Ajax has a population of 109,600 – and is located in the Durham Region of Southern Ontario, Canada, located in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area. The town is named for HMS Ajax, a Royal Navy cruiser that served in World War II – which was the the first significant British naval victory of the war.

As with most suburban areas in the GTA, Ajax has grown considerably since the 1980s. Ajax was once a small town mostly surrounded by agricultural areas, and has since grown to become a bedroom community to Toronto and its environs. Ajax continues to grow – and has become increasingly built-out with attempts to increase intensity of development, particularly in the downtown. However, development still consists mostly of single-family detached houses on separate lots.

The town's very auto dependent urban form is a result of steady increases in traffic congestion - with few realistic alternatives to automobile travel. Transit service – which include ongoing efforts to improve cycling and walking conditions - may alleviate this to some degree. That being said there is over 90km of cycling trails throughout the city, making it an excellent destination for cyclists from all over.

Nature lovers can enjoy some time outdoors at Greenwood Conservation Area. It offers residents and visitors the chance to escape to nature with hiking trails through the forest - or the steep-sided river valley - and picnic tables are available throughout the area for use. The park also offers some of the best fishing in the area, as the cold, clear-running creek is a perfect home for rainbow trout and other species of fish.

The St. Francis Centre, located in Pickering Village, is at the centre of Arts and Culture in Ajax. The building was formerly a church - which underwent numerous renovations - transformmed into a multi-purpose arts centre. The building features a stage and retractable multi-level seating for 150 people, and it can be easily converted from a performance venue to a multi-purpose programming space. Dressing rooms, a catering kitchen and a service bar complete the facility.