Oakville

The Town of Oakville is a thriving community of more than 145,000 people. Oakville is divided into Residential Communities and Employment Districts, each having its own history, character and developmental influences.

Welcome to Oakville

A vibrant and impressive community within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Town of Oakville is a beautiful lakeside city with a strong heritage, preserved and celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Founded in 1827, this striking town has become one of the most coveted residential and business centres in Ontario. And for good reason:

- Great neighbourhoods
- Great places to do business
- Quality schools
- Proximity to Lake Ontario and recreational areas
- Easy access via QEW, 403, 407 and GO Transit
- Charming shopping districts in the downtown core

This thriving city provides all the advantages of a well-serviced urban centre, while also maintaining its small town ambiance. Along historical downtown streets, Oakville offers a mix of converted 19th century buildings which accommodate over 400 fine shops, services and restaurants.

Nestled on the north shore of Lake Ontario, the Town is a 30 minute drive from downtown Toronto and an hour's drive from the U.S. border. Oakville continues to be one of the most desirable communities in the Greater Toronto Area.

Enjoy over 2,400 acres of park space, many with groomed hiking trails, or join a recreation centre which provides programs for all ages. For boaters, Oakville features two picturesque harbours with docks and slips for sail and powerboats

Go Transit offers rail and bus service transportation to commuters from Oakville to Hamilton in the west, and to Toronto and points beyond in the east. There are two GO Transit rail stations in Oakville, Bronte and Oakville as well as two commuter bus stops, 407 & Trafalgar and Sheridan College.

Oakville is within a 30 minute drive to two International Airports, Pearson International Airport and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

A place to do business

Oakville's strong and diversified economic base offers an excellent location for both new and expanding businesses. Currently, over 260 national and international corporate headquarters represent automotive, technology, business service, aerospace, pharmaceutical and tourism sectors.

It's all about quality of life

People who live here are proud of the quality of life this great community has to offer. In a recent survey of residents, 86 per cent say Oakville is a better place to live than anywhere else in the GTA.

Ideally located in a beautiful natural setting, Oakville offers first rate facilities and amenities. The outstanding range of lifestyle choices will continue to make this growing community one in which residents and businesses feel a sense of pride and connection.

Burlington

The City of Burlington is located in southern Ontario on the north shore of Lake Ontario between Hamilton and Toronto.

It is a growing municipality with a population of approximately 151,000 located at the western end of the Greater Toronto area.

Geographical Features

Burlington has a total land area of 187 sq. km (73 sq. miles or 46,300 acres). The urban area is mainly located south of Dundas Street. The land north of Dundas Street is used primarily for agricultural, rural residential, and conservation purposes.

The Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario and the sloping plain between the escarpment and the lake make up the land area. Sailing vessels in the area are used for recreational purposes and moor at a small marina in LaSalle Park. A prominent land mark feature is the 2.2 km long Skyway Bridge which joins Burlington to the City of Hamilton.

Economy

Burlington is located in Canada's largest consumer and industrial market in an area known as the "Golden Horseshoe".

Burlington's economy is not dominated by any single employer or sector. The leading industrial sectors, in terms of employment, are food processing, packaging, electronics, motor vehicle/transportation, business services, chemical/pharmaceutical and environmental.

The largest private sector employers in Burlington are Maple Leaf Meats, ABB Automation, AIC Limited and the Royal Bank of Canada.

The largest public sector employers in Burlington are the City of Burlington, the Halton Board of Education, the Halton Roman Catholic School Board and Joseph Brant Hospital.

Lifestyle

Burlington maintains 1,148 hectares (2,836.7 acres) of park land and has a quality of life second to none. It offers 4 indoor and 2 outdoor pools, 3 splash pads, 7 ice pads, 6 community centres, and 8 golf courses.

Some of the best hiking in the world can be done in the local sections of the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment, which is a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, as well as along the Waterfront Trail that skirts the northern shore of Lake Ontario.

You can relax and take in the Sound of Music Festival in June that features the world famous Burlington Teen Tour Band who have performed in Europe, Japan, and throughout Canada and the United States.

Attractions

Burlington is home to the Royal Botanical Gardens (which has the world's largest lilac collection). The Burlington Art Centre, with its unique national role in collecting contemporary Canadian ceramics, will soon be expanded to house many works by renown Canadian artist Robert Batement. The Joseph Brant Museum (name after the Mohawk Chief) and Ireland House at Oakridge Farm, a history museum depicting family life from the 1850s to the 1920s are also popular attractions.

Burlington has the distinction of having one of the only 2 naturally occurring magnetic hills in Canada. The magnetic hill is located on King road, north of Bayview Park.

History

The City of Burlington achieved city status in 1974, but the history and traditions surrounding the evolution of Burlington extends back much further. The area that we now know as Burlington is a collection of older pioneer communities, some that still retain a unique identity in the current city and some that still only exist in the pages of history.

Mississauga

Formed in 1974, Mississauga is now recognized as Canada's 6th largest and fastest growing major city with a population of 729,000 residents representing cultures from around the world.

Mississauga Is Canada's Gateway

Mississauga is home to Lester B. Pearson International Airport and the greatest concentration of major highways in the country, all of which position Mississauga to serve local, national and international markets and travelers. Local public transit is linked to Toronto and other neighbouring cities, offering a comprehensive network of bus, subway and commuter train routes.

Mississauga Is Safe

Recognized for being the safest city in Canada, Mississauga is a known major focal point for commercial activity, rich in arts, cultural facilities, parks, entertainment, nightlife and world class sport and recreational facilities for all interests that attract residents and visitors alike. Full of tremendous shopping opportunities and home to Square One, Ontario's largest mall, Mississauga is the place to shop till you drop.

Mississauga Is A Corporate Capital

Home to more than 55,000 businesses and a major employment centre within the GTA, Mississauga houses 61 of Canada's Fortune 500 offices providing residents with an opportunity to work close to home.

Mississauga Is Green

We have over 481 parks and woodlands with serene tranquil settings or passive and active recreational facilities with our lakefront parks becoming a boaters haven.

Milton

Milton's earliest beginnings can be traced back to 1825, when an enterprising young man named Jasper Martin built a gristmill on a mill pond. By harvesting the power of the swiftly flowing water, Jasper's gristmill prospered and grew to become the centre of a settlement called Martin's Mills, with a population of just 100 people in 1837.

The townspeople soon changed the name of the town to Milton because of the Martin family's fondness for poet John Milton. The Town of Milton was incorporated in 1857 and the first Town Council meeting was held in the County Buildings, where the current Town Hall is still located, on July 4, 1857.

Today, the Mill Pond is still flourishing in the centre of town, but without the gristmill, surrounded by a landscaped park. This gathering place is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts who want to walk, picnic and fish or just sit on a bench to enjoy the nature around them. From the historic downtown core with a bustling Saturday morning Farmers' Market, to the steady business growth and development throughout the town, Milton has continued to prosper over the years. Nestled at the base of the scenic Niagara Escarpment, Milton is also well known as the preferred tourism destination Escarpment Country.

Community Amenities:

- Full service public hospital and doctors accepting patients
- 10 rural parks and 25 urban parks
- 85 acres Kelso Conservation Area with trails, swimming, boating and downhill skiing
- Leisure centre with pool, gym, waterslide, sauna and activity room
- New twin pad arena and gymnastics centre
- Over 25 golf courses in the area
- A full range of programs and activities for children and families

Major Industrial Growth Sectors:

- Automotive
- Advanced manufacturing
- Distribution
- Food production


Milton's urban expansion area - new growth

Milton's population is projected to grow to approximately 85,000 by the year 2016. This will more than double the existing population before the start of the new housing developments.

Phases of Growth

Phase 1 Residential - Bristol Survey

Phase 1 Residential - Bristol Survey is the area to the east in Milton that is currently being developed. It is the portion of the Halton Urban Expansion Area bounded by Highway 401 to the North, Louis St. Laurent Blvd. (future arterial road) to the South, Thompson Road and Regional Road 25 to the West and James Snow Parkway/Fourth Line to the East. The anticipated build-out of the Bristol Survey provides for upwards of 13,500 total residential units, which will result in an ultimate population of approximately 40,000 people.

Phase 2 Residential - Sherwood Survey

The Town of Milton is currently proceeding to prepare for the development of the Sherwood Survey lands (also known as Phase 2 of the Urban Expansion Area).