Bronte

Formed in 1834, Bronte makes up most of the west end of Oakville and is known to be one of the oldest Ontario communities.

Residents enjoy Bronte's numerous restaurants, shops, parks, trails and two harbours. In recent years, large investment into the area has allowed Bronte to rapidly develop and expand, making it a very desirable place to live and visit.

Bronte has many housing options including custom built homes, condos, apartments and affordable condo townhouses, and is close to the QEW for easy access to Toronto, Hamilton and the surrounding communities.

Bronte's Village-by-the-Lake!

This promenade shopping experience offers dozens of locally owned and unique stores from boutiques, antique stores and fine carpets to delicious treats, stunning fashion and jewels, you can't go wrong. Gift certificates are also available for the spa, classes in art, dancing, yoga and much more.

Adding to the experience is the fantastic waterfront setting of Lake Ontario. Experience the breathtaking views of the lake while discovering the premium shopping of Bronte Harbour.

ref. - Wikimedia (Public Domain) - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oakville_Harbour.JPG

Bronte Creek Provincial Park is a beautiful and enjoyable scenic retreat for people of all ages, offering activities all year round.

In the summer, residents can enjoy taking a stroll along the park's hiking and biking trails, or go for a swim in the park's public outdoor swimming pool.

In the winter months, the park offers multiple cross country skiing trails as well as a large outdoor rink that is open to the public.

The park also has a campground with sites having access to electrical hookups for those looking for an extended visit.

Throughout the seasons, there is much to do and see in Bronte.

This little village is full of culture and has all the amenities a neighbourhood could ever need. With hundreds of things to do, Bronte is a great place for people to build a home with their family and friends, as well as a popular place to visit.

Located right next to majestic Lake Ontario, the residents of Bronte can enjoy the fantastic views of the lake while taking in the fresh air along the waterfront trail, or spend time at one of the many beautiful parks in and around the area.

On those chilly Canadian days residents can take comfort with Bronte's indoor recreation options, like the all-ages YMCA or the Bronte Youth Centre for teens.

A small village, but one with a great mixture of urban life and outdoor recreation.

Ever since the youth centre was opened in March 2009, it has provided a positive environment and resource for teenagers. Admission is free, and the centre is open to all youths from ages 13 to 19.

The centre offers a variety of recreational activities for teenagers to enjoy, like video games, internet movie nights, table tennis, foosball and air hockey, as well as educational and assistance programs like resumé writing, job and volunteer opportunity search assistance and a library.

ref. - Bronte Youth Centre - http://www.oakville.ca/galleries/bronte-youth-centre.html

This 190 person pool features six 25 metre lanes, a dry slide and stair access to enter the pool. The pool is available for special events, public swimming and swimming lessons for all ages. The pool is also available for rent upon request.

ref. - Town of Oakville - http://www.oakville.ca/culturerec/bronte-pool.html

The YMCA is a great place to stay active and have fun.

A family friendly facility, this YMCA offers an indoor track, two pools, adventure and climbing centre, indoor double gymnasium, a youth room, and multiple rooms for fitness classes and special events.

The Peter Gilgan Family YMCA also features a complete gym with a wellness centre where a wellness coach will help you create your own personalized exercise program.

First founded in 1834, Bronte was originally a simple and small fishing village, growing gradually until is was annexed in 1962 into what is now Oakville.

One of the first industries in Bronte was called stonehooking. Stonehooking was a novel process to harvest construction materials from lake Ontario. Workers would drive boats into the shallow waters and hook stone slabs, harvesting them for use as a construction material. The historical building at 49 Bronte road built in 1840 is an example of a building that used the stonehooking material from the lake.

Bronte's first harbour was completed in 1856. Boats have sailed out of the Bronte's harbour for almost two centuries, and the area still remains an active harbour to this day.

ref. - Bronte Historical Society - http://brontehs.netfirms.com/exploring-brontes-past.html

Between 1825 and 1846 the Sovereign home was built by Charles Sovereign. The house was occupied from 1910 until 1915 by a famous author named Mazo de la Roche. In 1988 the Bronte Historical Society and the town of Oakville saved the home from being destroyed, however, the home today is not located at its original location, it is now located in Bronte Bluffs Park.

The house is owned by the Bronte Historical Society and is known to be a historical display centre for the local history of Bronte from the nineteenth century.