Whitby, ON Area Guide

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Family friendly Public transit is accessible Walkable to grocery stores Yards are well-kept Lots of parks Walkable to restaurants Friendly neighbors Safe at night Pet friendly Streets have sidewalks A quiet area Sense of community

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Whitby, ON

Located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario just a 45 minute drive away from the Greater Toronto Area, Whitby a popular commuter suburb for those who choose to work in downtown Toronto. While the southern portion of Whitby is the urban business and commercial centre of the Durham region and offers many employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical and transport industry, the northern region is largely rural. The town is the ideal choice if you want to live within easy commuting distance of the GTA and this Whitby Livability guide will make it easy to see why.

Whitby has a number of new developments and you’ll have a good choice of house styles and sizes to choose from. And because it’s a little further off from downtown Toronto (and a longer commute), your choices are a lot more affordable. Additionally, living spaces tend to be larger and set in safe, municipally maintained communities. Many professionals, particularly those with young children, prefer to live in this family friendly suburb and take the GO train which offers convenient access between Whitby and Toronto. The Durham Region transit also offers a number of bus services within town and to neighbouring communities. Part of the reason Whitby is so popular with families is the large number of good public and catholic schools in the area. Amongst these is the upmarket Trafalgar Castle School, an independent school for women. However, one thing that this robust infrastructure of the town lacks is comprehensive health care options. Although Whitby is one of the bigger towns in the country, with many clinics and specialized private practices, it lacks a full service hospital. For this, you’ll have to travel to nearby Oshawa or Ajax.

Whitby offers the best of both worlds in terms of lifestyle – easy access to Toronto’s commercial centre as well as beautiful nature that includes tranquil paths along the Waterfront Trail. The community is a warm and welcoming one with a tight knit population of mostly European descent. After English, Italian is the most commonly spoken language. As any Whitby resident will tell you, the best place to get a glimpse of this proud local culture is at the Whitby Farmers’ Market, a must attend for fresh produce and hand crafted products. For your everyday necessities and groceries, you’ll have plenty to choose from at one of the big box stores in Brock Street and Taunton. Downtown Whitby also offers a range of retail options, from boutiques to big brand stores, as well as a range of restaurants and pubs that are popular resident hang out spots. Downtown Whitby is also home to cultural and educational institutions, including he Whitby Public Library and the Whitby History Museum, which offer great resources and make for a productive field trip for children and their families.