Discover Downtown
As the only urban environment of its kind east of Toronto, downtown Oshawa is located on the main transit lines for Durham Region and just minutes away from the planned downtown GO Train Station. Residents of downtown Oshawa will not only find great value, but an excellent range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to suit every occasion. Downtown is conveniently located to Oshawa attractions such as The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, McLaughlin Public Library, Parkwood National Historic Site and the Tribute Communities Centre.
| Downtown Oshawa Map |
| Downtown Oshawa map with landmarks |
| Accommodations |
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Downtown Oshawa offers two hotels for your visit to Oshawa. LaQuinta Inn and Suites and the newly opened Holiday Inn Express and Suites. |
| Arts and Culture |
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On the first Friday of each month between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., hundreds gather at Downtown Oshawa's Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) to celebrate local creative talent at RMG Fridays. The RMG is the largest public gallery in Durham region, occupying an inspiring 36,000 square-foot building designed by world-renowned architect Arthur Erikson. It features a permanent collection of over 4,500 works of art, with five galleries of diverse and changing exhibitions and two art studios. The Oshawa Public Library, McLaughlin Branch is also located Downtown and offers a dedicated teen area, quiet study space, internet terminals in addition to multi-language books, information and quality programming. |
| Downtown Oshawa Sandwich Board Sign Permit |
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Sandwich Board signs represent an important and affordable tool for business owners to advertise their businesses, particularly during the summer season, in the downtown. Council has adopted a 3-year Pilot Project to permit Sandwich Board Signs in the C.B.D. (Central Business District) Zones in the Downtown that permits business owners to place sandwich board signs on private properties and within the public boulevard including the sidewalk. |
| Downtown Oshawa Sidewalk Café Program |
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Sidewalk cafés in Downtown Oshawa create spaces for people to meet, relax and dine. The sidewalk café season operates from April 1st to November 15th 2021. |
| Entertainment |
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The Tribute Communities Centre is front and centre as Durham Region's premier sports and entertainment facility, hosting major concerts including Sir Elton John, Bob Dylan, the Tragically Hip and Kiss to name a few. Music can also be heard at the historic Regent Theatre that is home to the Ontario Philharmonic. |
| Events |
| Visit the community calendar for a full list of events. |
| Parking Downtown |
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There is plenty of parking in Downtown. Tokens can be purchased at Service Oshawa at City Hall for use at on street parking meters, municipal surface lots and municipal parking parkades. |
| Downtown Programs |
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The City of Oshawa has implemented a program to assist downtown businesses with daily cleanup of their street facing entrances. While other priorities or weather may occasionally impact the service level of the program, the goals are as follows:
In order to participate in this program, we ask that the business owner, or representative thereof, read and sign the agreement and return it to Service Oshawa. |
| Downtown Oshawa Support |
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Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities and towns have witnessed an increase of mental health challenges, addictions and housing needs among residents, while local businesses also face additional unprecedented challenges. A senior staff Task Force has been convened to address the immediate issues happening in downtown Oshawa. This Task Force consists of representatives from Durham Region Social Services, Durham Region Health Department, Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), Lakeridge Health, and the City of Oshawa. The livelihood and health of the downtown Oshawa community is very important. We are working diligently to address the concerns of local residents and businesses, and will continue to share information as it becomes available. To learn more about downtown Oshawa support offered by the Region of Durham, visit their website. Respect-Gets-Respect Workshop On August 25th, 2021, The Gap Committee in collaboration with the Back Door Mission and the |