100+ Anniversary
On Friday, March 8, the City of Oshawa celebrated its 100th anniversary as a City. We invite community members to join us as we mark this special occasion with a series of events, activities and commemorative projects over the course of the year.
100+ Centennial Celebration kick off
Mayor Dan Carter emceed the Centennial Celebration held at the Regent Theatre, featuring highlights of Oshawa's rich history and engaging performances from local arts and culture organizations. The event was originally broadcasted on Rogers Television.
Enjoy the show!
Get involved
Upcoming Centennial Environmental Workshops
In partnership with Durham Master Gardeners, the City of Oshawa present a series of free virtual and in-person workshops for the public to learn and enjoy. Registration is required.
Virtual Workshops
- March 21: Gardening in a New Subdivision Virtual Workshop: What to do and what to avoid - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In-Person Workshops at Arts Resource Centre
- April 27: Gardening for Pollinators In-Person Workshop - 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- May 23: Raising Monarch Butterflies In-Person Workshop - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Events, Projects and Initiatives
These are the events and initiatives that were chosen based on input from the Community, City Council and City Staff.
New Events
Official 100+ Anniversary Celebration |
Friday, March 8 Official event recognizing the 100+ Anniversary of the City of Oshawa. |
Teaching City Temporary Public Art Project |
Teaching City and Durham College student collaborative project that will be installed on street level windows at the Mary St. garage |
Indigenous Cultural Celebration |
Planning in progress, more details to come. |
Cultural Art Event |
Planning in progress |
Legacy Events
Doors Open Oshawa |
Saturday, May 4 This free province-wide event allows visitors to see various historical and interesting sites throughout Oshawa to learn more about where we live and play. |
Peony Festival |
20th Annual Peony Festival
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Canada Day |
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Events in the Park |
Planning is underway for the 2024 season! Free concerts and movies at Memorial Park Bandshell and Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park. |
Kars on King |
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Culture Days |
Date to be confirmed. A national celebration of arts and culture, inviting the public to get behind the scenes and hands on arts and culture in our community. |
Bright and Merry Market |
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Oshawa Celebrates |
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Legacy Project
Rotary Park and Pool Redevelopment |
City Council selected the Rotary Park and Pool Redevelopment project as Oshawa’s centennial year Legacy Project. The Rotary Park Redevelopment project will include:
To learn more about the project and view the renderings visit Rotary Park Redevelopment. |
Commemorative Projects/Initiatives
Celebrating Our Centennial, 1924-2024 Booklet
Download and print the Celebrating Our Centennial PDF (44 pages). Hard copies are also available for pickup at Service Oshawa while supplies last.
Commemorative Pin |
The centennial pin was unveiled at the 100th Anniversary celebration on Friday, March 8. Pins are now available at Service Oshawa while supplies last. About the pin: The City of Oshawa commissioned a local artist to design an official enamel pin to commemorate and celebrate the City of Oshawa’s 100th anniversary. The selected design, Send Flowers from local artist Chrrie, brings together two unexpectedly iconic Oshawa elements: the peony and the stamp. Before adopting the name “Oshawa,” the settlement surrounding King and Simcoe streets was originally called Skae’s Corners, after Edward Skae, the local general store owner. When Skae applied to run an official post office in 1842 he was told a new name would be needed for the location, which spurred the name change to Oshawa. The name “Oshawa” stems from an Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) word meaning “a crossing place” and has further translation as “the point at the crossing of the stream where the canoe was exchanged for the trail.” Peonies, though native to Asia, Europe and Western North America, have come to be a symbol that represents the city as Oshawa hosts the annual, award-winning Peony Festival which draws thousands of people from across the country to Oshawa to celebrate their beauty. This enamel pin is a keepsake that residents and community members can wear proudly to mark this significant milestone.
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Environmental Sustainability 1 |
Anniversary gardens planned by Park Services. |
Environmental Sustainability - Events |
Pollinator Planting Join LEAF, a non-profit organization, in the planting of native pollinator species at Gold Point Wildlife Reserve, located within the Gold Point Coastal Provincially Significant Wetland, to support pollinator health and biodiversity. Help create a sustainable ecosystem for generations to come.
Tree Tour Explore the beauty of Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens and enhance your tree identification skills with a guided walk. Join LEAF, a non-profit organization, for a free tree tour of the Gardens. After the tour, use our self-guided activity sheet tot explore further.
Centennial Tree Planting Join us in our efforts to expand the City's tree canopy and support the restoration of Gold Point Wildlife Reserve. Our restoration plantings aim to improve and expand the migratory butterfly stopover and preserve significant wildlife habitat.
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New Public Art Work |
Public Art installations |
Community Outreach and Collaboration |
Community Grant Program, applications closed December 31, 2023. |
Educational Partnerships |
Students awards will be provided to the following local post-secondary institutions: Durham College, Trent University Durham, University of Ontario Institute of Technology. These institutions set the criteria for the awards and choose the recipients. To be awarded at the Centennial Celebration on Friday, March 8. |
Community Centennial Committee
The Community Centennial Committee serves as the community at the table with City Staff. It included local leaders and organizations who provided input, collaboration and planning, for the projects and initiatives that are taking place in 2024.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The City of Oshawa's Centennial Celebrations will provide a wide variety of opportunities for businesses to participate as community partners throughout the entire year! Join us in celebrating Oshawa's 100th anniversary.
For more information please read the City of Oshawa Centennial Celebration Sponsorship Opportunities.