MPS being based in the wonderful province of Ontario has a lot to boast about. We often get tons of questions from families and partners about our province. We thought it would be fun and interesting for you all to learn a few interesting details about Ontario!

About Ontario, Canada

Ontario covers one million square kilometers. Larger than France and Spain combined! More that 8X larger than England!

Population: Over 14 million reside in Ontario.

Ontario is the second-largest province in Canada, coming in behind Quebec.

Boasting approximately 250,000 lakes, Ontario is estimated to have 20% of the world's freshwater.

The official flower of Ontario is the trillium.

Jewelry lovers will recognize the official mineral of Ontario — amethyst — as the stunning semi-precious purple stone found in rings, necklaces, and earrings.

The Niagra Falls

Niagara Falls remains one of the biggest draws to the province, as well as one of the most popular tourist attractions in North America. (5 hours from MPS!)

Toronto

Toronto is the largest city in the province with over 2.8 million residents.

Linguistically diverse, there are over 100 languages spoken in Toronto and 44% of residents have a first language that isn’t English or French.

Temperatures in Canada

Canada is a land of extreme weather and Ontario is no different. In summer, temperatures can soar above 30°C (86°F), while in winter they can drop below -40°C (-40°F). 

Ottawa was chosen as the nation’s capital due to its close proximity with both English and French Canada. (45 minutes from MPS!)

During the winter in Canada, Ottawa’s Rideau Canal becomes the longest skating rink in the world (7.8 km)

Education

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is one of the highest ranking high school diploma's in the world!

Merrickville Ontario home of MPS was settled in 1794!

Merrickville hosts many historic buildings. It has more buildings classified under the Ontario Heritage Act than any other village of its size in the province. (Including our main building at MPS!)