Northern Communities

By Jacquelyn Francis

Finding a person or family that has moved north of Canada's biggest metropolis is not an easy task. And the reason is this: they've moved there to get away from itall.

"I would say a lot of people moving to these areas are either in the twilight of their careers who still want access to urban areas. Or they're young families who don't want the traditional suburban experience. So they're going further out of the city," says Tim Smith, of Urban Strategies, a Toronto urban planning firm with clients ranging from municipalities to housing developers.

"The attraction is the natural beauty and the amenities. These places are accessible and the journey is not what it used to be. Things, like the Internet, have made the world smaller," he adds.

While Barrie?one of North America's fastest growing communities?continues to boom, much of the "Northern Reaches", which also encompasses Innisfil, Orillia, Collingwood, Wasaga, and Muskoka, is suited for those in search of solitude. The area is dotted with lakes, forested areas, and a charm that lends itself well to a recreational property or adult lifestyle community. But even here, urbanization on a smaller, softer scale, does exist: "You can still get an espresso or find a good used book store," says Smith.

"I grew up here, left, then came back," says Lori Brouwer, a 36-year-old mother of three, who lived near Toronto, long enough to discover it was not the place for her and her family. She sold a home in Mississauga for a profit and was able to reduce her mortgage in Barrie, yet still aspires to live somewhere even smaller. "People are moving here to get away from the busyness of the city," says Brouwer. "It's just a little more small-town."

It"s similar for Joy Douglas and her husband Adrian. Although both were raised in Etobicoke, they had their hearts set on buying a home after marrying. The couple bought new in Barrie in 2000 and took possession of their detached 1,830-square foot home with a two-car garage a year later. To this day Joy, a stay-at-home mom whose husband teaches in Barrie, is still hard pressed to explain what made their minds up, but it's obvious the natural environment of Barrie played a huge part.

"We came and it felt right, and it was the right price," says Douglas. And while their home wasn't built yet, a community had been started. "It was so beautiful," she says. "There were trees and there was a lake at the end of the street."

"It's an awful lot like Etobicoke was when we were growing up 30 years ago. It feels safe for the kids and we love it," says Douglas. "It has so much to offer year round. In the winter there's skiing and in the summer you can actually swim in the water."

"When I came here I felt like I wouldn't have to move," says Douglas.

Simcoe County which includes Wasaga and Collingwood in its boundaries has seen annual growth of two and three per cent over the last two decades says Ian Bender, Director of Planning for Simcoe County.

"We've attracted a large retirement community," he says. "Collingwood is well-known for its condominiums, be it of a recreational or residential nature." And maintaining its core charm is what makes these stretches so appealing.

"Collingwood in particular has been able to preserve its downtown. It's very upscale and ambient," says Bender. "These communities have established a niche for themselves. Wasaga Beach has developed a reputation as a great place to retire with excellent recreational opportunities."

And when asked to explain his reasons for spending the last 11 years as a "Northern Reaches" resident, Bender provides a straightforward response that one would expect of the person who seeks solitude: "I can drive to work and only go through one traffic light."