Ajax Business Area Neighbourhood Guide: Bustling Businesses

Ajax Business Area is a thriving location for business opportunities and some of the key sectors located here include manufacturing, business and information technology, healthcare, tourism and logistics and warehousing. Many key Ontarian employers choose Ajax as their headquarters, including Lear Canada, Intact Insurance, GO Transit, and Volkswagen Canada Inc. 

The Carruthers Creek and Audley neighbourhoods nestled within this district are picturesque family-friendly enclaves. With a range of recreational outlets, parks, and playgrounds, these districts are excellent starter neighbourhoods for families to consider, with a range of shopping and businesses at your doorstep.

The Audley neighbourhood, situated just north of the Audley Business District, was settled by Alexander Dunlop in 1835. He was one of the original British settlers who arrived in the area. It was originally named Brown’s Corner after Abraham Brown, the owner of a local hotel.

The Ajax Business Area consists of the Audley Road and Carruthers Creek business areas.

The Carruthers Creek and Audley neighbourhoods nestled within this district are picturesque family-friendly enclaves – the neighbourhood of Audley includes an attractive cluster of 682 homes known as “The Hamlet”. This attractive gathering of homes features large detached brick homes, as well as pockets of townhouse complexes within the neighbourhood. Nearby Mulberry Meadows, at the south end of the community, also boasts many townhouse complexes.

Carruthers Creek neighbourhood is situated south of Highway 401 and east of Harwood Avenue, and is a relatively new development that originated during a construction boom after the year 2000 –  large three and four-bedroom homes dominate this upscale neighbourhood.

The nearby St. Francis Center on Church Street is easily visible in Pickering Village with its striking steeple that stretches skyward from the historic building originally built as a church in 1871. It showcases a stage, theatre seating for 150, a glass atrium, and a bar.

The St. Francis Center offers live theatre, concerts, and also plays host to a film circuit, part of the Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) film outreach program. The film circuit showcases Canadian and international films; this historic building adds to the ambiance of watching first-rate international cinema and documentaries.

Residents of Carruthers Creek will find a large Shoppers Drug Mart situated in the business district on Harwood Avenue South and is a convenient spot to pick up beauty, grocery, and gift items in a one-stop location. Just north of Shoppers, along Harwood Avenue, are a variety of conveniences, including a Food Basics, Dollarama, and Rexall pharmacy.

Chuck’s Roadhouse, situated in the Audley neighbourhood, is a casual eatery offering a range of top-grade steaks, lobster tails, appetizers, and ice-cold draught, along with dining options for vegans, such as the veggie burger. If you’re swinging by in the evening, you can snag appetizers for half price after 9 p.m., and Wednesdays are rib days at Chuck’s, offering specials on ribs and wings. Join friends and catch your favourite team on the big screen TV, and enjoy the neighbourhood ambiance.

Residents of the Carruthers Creek neighbourhood will enjoy walking their dog at Exeter Park and local children enjoy the wading pool, which is lifeguard supervised. The wading pool is the only one available in Ajax, and children enjoy the pool on summer days. There is also a jungle gym and swing set that is surrounded by a multitude of benches and towering trees. A baseball diamond is great for summertime games.

Residents of the Audley neighbourhood don’t have to travel far to enjoy a state-of-the-art recreation center. The Audley Recreation Center, situated on Audley Road North, offers residents of the area a six-lane 25-meter indoor lap pool, leisure pool with therapy jets, a gym, and fitness classes are available. 

On the picturesque grounds, there is a skateboard park for local teens to meet friends. A splash pad with a playground makes for an entertaining summer afternoon for families. Basketball courts, tennis courts, and baseball diamonds also add to the repertoire of sporting amenities at the rec center. Scenic walking paths surrounding the center provide a relaxing pastime for local residents.

Carruthers Creek indoor soccer dome rolls out an indoor field with turf for soccer and sporting events year-round. Grab a group of friends and rent out the field for soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, frisbee, and more! It’s even a novel idea for an unforgettable birthday party.

The Ajax Public Library’s main branch on Harwood Avenue South is a neighbourhood hub for studying and reading and attending programs rolled out by the library, including parenting educational programs, reading clubs, book chats, and seniors clubs. The library even offers educational virtual programs such as biographies, which explore the lives of such icons like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.

The Audley Road Business Area runs parallel to the north side of Highway 401, and is sandwiched in between Harwood Avenue North and Lakeridge Road North. This area is conveniently accessed via the Harwood Avenue exit on Highway 401, making this business area a convenient commute for Durham residents who work here.

Similarly, Carruthers Creek Business Area is located south of Highway 401, and the many businesses here run alongside Harwood Avenue South. This business area is conveniently accessed by the Harwood Avenue South exit, which will take you into the heart of the business district situated along Harwood Avenue.

If you’re travelling into downtown Toronto, the Hwy. 401 on-ramps are situated at either Westney Road or Harwood Avenue, and Toronto can be reached in about 30 minutes.

These urban well-planned communities offer families and young professionals a comfortable lifestyle in a thriving community with nearby parks and green space, and top-notch shopping and dining, nestled among a cluster of urban businesses.

The newer home subdivisions featured in Carruthers Creek and Audley are just minutes away from recreation, walking trails, and a mecca of local businesses. You can enjoy living in these communities with all the urban advantages while enjoying all the recreational amenities that Ajax has to offer.