Oakville is a lovely and vibrant town on the shores of Lake Ontario. One of the GTA’s most affluent communities, Oakville offers residents and visitors alike a dynamic mix of historic, cultural, recreational and shopping choices.
Founded in 1827, Oakville was the site of the first privately-owned harbour in Upper Canada, with founder William Chisholm’s son, George King, becoming the first mayor when the town was incorporated in 1857.
The historic downtown area of Oakville still contains many original 19th-century buildings, now converted into shops, restaurants and services, and preserves a charming small-town feel.
Oakville, however, is a very modern town, with a healthy business economy. However, residents here are very proud of the attractive lifestyle in Oakville, and development aims to minimize anything that will detract from it.
As a waterfront town, much of Oakville’s development has centred along the lake, with many lovely neighbourhoods, such as Eastlake, Ennisclare Park, Charnwood, Southwest Oakville, Bronte, Glenorchy, Clearview, Lakeshore Woods and Old Oakville spread along the Lakeshore.
Oakville is well-known for its spectacular estate homes, many with private waterfront lots. Styles range from the traditional to modern minimalism, with the ultimate in luxury amenities, such as indoor pools, wine cellars, conservatories, and beautifully landscaped acreage.
However, there are many options for home buyers with less than several million to spend. Oakville has everything from semi-detached and town homes, to executive two storey homes, to both low-rise and high-rise condominiums. Communities north of the QEW are highly desirable with the more mature areas lying south of Upper Middle Road from West to East including Glen Abbey, College Park, home of Sheridan College and Falgarwood; north of Upper Middle from West to East newer housing developments inlcude Bronte Creek, Westmount, WestOak Trails, River Oaks, Wedgewood Creek and Joshua Creek.
Oakville is also well-known for its quality schools; there are over 25 public and over 15 Catholic elementary schools, 5 public and 3 Catholic secondary schools, French schools and many faith-based, Montessori and private schools, including the prestigious Appleby College. Also located here is Sheridan College, with excellent animation and business programs.
Health care in Oakville is provided by the full-service Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. A new larger hospital is scheduled to begin construction in 2011, at the corner of Dundas Street and Third Line, which will eventually replace the existing one. Oakville also has complete fire and EMS service.
Oakville offers a rich cultural experience, from the annual Jazz Festival, the Bronte Maple Syrup Festival, to the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts and many galleries, museums and heritage sites.
For those seeking outdoor activities, Oakville has over 2,400 acres of park space, with walking, biking and heritage trails; two harbours with slips for boating enthusiasts; and community centres in Glen Abbey, River Oaks, Iroquois Ridge and West Oakville offering a variety of programs. Perhaps most famously, the Glen Abbey Golf Course is located in Oakville, home for several years to the Canadian Open.
Oakville is well-connected to the GTA and the rest of southern Ontario by the QEW, 403, 407 and GO Transit.
In Oakville, quality of life is the focus, resulting in a sophisticated yet fun and creative community.
Find Listings in Oakville and surrounding areas click here
For more information on Oakville Real Estate click here
Oakville Schools
