Old Oakville
History:
Oakville’s founding father was a man by the name of William Chisolm. Following the Mississauga Purchase of 1805 between the First Nations Mississauga and the British Crown, loyalist William Chisolm would purchase 960 Acres of land from the Crown for $4116. Chisholm had a vision to harvest timber from the vast oak forest that proliferated on his estate and to then turn this lumber into seaworthy ships for the British empire. In order to turn this vision into reality Chisolm first had to set up saw and grist mills along the banks of 16 Mile Creek. Chisolm was also instrumental in establishing a working harbour at the mouth of the creek where it meets up with Lake Ontario. Once the infrastructure was in place for a flourishing ship-building enterprise Chisolm embarked on surveying the town and overseeing the building of homes for all the people employed at his shipyard. Chisolm’s own residence was a fine Georgian home known as Erchless which in Gaelic means “by the stream”. Six generations of Chisolm’s resided at Erchless before it was sold to the Town of Oakville in 1976. It has served at the Oakville Museum ever since.
Editor Note: Oakville was a terminus for the Underground Railroad, and signified freedom for many African-Americans who fled to Canada. Their story is brought to life at the Oakville Museum on Navy Street.
Overview:
Old Oakville is one of the prettiest and most charming towns in the Greater Toronto Area. Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario Old Oakville is known for its historic downtown shopping district, plethora of private schools and pretty residential streetscapes that are lined with heritage century homes designated with historic plaques. Old Oakville is a lakefront community with plenty of waterfront parks and promenades providing idyllic strolling and picnic areas with beautiful waterfront vistas.
Old Oakville doubles as the downtown core for the Town of Oakville. Oakville landmarks situated in this neighbourhood include: Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Town Square with it’s iconic clock tower, Erchless Estates (also known as the Oakville Museum), and the esteemed Appleby College boys private school. Old Oakville has long been a preferred destination for corporate executives and their families who value the vast array of schools, the charm of this neighbourhood and the convenience of being located so close to Mississauga and Toronto where many international companies have their Canadian head offices.
Lifestyle:
Old Oakville residents tend to be affluent as this is one of the pricier communities in the GTA. Strolling along the Lakeshore with it’s many fine coffee shops, bakeries, pastry shops, clothing stores, home decor, and restaurants is a popular activity. Additional shopping options include: Trafalgar Village, a small outdoor plaza located just on the outskirts of the neighbourhood and Oakville Place an indoor shopping mall with over 100 brand name retailers.
Homes:
Old Oakville is known for its magnificent collection of historical homes dating back to the mid and late 1800s. Most of these are concentrated south of Lakeshore and are designated with historical plaques that provide information on who the original occupant was, what their vocation was i.e. shipbuilder, and when the house was built. Sprinkled amongst these heritage homes are early 1900s Tudor, Georgian and Arts and Crafts style dwellings and custom infill housing with more contemporary designs.
North of Lakeshore the houses are not quite as old or in many instances as big but they are still very charming examples of Arts and Crafts, English Cottage and Tudor and Colonial and Georgian style homes. There are also a fair number of townhomes and boutique condo buildings interspersed throughout the downtown core.
Recreation:
Boats are a big part of Oakville’s past and present. The Oakville Club located at 56 Water Street is a private club founded over 100 years ago. While yachting and boating are at the core of the club’s foundation, today’s members also enjoy tennis courts, a swimming pool, fitness area, a clubhouse, lounge and dining.
If you prefer a more low key approach you might find what you are looking for in the Oakville Yacht Squadron, a club dedicated to the education and exploration of sailing, incorporating the benefits of both racing and cruising. This family club operates as a self-help club. Everyone pitches in to get the work done – “and we have fun doing it.”
Old Oakville waterfront trails and promenades provide opportunities for all citizens to see and enjoy this beautiful waterfront location.
Arts:
Oakville Centre for the performing Arts is situated in the core of downtown Oakville on Navy Street, occupying the block between Rebecca Street and Lakeshore Road, and overlooking Sixteen Mile Creek. The Oakville Centre is an intimate theatre designed to provide an optimum viewing experience for everybody in the theatre.
Oakville Centre is town-owned and town-funded, with a mandate to serve the performing arts needs of the residents of Oakville. Oakville Centre is busy year round with over 70 performances a year, providing patrons with the opportunity to see world class concerts, international artists, award-winning Canadian musicians, dance, live theatre and more. Plus, 230 additional performances are presented by the local community including the Oakville Drama Series, Burl-Oak Theatre Group, Oakville Symphony, and a number of local dance studio performances.
Old Oakville Stats
Walkability:
High
Bikeability:
High
Public Transit:
Medium
Affordability:
Low
Greenspace:
High
Recreation:
High
Legend: Low, Medium, High
Commute Times
* 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.