Brantford

Brantford is named after Joseph Brant, an important Mohawk First Nations (Aboriginal) chief during the American Revolutionary War and later, who led his people in their first decades in Upper Canada. Many of his descendants, and other First Nations citizens, live on the nearby Reserve of Six Nations of the Grand River, 20 km from Brantford; it is the most populous reserve in Canada.

History

The Iroquoian-speaking Attawandaron, known in English as the Neutral Nation, lived in the Grand River valley area before the 17th century; their main village and seat of the chief, Kandoucho, was identified by 19th-century historians as having been located on the Grand River where present-day Brantford developed. This community, like the rest of their settlements, was destroyed when the Iroquois declared war in 1650 over the fur trade and exterminated the Neutral nation.
In 1784, Captain Joseph Brant and the Mohawk people of the Iroquois Confederacy left New York State for Canada. As a reward for their loyalty to the British Crown, they were given a large land grant, referred to as the Haldimand Tract, on the Grand River. The original Mohawk settlement was on the south edge of the present-day city at a location favourable for landing canoes. Brant's crossing (or fording) of the river gave the original name to the area: Brant's ford.
The area began to grow from a small settlement in the 1820s as the Hamilton and London Road was improved. By the 1830s, Brantford became a stop on the Underground Railroad. From the 1830s to the 1860s, several hundred people of African descent settled in the area around Murray Street, and in Cainsville. In Brantford, they established their own school and church, now known as the S.R. Drake Memorial Church. In 1846, it is estimated 2000 residents lived in the city's core while 5199 lived in the outlying rural areas.
By 1847, Europeans began to settle further up the river at a ford in the Grand River and named their village Brantford. The population increased after 1848 when river navigation to Brantford was opened and again in 1854 with the arrival of the railway to Brantford.
Because of the ease of navigation from new roads and the Grand River, several manufacturing companies could be found in the town by 1869.

By road

Brantford is on Highway 403 at Highway 24, 90 minutes from Toronto, 45 minutes from downtown Hamilton, accessible by several major roads. For downtown, exit at King George Rd./Fairview Dr.
From the west, Highway 403 comes from Woodstock.
Highway 24 comes south from Cambridge, and north from Simcoe.

By coach

Brantford Transit terminal is at 64 Darling St. in downtown Brantford.
Greyhound Canada has intercity service to Toronto, Hamilton, London, Windsor and other cities.
GO bus service between downtown Brantford and Aldershot GO Station in Burlington, stopping at McMaster University.
All Around Transportation operates a Paris–Brantford shuttle bus.

By train

Brantford station is just north of downtown Brantford. Via Rail has daily passenger trains on the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. Trains also stop at Union Station in Toronto.

By plane

Brantford Municipal Airport is west of the city. The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton is about 35 km east of Brantford. Toronto Pearson International Airport is in Mississauga, about 100 km northeast of Brantford.

• Brantford Transit

  phone: +1 519-753-3847
  9 regular routes operating on a half-hour schedule from the downtown Transit Terminal on Darling Street, with additional school service.

• City Taxi

  phone: +1 519-759-7800

• Brant Taxi

  phone: +1 519-752-1010

• Bell City Cabs

  phone: +1 519-759-1300

• Alexander Graham Bell Homestead

  phone: +1 519-756-6220
  address: 94 Tutela Heights Rd.
  The location of the invention of the telephone, Bell's house, now a museum, has been restored to its 1870s appearance and also includes an exhibit illustrating history of the telephone.

• Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks

  phone: +1 519-756-0240
  address: Mohawk Street
  This was the first Protestant Church built in Ontario, and the first Royal Chapel to belong to First Nations (Aboriginal) people. It was built by the British Crown in 1785 for the Mohawk and Iroquois people (Six Nations of the Grand River) was dedicated in 1788 as a reminder of the original agreements made with the British during the American Revolution. In 1904 the chapel received Royal status from King Edward VII in memory of the longstanding alliance. It is a spiritual and restful place and it is calming to roam the peaceful graveyard which surrounds the chapel. Joseph Brant and his son John Brant are buried here.

• Chiefswood

  address: Highway 54
  Brantford was the birthplace and home of Aboriginal poet E. Pauline Johnson, and her home is now a National Historic Site.

• Canadian Military Museum and the Vintage Motorcycle Museum

  phone: +1 519-759-1313
  address: 794 Colbourne St
  Here you will discover Canada's military history, from the United Empire Loyalists of the 1700s, to the peace keepers of today. There are artifacts from the war of 1812, the South African War, and World Wars I & II. Motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy the Motorcycle Museum which is also on the site.

• Brant County Courthouse

  address: Wellington Street between George Street and Market Street
  The stone and brick courthouse was built on land purchased from the Six Nations in 1852. The structure housed court rooms, county offices, a law library and a gaol.

• Personal Computer Museum

  phone: +1 519-753-8825
  address: 13 Alma St
  History of personal computers, with over a thousand early microcomputers from the 1970s and 1980s. Open one Saturday a month, seasonally, or by appointment.

Brantford's location along the Grand river makes it an excellent spot for water activities, especially canoeing and Kayaking.

• Brantford hosts the Annual Gretzky Hockey Tournament in which teams from North America and sometimes Europe come to compete.

• Brantford has a junior B hockey club called the Brantford Golden Eagles who play at the Civic Center located on Market Street. The senior team for Brantford is called the Brantford Blast; they also play at the Civic Center. You can watch these games for a ticket price ranging from $5–15.

• Brantford also has a baseball club called the Brantford Red Sox which play at Arnold Anderson Stadium at Cockshutt Park. You can also watch these games for a fair price.

• Ggreat plays and musicals at the Sanderson Centre on Dalhousie Street, across from Harmony Square.

• The Ford Plant was founded in 2003, and is Brantford's most popular music venue. Numerous bands have played there, and they continue to put great shows on. The general admission is usually ranging from $5–15 depending on the bands which are performing.

There are also many festivals during certain seasons of the year and a cinema which is on King George Road at the plaza.
The Tourism Centre for Brantford is off of Wayne Gretzky Parkway close to the Lynden Park Mall.

Festivals

For a detailed guide check the Brantford Events Calendar.

• Brantford Kinsmen Ribfest Weekend

Presented by the Kinsmen Club of Brantford. Come on out to "Ribfest" this August at the beautiful Cockshutt Park in Brantford, Ontario. Enjoy great music, crafts, and most importantly, some of the best rib makers in North America!

• Brantford International Villages Festival in July Four Fabulous Days of Culture! Each location/hall is where the various ethnic communities of Brantford are ready to entertain you. Your four-day passports or one day pass gives you access to all villages. Free transportation between Villages enables you to sample and explore the diversified cultures of our community. You will enjoy continuous cultural entertainment including music, dancing, unique cuisine and beverages plus cultural displays of costumes and history.

• Lynden Park Mall at 84 Lynden Road is Brantford's only mall with more than 10 stores. It is a fairly sized mall with numerous stores, and only one level. Parking is all around the mall.

• Angel's Diner

  phone: +1 519-757-1777
  address: 125 King George Rd
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Zander's Fire Grill and Brew Lounge

  phone: +1 519-304-7625
  address: 190 King George Rd
  Live music, rock-and-roll theme, burgers, wings, pastas, ribs.

• Sociable Kitchen & Tavern

  phone: +1 519-751-4042
  address: 45 King George Rd
  Diverse menu including vegan and gluten-free choices.

• The Olde School Restaurant

  phone: +1 519-753-3131
  address: 687 Powerline Rd
  A converted schoolhouse dating back to the 1870s, with a nostalgic collection of school days memorabilia. Nightly entertainment in the piano bar. Wheelchair accessible.

• Taal Fine Indian Cuisine

  phone: +1 519-752-3788
  address: 578 Colborne st east

There are numerous bars in Brantford where you can go for a drink. The downtown core alone has most of them.

• The Rodeo Bar & Grill which is across from the Royal Bank is a bar where University students come on Tuesdays for dollar beer night. Also they host dollar beer night on Thursdays and Sundays.
• Boston Pizza, though a restaurant in most cities, is a very popular bar in Brantford that is packed on weekends and even has a bouncer to keep out the rowdy ones.
• Piston Broke is a more expensive bar, but is also frequented by youths and students during the weekends.
• Alexander's is a bar on Market Street close to the train station. This bar has music shows almost every weekend, and is a great place to socialize and get to know people.
• Brando's and Two Doors are bars that are side to side and are very popular among youth and students in Brantford. The occasional drunken bar fight will happen, but it is generally safe.

• Club NV is on Colbourne Street, you can't miss it. It is most popular during the school year as university students are let in for a cheap price or free. They hold University and College nights for students who have come to school in Brantford.
• Ignite is a club on St. Paul Ave, by the Dairee Delight.

• Therapy Lounge

  phone: +1 519-753-6510
  address: 16 Market St.
  Live bands, guest DJs and great food and martinis.

Budget

• Sherwood Motel

  phone: +1 519-756-5261
  address: 797 Colborne St
  24 rooms, outdoor pool, a Robin Hood-themed restaurant with weekend buffet, Wi-Fi, refrigerators, microwaves.

• Bell City Motel

  phone: +1 519-756-5236
  address: 901 Colborne St

• Grand Motel

  phone: +1 519-756-4004
  address: 780 Colborne St

Mid-range

• Best Western Brantford Inn & Conference Centre

  phone: +1 519-753-8651
  address: 19 Holiday Dr
  Bar, buffet, indoor pool, whirlpool, Wi-Fi, playground.

• Comfort Inn

  phone: +1 519-753-3100
  address: 58 King George Rd
  Café on-site, 80 rooms, Wi-Fi, newspaper, fax/copy service, refrigerators and microwaves in ground-floor rooms. Extra charge for pets.

• Days Inn

  phone: +1 519-759-2700
  address: 460 Fairview Dr
  Fitness centre, Wi-Fi, business and meeting facilities, breakfast. Extra $15/night for pets.

• Bodega Inn

  phone: +1 519-753-0327
  address: 75 Dalhousie St
  Extended stay suites (minimum one month).

• Quality Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 519-758-9999
  address: 664 Colborne St
  95 rooms, continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, newspaper, indoor pool, exercise room, meeting facilities. Some rooms have whirlpool baths.

• Hampton Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 519-720-0084
  address: 20 Fen Ridge Ct
  Hot breakfast, newspapers, Internet, 84 rooms, suites. Indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness centre, business meeting rooms. Near industrial park, no smoking, no pets.

Brantford is a dangerous city during the night hours. From the Lorne Bridge down to Stanley Street is where most of the crime takes place. Assaults and robberies are common in these areas, as in Eagle Place which is located east of the downtown core. Police presence is most frequented in these areas; drunken bar fights are an every night thing in Brantford on the weekends, and sometimes week nights. The Brantford downtown has come a long way since the year 2000; the city has put money into the downtown core, and continues to build new buildings and more local friendly attractions. Wilfrid Laurier University is across from the Eaton Square, which is in the downtown core. Police have stepped up and cut down crime since Maclean's magazine ranked Brantford 11th worst city in Canada for its crime rate. If you take the necessary precautions and walk with groups you will unlikely encounter any problems, but if you are alone you may be target for criminals or drug addicts looking for their next fix.