LOCAL FOCUS: Whitby & Oshawa
By NextHome Staff
October 05, 2018
October 05, 2018
by Gale Beeby
LEISURE PURSUITSOshawa is a hockey town and it's not the Maple Leafs that residents are cheering for, it's the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. The team has many successful alumni, including Bobby Orr, Eric Lindros and Rick Middleton, to name but a few.For those seeking more genteel pursuits, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is the largest in Durham Region and features a collection of more than 4,000 works of art.The Whitby Public Library is a state-of-the-art building that offers an extensive array of collections and programs as well as the Whitby archives. The Whitby History Museum and Children's Centre has a unique collection of artifacts that tell the story of early life in Southern Ontario. One of Whitby's best-known historic sites is the infamous Camp X, which was a secret spy training facility during World War II. Established by Sir William Stephenson, the "Man Called Intrepid," British and allied forces also used the camp as a communications link between Britain and the United States with overseas information passing secretly between allied nations.
PARKS & RECThe Oshawa Botanical Gardens is a beautiful oasis that is home to North America's largest contemporary peony collection. Oshawa also boasts beautiful and pristine wildlife preserves, including the Pumphouse Marsh, Second Marsh and the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. On Oshawa's Lake Ontario shoreline you will find Lakeview Park with many picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, a waterfront pier and sandy beaches.There are over 100 parks maintained by Whitby and over 60 kilometres of trails, including the Bio-Diversity Trail, the Cullen Central Park Trails, Otter Creek Trail and the Whitby Shores Waterfront Trail. The 670-acre Lynde Shores Conservation area, together with the adjacent Cranberry West Tract, is known for its wildlife and provides habitat for nesting birds.RETAIL THERAPYThe Oshawa Centre is the largest shopping complex in Durham Region and is home to over 230 establishments that include retail, food outlets and a variety of services. In downtown Oshawa, you'll find a variety of unique shops and restaurants and its here you will find the annual Original Downtown Sidewalk Sale, and the Festival of Murals.In Whitby, Pearson Lane is a historical development that houses boutiques, cafés and services.EASY ACCESSPublic transit is provided by Durham Region Transit, which connects it with the other cities in the region, including Pickering, Ajax, Clarington, Brock and Uxbridge. Highway 401 runs through the south of region and Highway 7 runs across its northern edge. Highway 407 ETR is being extended to Highways 35 and 115 and will cross the top of Durham Region.BY THE NUMBERSWhitby population: 128,400Oshawa population: 159,500Whitby slogan: Community of Choice … for BusinessOshawa slogan: Prepared to be AmazedWalk Scores: Whitby: 43 averageOshawa: 51 averageWhitby.ca Oshawa.ca
The eastern anchors of the Greater Toronto Area
HOUSING OPTIONSBoth the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby have historic downtowns with the requisite collection of century homes, but new subdivisions are quickly changing the landscape.Click here for a fill list of new homes for sale in Oshawa.Click here for a full list of new homes for sale in Whitby.LEISURE PURSUITSOshawa is a hockey town and it's not the Maple Leafs that residents are cheering for, it's the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. The team has many successful alumni, including Bobby Orr, Eric Lindros and Rick Middleton, to name but a few.For those seeking more genteel pursuits, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is the largest in Durham Region and features a collection of more than 4,000 works of art.The Whitby Public Library is a state-of-the-art building that offers an extensive array of collections and programs as well as the Whitby archives. The Whitby History Museum and Children's Centre has a unique collection of artifacts that tell the story of early life in Southern Ontario. One of Whitby's best-known historic sites is the infamous Camp X, which was a secret spy training facility during World War II. Established by Sir William Stephenson, the "Man Called Intrepid," British and allied forces also used the camp as a communications link between Britain and the United States with overseas information passing secretly between allied nations.PARKS & RECThe Oshawa Botanical Gardens is a beautiful oasis that is home to North America's largest contemporary peony collection. Oshawa also boasts beautiful and pristine wildlife preserves, including the Pumphouse Marsh, Second Marsh and the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. On Oshawa's Lake Ontario shoreline you will find Lakeview Park with many picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, a waterfront pier and sandy beaches.There are over 100 parks maintained by Whitby and over 60 kilometres of trails, including the Bio-Diversity Trail, the Cullen Central Park Trails, Otter Creek Trail and the Whitby Shores Waterfront Trail. The 670-acre Lynde Shores Conservation area, together with the adjacent Cranberry West Tract, is known for its wildlife and provides habitat for nesting birds.RETAIL THERAPYThe Oshawa Centre is the largest shopping complex in Durham Region and is home to over 230 establishments that include retail, food outlets and a variety of services. In downtown Oshawa, you'll find a variety of unique shops and restaurants and its here you will find the annual Original Downtown Sidewalk Sale, and the Festival of Murals.In Whitby, Pearson Lane is a historical development that houses boutiques, cafés and services.EASY ACCESSPublic transit is provided by Durham Region Transit, which connects it with the other cities in the region, including Pickering, Ajax, Clarington, Brock and Uxbridge. Highway 401 runs through the south of region and Highway 7 runs across its northern edge. Highway 407 ETR is being extended to Highways 35 and 115 and will cross the top of Durham Region.BY THE NUMBERSWhitby population: 128,400Oshawa population: 159,500Whitby slogan: Community of Choice … for BusinessOshawa slogan: Prepared to be AmazedWalk Scores: Whitby: 43 averageOshawa: 51 averageWhitby.ca Oshawa.ca