Township of Blandford-Blenheim
History
The township was formed in 1975 after the amalgamation from the two historic townships, Blandford and Blenheim. The communities that exist within the township include: Bright, Drumbo, Plattsville, Princeton and Washington.
Demographics
In 2006, the population of Blandford-Blenheim was 7,149. Over 77% of Blandford-Blenheim’s population is under 55 years of age, indicating that the majority of the population is readily available to enter the workforce.
Economy
Blandford-Blenheim’s economy has historically relied on the agricultural industry, which continues to be a major part of the economy today. The township also attracts many skilled workers in the manufacturing sector due to its many highly specialized facilities.
The major industries in Blandford-Blenheim include:
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· Agriculture
· Manufacturing
· Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
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· Construction
· Transportation and Warehousing
· Management of Companies and Enterprises
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Education
There are many post-secondary training opportunities available within close proximity to Blandford-Blenheim to help residents meet the needs of the community. This includes a satellite campus of Fanshawe College in Woodstock, and Conestoga College in Ingersoll and Kitchener. Blandford-Blenheim is close to many of Ontario’s top post-secondary schools located in Brantford, Guelph, London and Waterloo.
Blandford-Blenheim’s educational levels are similar to that of the province. There are more people with apprenticeship or trade and college diplomas in Blandford-Blenheim, indicating specialized skills in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
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Education Levels, Aged 15 +
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Blanford-Blenheim
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Blandford-Blenheim %
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Ontario %
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No certificate, diploma or degree
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1690
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30%
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22%
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High school certificate or equivalent
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1615
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28%
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27%
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Apprenticeship or trades certificate of diploma
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625
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11%
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8%
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College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma
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1145
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20%
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18%
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University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level
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100
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2%
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4%
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University certificate, diploma or degree
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495
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9%
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21%
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Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, 2006
Labour Force
Blandford-Blenheim is home to a multi-skilled labour force. Compared to the provincial average, Blandford-Blenheim has a high number of workers in agricultural based industries (12% of workers, compared to 3% in Ontario), construction and manufacturing.
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Experienced Labour Force, 15 +
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Blanford-Blenheim
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Blandford-Blenheim %
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Ontario %
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Agriculture and other resource-based industries
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520
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12%
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3%
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Construction
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305
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7%
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6%
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Manufacturing
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1095
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26%
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14%
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Wholesale trade
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225
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5%
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5%
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Retail trade
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325
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8%
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11%
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Finance and real estate
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250
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6%
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7%
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Health care and social services
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210
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5%
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9%
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Educational services
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165
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4%
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7%
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Business services
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680
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16%
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20%
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Other services
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450
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11%
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18%
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Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, 2006
Access to Major Markets
Blandford-Blenheim is accessible by highway, air and railway. The settled areas are a short drive from Highway 401, 402 and 403.
Blandford-Blenheim is located near several airports, including the Region of Waterloo Airport, Hamilton International Airport, London International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The township also has access to the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Rail Line.
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Driving Distances
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Kitchener/Waterloo
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-
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35 minutes
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London
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-
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1 hour
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Sarina
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-
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1 hour 55 minutes
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Stratford
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-
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50 minutes
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Toronto
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-
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1 hour 30 minutes
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Buffalo
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-
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2 hours 30 minutes
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Detroit
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-
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3 hours 25 minutes
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