Grimsby and Stoney Creek
By on Apr 22, 2008
Nestled at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment, along picturesque Highway 8, and adjacent to the QEW, are the communities of Stoney Creek and Grimsby. Proximity to Hamilton has transformed Stoney Creek into a suburb community wholly unique from its neighbours. After being amalgamated into the new city of Hamilton, Stoney Creek has become one of the fastest growing areas here.With almost 10 kilometres of lakefront, Stoney Creek attracts nature lovers year-round.
The geography of Stoney Creek allows residents to live in either an urban, suburban, or rural area, within minutes of shopping, recreational facilities, and employment opportunities. No two points in the city are more than 30 minutes apart, and it's not just school children who get to go home for lunch.
Historically, Stoney Creek is as significant as its neighbours in the Niagara Region. The Battle of Stoney Creek marked the deepest inroad that the Americans were able to make into Upper Canada. The British forces' victory at Stoney Creek was considered a turning point in the War of 1812.
Just 20 kilometres down the road from Stoney Creek is the Town of Grimsby, a fetching community of lush farmland. Grimsby is grape country and is home to many fine wineries. Known as the Gateway to Niagara, Grimsby offers all of the advantage of small-town Ontario life, with the convenience of bigger nearby cities such as Hamilton and St. Catharines.
In 1787, about 40 United Empire Loyalists settled in Grimsby at the mouth of Forty Mile Creek. The town has gone through numerous changes: it began as a small rural village, then became a manufacturing centre for metal products, its current incarnation as hub of the Niagara Peninsula's fruit growing industry.
There are more than 100 retail stores in Grimsby including beer and liquor outlets, wine boutiques, a post office, a hospital, a library, an art gallery, a museum, and a tourist information centre, to provide details on things to do and see in Grimsby and the region. Fine restaurants and friendly bed and breakfast establishments abound.
Grimsby features hundreds of acres of parks on the lakeshore, along the Niagara Escarpment, and downtown. It is an ideal place for a picnicking while enjoying nature at its finest.
Grimsby
Population: 19,000
Age: Village in 1787
Location: 70 km southwest of Toronto
Highways: QEW, 8
Airports: Serviced by John C. Munroe International Airport, Hamilton
Public Transit: City and regional bus service
Education: The District School Board of Niagara operates six elementary schools and one secondary school; The Niagara Catholic District School Board operates two elementary and one secondary school
Emergency Services: Niagara Regional Policing, OPP, and 911 emergency coverage
Tourist/Cultural and Recreation Facilities: Two marinas with free boat ramp, hiking through the Niagara Escarpment and Bruce Trail, winery tours, galleries, museums, camping, fishing, and many annual festivals including Wayzgoose, a book festival held the last weekend of April, and the Nelles Boulevard Art Festival in early September
Stoney Creek
Population: 55,000 (Hamilton's total population is 450,000)
Age: Village in 1786, 1984 achieved city status, 2002 amalgamated into the City of Hamilton
Location: 65 km southwest of Toronto
Highways: QEW, 406, 403, 8
Airports: John C. Munroe International Airport, Hamilton
Public Transit: City and regional bus service
Education: The District Hamilton Wentworth School Board operates six elementary schools and three secondary schools; Post secondary schools include McMaster University, Mowhawk College, and Redeemer University College.
Emergency Services: Hamilton Wentwork Regional Policing, OPP, and 911 emergency coverage
Tourist/Cultural and Recreation Facilities: Both Stoney Creek and Hamilton offer an endless number of attractions and recreational facilities including art galleries, theatres, parks, beaches, golf courses, hiking, skating, festivals, and more, the Stoney Creek Historical Society operates Battlefield House and provides re-enactments of the Battle of Stoney Creek
