 2011 study by Walk Score recognized Detroit for its above average walkablity among large U.S. cities.

Live music has been a prominent feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s, bringing the city recognition under the nickname 'Motown'. The metropolitan area has many nationally prominent live music venues. Concerts hosted by Live Nation perform throughout the Detroit area. Large concerts are held at DTE Energy Music Theatre and The Palace of Auburn Hills.


Figure 2: Detroit Industry Murals, the frescoes by Diego Rivera. A series of twenty-seven panels depicting industry at the Ford Motor Company

Industry

Detroit and the surrounding region constitute a major manufacturing center, most notably as home to the 'Big Three' automobile companies, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The city is an important center for global trade with large international law firms having their offices in both Detroit and Windsor. Firms in the region pursue emerging technologies including biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and hydrogen fuel cell development. The city of Detroit has made efforts to lure the region's growth companies downtown with advantages such as a wireless Internet zone, business tax incentives, entertainment, an International Riverfront, and residential high rises.

The Detroit automakers and local manufacturing have made significant restructurings in response to market competition. General Motors has invested heavily in all fuel cell equipped vehicles, while Chrysler has focused research and development into biodiesel. The domestic automakers reported significant profits indicating the beginning of rebound along with an economic recovery for the Detroit area.


Education

Wayne State University is Detroit's largest institution of higher learning and Michigan's only urban research university. Approximately 33,000 students are enrolled in 12 schools and colleges, including the colleges of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy and allied health, and the law school. More than 350 major courses of study are offered; particularly strong programs are offered in the college of engineering and the school of fine and performing arts, which includes a nationally recognized drama program. Wayne State is one of 98 universities nationwide to be designated a Carnegie One Research University. The university's 203-acre campus forms part of downtown Detroit's cultural center along the Woodward Avenue corridor; nearby are the Detroit Institute of Arts, the main branch of the Detroit Public Library, and the Museum of African American History.

The University of Detroit-Mercy, a Roman Catholic institution run by the Jesuit order of priests for more than 125 years, enrolls more than 6,000 students in baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate programs in the arts and sciences; the university also administers schools of law and dentistry. Approximately one-third of its students are minorities, and the university has been called one of the most diverse and one of the best educational values in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report magazine. Marygrove College, located adjacent to the University of Detroit campus, is also affiliated with the Catholic Church.

The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit's Cultural Center is a private, four-year college that offers bachelor of fine arts degrees in animation and digital media, crafts, communication design, fine arts, industrial design, interior design, and photography. Colleges located in neighboring suburbs include Detroit College of Business in Dearborn, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, the Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan, Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, and Oakland University in Rochester. Greater Detroit has a wide selection of community colleges. Central Michigan University maintains centers throughout metropolitan Detroit. Additionally, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan are within a 40-minute drive to the west of the city; Michigan State University in East Lansing is about a 90-minute drive northwest.


‘Got to know’ Facts

The racial makeup of the city in 2010 was 82.7% Black, 10.6% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.0% other races, 2.2% two or more races.

Figure 3: Income per capita based on data from the 2000 US Census

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