Thinking of moving to a town like Orangeville but not sure if it’s the right choice for you? Come spend some time in our friendly community and you’ll quickly see all of the great things it has to offer. Whether you’re single and looking for a condo, a young family dreaming about a big house with a garden and a pool, or retiring and downsizing, Orangeville welcomes all people. Still not convinced you should put down roots here? Then read these 10 Reasons Why You Should Move to Orangeville:

1) Safety: Orangeville is very safe, so safe that the newspapers don’t really have a lot of news. You won’t get front page stories about shootings and stabbings. Here the news is pretty tame. It’s a slower pace of life. You don’t have to look over your shoulder late at night or think about whether you’re in a ‘bad area’. You can just relax and enjoy normal day to day life.

2) Friendly People: Big city life tends to be anonymous. But when you live in a small town, people are more friendly and laid back because you see each other all the time. In Orangeville even strangers greet each other with hellos and smiles. If you’re stuck in the snow, you can bet someone will come help you out. It’s easy to get to know your neighbours and you’ll feel like you’re really part of the community.

3) Great for Families: Orangeville is a wonderful place to raise your kids. Pack those lunch kits and wave goodbye as they happily walk to school with their friends. In the winter they’ll have a ball playing in the snow and sledding on the hills. Kids (and adults) can join whatever they are interested in – soccer, tennis, hockey, lacrosse, horseback riding, gymnastics, bowling, pottery, kickboxing, karate, dance, singing… the list goes on. For a small town, Orangeville has pretty much everything a growing family is looking for.

4) Big Town Amenities:  The town has invested a lot in its amenities and services. There are two lovely libraries (though the nicer one is on Broadway), two recreation centres, indoor and outdoor ice rinks, two public swimming pools, and more than 30 parks with things like splash pads, playgrounds, dog parks, a BMX park, skateboarding, soccer and baseball. Orangeville is also home to the Headwaters Hospital, which is a hub for Dufferin County.

5) Choice of Schools: Orangeville has a long list of public elementary schools, Catholic schools, French Immersion schools, private schools, and even forest schools. Many elementary schools offer YMCA before and after school services. There are also private nurseries, Montessori schools and baby playgroups like the EarlyON. Orangeville has two high schools – Westside and Orangeville District Secondary.

6) Easy Access to Other Towns: Forget hours driving in rage-inducing traffic. If you work in the GTA, Orangeville is in a great location for commuting to nearby towns like Brampton, Mississauga, Bolton, Vaughan, Guelph and Kitchener. It’s also one hour north to Georgian Bay, including Collingwood, the Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach. Orangeville’s location makes it easy to go on day trips and getaways without all the traffic of getting in and out of the city.

7) Outdoor Lifestyle: There’s no shortage of amazing outdoor activities to enjoy. Island Lake is right in your backyard, offering hiking, biking, kayaking and fishing. You’re spoilt for choice if you like golf, with more than a dozen affordable courses nearby, some just ten minutes away. You can explore the Bruce Trail along with lots of gorgeous conservation areas. In the winter you can ski and snowboard at Hockley Valley or hit the cross country trails at Monora Park. Orangeville is a great place to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

8) Fun Events: We might be a small town but we put on some big events! The most famous is the annual Blues and Jazz Festival which attracts dozens of top artists, bands and performers from all over Canada. People also love Ribfest, the Taste of Orangeville food festival, the Celebrate Your Awesome pride and diversity day, Boo on Broadway, and Christmas in the Park. Don’t miss the weekly Farmers’ Market, outdoor in the summer and indoor in the winters. We also have an active live music scene with local bands performing at pubs and bars.

9) Great Restaurants: What are you craving today? Thai? Indian? Sushi? Italian? Jerk? Portuguese? Organic vegan or good old comfort food at the diner? Orangeville has an impressive array of restaurants and cafes. You can go out for fine dining, enjoy wine tasting while overlooking a vineyard, or park yourself at your favourite pub for a pint. There are excellent cafes, coffee shops and bakeries, an authentic speakeasy hidden under an old train station, and local breweries too.

Arty Farty: Orangeville is really big on the arts, especially on its historic downtown strip Broadway. You can’t miss the iconic dome of the old opera house that’s now home to Theatre Orangeville, with an amazing calendar of shows year round. Take time to peruse the local galleries and watch artists at work at Dragonfly Arts, Maggiolly, and the nearby Alton Mill Arts Centre. Get involved, take a class, try something new!

For more information, inspiration and recommendations about Life in Orangeville, here are some handy links: 

The Town of Orangeville’s homepage https://www.orangeville.ca/en/index.aspx |
Love, Orangeville https://www.orangeville.ca/en/visit/index.aspx

Grand Valley Area Guide

Nestled along the banks of the winding, rushing Grand River sits the idyllic town of Grand Valley. With a population just shy of 3,000 people it’s a peaceful way of life out here, with lots of room to play and relax. Whether fishing in the river, enjoying the trails or getting a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants, Grand Valley embodies the concept of village life in the country.

The Grand River is always a popular spot, with kids often found playing and catching fish at the edge of the banks. The Upper Grand Trailway is a hiking and biking path that follows an abandoned train track route for 10km. There’s also the expansive Luther Marsh, popular for hiking, bird watching, biking, hunting and paddling.

With over 100 farms nearby, Grand Valley prides itself on living the farm-to-table lifestyle. You can find a number of excellent restaurants in town plus outdoor patios. Grand Valley has not one but two craft breweries – The Wrinkly Bear brewery and restaurant, and the Grand Valley Brewery. And Landman Garden and Bakery, just north of the town, sells all things local.

Grand Valley has a number of great indoor and outdoor amenities for families who like to keep busy. There’s an active community centre, playgrounds, a splash pad, picnic areas, parks, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. Kids who love hockey can join the local team, the Grand Valley Twisters. The town also boasts a strong community of artists, including painters, sculptors, weavers, quilters and more.

One annual event you won’t want to miss is the iconic Grand Valley Duck Race! This is one of the biggest community events, where 3,500 yellow rubber duckies are put in the river for a race to raise funds for the Lions Club. Enjoy entertainment, music, bouncy castles, yard sales, bucket truck rides and more.

Other big events that bring the community together are the RAM Rodeo, a real authentic cowboy rodeo with bone-jarring bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and tons of all day entertainment. When the leaves start to change colour that means it’s time for the Grand Valley Fall Fair, which has celebrated Grand Valley’s agricultural roots for 150 years. The Masquerade on Main is a fun Halloween event for the kids where Main Street is decorated in spooky styles and kids go shop to shop for trick or treating. And if you’re super brave, start off the new year with Grand Valley’s not-for-the-weak-hearted Polar Bear Dip into the Grand River to raise money for charity.

Grand Valley might be a small town but with the friendly people, gorgeous scenery and lots of small town charm, it’s a great place to call home if you like true countryside living. 

Shelburne Area Guide

As a small town with lots of space to expand, Shelburne has a number of new real estate projects in the works as well as many beautiful historic homes and farms. In 2016 Shelburne was the fastest growing community in all of Ontario and thanks to this growth there are lots of new businesses and amenities being developed to keep up with the needs of this thriving community.

In recent years Shelburne has attracted a lot of young families looking for a great place to raise their kids. There are more than a dozen parks, playgrounds and trails to get out and enjoy, as well as recreation centres, heated outdoor pools, gyms and sports teams. The nearby Boyne Valley Provincial Park is a wonderful place to hike on the Bruce Trail or play by the river. The Shelburne Golf and Country Club is a fantastic course with lessons for juniors (and adults!). And the STREAMS Hub is a place for tweens and teens to gather and learn new skills.

In the downtown strip, you can find many places to eat and drink, like Jelly Craft Bakery with its incredible breads, pastries and sandwiches, or the church-turned- pub on the corner, The Duffy. At Beyond the Gate you can get authentic French cuisine while Shannon’s Tap and Grill is the place for a pint and some pub food. At the corner of Highway 10 and 89 you’ll have to try both Superburger and Champburger to see which one is your favourite. And don’t miss the Shelburne Farmer’s Market which runs from May to October for fresh local produce and interesting homemade items.

For a small town there’s a surprising amount of diversity available as the influx of new residents also brought about a boom in small businesses. There are now a number of Afro-Caribbean groceries, food trucks, a Jamaican restaurant with the best jerk chicken, beauty salons, little cafes and coffee shops, and more!

Shelburne is known for its annual Heritage Music Festival which started as a traditional fiddle festival and has grown to incorporate a wide genre of music performances. There’s also Pickin in the Park which is a fun weekend event. In the winter strap on your skates for outdoor skating and hockey, tobogganing on the hills, and the Shelbrrr Fest with carriage rides, hot chocolate, dog sleds and tons of winter activities.

With lots of new subdivisions and affordable prices, Shelburne is a historic town that is sure to keep expanding and welcoming new residents.

Orangeville Area Guide

Orangeville might be growing quickly, but it’s managed to hold on to its small town charm and character. Nestled in the countryside but easily commutable to many urban areas, Orangeville is a great place to call home, raise a family, and enjoy the great outdoors year round.

The central hub of the town is Broadway, the beautifully preserved downtown core where everything happens, from the annual Blues and Jazz Festival to the weekly Farmers’ Market. There are lots of unique shops, bakeries, restaurants and pubs in the original red brick buildings that line Broadway, dating back to the 1800s. You can take in a play at Theatre Orangeville, or check out the local live music scene. And there’s a long list of events that take place throughout the year, like Taste of Orangeville, Boo on Broadway, and Christmas in the Park.

Locals and day-trippers alike come to hike, bike or kayak at the idyllic Island Lake Conservation Area, known for its long wooden boardwalk along the water. You can also access the Bruce Trail nearby. Golfers are especially spoilt for choice, with more than a dozen courses within a 20 minute drive. In the winter you can cross country ski the trails at Monora Park, snowboard at Hockley Valley, or simply take your kids tubing, sledding or skating in your neighbourhood.

Orangeville might only have 30,000 people, but it has all the amenities you’d find in a big town. There are two large rec centres for sports and fitness, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, two libraries, plenty of parks and open spaces to play soccer or tennis, and a wide choice of gyms and studios offering everything from yoga to pottery to martial arts.

Orangeville is also home to the Headwaters Hospital, and has plenty of doctor’s clinics, dentists, and other health care providers. Families can send their kids to the local public schools in their neighbourhoods, or opt for one of the private schools in town.

There are many new developments being built and more to come, with a mix of highrises, low rises, townhouses and detached homes. Orangeville’s friendly community vibe and new developments mean this is a town well positioned for future growth.

Image credit: Central Counties Tourism

Visit Township Website

There’s no shortage of fun activities taking place in Dufferin County this summer. We are very excited to see the fantastic Blues and Jazz Festival in Orangeville kick things off after two long pandemic-packed years. And there’s so much more to enjoy! Events are making a BIG comeback and people are more than ready to get out there and have a good time. Here’s a round-up of the amazing summer festivals and events around our towns to look forward to.  

Farmers’ Markets: 

Orangeville – Saturdays from 8am to 1pm on Second Street at Broadway  Visit their website 

Shelburne – Thursdays from 3pm to 8pm on Owen Sound & First Ave W. Visit their website

Erin – Thursdays from 3pm to 6:30pm at the Erin Fairgrounds Visit their website 

Caledon – Saturdays from 9am to 2pm at the Albion Bolton Fairgrounds Visit their website

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JUNE EVENTS: 

Celebrate Your Awesome: 

Orangeville’s pride and diversity day is a fun, inclusive and family-friendly celebration, with a street market, vendors, music and live performances.

Date: June 18

Location: Mill Street, Orangeville

Website: https://www.facebook.com/celebrateyourawesome/

River City Truck Show: 

Come see trucks and big rigs all shined and cleaned, talk to a trucker to get to know what they do, and enjoy the lights that come on at night.

Date: June 17-18

Location: Grand Valley District Community Centre, Grand Valley

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/grandvalleylionsclub/

RAM Rodeo: 

Calling all cowboys and cowgirls to one of Ontario’s biggest rodeo events! Come out to see exciting barrel racing, bronco riding, pole bending and the world’s most dangerous sport – bull riding!

Date:  June 18-19

Location: Orangeville Fairgrounds, Mono

Indigenous People’s Day:

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JULY EVENTS: 

Celebrate Caledon:

Lots of family fun including kids activities, vendors, fireworks and live music, with Juno nominated band Wide Mouth Mason headlining this year’s event, and local Caledon bands Itchy and Scratchy Showband and Vilivant.

Date: July 1

Location: Albion Hills Conservation Area, Caledon

Website: https://www.caledon.ca/en/living-here/caledon-day.aspx

Shelburne Canada Day: 

With a huge car show, live music, great food and fireworks, this is a fun family event to celebrate Canada Day.

Date: July 1

Location: 105 Second Line, Shelburne

Website: https://www.facebook.com/shelburnecanadaday/

Caledon Village Canada Day and Strawberry Festival: 

Canada Day has a special sweetness in Caledon! Come out to enjoy an all day strawberry breakfast, a BBQ, vendors and a classic car show.

Date: July 1

Location: Caledon Fairgrounds

Website: https://www.caledonfair.ca/events/caledon-canada-day-and-strawberry-festival-2022

Rotary Ribfest: 

This popular event is back with a bang – and lots of sauce. In addition to the big BBQs you can also enjoy lots of food trucks, live music, and a Kidsfest for the little ones.

Date: July 15-17

Location: Alder Street Recreation Centre, Orangeville

Website: https://www.orangevilleribfest.com/

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AUGUST EVENTS: 

Heritage Music Festival: 

Shelburne’s most popular music festival dating back some 70 years, the HMF is known for its iconic Fiddle Championship, plus a lineup of fantastic bands, BBQs, brews and more.

Date: August 5-6

Location: Grace Tipling Hall / Fiddle Park, Shelburne

Website: https://heritagemusicfestival.ca

Taste of Orangeville: 

Mill Street becomes a foodie paradise, where you can walk around and sample a wide variety of plates from Orangeville’s best restaurants and chefs.

Date: TBD

Location: Mill Street, Orangeville

Website: https://downtownorangeville.ca/events/taste-of-orangeville/

Are the Maritimes calling your name? Are you dreaming of making the move to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or PEI? With skyrocketing house prices across Ontario and indeed many parts of Canada, home owners and renters alike are increasingly looking east to start a new life. With affordable housing, low density, a beautiful coastal environment and a slower pace of life, it’s no surprise more and more people are flocking to the Maritimes.

But moving is not something to be taken lightly, and the process requires good planning and preparation. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home so you can move to a new province, our team is here to help. The Gould Team has roots in the Maritime provinces and can connect you to the professionals you need out east to help ensure your big move goes smoothly.

Checklist for Moving to a New Province

Do Your Research – Take time to compare the different cost of living in different provinces. You’ll need to know how much you can afford and what kind of salary you can expect to make. Think about what amenities you want to have access to, and which areas have good schools if you have a family. Research things like safety and crime so you can choose a good neighbourhood to settle down in.

Get your home ready for sale – If you’re selling your house in order to move to the Maritimes, be sure to read our comprehensive guide on preparing your home for sale and many other helpful tips for sellers on our blog.

Give Notice to Service Providers – Make a list of all of the service providers who will need to know that you’re moving, such as utilities, cable, internet and your mobile phone. Inform your bank, credit card and insurance companies and, if possible, ask them to set up an account for you in your new province. If you receive benefits such as pensions or EI, notify them about your move. Once you have a new address, don’t forget to contact Elections Canada.

Shipping your stuff – Declutter as much as you can and pack up the rest for shipping. The Gould Team can connect you with reputable movers to ship your stuff to the Maritimes, and can organize temporary storage if you have not yet found a new place to live. If you don’t have a lot of stuff, you can rent a U-Haul and drive to the Maritimes yourself.

Enrol in Healthcare – Each province in Canada has its own healthcare, and when you move you’ll need to enrol in your new provincial system. Some provinces require you to be resident for three months before you are covered, but your previous province will cover your medical expenses if any arise. Before you leave, contact your doctor and ask about transferring medical records.

Convert your Driver’s License – Like your health card, you’ll also need to convert your current driver’s license in your new province, typically within 30-90 days. Don’t forget you’ll also need new license plates for your car (if you are taking your vehicle with you).

Adapt to the New Culture – Moving is an exciting adventure full of promise. But on the flip side, it takes time to adapt to a different culture and demographics. Moving from a big city to a small town can be a hard adjustment (and vice versa). Try to learn about the local customs and give yourself time to settle in. The Maritimes is known for its friendly and welcoming people so we hope the transition won’t be difficult.

Prepare for a Different Climate – Depending on where you go, you may have to adapt to new weather and a climate that you are not accustomed to. For example, if you’ve always lived in the mild winters of the GTA, you’ll have a lot more snow to deal with in a place like St. Johns, Newfoundland, for example. Read and learn as much as you can before you go so you’ll know what to expect and be ready for it.

Contact us today if you’re planning your move to the Maritimes. We can help you with the successful sale of your home, and connect you with professionals out east to assist you in your move.  

Most homeowners have a long wishlist of things they’d like to do to their property – perhaps put in a new deck, or get rid of the original popcorn ceiling, or put new tiles in the bathroom. But because renovations can be costly and time consuming, it’s important to know which home improvements are actually worth doing and which don’t have much of an impact if you’re planning to sell.

Some renovations even have a low return-on-investment, and there’s no point putting a ton of money into things that won’t raise the value of your property. So let’s take a closer look at which renovations pay off when you’re preparing your home for the resale market.

Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most valuable rooms in the house, and one that really shows its age quickly. Things like old appliances, outdated cabinets and a dingy backsplash are things that instantly make your home look dated. By putting up the cost of the new kitchen, you’re definitely raising the resale value of your home.

Master Bathroom

Like the kitchen, your master bath is also a high-value room that can benefit from updates. Many potential buyers don’t want to put up the money to update an old bathroom themselves. Installing a new shower or bathtub and updating countertops and sinks will make your bathroom beautiful.

Floors

With so many flooring options available, putting down a new floor has never been more affordable. This is one of those cosmetic changes that has a big impact. If you’ve got old, stained carpets or damaged floors, now is the time to rip it up and put down something more eye pleasing and modern.

Paint

Always hailed as one of the cheapest and most high impact improvements, a fresh coat of paint throughout your interior makes your home look bright and clean. You don’t have to go all white or ‘builder bland’; instead opt for light greys, off whites or creams, and avoid statement colours that potential buyers may not like.

Exterior Doors

If you’ve got an out-of-style front door and a banged up garage door that’s 25 years old, installing new ones give an easy and affordable facelift to your house’s exterior. You could also consider painting your doors if replacing them is out of your budget.

Light Fixtures

Add some modern light fixtures in your dining and living room or remove old, outdated or unstylish fixtures. Make sure your kitchen is bright and airy. Good lighting actually makes your home look bigger, which is always a good thing.

Another thing to consider is doing maintenance on important features rather than replacing entirely. You can get the siding of your home professionally pressure washed to remove mold and dirt. Hire a professional landscaper to tidy up your garden or put down sod if your grass is in bad shape. Make sure the furnace is working properly, and fix anything that’s broken or leaking. Buyers typically expect to do some work or upgrades, but these simple steps can help increase the resale value of your home.