Whitby is located on Lake Ontario, northeast of Toronto. Diversification has been a key component in Whitby’s strong industrial base. Principal products are plastics, steel, packaging, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications equipment, automotive parts, electrical and electronic equipment, building materials, and furniture. Whitby is part of the Golden Horseshoe, an industrial and residential region in southern Canada. A 2006 real estate survey has estimated the population of Whitby, Ontario at 111,184.