Living in East Gwillimbury connects you with Canadian history in a picturesque setting. The communities of Holland Landing, Mount Albert, Sharon, and Queensville, make up this family-friendly town.
Your home should be located in a place where you can live, learn, work and play. Enjoy scenic nature trails, community programs, drive-in movies and more living in East Gwillimbury. You’ll experience the best years of your life living here, in this serene Regional Municipality of York.
As soon as you arrive in this beautiful town, you smell a fresh change in the air. Notice more green areas, appreciate more spacious environments and have more opportunities to smile at the thought that this is home.
With all of the terrific possibilities East Gwillimbury has to offer, you’ll wonder what took you so long to get here. Keep reading for our favourite places and events that you can only experience living in East Gwillimbury.
Connect at the community centre and through team sports
Neighbours quickly become friends when watching their kids play, joining the same fitness class or learning a new skill together at a community centre. East Gwillimbury features many community spaces, perfect for keeping your family healthy and active.
Visit the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex for activities like skating, karate and swimming. Enrol your kids in fun programs like Group Piano Lessons and Video Game Creation. Other nearby community centres include the Harvest Hills Activity Centre, Holland Landing Community Centre and the Ross Family Complex.
If team sports are more your game, consider joining any of East Gwillimbury’s clubs like soccer, softball, hockey, tennis or lob ball. There’s something for every athlete in this fantastic town.
Shop until you drop
Shopping for groceries is easy with stores like the new Longo’s East Gwillimbury location and Costco Wholesale positioned at the heart of downtown; Yonge Street and Green Lane. There are also big-box stores like Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, HomeSense and The Home Depot available nearby for your retail therapy needs.
Clothing, accessories and yummy treats can be found a few minutes away at Newmarket’s Upper Canada Mall. This shopping centre features two levels of eclectic boutiques and recognizable shops. Browse through places like the Disney store, Footlocker and Hudson's Bay and stop by the food court for a sweet or savoury crêpe from Crepe Delicious.
It’s a common misconception that moving north of Toronto means that you’ll miss out on big city amenities. However, living in East Gwillimbury means that you’re closer than you thought to everything you need with the added bonus of small-town charm.
See a movie underneath the stars or have fun at the best fair, ever!
SilverCity Newmarket is a great indoor movie theatre to visit year-round and features the top box office movies of today. However, what if you could experience the magic of the movies while sitting under the stars? Living in East Gwillimbury, you can!
The Stardust Drive-in Theatre in Sharon is one of the last few remaining drive-in movie theatres in Ontario. This town hotspot is reminiscent of a simpler time when good clean fun was at the height of popularity.
Become a kid again at the movies when you snuggle up in your car or comfy camping chair and sleeping bag with your favourite snacks. Prepare for a family-friendly evening featuring good times and great movies each time you visit this drive-in. It’s also a good idea to bring a can of bug spray for those hot summer nights!
While going to the drive-in is something East Gwillimbury locals love, they have all summer long to take advantage of this fun activity. However, there is one special event that only happens once a year and it’s a party that everyone, absolutely everyone, raves about.
On the first weekend in June, East Gwillimbury citizens and friends gather together to enjoy the Mount Albert Sports Day and Spring Fair. This year, Sports Day will celebrate it’s 95th year and is a proud celebration of this town’s tenacity, persistence and sense of fun.
In 1924, the Women’s Institute tried to secure land for a public park in Mount Albert. However, due to the laws of the time, they were not allowed to own property. They didn’t let that stop them.
Instead of giving up, the Women’s Institute enacted an alternative solution that involved convincing the Town to purchase the land. After trying over and over, they were finally successful and the goal of having a public park for their loved ones to play in was ultimately achieved.
And so, on June 3, 1925, crowds gathered in Mount Albert Community Park for the first Sports Day. Festival-goers were treated to a parade, ball games, horseshoe pitching, races and, of course, sports. Funds raised by the festival were invested back into the community, a tradition that is still followed today.
2019’s Sports Day featured an array of activities that delighted attendees like a delicious family BBQ, musical performances, baking contests, amusement rides, axe throwing, a soapbox derby and so much more! We are excited to see what this year has in store for the impressive 95th anniversary.