GTA Neighbourhoods

CENTRAL

The City of Vaughan includes Thornhill, Woodbridge, Maple, and Kleinburg, and was developed mainly because of its proximity to Yonge Street, Toronto, and the Don River. Strong family neighbourhoods with easy access to shopping, restaurants, sporting facilities, and schools abound. Billed as a friendly, down-to-earth region, Richmond Hill is a city that focuses on managing growth in order to provide a safe, clean town that fosters diversity. If you?re looking for more of a small town atmosphere, Newmarket boasts a quaint, historical main street and access to the Holland River Trail System and Fairy Lake, while The Upper Canada Mall is just one example of many big city amenities. Aurora's 500 acres of parkland is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Events include concerts in the park and the Magna Hoedown. Markham meanwhile is a growing community with new housing developments, businesses, quality schools, parks, and recreational areas. Markham also offers community events such as the Markham Fair, the Festival of Lights, the Jazz Festival and more.

DOWNTOWN

Toronto is Canada's largest city and home to a plethora of cultures. The top languages spoken in Toronto are English, Chinese, Italian, Tamil, Portuguese, and Spanish. It has a theatre scene rivalled only by London and New York and some of the best dining offered anywhere. Ongoing international festivals of film, culture, and music, not to mention waterfront beaches, boardwalks, and trails are what make Toronto so cosmopolitan. It's also one of the safest cities in the world. Attractions include the CN Tower, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Skydome, Casa Loma, Ontario Place, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Getting a feel for the Downtown isn?t difficult at all, merely jump on a streetcar or put on the runners and work your way from Greektown to Little Italy, Chinatown to the Village, the Queen Street shopping district to the St. Lawrence Market and get a feel.

NORTH

Barrie is a sporty community offering special events, festivals, and a breathtaking waterfront area. Highlights include the Serendipity Princess and the Kempenfest Arts and Crafts Festival. Rolling hills and Georgian Bay make Collingwood a great place for the year-round outdoor enthusiasts. Tennis, boating, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, hiking, and extreme mountain biking are just a few of the activities available. Through the summer there is a Triathlon, Horseshow, and, lest we forget, the Collingwood Elvis Festival. Resting on Lake Simcoe helps to make Keswick a major tourist destination. Its shops, museums, boating trips, beaches, and countryside lend the area a relaxing and beautiful feel. On lakes Couchiching and Simcoe lies Orillia. The landmark Orillia Opera House and Casino Rama have become destinations for both the local and the visitor while the Trent-Severn waterway is a picturesque stroll or sail. For the young-at-heart the North region offers up Wasaga Beach?nightlife, volleyball tournaments, Corvette Weekend, car shows, Kitefest, fireworks, and eight sandy white beaches give the North a vital and energetic vibe.

EAST

Durham Region lies to the east of Toronto, it's a diverse landscape of woods, headwaters, ridges and hollows, and farmlands with dotted lakes to the north. Pickering brings 220 hectares of groomed parkland to its 50 parks. A waterfront path is being developed as part of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail System. Located next door to Toronto, Pickering is very much a commuter's ideal. Waterfront is also a key feature for Ajax, a town offering a unique history and wonderful footpaths for the explorer. Oshawa is still close enough to Toronto to offer the benefits of a big city, while avoiding the high housing costs and gridlock congestion. In fact, Oshawa?s housing prices are 40 per cent lower than Toronto, but the commute is manageable. Don't miss the Parkwood Estate, Canadian Automotive Museum, or the annual Waterfront Festival.

Whitby has maintained the architectural heritage of its buildings, preserving the historical character of the town, however, a housing boom has made this a favourite for Toronto commuters. Turn-of-the-century homes line the streets of Cobourg, adding a unique sense of community. Peterborough and the Kawarthas is very much a year-round community. Think skating by the lift-locks or hockey on the Trent Canal in the winter, or racing ice flows down the Otonabee River in the spring. In the summer, cottagers return and farmers markets are where fresh hearty meals are conceived. If you can imagine sitting in an outdoor medieval castle courtyard, under a blue sky you will get an idea of what Port Hope's Capitol Theatre brings to this area. Port Hope also offers some of the most diverse year-round fishing in Ontario and the Port Hope Agricultural Fall Fair is one of Canada's oldest. Uxbridge is home to Lucy Maud Montgomery's former residence, the Leaskdale Manse. An inspiration to its inhabitants, Leaskdale is now a national historic site, recognizing L.M. Montgomery's many writing accomplishments.

WEST

Mississauga is Canada's 6th largest city and home to Lester B. Pearson International Airport houses Square One, Ontario's largest shopping mall. Mississauga is also a major business centre. Enjoy art and theatre at the Living Arts Centre or visit the Rhododendron Gardens for a break from the office. Brampton is the "Flowertown of Canada" and its many lakes provide a great setting for leisure activities. Caledon offers great natural features like the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Niagara Escarpment, and the agricultural land of Peel Plain. It has many historic villages scattered nearby such as Tera Cotta, Inglewood, Cheltenham, Bolton, and Belfountain. Orangeville is most noted for its dramatic hills and landscapes, but the Opera House Theatre and Heritage District grant the downtown core a bustling feel. Nearby is the Bruce Trail and Grand River for those looking to flex the muscles. Surrounded by some of the best universities in Canada?Wilfred Laurier University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Guelph?Cambridge is at the centre of the "Technology Triangle" in the Region of Waterloo. It's also home to Southworks Outlet Mall located in a 150 year old restored Foundry. Halton Region is mainly an agricultural community comprised of four municipalities: the City of Burlington and the towns of Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. Burlington is just north of the American border and has the world?s largest collection of lilacs and roses at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Located in the rural area around and between Halton Hills and Milton are unique country experiences like the St. Jacobs Market, one of the biggest farmer's markets in Ontario. Others perks are the Elora Gorge, the Wings of Paradise Conservatory, the Carolinian forest, Grand River, Sportsworld, or the African Lion Safari. Oakville has a rich cultural life, both past and present that attracts new residents and business alike. From booming developments to dramatic waterfront properties, Oakville is home to a wide range of individuals seeking culture and quality intheir surroundings.