Uxbridge is a mostly suburban community of 21,000 people (2016) in northern Durham region of the Greater Toronto Area, in Ontario. It has a museum in the former home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famed author of the Anne of Green Gables novels.
Understand
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The main centre in the township is the namesake community of Uxbridge. Other communities within the township include Coppins Corners, Goodwood, Leaskdale, Sandford, Siloam, Victoria's Corner, and Zephyr.
Major manufacturing employers include Pine Valley Packaging (packaging, containers and portable shelters), Koch-Glitsch Canada (mass transfer systems) and Hela Canada (spice and ingredient manufacture). Many residents commute to other centres in Durham and York Regions and beyond.
History
[edit]It was named for Uxbridge, England, a name which was derived from "Wixan's Bridge".
The first settlers in the area were Quakers who started arriving in 1806 from the Catawissa area of Pennsylvania. The community's oldest building, the Uxbridge Friends Meeting House, was built in 1820 and overlooks the town from Quaker Hill, a kilometre to the west.
The first passenger-carrying narrow-gauge railway in North America, the Toronto and Nipissing Railway arrived in Uxbridge in June 1871, and for over a decade Uxbridge was the headquarters of the railway.
Tourist information
[edit]- Discover Uxbridge website
Get in
[edit]Uxbridge has no major highways and railways that run through it, though major highways are in neighbouring townships. Highway 407 and 401 run through Pickering, just south of Uxbridge; Highway 48 runs in Stouffville, to the west of Uxbridge.
GO Transit (website) operates trains on the Stouffville line from Toronto's Union Station to Mount Joy GO Station where GO Transit buses connect to Uxbridge. (During rush hours, the connection between GO trains and GO buses occurs at Old Elm GO Station instead of Mount Joy.) GO buses (routes 70 and 71) terminate at Railway and Albert Streets in Uxbridge. The trip will take almost 2 hours.
Durham Region Transit has service on Route 905C from Port Perry and Whitby. The trip from Whitby GO Station to Railway and Albert Streets in Uxbridge will take about 90 minutes.
Get around
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Travel through the town may be done on foot, but the increasingly sprawling nature of the town necessitates car travel. From downtown Uxbridge, Durham Region Transit route 905C provides service to the south-east along Reach Street, and route 605 provides service to the big box stores at Toronto Street South and Welwood Drive. GO Transit bus routes 70 and 71 largely overlap DRT route 605. All four bus routes converge at Railway and Albert Streets in Uxbridge. Some limited taxi service is available. The traditional 'downtown' is demarcated by an area known as the Four Corners, which delineates the intersection of Hwy. 47 (Toronto Street) with Durham Road 8 (Brock Street).
See
[edit]- 1 Uxbridge Historical Centre (Uxbridge-Scott Museum and Archives), 7239 Concession 6. M-Th 10AM-5PM. Artifacts mostly related to the township's agricultural heritage and the genealogy of its residents. The museum includes nine heritage buildings and heritage herb and flower gardens. During the annual Heritage Days festival (last Sunday in Aug), the museum grounds are host to the "Steam Show" featuring steam-engines and steam-based agricultural machinery, among other attractions.
- 2 Thomas Foster Memorial (Foster Memorial), 9449 Concession Rd 7 (north of Uxbridge via Main St N), ☏ +1 905-852-6761. Mausoleum built by a wealthy citizen and former mayor of Toronto, designed to replicate the famous Taj Mahal in India.
- 3 Home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, 11850 Durham Regional Rd 1, Leaskdale (north of Uxbridge via Main St N), ☏ +1 905-862-0808. Daily 10AM-4PM. Former home of the famed author of the Anne of Green Gables novels.
- 4 York–Durham Heritage Railway, 19 Railway St (north of Brock St on east side of railway tracks), ☏ +1 905-852-3696. Until it announced that it was ceasing operations as of January 2024, the railway operated excursion trains between Stouffville and Uxbridge. The museum's rolling stock may still be visible behind chain-link fencing. Uxbridge Station has a beautiful witch's cap roof.
Do
[edit]- Hike, bike, ski or rire 220 km of trails. Uxbridge calls itself the Trail Capital of Canada. Hikers, cyclists, equestrians, skiers, and lovers of fresh air can enjoy over 220 km of seasonally managed trails on over (32 km²) of protected greenspace within its borders. The trails run through historic villages, mixed forests, streams, wetlands, and meadows with an abundance of brilliant flora and fauna. The Oak Ridges Trail and the Trans Canada Trail run through the township.
- 1 The Roxy Theatre, 46 Brock St W, ☏ +1 905-852-7699. provides Uxbridge with first and second run movies.
- 2 Parish Lanes (Uxbridge Bowl), 69 Brock St W, ☏ +1 905-862-2695. Closed Mondays. 5- and 10-pin bowling, catering for birthday parties.
- 3 Uxbridge Fair, 440605 Dufferin County Road 8 (Elgin Park). First weekend of September following Labour Day. Starting in 1886, the Uxbridge Fall Fair has been held annually. Attractions include home craft, vegetable and flower exhibits, cattle, goat, sheep, poultry and rabbit shows, the midway, tractor pull, demolition derby, heavy horse pull and barnyard rodeo.
- 4 Uxbridge & Area Swimming Pool (Uxpool), 1 Parkside Dr, ☏ +1 905-852-7831. Sports activity location with public pool and squash courts.
- 5 Uxbridge Arena & Recreation Centre, 291 Brock St W, ☏ +1 905-852-3081. During winter, free ice skating is occasionally available at Uxbridge Arena.
Skiing
[edit]- 6 Lakeridge Ski Resort, 790 Chalk Lake Rd (Exit on Lake Ridge Rd N from Highway 407), ☏ +1-905-686-3607, [email protected]. Large skiing resort with instructional classes for beginners. Has a variety of advanced hills.
- 7 Skyloft Ski Resort, 722 Chalk Lake Rd (Exit on Lake Ridge Rd N from Highway 407), ☏ +1-905-649-5160, [email protected]. Beginner skiing resort with wide variety of beginner hills.
- 8 Dagmar Ski Resort, 1220 Lake Ridge Rd (Exit on Lake Ridge Rd N from Highway 407), ☏ +1-905-649-2002, [email protected]. Large skiing resort with several classes for beginners. Has scenic trails and the largest terrain park in Durham.
Buy
[edit]In the traditional downtown core, along Brant Street between Church and Marietta Streets, you will find older, boutique-style stores such as:
- 1 Blue Heron Books, 62 Brock St W. Besides books, the shop hosts activities for children.
- 2 Presents Presents Presents, 60 Brock St W. Gift shop.
- 3 Rutledge Jewellers, 82 Brock St W. Nice town clock on the sidewalk in front of the shop.
- 4 SugarFX, 14 Brock St E (located in a house converted into a mini-mall). Belgian chocolates, retro candy, British imports.
The following is outside the downtown core but within walking distance of it:
- 5 Uxbridge Farmers Market, 14 Victoria St. May-Oct: Su 9AM-2PM. Farm products, baked goods, artisan products. Check website for November and December holiday markets.
Along Highway 47, a.k.a. Toronto Street South, between Elgin Park Drive and Concession 6, there is a number of suburban strip malls and big box stores. At Welwood Drive, 6 big box stores include: Zehrs supermarket which also sells electronics, books, housewares and clothing, a Canadian Tire store, Mark's Work Wearhouse , a medium-sized WalMart , home-product store RONA and Global Pet Foods.
Eat
[edit]Uxbridge generally caters to family style restaurants with a few bistro-style fine dining establishments.
- 1 Frankie's Ristorante, 1 Main St (Corner of Main and Brock St. in the downtown of Uxbridge), ☏ +1 905-852-1011. Tu-Sa lunch & dinner. 100% gluten and wheat free Mediterranean restaurant. Everything is made from scratch and all a la minute. Caters to all. $18-45/person.
- 2 Urban Pantry, 4 Toronto Street North, ☏ +1 905-852-5050, [email protected]. W Th 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9PM; F Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-10PM; Su 9AM-2PM, 4:30-9PM. Trendy casual, globally influenced, locally sourced.
- 3 The Passionate Cook's Bistro, 68 Brock St. W., ☏ +1 905-862-3359, [email protected]. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 10AM-3PM. All of their food is made in-house, including soups, salad dressings, sauces and compound butters. Nothing is pre-made or purchased.
- 4 Col. McGrady's Pub and Grill, 44 Brock St W, ☏ +1 289-640-0946. Su-F 11AM-9PM,Sa 10AM-9PM. Pub and grill with many menu items; small sidewalk patio.
- 5 Corner House, 104 Brock St W, ☏ +1 905-852-9944. Tu 11AM-12AM, W Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 9AM-midnight, Su 9AM-11PM. Pub & grill restaurant with varied menu; beer from the local micro-brewery; small exterior patio.
- 6 Gangster Cheese, 114 Brock St W. M Tu open 24 hours, W-Su 11AM-7PM. Grilled cheese sandwiches, poutine, tacos, quesadillas, cheesecake.
- 7 Wixan's Bridge, 65 Brock St. W, ☏ +1 905-852-1222, [email protected]. M-W 11AM-midnight, Th F 11AM-2AM, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su 10AM-midnight. Comfort food, English pub.
Drink
[edit]Also check the Eat section for pub restaurants.
- 1 The Second Wedge Brewing Company, 14 Victoria St. Tu 4-9PM, W-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su 9AM-6PM. Micro brewery with a tasting room and beer garden; Sunday brunch.
Sleep
[edit]- See Stouffville, Port Perry and Pickering
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Uxbridge |
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