Ajax is home to a diverse and growing economy, with thriving industries ranging from advanced manufacturing to healthcare, tourism, and agribusiness.
These sectors drive local employment, innovation, and regional economic strength, making Ajax a hub for business and opportunity.
Advanced Manufacturing
Key Highlights
Historically Ajax’s strongest sector with clusters in the aerospace, automotive, automation, and innovative technologies industries
Largest labour force outside of Retail Trade with 3,500 jobs*
*Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Economic Modeling Specialists International Report 2021
Strong economic activity consisting of $2.8B Exports and $2.3B Imports (2019)*
*Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Economic Modeling Specialists International Report 2021
Logistics, Warehousing, and Storage
Key Highlights
Fastest growing sector in Ajax with the addition of several new businesses in recent years*
Ajax is located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) market of over 6.5 million people
120 million consumers live within one day’s drive
*This growth can be attributed to Ajax’s strategic location and accessibility by road, air, rail, sea and public transit:
- Highways: 401, 412, 407
- Airports: Toronto Pearson International, Billy Bishop Toronto City, Oshawa Executive
- Rail: Canadian National (CN), Canadian Pacific (CP), GO Transit, VIA Rail Canada
- Ports: Toronto, Oshawa
- Regional Transit: Durham Region Transit (DRT)
| Travel distance to major border crossings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada / USA Borders | KM | Miles | Driving Time |
| Queenston / Lewiston | 172 | 107 | 1 hour, 50 minutes |
| Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge | 177 | 110 | 1 hour, 55 minutes |
| Fort Erie / Buffalo | 200 | 124 | 2 hours, 6 minutes |
| Ivy Lea / Alexandria Bay | 262 | 163 | 2 hours, 30 minutes |
| Sarnia / Port Huron | 325 | 202 | 3 hours, 12 minutes |
| Windsor / Detroit | 406 | 252 | 4 hours, 5 minutes |
Energy, Environment, and Engineering
Key Highlights
Ajax is home to a vibrant cluster of energy, environmental and engineering businesses
Located within the Region of Durham which is known as the ‘Clean Energy Capital of Canada’
Within the Region of Durham:
- Approximately 30% of the electricity in Ontario is generated
- More than 250 businesses specialize in electricity generation and transmission, energy management, smart mobility, manufacturing, and engineering services
- A highly skilled and experienced workforce of over 10,000 employees are trained in the fields of Energy Innovation, Environmental Technologies, and Engineering
- 3 post-secondary institutions offer programming to support energy innovation
- A close proximity to over 30 post-secondary institutions provide access to a world-class talent pool of over 400,000 students across the Greater Toronto Area
Business Services
Key Highlights
Ajax is home to a strong business support services sector with a growing number of businesses in the insurance, finance/accounting, technology and legal industries
Healthcare
Key Highlights
One of Ajax’s fastest growing sectors
Home to the recently expanded Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital
Home to Lakeridge Gardens Long Term Care Facility which was constructed in 13 months through the Infrastructure Ontario Accelerated Build Program
Home to the recently constructed Ballycliffe Long Term Care Residence Redevelopment Project
Home to 10 Walk-In Clinics / Medical Centres:
- Ajax Clinic
- Ajax Family Care Centre
- Appletree Medical Centre
- Baywood Medical Clinic
- Children’s After Hours Walk-In Clinic
- Harwood Medical Clinic
- Kingston Medical Clinic and Pharmacy
- One Healthcare Centre
- Westney Heights Medical Centre
- ZMC Medical Centre
Tourism
Key Highlights
Located within the Region of Durham, which saw annual tourism visitation in the amount of 3.6 million people (3,642,000 total person visits) and $321 million in new spending (total visitor spend of $321,414,000) in 2019*
*Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Cultural Industries: 2019 Census Data 18; Statistics Canada Travel Survey of Residents and International Travel Survey, 2019
Ajax is a designated “Bicycle Friendly Community” home to world-class cycling infrastructure
Home to family-friendly attractions including:
- Pat Bayly Square – urban excitement in Downtown Ajax
- The 7km Waterfront Trail – longest undeveloped section of Lake Ontario Shoreline in the GTA
- 140km of cycling infrastructure
- 250+ Diverse Restaurants
- 150 acres of parkland to enjoy outdoor recreational activities and natural, open spaces
Agribusiness
Ajax is home to eight agri-businesses
Located within the Region of Durham which is home to 1,200 farms; 264,518 acres of farmland*, and is Ontario’s leading agricultural producer, contributing $321.7 million to the province’s total farm production**
*Statistics Canada 2021 Census of Agriculture
**Durham Region Agri-Profile 2020
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/iz0v8gZiZhs?rel=0&cc_load_policy=1&cc_lang_pref=en
Industry Companies & Facilities in Ajax
Storage
- Intact Insurance Company
- Benson Kearley IFG
- Doane Grant Thornton LLP
- Turner Moore LLP
- Dodd & Company
- Copetti & Co
- MMS Accounting & Bookkeeping
- LMI Canada
- VPI Working Solutions
- TechPeer Inc.
- CPPI Group Inc.
- The Work Hub
- Lauft Ajax
- Ajax Business Centre
- 369Konnect
- Computek College
- Medical Billing Services Inc.
- Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital
- Lakeridge Gardens Long-Term Care Facility
- Chartwell Harwood Retirement Residence
- Chartwell Ballycliffe Long-Term Care Residence
- Casino Ajax
- Ajax Downs
- Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Ajax
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Ajax
- Super 8 By Wyndham Ajax/Toronto
- Ajax Convention Centre
- Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility
- South Ajax Golf Club
- Riverside Golf Club
- Fox Run Golf Centre
- St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts & Culture
- Greenwood Conservation Area
- Durham Convention Centre
- Ajax Fairgrounds