| York Region has a population of over 870,000 people | | | | dairy farms. There is some light industry and the |
| and covers an area of over 1,750 square kilometres. | | | | Seneca College campus is located on the former |
| Sitting between Peel Region in the West and Durham | | | | Easton estate. |
| region in the east, York Region consists of the Cities | | | | As with most Canadian towns, King has good sporting |
| of Markham and Vaughan, with the townships of | | | | and leisure facilities including golf courses, trails, parks |
| Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Newmarket, Richmond | | | | and 3 arena's. Most facilities are pay as you use - |
| Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville. | | | | more details can be found on the township website. |
| The two main population centers are the Cities of | | | | The Township has a rich history dating back to the |
| Markham and Vaughan. Both Cities have average | | | | aboriginal peoples and then the western settlers in the |
| populations with Markham being the largest in the | | | | late 1600's. A museum is now dedicated to the area's |
| Region with over 220,000. Markham is renowned for | | | | history and will be well worth a visit. |
| being the Hi Tech capital of Canada with several high | | | | There are excellent transport links to Toronto and it's |
| profile corporate head offices making the city their | | | | only around 40 minutes to drive to Pearson |
| home. The city is modern with excellent healthcare and | | | | International airport (south). A prosperous town, the |
| schooling. Vaughan has one particular claim to fame in | | | | average income back in 1996 was over 97,000 with |
| being directly north of Toronto, making them "above" | | | | an unemployment rate of 5%. In the 8 years since I |
| the main city. This too is a rapidly expanding city with | | | | can only see that the average income would rise to |
| great facilities and plenty of new communities springing | | | | over $100,000 per household. |
| up. | | | | The Town Of Newmarket is another large town with |
| The York Region is host to over 25,000 businesses | | | | a population of over 73,000 that is growing fairly |
| which provide 400,000 jobs - a number that is growing | | | | quickly. Over 70% of the population are under 45 |
| by approximately 20,000 per year at current rates. | | | | years old. With all the amenities you would expect for |
| With close proximity to the Pearson International airport | | | | a big town, Newmarket is home to the York Region |
| and a young, well educated workforce, York Region is | | | | Administrative Headquarters, the Provincial Court and |
| one of the fastest growing regions of the GTA and is | | | | the District 1 Police HQ. |
| very popular with Immigrants. The York Region Transit | | | | The Southlake regional health centre is a fully equipped |
| system connects most communities within the Region | | | | modern hospital with plans for expansion. These |
| to each other and the Toronto GO Transit system to | | | | combine to make local government the highest |
| give a very effective public transport network. | | | | employer in the area. On top of this, the local business |
| The Region administers the Healthcare and Education | | | | community is growing at over 3.5% each year with |
| following the Provincial guidelines. The York Region | | | | retail stores and manufacturing companies having a |
| District School Board and the York Region Catholic | | | | large presence. Use the links on the town site to go to |
| District School Board are responsible for the day to | | | | the Chamber of Commerce site for the full listing of |
| day operations of the Region's schools - all of which | | | | businesses. |
| can be contacted via these sites. | | | | For recreation purposes there is a full program of |
| The Town Of Aurora - With a population of over | | | | sports and activities with the new Ray Twinney Rec. |
| 43,000, the Town of Aurora is another rapidly | | | | centre having two arena's and an indoor pool. There |
| expanding town. The population is young and has a | | | | are several other arena's, pools and rinks in the town |
| high average income (compared to most Canadian | | | | as well as a youth centre with a fully equipped |
| towns) of around $110,000 per household. The housing | | | | skatepark. All the usual outdoor activities are available |
| is fairly expensive though with an average price of a | | | | in the area including hiking, cross country skiing and golf. |
| single family detached home being over $370,000 two | | | | For the less energetic, the Upper Canada Mall is an |
| years ago! | | | | impressive 1 million square feet of shops which should |
| There is a large variety of employers in the town and | | | | pacify even the most hardy shopper! |
| it is also commutable to the Toronto downtown core. | | | | House prices are reasonable for Ontario with the |
| This gives a low unemployment level of 4% in 2001 | | | | average in 2001 being $242,000 for a single family |
| with the majority of employment in management | | | | detached home. Being located close to Toronto brings |
| business, finance and sciences/technology. | | | | obvious benefits with great transport links including the |
| Manufacturing and retail are the other big areas of | | | | GTA GO Transit system. The York Region Transit |
| employment. | | | | system also operates in the town. Highway 404 will |
| The schools and healthcare are administered by the | | | | direct you to the downtown area of Toronto in around |
| York Region so for more details check out the links | | | | 30 minutes and Pearson International airport is only an |
| above. The town itself is a historical place with plenty | | | | hour away. Buttonville airport in nearby Markham is |
| of old buildings with lots of character. With close | | | | useful for lighter regional aircraft. |
| proximity to both the big city of Toronto and the rural | | | | The Town Of Richmond Hill is one of the fastest |
| areas, Aurora provides excellent recreational | | | | growing large municipalities in Canada and has a |
| opportunities to its residents. This ranges from parks, | | | | population of over 158,000. Situated directly North of |
| playgrounds and pedestrian trails to championship golf | | | | Toronto, (between Markham and Vaughan), Richmond |
| courses, fine dining and theatre. A full recreational | | | | Hill is ideally located for commuting and access to the |
| program is offered in the Town which will soon be | | | | city for recreation or onward travel. As with the other |
| augmented by a new state of the art Recreation | | | | municipalities, Richmond Hill has the York Transit, |
| Centre. | | | | Toronto Transit Commission and the GTA GO Transit |
| The Town Of East Gwillimbury is a semi rural area | | | | networks providing great options for transport. |
| located only half an hours drive from Toronto. Another | | | | Richmond Hill is renowned for its world class high tech |
| historic area with settlement dating back to the 1700's, | | | | manufacturing and research companies with the |
| the population is now over 20,000 and growing. | | | | lowest R&D taxes in the G7 group of countries. |
| Again, East Gwillimbury has an excellent array of | | | | Major international IT companies like Lexmark and |
| recreational facilities including arena's, trails, play parks | | | | Compaq are headquartered here along with MGI |
| and over 135 acres of parkland. There are ice rinks, | | | | software and Shaw Communications. The young |
| outdoor sports pitches, the usual golf courses and for | | | | population provide a well educated workforce and with |
| the less active a 16 screen movie theatre. | | | | the average cost of housing lower than most other |
| There are a wide variety of employers in the town | | | | areas of the GTA is a popular place to settle. |
| providing ample employment and the new GO Transit | | | | Recreational opportunities are plentiful with Lake |
| station gives good access to the city. The population | | | | Wilcox providing aqautic fun along with the Lois Hancy |
| also enjoys an above average household income. For | | | | Wave Pool and over a hundred parks for jogging, |
| the latest business directory to see which companies | | | | cycling and hiking. Golfers are well catered for and |
| are in the area, see the town website. | | | | there are movie theatres, the enormous central Library |
| The Town Of Georgina is the most northerly area of | | | | and the David Dunlop Observatory for the less active. |
| the York Region and is made up of several smaller | | | | The Town Of Whitchurch-Stouffville is a collection of |
| communities. Situated on the South eastern shores of | | | | smaller communities and rural areas and was |
| Lake Simcoe, the communities of Georgina have | | | | established in 1792. Located some 24 Km North of |
| plenty of beaches and open space - especially with | | | | Toronto it is on the Eastern/Central side of York |
| the area being known as "Getaway Country". | | | | Region. There is a population of around 24,000 who |
| The lake offers up year round recreation including | | | | enjoy pleasant countryside with farms and equestrian |
| swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing and ice fishing to | | | | facilities along with the small urban centres. |
| name a few. On top of this the great outdoors is all | | | | The area has good transportation links with the York |
| around and the communities have good facilities. Some | | | | Region Transit and the GTA GO Transit networks. |
| of the more prominent communities are Keswick, | | | | Only 30 minutes from Pearson and 15 to Buttonville |
| Sutton, Udora, Jacksons Point and Port Bolster. | | | | airports means you can soon be on your travels. |
| Most employment seems to be in the local services | | | | The major employers are in the Business and personal |
| and tourism sector though full research can be carried | | | | services sector with the area experiencing a healthy |
| out through the chamber of commerce website. | | | | 8.5% growth rate. Only 3% of the population remains |
| The Township Of King is home to around 20,000 | | | | unemployed. |
| people and is a fairly rural area. Famous for the Holland | | | | A modern Hospital opened in 1990 and with good |
| Marsh - a fertile area that produces most of the | | | | schools, a library and Museum there are plenty of |
| Provinces fresh vegetables - most industry is based | | | | facilities. The York-Durham heritage railway runs |
| upon the support of agriculture. There are a lot of | | | | through the area with several stops and there are |
| Horse breeders in the area along with livestock and | | | | plenty of golf courses and recreational programs. |