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Welcome to Oakville, Ontario


A vibrant and impressive community within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Town of Oakville is a beautiful lakeside town with a strong heritage, preserved and celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Founded in 1857, 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
  • A full-service acute care community hospital
  • 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 municipality of about 194,000 residents 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.

Destination for both visitors and residents

A 30-minute drive from downtown Toronto, and an hour’s drive from the U.S. border, Oakville is a great destination for visitors.

Residents and visitors enjoy theatre, dance, music and comedy performances at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. They can visit the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate, located in the home of the Chisolms, Oakville’s founding family. Other points of interest include galleries, historical societies and local architecture, especially in heritage neighbourhoods. Oakville is also home to the state-of-the-art Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and the new Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre.

Among the many special attractions and activities for the whole family, Oakville’s annual RibFest and Jazz Festival draw crowds from around the GTA. The community also provides plenty of recreational opportunities. Golfers can play at one of Oakville’s many golf courses, including PGA-recognized Glen Abbey Golf Course, which has hosted the Canadian Open for many years.

Enjoy the 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.

A place to do business

Oakville’s strong and diversified economic base offers an excellent location for both new and expanding businesses. Currently, 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 said 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.

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About Oakville

City of Oakville, Ontario

Oakville is a town in southern Ontario, located in Halton Region on Lake Ontario halfway between Toronto and Hamilton. At its 2016 census population of 193,832, it is Ontario's largest town. Oakville is part of the Greater Toronto Area, one of the most densely populated areas of Canada.

History

In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road. In 1805, the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada bought the lands between Etobicoke and Hamilton from the indigenous Mississaugas people, except for the land at the mouths of Twelve Mile Creek (Bronte Creek), Sixteen Mile Creek, and along the Credit River. In 1807, British immigrants settled the area surrounding Dundas Street as well as on the shore of Lake Ontario.In 1820, the Crown bought the area surrounding the waterways. The area around the creeks, 960 acres (3.9 km2), ceded to the Crown by the Mississaugas, was auctioned off to William Chisholm in 1827. He left the development of the area to his son, Robert Kerr Chisholm, and his brother-in-law, Merrick Thomas. Chisholm also formed shipbuilding business in Oakville Navy Street and Sixteen Mile Creek (Halton Region) and lasted until 1842, but shipbuilding in Oakville lasted into the late 20th century.The population in 1846 was 1,500. The community shipped large quantities of wheat and lumber via schooners and the railway.

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