When Ajax was incorporated on January 1, 1955, it was already a place with a unique origin story. The town was born out of wartime necessity, its very name a tribute to HMS Ajax, the Royal Navy cruiser that, alongside HMNZS Achilles and HMS Exeter, successfully overcame the German ship Admiral Graf Spee at the Battle of the River Plate in 1939. In choosing Ajax, the community anchored its identity to a story of resilience and resolve at sea, a name that carried both the weight of sacrifice and the promise of strength for the generations who would call the lakeside town their home. For Mayor Shaun Collier, that moment marked a turning point. “In 1955, its incorporation marked a shift from a munitions-based industrial hub to a planned community with a clear vision for growth. That founding identity, rooted in resilience, innovation, and strategic land use, has shaped our trajectory ever since.” Ajax’s early years were marked by adaptation and reinvention. The massive Defence Industries Limited (DIL) munitions plant, no longer needed after the war, was transformed to meet postwar needs. “From the fall of 1948 to the summer of 1953, 95 NOV 2025 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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