| Brantford is certainly no stranger to rearing Canadian | | | | The Ford Plant is a not-for-profit music venue that has |
| icons. It is known as The Telephone City due to being | | | | been around since 2002. It has also been used as an |
| the birthplace of Alexander Graham Bell. Brantford | | | | art gallery and music store/label. |
| wasn't done there though, it is also the birthplace of | | | | The real draw is the music venue though. The Ford |
| one of the greatest athletes of all time - Wayne | | | | Plant is unique because it only holds about 100 people. |
| Gretzky. | | | | This makes for very intimate and lively rock shows |
| Brantford is located on the grand River, in Southern | | | | and it is not surprising to see the party spill outside. The |
| Ontario. It is home to just over 90 000 residents. It isn't | | | | Ford Plant has played host to Canadian greats Blue |
| simply a place where greatness is born though. It is | | | | Rodeo as well as more cutting edge acts like Arcade |
| home to it's own set of great attractions, and here are | | | | Fire and Tokyo Police Club. CBC Radio named it one |
| a few: | | | | of Canada's Top 20 live music venues. |
| 1. Canada Day Festival: Almost every town has a | | | | 3. The Grand River: The Grand River crosses a large |
| Canada Day Festival. If they don't have a festival they | | | | expanse of Ontario. So why mention it in a Brantford |
| may have a midway set up or at the very least a | | | | article? Well Brantford was built on this stretch of the |
| fireworks show. Brantford takes it to the next level | | | | Grand River and can thank it's early success as a |
| though. In 2004, no one in Brantford was able to | | | | village on the fact that it is located on it's deepest part. |
| organize a Canada Day Event. The mayor vowed it | | | | In some area the Grand River is almost slowed to a |
| would never happen again. He got the ball rolling on a | | | | trickle with a depth of only one to two feet. This isn't |
| not-for-profit organization dedicated to planning the | | | | true in Brantford. It is large and deep here. It makes for |
| Canada Day Event. | | | | some of Ontario's best canoeing, kayaking and rafting. |
| This organization has since put on a spectacular show. | | | | Anglers won't mind this stretch of the Grand either, it is |
| With a budget of nearly $250 000 the Canada Day | | | | reportedly home to roughly 85 species of fish. |
| festival has become a big time deal. Headliners have | | | | Brantford has a rich history that goes beyond the |
| included Juno winners; The Trews and Jeff Healy. | | | | famous people born there. It is picturesque, located on |
| Shining Stars Tourism awards has recognized the | | | | one of Ontario's biggest rivers and has a thriving night |
| festival twice in 2006 and 2009. The festival regularly | | | | life that might surprise you for a city of it's size. |
| draws over 35 000 people. | | | | Brantford is a great destination to visit, and hey who |
| 2. The Ford Plant: This is not where F150's are built. In | | | | wouldn't want to visit the birthplace of The Great One. |
| fact this isn't related to the Ford Motor Company at all. | | | | |