Burlington - population 164,415- is a city located in Southern Ontario at the western end of Lake Ontario, lying between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the ridge of the Niagara Escarpment.

Its geographic position puts it roughly in the centre of the Golden Horseshoe region, a dynamic location with many attractions. The city has been rated as one of Canada's best places to live, presently ranking as the nation's 3rd best city to reside in.  Some of the many attractions include: Canada's Largest Ribfest, Sound of Music Festival, Burlington Art Centre, all located downtown in close proximity to Spencer Smith Park.

Things to do

Burlington area is a fun and rewarding travel destination. Easily accessible and surprisingly affordable, the Burlington area’s delightfully eclectic mix of dining, shopping, history, art and nature are all here waiting for you and your family.

580.78 hectares of park land, 4 indoor and 3 outdoor pools, 3 splash pads, 12 ice pads, 6 community centers, 9 golf courses, Hiking along Bruce Trail, the Niagara Escarpment, and the Waterfront Trail

Burlington shares the Royal Botanical gardens, Canada's largest botanical garden with neighbouring Hamilton, which incorporates both untamed and cultivated landscapes.

There are 75 parks and 800 acres of parkland within the city, the largest being LaSalle Park located in Aldershot and Spencer Smith Park newly renovated & located centrally, also on the shore of Lake Ontario.  Kerncliff Park is a naturalized area on the lip of the Niagara Escarpment. The Bruce Trail runs through the park, at many points running along the edge of the cliffs, providing a clear view of Burlington, the Burlington Skyway Bridge, Hamilton, and Oakville. On a clear day, one can see the CN Tower in Toronto.

The Burlington Arts Centre shows various exhibits throughout the year from local to national talent, including the Canadian artist Robert Bateman.

Many annual lakefront activities take place in Spencer Smith Park, including Canada's Largest Ribfest and the Sound of Music Festival. There is also the semi-annual Taste of Burlington Dining event.

Real Estate

Burlington is a growing community with a wide range of housing options to satisfy every real estate need.  From high end luxury lakefront properties to affordable condo/townhouses, Burlington has something for everyone.  With access to both highways and GO transportation, Burlington has become a desirable bedroom community for many who work in downtown Toronto.  Many Torontonians wanting to avoid the double land transfer tax are making the move west and finding the great value Burlington has to offer.  With Burlington recently being ranked the 3^rd best place to live in Canada and Halton region being ranked as the safest community in all of Canada, many young families are beginning to choose Burlington to raise their children.   

Burlington has developed from an agricultural based community of several villages into a vibrant, strategically located small city that continues to offer a quality of life that is second to none with good schools, shopping, dining, recreational facilities, parkland and even night life all available within the city limits. Oh yes, did we forget to mention that it was rated the 3^rd best city in Canada by a leading Canadian investment magazine the 2 nd year in the row. No other city in the Greater Toronto Area is located in the top 10 of this list. Burlington is 1 hour from Niagara Falls and the USA border. 1.5 hours to London  and 45 minutes from the City of Toronto downtown. It is well served by 3 major highways and provincially run commuter dedicated train system called GO for those who need to commute to Toronto. The province has designated this area a protected zone because of its proximity to the Niagara Escarpment lands and the population is expected to peak at just 189,000 by 2018. This will ensure that the city will continue to be a highly desirable and smaller community.

Lets see what some of the popular areas in Northwest Burlington have to offer its residents. Northwest Burlington offers its residents a hard to beat combination of natural beauty and sights. 2 quiet popular family residential subdivisions who border each other are the Brant Hills and Tyandaga subdivisions. The area they occupy traces its history back to Joseph Brant a famous warrior Mohawk chief from the late 1700 and early 1800’s and its envious proximity to the Escarpment .  It was also the location of a well known local family who farmed this area  and on whose property these subdivision were developed from. If you would like to see how its descendants lived in the late 1800’s you can visit Ireland House an original historical farm museum preserved for all to visit just off Upper Middle Road and Guelph Line.  The Fishers were descendants of the pioneer “Ireland “ family. Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a relation to the Irelands as well. The original Quinn farmhouse is located on Dundas Rd just west of Guelph Line.

One of the best local sights I believe is  the view of the surrounding area from the corner of Brant Street and Dundas Road . To the east you can see Toronto and all its vast area. The CN tower, Lake Ontario and more. To the South you can see beautiful Lake Ontario and downtown Burlington. Just minutes from where you stand you can reach the lake or within a short drive Toronto. Streets in Brant Hills are wide with tall mature 30 ft + trees lining both sides of the street. Recreation and sports facilities are within walking distance. Like to jog?  Trying running up or down Brant Street or Upper Middle Rd. The elevation is quite challenging. Like nature trails? Try Rambo Creek which meanders behind residential properties and along a lovely creek bed. Play baseball, soccer or tennis try the Brant Hills Community Centre. Library?  Same location.  Schools?  Six schools both public and catholic separate are within easy walking distance. Shopping? Banks, drug, grocery stores are in most cases less than a 10 minute walk from most of the community.

The Tyandaga subdivision is a more mature area than the Brant Hills Community. The homes tend to be larger and more traditional and on larger lots. Streets are wide and tree lined. Play golf or tennis? The municipal owned 18 hole course is quite lovely and is a great place to tune up your game. Want to explore the escarpment? Try the Kerncliffe park a natural preserve where history and nature provide a great hike. If you want to live in the “city” but want the ambience of a safe family neighbourhood both Tyandaga and Brant Hills offer you the opportunity. The best way to get the family feel of these neighbourhoods is to take a leisurely walk through these friendly neighbourhoods. If you are looking for larger pool size lots, mature trees and vegetation and easy access to public facilities then you surely will be quickly convinced that this area will meet your needs. 

Contributed by Dennis Hladysh, Sales Representative
CENTURY 21 Miller Real Estate Ltd.
www.century21.ca/dennis.hladysh