Norval

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Norval
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      History:

      Norval was first settled in the 1820s by James McNab a United Empire Loyalist from Niagara. McNab was industrious and quickly established a complex of mills along the banks of the Credit River. The community originally took on its founders name and was called McNabsville or McNab’s Mill. The name was changed to Norval in 1836 when the local post office was established. The Norval name made reference to a line in the popular Scottish play Douglas by poet John Home. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway station in Norval in 1856 was the impetus for the growth of this hamlet. Dorval’s most famous resident is Lucy Maud Montgomery the renowned author of Anne of Green Gables. Montgomery resided in Norval from 1925-36, with her husband Ewen MacDonald who was a Presbyterian minister and their two children. In addition to being an active member of the community; Montgomery wrote three novels as well as poems and short stories during her time in Norval

      Overview:

      Norval is a small rural hamlet located in the southeast section of Halton Hills. This community its set in the beautiful Credit River Valley surrounded by nature. Silver Creek a tributary of the Credit River is situated on the west border that separates Norval from neighbouring Georgetown. The Terra Cotta Conservation area is situated just to the north of Norval and Sheridan Nurseries Norval farm is just to the south. Norval is best known as the former home of Canadian legend and author Lucy Maud Montgomery who had a great love for Norval and its bucolic setting. The Norval Community Association maintains Lucy Maud Montgomery Childrens Garden of the Senses located in the middle of this hamlet off Guelph Street. Soon visitors to Norval will be able to visit the L.M. Montgomery Museum & Literary Centre which will be housed in the restored church manse that was the former home of Montgomery.

      Lifestyle:

      There a few shops in the centre of the hamlet at the main crossroads of Guelph Street (Hwy 7) and Winston Churchill Blvd. These include the Norval convenience store which is known for its butter tarts. Norval residents do the bulk of their shopping in nearby Georgetown which offers a plethora of shopping options.

      Homes:

      Norval has a nice collection of heritage homes with whimsical features. These homes sit proudly on country size lots, but they are not to far  apart that you cannot run over to your neighbours house for a cup of sugar. This is a small self contained community with pretty tree lined streets.

      Recreation:

      Willow Park Ecology Centre is an award-winning outdoor education centre, encompassing 5 acres in a beautiful valley setting. This centre offers a myriad of nature-based programs for children, teens and adults. The Terra Cotta Conservation area located at 14452 Winston Churchill Blvd just north of Norval offers year round recreational opportunities from cycling, hiking and picnicking in the spring, summer and fall, to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and skating on the pond in the wintertime.

      Arts:

      The Children’s Garden of the Senses is a Sensory Garden. The Garden is dedicated to the famous Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery and it pays tribute to her writings especially about gardens and landscapes which she describes in a very sensory way. The Garden is a fun-filled interactive sensory garden for for people of all ages that allows individuals to regain contact with nature through the use of the human senses. There are a variety of programs offered here from June through September.

          Norval Stats

          Walkability:

          Medium

          Bikeability:

          High

          Public Transit:

          Low

          Affordability:

          Medium

          Greenspace:

          High

          Recreation:

          Medium

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          10 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          20 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          15 Minutes
          Time to Toronto Pearson International Airport
          30 Minutes
          Time to Closest Highway:
          10 Minutes

          * All commuting times provided are approximate times only. Commute times may increase or decrease depending on where you live within the neighbourhood and the time of day i.e rush hour versus off hour commutes. Time estimates to public transit are based on walking distance or bus line connection whichever is quicker. All other commute times on the chart above are based on drive times.