Dorchester, Ontario

Dorchester
Dorchester is located in Ontario
Dorchester
Dorchester
Coordinates: 42°59′N 81°04′W / 42.983°N 81.067°W / 42.983; -81.067
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyMiddlesex
Websitewww.thamescentre.on.ca

Dorchester is a town in Ontario whose name first applied to the township and honours Sir Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester (1724-1808). The name was changed from Dorchester Station on May 3, 1961.[1] Dorchester is the residential and commercial core of the municipality of Thames Centre, in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, a few kilometres directly east of the city of London, Ontario. According to the 2016 census, the town has a population of 3,911.[2]

The local arena underwent a $10 million expansion and opened on November 2, 2010. This expansion added a second NHL-sized ice pad, a gymnasium, and many other facilities to go along with upgrades to the existing part. It is now home to the Dorchester Dolphins Junior C hockey team. Much of the funding raised was done by local events such as Raise the Roof and TC Rocks, an outdoor concert.

Inspired by the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams", Thames Centre is currently constructing a new outdoor recreation centre complex at 3245 Hamilton Rd. The new recreation centre will have a baseball diamond, three full size soccer pitches, two mini-pitches, a pond, and a proposed clubhouse. The total cost is an estimated $200,000. In the master plan, the municipality wishes to make the recreation centre in recognition of the need for children, youths, adults, masters, and people with disabilities.[3]

  1. ^ Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 144. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
  2. ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Dorchester [Population centre], Ontario and Ontario [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Field of Dreams". Municipality of Thames Centre. Municipality of Thames Centre. Retrieved 23 September 2013.