Oakville is a beautifull little town in the Halton Region loacted on the shores of Lake Ontario in southern Ontario and forms part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). According to the 2006 Census the population in 2006 was 165,613, representing a 20,875 increase over the 2001 data (14.4% increase). At that time there was 58,828 private dwellings and the median age of the population was 38 years old. Of that housing stock 65% was in the form of single detached homes, 4% were semi-detached, 14% were row houses (townhomes), and the remaining 17% were condos or rental apartments.

As you have probably heard before Oakville enjoys a status as one of Canada's more affluent communities. The median household income in 2005 (across the 46,920 census families) was $101,675 compared to $69,156 for all of Ontario. Further, the Average Value of an owned dwelling in Oakville was reported as being $472,244 versus just $297,479 for Ontario (159% of the provincial average).

English is by far the dominant language (the Mother Tongue for 72% of the population) as is non-immigrant staus for 68% of the population. The towns populus is also reasonably well educated with 30% having a university degree or diploma compared to just 20% of Ontario.

Oakville's Communities:

Oakville is made up of a number of communities each with some defining characteristics. I will be profiling each neighbourhood separately and soon you will be able to just click on the tabs at left corresponding to the neighbourhood you are interested in. For now, I will provide you with a brief overview of some of the areas to get you started.

Morrison (MO): Bounded by the Lake on the south, Cornwall Rd on the north, Maple Grove Dr on the east and Chartwell Rd on the west, Morrison is home to some of the most expensive real estate in Oakville. The area continues to undergo transition as the older smaller homes on large lots get redeveloped as custom buit executive homes and estates. $2MM homes are common place, $3MM-$5MM homes are present in significant number and for the truly well off there are several large mansions in excess of 10,000 s.f. This is a very mature area with tree lined streets. Schools in the area include Maple Grove Public elementary (K-5), E.J. James middle school (6-8), Linbrook elementary (1-5), St. Midreds Lighbourn, St. Vincent's and Oakville Trafalgar High School (9-12). Morrison is also home to the well respected Gairloch Gardens and the Oakville Gallery.

Ford (FD): Immediately east of Morrison, Ford is bounded by the Lake, Cornwall Rd to the north, Maple Grove to the west and Winston Churchill Blvd & the QEW Employment Lands to the east. While Ford has many expensive homes the area is a little more balanced with upper-middle priced homes as well as the luxury trade. It is home to the Maple Grove Arena as well as Chisholm elementary school. In addition to Ford Dr (north/south) Devon Rd is another major road (east/west) that originates off Morrison Rd and terminates at Lakeshore Rd, both of which provide good access through the community. 

Old Oakville (OO): Immediately east of Sixteen Mile Creek, south of Cornwall, west of Chartwell and north of the Lake, Old Oakville is home to the "living heart" of Oakville being the many unique shops and restaurants along Lakshore Rd in the downtown area. It is the original settlement area of the town and is home to the Oakville Harbour with the Oakville Club, Yacht Squadren, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Oakville Curling Club and the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital all located in its boundry. Houses are older and many are deemed Historic by the Historical Board. It's a beautifull area for walking and exploring what Oakville is all about.

Central Oakville (CO): Bounded by Sixteen Mile Creek to the east, Speers Rd & Cornwall Rd to the north, Dorval Dr to the east and the Lake to the south, CO is home to Kerr Village and the West Harbour area. Kerr Village has a diverse collection of shops and businesses and a strong and supportive BIA. The West Harbour area has some magnificent estate homes close to the lake and like other expensive neighbourhoods is undergoing a lot of redevelopment with new large custom built homes replacing old bungalows. CO is also home to Oakville's most prestigious condominium delevopment 111 Forsythe by the Daniels Group.   

South West Oakville (SW): The SW area is bounded by the Lake on the south, Rebecca St on the north, Dorval Drive & St.Judes Cemetery to the east and Third Line to the West. The internationally well known Appleby College is in the area as is Cornation Park. Thomas A. Blakelock High School, St. Thomas Aquinas High Scholl, and Patricia Picknell elementary make their home in this community. SW also is home to the Peter Gilgan Family YMCA, a tremendous facility made possible in large part due to Mr.Gilgan's generosity and great community support.

Bronte (BR): BR is south of Rebecca St, west of Third Line, north of the Lake and east of Burloak Dr. The Bronte are has many significant features including being home to the Bronte Harbour, the Fisherman's Warf, and the Bronte Yacht Club, all of which are graced by the Bronte Creek flowing south through the Bronte Creek Provincial Park and BR into the Lake. BR is home to many affordable homes but is also undergoing a rejuvernation with developers, speculators and renovators buying older, small homes on good size lots and rebuilding or significantly renovating for sale.

Glen Abbey (GA): Glen Abbey covers a large a diverse area from Sixteen Mile Creek in the east, to the Bronte Creek Provincial Park in the west, North Service Rd W in the south and Upper Middle Rd to the north. "Central" Glen Abby around the Pilgrams Way area is characterized by large 4 bedroom homes on good size lots with close proximity to numerous walking trails and parks. GA is home to the famous Glen Abbey Golf Club and the CDN Golf Hall of Fame. Park of the beauty of GA is the result of preservation of nautural woodlands along the many creeks that wind their way through GA. While mostly homes in the 25 year age barket many older ones have gone through extensive renovations and boast beautiful kitchens, baths and finished basements. GA schools include Abbey Park HS, St. Ignatius of Loyola HS, Pilgrim Wood, Abbey Lane and St.Matthew elementary schools.

Westmount (WM): WMis the area north of Upper Middle Rd., east of Bronte Rd., west of Third Line and south of Dundas St. Mostly developed withing the last 8 years this area is mostly single detached homes populated by younger families. Arbourview Woods is a large greenspace area just south of the major east-west route being West Oak Trails Blvd. Schhols in the district include Emily Carr, Captain R Wilson, ST Loan of Arc and Pope John Paul II, all elementary schools. White Oaks Secondary is the high school serving the area.

West Oak Trails (WOT): Bounded by Dundas St. in the north, Upper Middle Rd in the south, Third Line to the west and Sixteen Mile Creek to the east, WOT is another newer community built mostly over the last 10 years or so. Predominantly single family homes. The large Lions Valley Park is on the eatern boundry of the area and is a nice recerational area with extensive bike/walking paths. Forest Trail and West Oak elemenatry schools are in the area as is Mother Teresa. WOT is also host to Oakville's new indoor soccer center, the Pine Glen Soccer Centre, just off Third Line at Pine Glen Rd. Also Oakville's new hospital site is at Third Line and Dundas St on the north side so within very near proximity to WOT.

River Oaks (RO): RO is bounded by Sixteen Mile Creek (SMC) on the west, Trafalgar Rd on the east, Upper Middle Rd on the south and Dundas St to the north. RO has lots of greenspace with not only the SMC valley but also Shannon's Creek, Munns Creek and Morrison Creek West running through it. The large RO Community Centre is located next to the spacious River Oaks Park. Four elementary schools are in the area, Our Lady of Peace, River Oaks, Post Corners and St. Andrews. The Holy Trinity High School is also located in the area while White Oaks High School located in College Park serves RO as well. RO is also home to the newer so called Uptown Core area of Oak Park, a densly populated area of small lots and mid/high rise apartments.

Joshua Creek (JC): Ninth Line to the east, Upper Middle Rd to the south, Eight Line/Glenaston Dr/Grand Blvd to the west and Dundas St to the north form the boundris for JC. JC is a newer area with large homes and upscale townhouses. From a demographic perspective it is probably Oakville's most multi-cultural neighbourhood. Bayshire Woods Park and The Parkway areas are two of the largest greenspace areas in the neighbourhood. Joshua Creek elementary and Iroquois Ridge High School are in the area. JC is also home to the Iroquois Community Centre.  

Falgarwood (FA): FA's boundries are the QE Emplyment Lands/North Service Rd E. to the south, Trafalgar Rd to the west, Upper Middle Rd to the north and Ford Dr./QEW to the east. The area is highly populated with older homes and townhouses to the east and high rise apartments closer to Trafalgar Rd. There are numerous parks and greenspaces in FA with Iroqouis Shoreline Woods Park being the largest. Forest Glade Walkway, Falgarwood Park, Sheridan Hills Park, and Sheridan Valley Park all offer nice family spaces and walkways. The Oakville Municipal offices are located in FA. Schools in the area include Sheridan and Falgarwood elementary schools with the Sly Apps High School located just south of its boundry on Iroquois Shres Rd.

College Park (CP): Bounded by Sixteen Mile Creek to the west, Trafalgar Rd to the east, QEW to the south and Upper Middle Rd to the north, CP is home to the Sheridan Institute of Technology and the Oakville Golf Club. The area is mostly populated with older homes and many back onto nice ravines or green space particularly those along the Sixteen Mile Creek valley. There are also many THs and condos of various ages. A lot of the older homes have been nicely renovated and of course some have been completely rebuilt and replaced with moodern executive homes. Oakville's largest shopping centre Oakville Place, is located at the south east border of CP. There are a number of elementary & junior schools in the area including Munns, Sunningdale, St. John's Lorne Skuce St.Michaels and Montclair as well as White Oaks High School.

Bronte Creek (BC): BC is bordered to the west by the Bronte Creek Provincial Park (BKPK) and Burloak Dr., to the east by Bronte Rd., to the north by Dundast St., and to the south by Upper Middle Rd  and the BCPK. BCPK is by far the largest park and greenspace area in Oakville and hosts a number of recreational activities for the family. Homes in the BC area are new as it's one of the latest subdivision's being built in Oakville. If a big new home on a small lot appeals to you, this is the neighbourhood for you!  

(More to Come later!)