The Regional Municipality of York is located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Southern Ontario and is the only GTA Region without direct access to Lake Ontario. York Region is comprised of nine area municipalities covering approximately 1,776 square kilometres (686 square miles), stretching from the City of Toronto in the south to Lake Simcoe and the Holland Marsh in the north, and bounded by Peel Region in the west and Durham Region in the east.

The dominant physical features of the Region are Lake Simcoe and the Oak Ridges Moraine, an east-west rolling topography, including forested areas, wetlands, and kettle lakes covering 500 square kilometres or 193 square miles. These features enhance the quality of life for the Region’s residents, provide abundant recreational opportunities, and are a basis for tourism in the Region.