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Brampton has evolved from a quaint farming community to Canada's ninth-largest city

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A City of Brampton welcome sign is pictured in April, 1982. Back then, the city’s population was only 141,000 – a fraction of where it presently stands.Dennis Robinson/The Globe and Mail

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A view of town homes in Brampton’s Mount Pleasant subdivision. Now, the city’s population is approaching 550,000, making Brampton the ninth-largest city in Canada.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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Former Ontario premier Bill Davis tours the Brampton Fall Fair in September, 1971. When Mr. Davis was elected premier, Brampton was a quaint bedroom community of 72,000 people.John McNeill/The Globe and Mail

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Jagbir Bath, 15 (centre), performs drills during a soccer practice with the Sikh Sports Club house league in Brampton. The city's population growth has been driven by immigrant arrivals.Philip Cheung/The Globe and Mail

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New houses are shown under construction in Brampton in December, 1985.Thomas Szlukovenyl/The Globe and Mail

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Town homes on Sidford Road in the Mount Pleasant subdivision. Unlike generic-looking subdivisions, this Brampton project breaks away from the traditional suburban layout. Across from the square's pond/skating rink are town homes with retail shops on the ground floor. As well, some blocks have rear lanes where homeowners access their garages for parking.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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A Brampton street view in April, 1982.Dennis Robinson/The Globe and Mail

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From left: Rohit Luthra, Ricky Mann and Chamkila Punjab are regular visitors to the Chandni Chowk plaza. Located at the corner of Ray Lawson Blvd. and McLaughlin Road, the plaza is a popular destination for people looking for Indian groceries, goods and services. The latest Statscan figures show that visible minorities now make up two-thirds of Brampton’s population.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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Brampton’s city council and mayoral office is pictured in April, 1982.Dennis Robinson/The Globe and Mail

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A shop at the Chandni Chowk plaza. The plaza's name comes from the famous marketplace in Old Delhi, and features everything from a jeweller selling 22-karat gold to a shop selling Indian sweets.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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An aerial view of Brampton in 1965.Harry McLorinan/The Globe and Mail

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A row of large windows of Indian market Subzi Mandi has become a de facto bulletin board for the Indian population that calls the area around the Chandni Chowk plaza home. Most ads are for rental accommodations but other services and goods are also posted.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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