Bronte Creek, Burlington Neighbourhood Guide: Next Door to the Natural World

You won’t find an energetic nightlife or a high-traffic retail multiplex here. Bronte Creek is a quiet, family-friendly community that values parkland and large lots above all else. Close to the brand-new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and bordered by two of Ontario’s primary commuter highways, Bronte Creek is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after Greater Toronto Area (GTA) neighbourhoods. 

The region’s history dates back to the early 1800s when European settlers landed here from Pennsylvania. The area was founded by Lawrence Hagar in 1805 and used to be called Hagartown until it was changed in 1836. 

The district was amalgamated with Oakville in 1962, but the transformation didn’t end there. The neighbourhood now known as Bronte Creek was up until recently the site of the old Richview Golf Club. The 18-hole course had been open since 1965 but was subsequently sold to private developers in 2005. One of the newest residential developments in all of Burlingtonton/Oakville, the Bronte Creek community didn’t really begin to take shape until around 2011.

Don’t let the picture above dissuade you from Bronte Creek. Sure, there are a lot of large estate-style homes here. Particularly along Wuthering Heights Way. But there are much more affordable dwellings available in this neighbourhood too. 

You won’t find much in the way of apartment accommodation here. The area is mostly made up of detached and semi-detached homes and townhouses. Bronte Creek is one of Burlington/Oakville’s newest communities, having been built on the grounds of the old Richview Golf Club in 2011. As such, you’ll notice that the streets here are lined with predominantly two-storey, four-bedroom detached homes and two-car garages. 

It isn’t every day that you live in a neighbourhood that shares a border with one of the most prominent protected parklands in the province. Bronte Creek residents take advantage of their proximity too. 

The Bronte Creek Provincial Park is the community hub, and its neighbourhood calendar proves it. The park hosts community-oriented interpretive programs throughout the year, including the annual Maple Syrup Festival, Victorian Christmas, Camper Halloween, and even fall ghost walks. 

St. Luke’s Community Centre on Dundas Street West offers even more multi-purpose space. In addition to the parties, receptions, and performances commonly held here, the venue hosts countless community-focused social events every month.

You aren’t going to find a lot of dedicated retail space within the borders of Bronte Creek, but the area’s central location makes it easy to pop out to a nearby neighbourhood and get back in time for dinner. 

You can find most essentials along Dundas Street in both directions. Travel west to find a Walmart Supercenter, a pharmacy, and a few banks. Or head east along Dundas to Third Line to the Fox Creek Plaza. The Abbey Plaza on the corner of Third Line and Upper Middle Road in nearby Glen Abbey has a grocery store and a few restaurants.

There aren’t many restaurants to speak of in Bronte Creek either. But it’s easy to travel to nearby hot spots. The SmartCentres Burlington North shopping mall has a number of different restaurants. There you’ll find fast food, casual dining, all-day breakfast, and more. 

The Fox Creek Plaza has a Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and a popular Indian restaurant. If that’s not enough for you and your family, you’ll find even more eateries by driving west along Upper Middle Road until you hit Appleby Line.

A visit to the Bronte Creek neighbourhood isn’t complete without a stop at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The 700-hectare green space takes up close to half of the neighbourhood’s real estate, bordering the residential development on both the west and the south. 

More than a sightseeing spot, Bronte Creek Provincial Park is home to five hiking trails, a children’s farm with live farm animals, and both tent and large RV camping all season long. 

As if that weren’t enough, residents of this neighbourhood can also take their families to Valleyridge Park, Valleyridge Pond, or Colonel William Woods Parkette.

You won’t need much nightlife if you fill your days sweating away your stress. Bronte Creek provides the public with many ways to do just that. 

Bronte Creek Provincial Park offers more than just hiking. The park’s giant outdoor pool and disc golf course are open in the summer months, while the wintertime brings with it the opportunity to toboggan or cross-country ski. 

For a smaller-scale experience, you can take the family to Valleyridge Park. It has a soccer field, a splash pad, and a playground. The Bronte Creek neighbourhood is also near the Oakville Soccer Club. On Pine Glen Road in the West Oak Trails neighbourhood, the Oakville Soccer Club has a full-sized FIFA-regulation indoor turf field and hosts tournaments, development programs, and community rentals all year long.

Bronte Creek isn’t particularly close to the bright lights of the big city, but that’s remedied by nearby access to two of Ontario’s major roadways. Most residents are less than five minutes south of Highway 407’s Bronte on-ramp. The neighbourhood is just a few minutes north of Highway 403 too. 

Those without their own vehicle are a short Burlington Transit bus ride away from the Bronte GO train station. The station is on the Lakeshore West line and can get you to Toronto’s Union Station in under an hour.

Bronte Creek is very different from the City of Toronto and its residents wouldn’t have it any other way. Those who live here traded access to a bustling nightlife for unparalleled green space. Close to the big city by its two neighbouring highways, Bronte Creek is the perfect respite for young families yearning for an escape from big city noise.