Whitchurch-Stouffville is a rural municipality in York Region with one significant urban area. It lies mainly on the Oak Ridges Moraine, which is protected against further suburban sprawl by legislation. There are many recreation trails through the town's conservation areas.
Since 2019, it has been calling itself "the Town of Stouffville", while retaining its full name for legal purposes. It is a largely rural area whose population is growing quickly.
Understand
[edit]
It is located north of Markham, east of Richmond Hill and Aurora, south of Georgina, and west of Durham Region.
In 2016, it was home to 46,000 people. Its future growth is planned as "sustainable development", largely within the boundaries of urban Stouffville, home to 33,000 people in 2016, reflecting a vision of "small town tradition between the country and the city". Many of its residents commute to Toronto for work.
Other communities in Whitchurch-Stouffville include Ballantrae, Bethesda, Bloomington, Cedar Valley, Gormley, Lemonville, Lincolnville, Musselman's Lake, Pine Orchard, Pleasantville, Preston Lake, Ringwood, Vandorf, Vivian, and Wesley Corners.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]Whitchurch-Stouffville is served mainly by Toronto Pearson International Airport. From Pearson Airport, you could use several methods to reach Whitchurch-Stouffville. By automobile, you would take 409 East, exit onto Highway 401 East, and then take Highway 404 North, and then exit at Stouffville Road, and then go eastbound.
Taking a taxi, the flat-rate fare to Stouffville is $140-170 depending on where in the municipality (Sep 2021).
A few flights also arrive at Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto. From Billy Bishop, there are several methods to reach Vaughan. By automobile, you could take the Gardiner Expressway Eastbound, Don Valley Parkway Northbound, exit at Stouffville Road, and go eastbound.
By regional public transit
[edit]GO Transit (website) operates a few rush-hour trains from Toronto's Union Station stopping at 1 Stouffville GO and 2 Old Elm GO (terminus) stations in Whitchurch-Stouffville. However, these trains generally operate only during weekday rush hours and only in the peak direction (inbound to Toronto in the morning, outbound to Stouffville in the evening). At other times, one should take a train to Mount Joy GO Station in Markham, and transfer to GO Transit bus route 70D (direction Uxbridge) to Stouffville. Mount Joy, Stouffville and Old Elm GO stations are all on the Stouffville Line. A few early morning GO buses (route 71) operate directly from Union Station to Stouffville.
York Region Transit operates bus route 9 Ninth Line from the Cornell Bus Terminal at Markham Stouffville Hospital in Markham to Stouffville.
By car
[edit]There are no freeways in Whitchurch-Stouffville. However, Highway 404 forms the western border of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Highway 404 goes north to Georgina, and south to Toronto.
Highway 48 is a provincially maintained highway that starts at Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham. It arrives in Stouffville on the western border of the town.
Arterial roads in Whitchurch-Stouffville are laid out in a grid format, usually 2 km by 2 km. There are few turn restrictions, however, there are more in busier areas. Parking is generally free and readily available, except in downtown Stouffville.
Get around
[edit]
Whitchurch-Stouffville is a rural and sparse municipality, save for the town of Stouffville. Getting around by car is the best way, although there are limited transit options.
Transit
[edit]Whitchurch-Stouffville is served by the York Region's Transit system (YRT and VIVA) as well as the provincial GO Transit.
York Region Transit
[edit]York Region Transit (YRT) is the main local transit agency. Click the link for an overview on bus service in York Region.
YRT operates only one route in Whitchurch-Stouffville. The Route is 9 Ninth Line, which forms a square routing in the town of Stouffville and follows Ninth Line south of the town. YRT also offers on-demand service within parts of Whitchurch-Stouffville on M-F 5:30AM-11PM.
GO Transit
[edit]GO Buses operate during off-peak times when train service on the Stouffville Line does not operate.
By taxi
[edit]Taxis are generally not found on the roads; therefore they cannot be hailed from the street. In order to acquire a taxi, it is best to pre-book a trip using a phone or using the internet.
Ride-share applications such as Uber and Lyft can also be used and are easier to acquire a ride compared to traditional taxis.
By bicycle
[edit]Cycling is possible throughout the municipality.
It is a provincial law that cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet, and all riders must have a bike with reflectors and a bell. This is almost never enforced due to the low number of cyclists.
The YRT has taken measures to be welcoming of bicycles. All YRT/VIVA buses have easy to use bike racks.
Beware of right-turning vehicles when you enter an intersection. Drivers usually do not expect cyclists or pedestrians due to the low number of pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore they may not look before they turn, as they only look for other cars.
See
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- 1 Latcham Art Centre, 2 Park Drive, Stouffville (in the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre), ☏ +1 905-640-8954. It hosts 5-6 curated exhibitions each year that reflect a range of artistic media and the cultural diversity of Ontario. Free.
- 2 Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum (Vandorf Park), 14732 Woodbine Ave, ☏ +1 905-727-8954. W-Sa 8AM-4PM. Many historic buildings including 1871 Vandorf Public School, 1870s log cabin – early settler home representation, 1850s Brown House red brick farmhouse. 1857 Bogarttown Public School. Location often used for weddings.
Do
[edit]- 1 Markham Fair, 10801 McCowan Rd (follow the signs for Markham Fairgrounds). mid-October. It is one of the oldest country fairs in Canada. Aside from agricultural displays, other entertainment includes farm animals, tractor pulls, demolition derby and straw bale competition. Although it is not in Whitchurch-Stouffville, it is immediately south of the boundary in the city of Markham.
- 2 Bruce's Mill Conservation Park, 3291 Stouffville Road, Stouffville, ☏ +1-416-667-6295. Forest trails, golf driving range, zip lines through the high tree canopy, and annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival. Adult $7, senior $6, child under 14 $4.
- 3 Applewood Farm, 12416 McCowan Rd, ☏ +1 905 640 5357. Pick your own apple, strawberry and pumpkin depending on different seasons.
- 4 Nineteen on the Park (Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment), 19 Civic Ave. A theatre featuring concerts, movies, live theatre, dance performances and comedy, it was built in 1896, and was originally a townhall and marketplace. It is located behind the town clock on Main Street.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Redefined Finds, 6258 Main St. Features home goods, knick-knacks and gift items with some products produced by local artisans.
Eat
[edit]- 1 The King's Landing Bar & Grill, 5946 Main St #4, ☏ +1 905-591-7200.
- 2 Hanson Country Place, 3721 Aurora Rd (at Kennedy Rd), ☏ +1 905-888-1818. Daily 11:30AM-8:30PM. Chibese and Canadian food
- 3 Fickle Pickle Family Restaurant, 6302 Main St. 8AM-8PM daily. Breakfast dishes, fancy sandwiches, Greek dishes.
- 4 Red Bulb Espresso Bar, 6148 Main St. M-F 6:30AM to 2PM, Sa-Su 7am to 2pm. Coffee, tea, light meals and desserts.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Blvd, Stouffville, ☏ +1 905-640-8118. Daily 11AM-10PM. Gastropub.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Days Inn by Wyndham Stouffville, 38 Ringwood Dr, Stouffville (off Main St, near Highway 48), ☏ +1 905-642-2929. From $100.
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- 2 Cedar Beach Trailer and RV Park on Musselman's Lake, Cedarvale Boulevard and Ninth Line, ☏ +1 905-642-1700. Musselman's Lake is a kettle lake, i.e., a depression/hole in an outwash plain formed by retreating glaciers or draining floodwaters. Virtually all of the waterfront is private residential property, but Cedar Beach Park is a small park and beach on the north side that can accommodate trailers up to 28 feet. No tent camping. $58-75/night for a site with water and 30-amp electricity.
Connect
[edit]Stay healthy
[edit]The closest hospital is 1 Markham Stouffville Hospital. Although the hospital has the name "Stouffville" in it, it is in Markham.
Go next
[edit]- Drive northeast for 20 minutes to Uxbridge
| Routes through Whitchurch-Stouffville |
| Georgina ← East Gwillimbury ← | N  S
|
→ Markham → END |