Oshawa isn’t just a car town anymore

Oshawa isn’t just a car town anymore By Dale Jodoin Oshawa isn’t just a car town anymore. The days of General Motors being the centre of everything are fading into the past, and in their place, new Subcultures. Across the Durham Region, a quiet transformation is happening. You might not notice it at first, but if you look closer, the city’s streets, parks, shops, and schools are full of signs that the way people express themselves and have fun is shifting. The entertainment scene isn’t just changing, it's being rebuilt from the ground up by people who don’t wait for permission. Take the car lovers. Oshawa will always have a place in its heart for gearheads. But now it’s more than just retired workers fixing up old Chevys. Young people are showing up with tuned Hondas, LED lights, and sound systems that shake the doors off gas stations. They meet in parking lots and industrial backroads, not for money or fame, but for community. Their cars are part art, part rebellion. These meetups are entertainment in its purest form loud, passionate, and completely their own. Not far from them, on smooth pavement and near old warehouses, you’ll find skaters and BMX riders claiming their space. These kids don’t need fancy gyms or fields. Give them concrete, a board, and a little room to fall, and they’ll turn it into a stage. They film tricks, cheer each other on, and post their wins online. It’s sweaty, painful, and risky but it’s real. And in a world of screens and filters, real life is hard to find. Step inside the local bars or dig around the basement show scene, and you’ll still hear the raw scream of metal and punk. Oshawa’s music culture hasn’t died, it's just gone underground. There are people in this town who live for the sound of heavy riffs and truth-telling lyrics. The crowd is mixed: teens with green hair standing next to grey-bearded punks who’ve been coming to the same spots for twenty years. They don’t follow trends. They make their own. And they’ve got the scars and tattoos to prove it. Down the street, the kids dressed in black, silver chains clinking, aren’t just going through a phase. The alt scene is strong in Oshawa. Some call themselves goths, others emo, others don’t bother with labels. What they share is a need to be seen for who they really are. They make their own clothes, write poetry, and stare the world down with courage masked in eyeliner. They don’t just consume entertainment, they create it in everything they wear, say, and do. Meanwhile, gamers and tech fans are building another world entirely. In dorms, basements, and online chat rooms, they’re coding, streaming, and pushing pixels to the edge. Ontario Tech and Durham College are feeding this quiet revolution. Some of these kids are turning hobbies into side hustles. Others are chasing dreams of esports glory. They may not throw parties, but their screens light up every night with life, drama, and action. You won’t always see them, but they’re there changing the game one click at a time. The hip-hop scene in Durham might not be in the spotlight, but it’s got heart. Local rappers are putting out tracks online, mixing beats in bedrooms, and writing lyrics that speak to real life struggles, losses, hopes, and hustle. It’s not about fame or record deals. It’s about having a voice when no one else is listening. These artists are turning side streets and basketball courts into stages. And if the big city music labels won’t look this way, they’ll build their own scene instead. One of the most colourful subcultures is the anime and cosplay crowd. These fans don’t just watch cartoons. They become them. You’ll spot them at conventions, libraries, or sometimes even wandering through the mall in costume, smiling as kids stare in awe. They sew, sketch, and dream up whole new identities. It’s not weird, it's creative. It’s brave. And it takes guts to show up in full costume when the world is quick to judge. Tattoos have become part of daily life in Oshawa. It’s not just bikers or rockers anymore. Teachers, nurses, waiters, and grandparents are walking around with full sleeves and deep stories written in ink. Tattoo shops aren’t just businesses, they're gathering places. Every design carries meaning. Some mark pain, others celebrate love, and a few are just for fun. Either way, they’re permanent proof that art doesn’t always hang on a wall. Outside the city, a slower, softer culture is taking root. Cottagecore and vintage living aren’t just internet trends, they're ways of life for a growing number of people in the region. These are the folks baking bread, pressing flowers, and thrifting for clothes from another era. They like quiet days, simple joys, and small gatherings. In a fast paced world, they remind us that entertainment can be as gentle as a book and as meaningful as a cup of tea. All of these groups, from the loud to the quiet, from the rough to the soft, are part of what makes Oshawa and Durham special today. This isn’t a city waiting for a concert to come to town or for a big event to make it on the map. The people here are making their own kind of fun, their own way. They’re not looking for permission or attention. They’re looking for connection. Whether it’s through music, fashion, sport, or art, they’re saying one thing loud and clear: we’re here, we’re proud, and we’ve got something to say. The face of entertainment has changed. It’s younger, more creative, and much more personal. And in Oshawa and across Durham, it’s growing every day. If you want to see the future, don’t look at the billboards. Look at the streets, the skate parks, the tattoo chairs, and the cosplay meetups. That’s where the action is. And the best part? Anyone can join in.