Clarington, ON
Clarington sits on the very east end of the GTA just outside of Oshawa. It is not a large city, having a population of around 85,000 people, which is thanks to the joining of the communities of Darlington, Bowmanville, Newcastle and Clarke. It was renamed Clarington in 1994, combining the names of the former towns into one. Since then it has had a strong hold on the automotive and nuclear power industries, although many residents do commute and work in other areas of Durham. Some also commute to Toronto.
Bowmanville is the largest community in the city and is considered to be Clarington’s downtown area. The very south part of it sits along Lake Ontario, though it is King Street East that is the area’s main strip and where the greatest selection of restaurants and bars can be found. It is also the most popular area in terms of living thanks to its infrastructure and amenities. Newcastle is a great area to call home, as it is a tight-knit community with some really good schools.
Clarington has the highest percentage of English-speaking residents in all of the GTA, with over 90 percent having it as their mother tongue. In terms of transportation, most residents get around by car, however there are a few bus routes that travel along main roads throughout the city. Bowmanville is the best connected area in terms of public transportation, with many buses passing through the community. It is also home to a GO Transit station, with buses linking it to other cities within Durham as well as to Toronto. A great thing about living in Clarington if you are environmental friendly or you love the outdoors is that there are numerous cycling routes throughout the entire city.
Many residents find Clarington to be a great place to live due to its excellent arts community. There are two small galleries here; the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington and The Clarington Artists & Artisans Outlet, both of which are highly recommended in any Clarington city guide. The city is also home to Jungle Cat World, the Clarington Museums and Archives and the Bowmanville Museum. At Christmas, the city hosts five different Santa Claus Parades, with one in each of the communities of Bowmanville, Courtice, Newcastle, Orono, and Enniskillen/Tyrone.