Community Life

Over the course of the year, Brantford’s local not-for-profit performing arts organizations have presented more than 150 performances, taking place across an expanse of venues, including museums, theatres, and community centres.

The Brant Museums and Galleries Association (BMGA) represents 16 member organizations from Brantford, the County of Brant, and the Six Nations Reserve. Members include archives, community museums, cultural centres, historical buildings and societies, and art galleries.

Bell Homestead, located high on the bluffs overlooking the Grand River and the town of Brantford, is Alexander Graham Bell’s first North American residence. Known as the “Melville House,” it would provide the stage for the invention of the telephone. The Bell Homestead, as it quickly became known, opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1910. Known as one of Ontario’s oldest historic home museums, it tells the tale of how a young teacher of the deaf came to invent the telephone.

Brantford is home to a growing number of festivals and events that work to form a bridge between the unique demographics that populate the city while emphasizing the creative contributions of various local artists. The Brantford International Jazz Festival has grown to be one of the largest and most musically diverse festivals in the Brant County region. This September event envisions a celebration of jazz and its culture in order to promote awareness and appreciation for the many diverse forms that are offered. Find Your Spirit: Celebrate the Artist Weekend in June, is a “sit in your lawn chair and watch” kind of occasion, where anyone, regardless of artistic ability, is invited to try their hand at arts-based workshops and interactive displays, free of charge. Those who are willing can pick up a paintbrush, create a sculpture, bang a drum, quilt, draw, or try some improvisational theatre.

Shopping: Brantford has a great balance of local artisan and specialty boutiques, big box stores, and a large mall. Lynden Park Mall, offering over 95 top-name national retailers, provides everything you need in one convenient location. The Brantford Farmers Market has 49 indoor stalls open for business all year, with additional seasonal outdoor stalls. The market has a wide range of product offerings, including fresh produce, meats, dairy, flowers, baked goods, hand-poured candles, and a variety of other natural products.

Food and fun: From great breakfasts to quick lunches and signature dinner dishes, Brantford’s numerous casual dining establishments will satisfy all of your cravings. By heading into Brantford’s downtown locale, you can travel the world of cuisine with delicious sushi, Mexican, Chinese, or traditional Canadian classics. Many of these restaurants and pubs feature live music, or you might wish to pick a vantage point from any one of the outdoor patios to watch the world go by.

Looking to dance the night away or simply sit down to a drink with friends and classmates? Brantford also has a great selection of bars and nightclubs to suit all desires.

Sports: Swim, golf, play, skate, run or simply relax, from sports to day camps and four-season recreational programming, Brantford offers the recreation and leisure you are looking for.

Brantford is the hometown of arguably hockey’s greatest legend, Wayne Gretzky, and the city takes that very seriously. Coined the “tournament capital of Ontario,” Brantford has an incredible variety of sports organizations for the young and the young at heart. From minor hockey, football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball and everything in between, the sporting associations available are nearly endless. Take an afternoon stroll around the Brantford & Area Sports Hall of Recognition and learn about the city’s history in sport, or get involved for yourself.

The Rise Centre provides accelerated sport-specific dynamic training. RISE is a multifaceted facility, whether your goals be to strengthen and condition, increase speed and endurance, or repair and rebuild through its advance Sports Medicine Clinic.

Parks and Trails: Brantford prides itself on the quality of parks and trails it provides for community enjoyment. Some parks provide a peaceful, relaxing setting, while others offer the opportunity for sports, recreation, and exercise. The city offers nearly 70 kilometres of nature trails that are perfect for running, cycling, or hiking. With constant upgrades and additions, there’s always something new to explore.

Find a home away from home. Six Nations Polytechnic has partnered with Places 4 Students to offer housing in Brantford. Information on landlords can be found at www.places4students.com. All student services on the website are free and include rental property listing searches (with Google Map locations), student sublets, roommate profiles, and more.

Art and music are alive and well in Six Nations and can be found at the Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC). With annual programs like First Nations Art, which features artists from across Canada and the United States, and the Coffee House and Open Mic Night, the Woodland Cultural Centre is bustling with distinctly creative programs.

The Chiefswood National Historic Site, which was originally home to the famous poet, E. Pauline Johnson, overlooks the Grand River. The homestead provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience life in Six Nations during the mid-1800s as a place where different cultures met.

Shopping: Shopping local has never been easier in Six Nations. Iroqrafts is the place to purchase craft supplies, moccasins, books, Indigenous artwork, and more. There are multiple convenience stores in close proximity to Six Nations Polytechnic, and in the village centre stands the Iroquois Plaza. The year-round Our Sustenance Farmers Market and Garden is open most Saturdays, offering a wide variety of fresh vegetables and featuring vendors selling crafts and various products.

Food and Fun: Whether you’re looking to bite into a world-famous hamburger, hang out with friends at the pizza joint, or curl up with a coffee at a cozy home-style café, Six Nations has it covered. A wide variety of local options gives residents and students nearly endless choices.

Sports: Six Nations is the self-proclaimed lacrosse capital of the world. In fact, thousands of years ago, the Hodinohso:ni invented the game that turned into modern lacrosse. Lacrosse is sometimes referred to as The Creator’s Game and is of important cultural significance in the community. Today, Six Nations has four major lacrosse teams that compete at the national level and have taken home championship titles several years in a row. Lacrosse games can be seen year-round, including the main teams like the Arrows, the Rebels, the Chiefs, and the Rivermen.

Because it is centred on the Grand River, the Six Nations community is able to enjoy recreational water activities such as canoeing, fishing, paddle boarding, water skiing, and more. The river also serves as a beautiful scenic backdrop and attracts hundreds of visitors every year.

At the Pro-Fit Health Club, you can achieve your fitness goals using state-of-the-art equipment, programs, products, and services. Become a member and realize your potential when supported by the helpful staff and energized community. Facilities include over 200 pieces of equipment, a spinning studio, MMA (mixed martial arts) studio, aerobics studio, tanning studio, daycare, towel service, and Whey Smooth Snack Bar.

Parks and Trails: The Six Nations community is home to the largest single block of Carolinian forest in Canada, visible even on satellite images taken from outer space. With two beautiful parks and walking trails, there’s no better place to witness the leaves change to yellow and red in the fall, watch the snowfall gracefully in winter – or better yet – have a picnic in the shade under a magnificent maple tree in the summer. Veteran’s Park and Chiefswood Park are a constant source of activity, with different events happening year-round. A hiking trail located just behind the Six Nations Tourism office provides residents and visitors with a peaceful place to get in touch with nature and truly appreciate the beauty in this community.

Students relocating to study at Six Nations Polytechnic are encouraged to stay in the community in order to truly experience life in Six Nations. However, we’ve also partnered with Places 4 Students (www.places4students.com) to offer housing in the City of Brantford, about 20 kilometres away.