Township of South-West Oxford
History
The township was formed through the amalgamation of numerous communities, including: Beachville, Brownsville, Centreville, Culloden, Dereham Centre, Mount Elgin, Ostrander, Salford and Sweaburg.
Demographics
In 2006, the population of South-West Oxford was 7,589. Over 75% of South-West Oxford’s population is under 55 years of age, indicating that the majority of the population is readily available to enter the workforce
Economy
South-West Oxford’s economy is based largely on agriculture. Most recently, South-West Oxford has seen a large growth in all of its major industries. The most dramatic change has been seen i n accommodation and food services sector, with a 1000% increase in the number of businesses.
The major industries in South-West Oxford include:
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· Agriculture
· Wholesale Trade
· Transportation and Warehousing
· Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
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· Construction
· Retail Trade
· Finance and Insurance
· Accommodation and Food Services
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Education
There are many post-secondary training opportunities available within close proximity to South-West Oxford to help residents meet the needs of the community. This includes a satellite campus of Fanshawe College in Woodstock and Tillsonburg, and Conestoga College in Ingersoll. South-West Oxford is close to many of Ontario’s top post-secondary schools located in Brantford, Guelph, London and Waterloo.
A large proportion of South-West Oxford residents have post-secondary education, predominantly from an apprenticeship/trade certificate or diploma, or from a college certificate or diploma.
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Education Levels, 15 +
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South-West Oxford
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South-West Oxford %
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Ontario %
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No certificate, diploma or degree
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1670
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28%
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22%
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High school certificate or equivalent
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1765
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30%
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27%
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Apprenticeship or trades certificate of diploma
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630
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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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1220
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21%
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18%
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University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level
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190
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3%
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4%
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University certificate, diploma or degree
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470
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8%
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21%
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Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, 2006
Labour Force
South-West Oxford is home to a multi-skilled labour force. Compared to the provincial average, South-West Oxford has a high number of workers in agricultural based industries and manufacturing.
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Experienced Labour Force, 15 +
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South-West Oxford
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South-West Oxford %
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Ontario %
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Agriculture and other resource-based industries
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815
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18%
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3%
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Construction
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195
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4%
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6%
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Manufacturing
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965
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22%
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14%
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Wholesale trade
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210
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5%
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5%
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Retail trade
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350
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8%
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11%
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Finance and real estate
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130
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3%
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7%
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Health care and social services
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325
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7%
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9%
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Educational services
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235
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5%
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7%
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Business services
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625
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14%
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20%
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Other services
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585
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13%
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18%
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Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, 2006
Access to Major Markets
South-West Oxford is accessible by highway, air and railway. The settled areas are a short drive from Highway 401, 402 and 403.
South-West Oxford 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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1 hour
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London
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-
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40 minutes
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Sarina
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-
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1 hour 40 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 50 minutes
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Buffalo
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-
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2 hours 50 minutes
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Detroit
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-
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3 hours 10 minutes
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