Neighborhood Information

The Region of Durham : Where We Live, Work and Play

Welcome to our neighborhood information page. We love living and working in Port Perry and when it comes the local Durham and Lake Scugog real estate market, nobody knows the area better than we do. Below we've provided you with a wealth of valuable information to help you get better acquainted with the communities we are proud to serve. Remember, when finding your dream home the first important step is choosing the right neighborhood in the perfect community to fit your needs. Our thriving communities here in the Durham Region are a great place to live, work, and play, providing residents with a variety of recreational opportunities, fine schools, healthy economy and an overall exceptional quality of life. Choose from one of the locations below to learn more about the natural and physical beauty that make our Port Perry, Lake Scugog, and Durham communities the perfect place to call home:

For more detailed demographical information on any other city in Ontario please visit our community profiles page.

Port Perry

Port Perry is nestled in the township of Scugog, and is located just over an hour's drive from Metropolitan Toronto. It is situated on and around the shores of Lake Scugog which is one of Southern Ontario 's largest bodies of water. The serenity of the water is combined with the gently rolling countryside, and the thriving commercial and business centre of Port Perry. No matter what the season, the lakeside atmosphere of Downtown Port Perry serves as the backdrop for the region's finest shopping, all-season sports activities, quality entertainment and just plain relaxation you'll find anywhere.

Set in Victorian architecture, Downtown Port Perry's unique shops are always full of the latest fashions in clothing & apparel plus eye-catching home furnishings and decor. Art galleries, antiques, bookstores and nooks filled with unique gift ideas and infinite treasures await you.

The tastes of Port Perry are as diverse as the town. Enjoy lunch café style on an open air patio, enjoy an afternoon tea tradition with friends or snack on the freshest selection of candy and sugar cone ice cream found anywhere. Take in a community theatre production or musical performance at Town Hall 1973.

Scugog's Municipal Government located in Port Perry, administers such local matters as fire protection, planning and development, economic development, tax collection, waste collection, recreation services, municipal by-laws, library services and the maintenance of over 400 kilometers of roads. Durham Region is responsible for police protection, waste transfer and landfill sites, sewer and water services, overall planning, social services and economic development for the region.

Port Perry offers housing options from cottages to luxurious lakefront residences, from starter homes to Victorian Mansions. No matter what your style is Port Perry is a great year round choice for you and your family. Move to Port Perry and you've got an array of local museums, wineries, art galleries, and shopping at your doorstep. If relaxation is what you crave after work, there's no better place to simply relax and unwind. Enjoy the spectacular views while having a picnic lakeside at Palmer Park or take a stroll down the scenic Boardwalk or Waterfront Trail.

There is no other location in Ontario like Port Perry offering such small town charm, with big city appeal.

North on Simcoe Road just off Castle harbour road you'll discover the luxury and tranquility of Honey harbour Heights. Overlooking Lake Scugog in the Town of Port Perry, this exclusive waterfront community can be your cottage and home, all in one. To learn more about this charming community contact us today and receive valuable neighborhood information as well as the most up to date listings in the area. we am proud to be the exclusive realtor for the luxury community of Honey harbour Heights.

Township of Scugog  

The Township of Scugog is located approximately 65 kilometres northeast of Metropolitan Toronto. It is situated on and around the shores of Lake Scugog which is one of Southern Ontario 's largest bodies of water. This combined with the scenic gently rolling countryside, the thriving commercial and business centre of Port Perry and several smaller villages such as Blackstock and Greenbank provides for a wide range of lifestyle and business opportunities. The Township is made up of what used to be four distinct municipalities: the Village of Port Perry and the Townships of Cartwright, Reach, and Scugog (Scugog Island). The Township of Scugog is one of eight municipalities forming the Region of Durham.

Housing

 Whatever the home of your dreams may be; from wilderness retreats to modern homes on the lakefront, from cosy apartments to elegant Victorian mansions, you'll find it in Scugog.

A number of new subdivisions are currently under construction within the Township. As well, a broad range of re-sales are consistently available, as are rental homes and apartments.

Population

Currently, the Township of Scugog is home to 20,173 persons, in a total of 7,437 private dwellings. The urban centre of Port Perry has a population of approximately 7,000 residents. The Township of Scugog demonstrates typical characteristics of a family-oriented community with the majority of the population between the ages of 30 and 54.

It is of further interest to note that the Township of Scugog's population will continue to grow well into the future. Seniors, families and young people alike consistently rate Scugog highly because of its quality of life, its recreation and leisure opportunities and its excellent services available to residents of the community.

Jobs & Commerce

Being part of the "Greater Toronto Area", Scugog is an ideal location for businesses to thrive. In addition to our flourishing retail centre, we have four industrial parks, as well as many small businesses in the rural areas. We are finding that many businesses are re-locating here due to the unique lifestyle that Scugog offers employees.

Health Care

As the Township's largest urban centre, Port Perry is home to most of Scugog's Health Care practitioners. A number of highly trained doctors, dentists, naturopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists provide services to clients from the Township of Scugog and the surrounding area.

Lakeridge Health Port Perry is a 36-bed hospital offering a variety of inpatient, outpatient and 24-hour emergency care services in modern surroundings. An expansion completed in 1995 saw the site opening of one of the finest "small hospital" emergency wings in Ontario, as well as a leading edge Labour, Delivery, Recovery and Post Partum (LDRP) maternity ward. Situated at the hospital is a helicopter landing pad for emergency transportation of patients to such centres of excellence as Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre and the Hospital for Sick Children, as well as Lakeridge Health Oshawa, the Region's foremost health care facility.

Included in Lakeridge Health Port Perry's growing portfolio of services to patients is:

Scugog has, through a Durham Region initiative, implemented the 911 Emergency Response System in the

Township. This has resulted in a faster, more efficient response to emergency situations throughout the Township of Scugog.

Parks and Recreation

The Parks, Recreation & Culture Department maintains all active and passive parks and open space, green lands (arboricultural/horticulture), boat launch and its operations, sports fields, sidewalk snow clearing and all municipal facilities. Staff are currently working together to develop parkland in new housing areas.

The municipality also offers recreational programming throughout the Township. Swimming lessons at Birdseye Pool along with daytime and evening recreational programs offered at the Scugog and Blackstock Arenas. The municipality is also proud to work in conjunction with Wilderness Outdoor Camp and the Cartwright Youth Group to offer exciting summer activities for the youth of our community, the BIA and Chamber of Commerce present many special events such as Festival Days and the Renaissance Faire, and our local Softball Organizations as they host top caliber ball tournaments on one of our numerous ball diamonds.

The Parks, Recreation & Culture Department include 10 full time Staff which are assisted with a compliment of seasonal students for both the parks, pool and arena operations. Without the assistance of our many dedicated volunteers the municipality would be unable to provide such outstanding events and quality programs currently available in our community.

 Education  

The Durham District School Board and the Catholic District School Board offer schooling to the Township of Scugog youth at seven elementary and two secondary schools. They are:

Alternative private institutions include the Scugog Christian School and the Children's House Montessori School.

Within an hour's drive, there are several colleges and universities which offer post-secondary programs for the Township of Scugog residents.

Durham College at Oshawa , 20 minutes from the Township of Scugog , is an accredited College of Applied Arts and Technology which offers a full program of courses leading to college diplomas in a variety of disciplines. It has forged numerous alliances with business and industry throughout Durham Region, with a particular emphasis on the automobile industry (Durham's largest employer). Durham College provides courses through a satellite campus in the neighboring community of Uxbridge. As well, Durham College , through its Durham Alliance for Training and Education (D.A.T.E.) has affiliations with three Ontario universities (York, Trent, Ryerson) to provide residents of Durham Region with university courses leading to a degree.

The Township of Scugog is within an hour's driving distance from leading post-secondary institutions such as York University, University of Toronto, Ryerson Polytechnical University, Seneca College and Centennial College in the Metropolitan Toronto area, and Trent University and Sir Sandford Fleming College in the Kawartha Lakes region.

The Township of Scugog is home to 6 day-care and pre-school facilities which offer over 220 licensed spaces for infants and young children under 5 years of age. As well, several volunteer groups provide toy-lending and play-school opportunities for children and caregivers residing in Port Perry and Blackstock.

Places of Worship

A full range of denominations presents places of worship throughout the urban and rural areas of the Township. Many are very active with ongoing community programs along with social and neighborhood events. All contribute to the strong sense of community and friendliness so apparent in the Township.

Anglican, Bahai, Baptist, Christian, Christian Reformed, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United churches are represented in the Township. Information regarding locations and contact people may be obtained from Information Scugog at 905-985-8461 or by clicking here.

Ontario Information

Ontario , the province that one in three Canadians call home.

Ontario is a magnet for industry, the arts and the sciences. The population is made up of many cultural backgrounds drawn to this vibrant province.

Ontario is a study in contrasts.

Living

Canada always ranks high in any international quality of life assessment. Safe cities and friendly communities allow for an enviable lifestyle that both residents and visitors enjoy.

The UN has also consistently ranked Canada among the top ten of the best of 160 countries in its Human Development Index, based on life expectancy, adult literacy, educational enrollment and per capita GDP. Recent studies also show that Consumer prices in Ontario will remain stable with expected inflation rates of 2.2 per cent in 2006 and 1.8 per cent in 2007.

Housing and relocation in Ontario continues to grow, it was recorded in 2001 Ontario had over 4.3 million households where Two-thirds of dwellings in Ontario are owned by the occupant. Ontario offers a range of affordable housing, with the average price varying from around C$150,000 in smaller communities to about C$350,000 in central Toronto.

Climate

 Ontario residents experience seasonal temperature shifts, with coldest days in January and the warmest in July.

Large bodies of water in the north and south of the province have a moderating effect on the climate - cooling summers, making winters less severe, delaying autumn frosts and cutting day/night temperature differences. For more detailed information concerning Ontario's just click here

Economy & Jobs

Ontario's economy had its beginnings in the pursuit of natural resources: fur, timber and minerals. The province's many rivers and lakes, particularly the Great Lakes, made for natural transportation routes. As the population of Ontario increased, people started new industries and surveyed, cleared and farmed the rich agricultural land.

Today, northern Ontario's economy is still highly dependent on natural resources while southern Ontario, with its proximity to the enormous U.S. market, is heavily industrialized. However, in the 21st century, more Ontarians are employed in service industries than on assembly lines. The fastest-growing sectors are business ervices, finance, tourism and culture.

Health Care

Ontario has one of the best health care systems in the world. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) provides medical and hospital services at no charge to eligible residents of Ontario.

The health care system provides long-term and home care services, community and public health programs, assistive device programs, services for the mentally ill, and part of the costs of prescription drugs for people over 65 or on social assistance. It also operates psychiatric hospitals and medical laboratories, co-ordinates emergency services, and regulates hospitals and nursing homes.

Recreation

Ontario's peaceful, civil and multicultural communities offer diverse recreational amenities. From exciting cities with major-league sports and first-run musicals to small, quiet towns that brim with character, to vast expanses of wilderness, lakes and forests, our province offers experiences to suit all tastes. Whatever the season, there is no shortage of activities for those who call Ontario home.

Spas

Whether you would like to escape for a day or have a whole spa vacation, Ontario offers the best products, treatments and services in wonderful surroundings.

Highly qualified therapists and aestheticians will help you to unwind and to revive your body, mind and spirit.

Choose from spas focusing on aesthetics and beauty, wellness and lifestyles, new age therapies like yoga and meditation, or fabulous resort spas and country inns complemented by sports and outdoor adventures.

For more information please visit www.spasontario.com.

Casino/Horse Racing

Experience Las Vegas style gaming at one of Ontario's three commercial casinos that have attracted over 100 million visitors since 1994. Casino Windsor, Casino Niagara and Casino Rama all offer hundreds of thousands of square feet of slots, table games, fabulous dining and live entertainment.

Other gaming venues include Ontario 's charity and aboriginal casinos and race tracks.

For further information please visit - www.casinocity.com/ca/on/casinos.html

Eating Out

As the world's most ethnically diverse city, Toronto's dining scene is accordingly extensive. Immigrants from the four corners of the world have brought their culinary skills with them and Toronto's 7,000 plus restaurants reflect the varied tastes, cultures and ingredients found in Ontario's capital city.

Other areas of the province specialize in regional cuisine prepared from original recipes using the freshest local ingredients.

Proffesional Sports

Ontario is home to an array of professional sports teams - in hockey, the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators; in baseball, the MLB Toronto Blue Jays; in basketball, the NBA Toronto Raptors; and in football, the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tigercats and Ottawa Renegades.

In addition to serving as homes for Ontario's professional sports teams and as flexible venues for major events and concerts (many featuring international recording artists), modern sports facilities, including Toronto's Air Canada Centre and Rogers Centre, are landmarks that draw thousands to our exciting cities.

The Hockey Hall of Fame, home of the Stanley Cup, is located in Toronto.

Wineries

Ontario's wineries, many of them award-winning, are located in Niagara Peninsula, Southwestern Ontario, Pelee Island and North Toronto. An estimated 750,000 people visit Ontario wineries each year. Most are open year-round and offer wine tastings in their cellars and winery boutiques.

For more information see winesofontario.org/

Gardens

Garden lovers find plenty of inspiration in Ontario's many gardens, greenhouses and arboretums. Starting in early spring with Canada's largest flower show "Canada Blooms" in Toronto, Ontario offers a great variety of horticultural experiences from private gardens that open to the public once a year to restored historical gardens and large botanical parks and arboretums.

During the Tulip Festival in May, an estimated 750,000 people visit Ottawa where more tulip bulbs are grown than in any other capital city in

Shopping

Ontario provides a variety of great shopping experiences, from haute couture to malls, factory outlets and antique and craft shops including such specialty items as aboriginal arts and Mennonite crafts. Country markets and fairs can also be found all over the province.

Outdoor Summer Recreations

More than 250,000 lakes, 270 provincial parks and over 600 golf courses guarantee that Ontarians never tire of summer outdoor activities. Click here to learn more exciting recreational opportunities including Cycling, Golfing, Hiking, Fishing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Diving, Camping, Bird Watching, and Sailing.

Outdoor Winter Recreations

Ontario residents make the most of winter by participating in seasonal festivals (such as Ottawa's Winterlude) and outdoor activities from skating, skiing and snowshoeing to ice fishing, ice climbing and dog sledding.

Parks

For more than a century, Ontario's provincial parks have stood for protection of the natural environment and enjoyment of the great outdoors. Today, Ontario's vast system of parks and protected areas totals 9.5 million hectares, and includes areas of magnificent old-growth forest, woodland caribou ranges, wilderness rivers, wetlands and habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals. Our parks provide places for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing, nature viewing and fishing, helping boost tourism and supporting Ontario's economy. Parks are also important for scientific research, environmental monitoring, and outdoor education. Most importantly, Ontario's provincial parks will protect and conserve our rich natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

Ontario's provincial parks attract about 10 million visits each year. The Ontario Parks website offers quick and easy access to a wide range of information about Ontario's provincial parks, including how to plan a visit.

Arts and culture

 Culture vultures can rely on Ontario's museums and performing arts events for world-class entertainment and intellectual stimulation.

Performing Arts

The National Arts Centre in Ottawa is Canada's largest showcase for the performing arts. Home of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, it also features opera, ballet and contemporary dance as well as theatre in both English and French.

Toronto attracts the third largest theatre-going audience in the English speaking world. Drama, Broadway shows and major international musicals are all performed in downtown theatres. Toronto also boasts a world class symphony as well as outstanding opera and ballet companies.

Throughout Ontario an incredible variety of performing arts venues showcase classical and contemporary drama, music, dance and opera.

Museums & Galleries

World-class exhibitions and permanent collections are on show at Ontario's galleries and museums.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is the tenth largest art museum in North America, home to more than 40,000 works representing almost 2000 years of extraordinary art. The AGO also houses the world's largest public collection of Henry Moore sculptures.

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa maintains a collection of historic and contemporary works of art, many with special reference to Canada.

Hundreds of museums throughout the province provide diverse cultural experiences and showcase special interests, from the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault St. Marie.

Festivals

Throughout the year, Ontario residents and visitors enjoy a large selection of music, theatre and cultural festivals.

Music comes alive across the province each year, with jazz festivals in Orillia and Toronto and classical music in Elora. Renowned theatre productions at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake and at the Stratford Festival, North America's largest classical repertory theatre, bring the world to our province.

Ontario's ethnic diversity is celebrated with many local festivals, such as the Scottish Highland Games in Fergus and Maxville, Toronto International Carnival (one of North America's biggest cultural street festivals, attracting one million revelers each year) and the Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Family Entertainment

 If you're looking for a fun day out with the family, Ontario offers plenty of diversions, from amusement parks to science centres to heritage sites.

AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS

Ontario has many theme and amusement parks offering great family entertainment, including Paramount Canada's Wonderland featuring North America's greatest variety of roller coasters, Marineland at Niagara Falls and Playdium, an interactive entertainment centre with simulators and games

HERITAGE NOTES

Ontario has a rich history that is preserved in various heritage sites throughout the province. Many feature historical re-enactements and recreations of daily life, such as at Fort George, Fort William, Lang Pioneer Village and Black Creek Pioneer Village.

There are several Aboriginal heritage sites documenting the history and culture of Ontario's First Nations. North America's largest and longest-running Pow Wow takes place on Manitoulin Island every August, a fascinating display of drums, spiritual dances, chants and vibrant costumes.

ATTRACTIONS

There are many attractions in Ontario that combine learning with fun. Science North in Sudbury is internationally renowned for the originality and accessibility of its interactive science exhibits. The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto has over 600 unique interactive exhibits and demonstrations that explore the worlds of science and technology, as well as Ontario's only OMNIMAX® theatre.

Informative Links

Thanks for taking a brief look at the communities we are proud to serve. If you happen to have any unanswered questions or would like to learn more about our communities, please don't hesitate to contact us . We will be more then happy to provide you with any information you may need. Thanks for stopping by and remember to bookmark this site for future reference.
 
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