Lakeside, Ajax Neighbourhood Guide: Enjoy The View

The Lakeside neighbourhood in the Town of Ajax is a picturesque, family-oriented area built around having easy access to the Ajax Waterfront. Also known as Carruthers and Ajax Southeast, the area spans from Lake Ontario to just north of Duckfield Cresent, between Lake Ridge Road South and Shoal Point Road. 

While the area’s name Lakeside is straightforward regarding its location, its other name comes with a piece of local history. The name Carruthers comes from an early settler who immigrated in the 1850s from Cumberland, England, Richard Carruthers. His namesake of Carruthers Creek and Marsh honoured the Carruthers Family, who owned land in the area until the 1940s. Modern residences began replacing older homes in the early 2000s. 

There are a variety of housing styles in Lakeside. In the early 2000s, Tribute Homes began building detached subdivisional homes. On streets adjacent to Lake Ontario, detached houses with large front porches, some with second-floor balconies, were built to take in the waterfront vistas. They are made of brick or frame siding and feature built-in single or double car garages. There are also some townhouses sprinkled throughout the area. The neighbourhood is still under development, and most homes are built to accommodate families.

Along the waterfront, there are art installations and memorials to inspire reflection for people enjoying their peaceful time in nature. One such installation is a metal sculpture titled WoodHaven, made by Mark Puimarti, and is located outside the Carruthers Marsh Pavilion. Four forged metal panels use whimsical stick figures to depict themes of adult and youth interaction, community and family, compassion and caring, and playfulness in the outdoors. They act as mirror images that use the negative space to shape a tree in the centre of the panels.

A group of seven stone memorials called Cairns are scattered along the Ajax waterfront. The concept comes from an ancient Scottish tradition of honouring fallen soldiers after a battle. The Town of Ajax has a program that allows community members to dedicate a tree, bench, or picnic table within local parks as a way of remembering people. Once that is completed, the Town mounts another dedication marker on a cairn.

There are not many shopping options within the neighbourhood’s borders, but a popular stop for Durham residents awaits on Kingston Road. Macmillan Orchards has been a family-owned and operated shop since 1953, offering fresh and frozen produce, pies, baked goods, seasonings, and locally grown seasonal apples. 

Do not despair for any other shopping needs you may have; one of the largest shopping complexes in Durham is just a few blocks away. Along Kingston between Harwood and Salem Road, the RioCan Durham Centre is the perfect stop for a multitude of shops. The outdoor mall includes a Costco, department stores, outlets, pet stores, shoe stores, take-out and dine-in options, and more.

A few blocks north of Lakeside on Kingston, a plaza called the Whitetail Centre features dine-in and take-out restaurants such as Sunrise Caribbean, Kunafa King, and Chuck’s Roadhouse, with some artisan shops like Country Cheese Company and Marble Slab Creamery. Other restaurants can be found within the RioCan Durham Centre, giving Lakeside residents many nearby options. 

While the neighbourhood is full of parkettes and trails throughout, the area’s gem is Lakeside Park. The park includes two playgrounds, a splash pad, access to Carruthers Creek and Lake Ontario, a connection to the Ajax Waterfront trail, and the Carruthers Marsh Pavilion. The Pavillion is 1518 square feet with a 64 person capacity and features a vaulted peak ceiling, large windows, modern fixtures, tables, chairs, and washrooms. It is available as a rental space and would be a beautiful place to host a special gathering.

On the western side of Carruthers Creek, the public may also enjoy Paradise Beach. The park features a small, rock covered beachfront with a kids’ play area and access to the waterfront trail.

Trails throughout the neighbourhood, such as the Waterfront Trail, create excellent opportunities for recreation while enjoying the outdoors. A block north on Lake Ridge Road, residents can enjoy the Carruthers Golf and Country Club. This family-owned and operated facility includes an outdoor golf course, indoor turf field, and golf simulations. The indoor turf field is utilised by the Triple Play Academy for baseball training, offering hourly rates and memberships to use the facility.

For not being in a central location, commute times from Lakeside are pretty impressive. By car, it should take travellers less than 40 minutes to reach Downtown Toronto with access to the 401 via Salem Road South. 

Any travellers taking public transit will have more trouble. No bus routes are currently catering to the neighbourhood. The closest buses running near the community are the 224 down Pickering Beach Road or 917 on Bayly Street East. Both buses will take travellers to Ajax GO station. On average, it will take commuters an hour and 30 minutes in total to reach Union Station.

Lakeside is unique in its sprawling waterfront access that is on display even in the local architecture. What it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in its beauty and wonders that families within the area enjoy every day.