Rural Vaughan Neighbourhood Guide: A Neighbourhood Near the Greenbelt

An unexpected feature of living in Vaughan is its connection to Ontario’s Greenbelt. Here, on the city’s northern borders, you will find Rural Vaughan, a humble community protected by the province’s green initiative. The residents living here enjoy large, two-storey houses with a variety of architectural styles on big lots. There are plenty of golf courses in this area and also many nature reserves for people who enjoy the outdoors or want to pursue an active lifestyle. This neighbourhood is close to several of Toronto’s major commuter highways, making it a great choice for people who frequent downtown Toronto.

Vaughan was largely uninhabited by European settlers until after the War of 1812. After the war, many British migrants moved to the township to farm. The population here remained below 5,000 before an immigration wave sparked by the Second World War. This increase tripled the population of Vaughan to around 16,000. In 2005, the Government of Ontario passed legislation to create a Greenbelt, a permanently protected area of green space. This belt of land, also known as the Golden Horseshoe, protects much of the natural area in Rural Vaughan from future housing developments. The Greenbelt encompasses 809,371 hectares of land including forests, wetlands, and grasslands.

The houses in Rural Vaughan are large and feature a variety of architectural styles, including Victorian and Edwardian. While there are a few bungalows here, the majority of homes are two-storey, detached buildings. Many houses have brick or stone exteriors with columns and balconies facing the street. The residents enjoy large lots with spacious back and front yards, wide driveways, and garages with space for two vehicles. Almost every property has a tree on its front lawn. Many homeowners have gardens growing on their lawns instead of grass. Rural Vaughan is bordered by the Maple community to its south and a smaller township to the north called King City.

The nearest heritage centre to Rural Vaughan within the city of Vaughan itself is Pierre Berton Heritage Centre. Constructed in 1926 and renovated in 2018, the centre has a small exhibit portraying the city’s history, hosts recreational activities, and is available for private bookings. The next closest cultural hub to Rural Vaughan is the Richmond Hill Heritage Centre. This centre celebrates the area’s history and cultural diversity, offering several exhibits and programs. One program is Sheep Strings Café for people who knit and crochet. The Wayback Wednesday Presentations is another weekly event at this heritage centre. They are informative presentations retelling the history of Richmond Hill.

The closest major shopping centre for people living in Rural Vaughan is near the intersection of Major MacKenzie Drive West and McNaughton Road East. This is where locals will find a Walmart Supercentre, PetSmart, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Sally Beauty, a beauty supply store. West of here, near the intersection of Keele Street and Major MacKenzie Drive, are a few other establishments for shopping. These stores include Shoppers Drug Mart, Abaton Ladies Fashion, and Laine & Lola Confection Co.

The closest restaurants in Rural Vaughan are in the southern urban community of Maple. Some of these establishments are near the intersection of Keele Street and Major MacKenzie Drive, such as Maple Garden Chinese Restaurant and Big Bone BBQ & Wicked Wings. Another restaurant west of this intersection is Farro Restaurante. This is a highly rated Italian eatery with exposed brick decor. The restaurant also has a gourmet food boutique, allowing you to bring part of your dining experience home with you. Near Farro Ristorante you will find Shab O Rooz Restaurant.Bar.Lounge, a Persian restaurant offering a variety of alcoholic beverages, shisha, and traditional Persian foods in a club-like setting.

One of the largest natural areas near Rural Vaughan is Maple Nature Reserve. This reserve has a 3.2-kilometre nature walk. The trail’s level of difficulty is easy to moderate, a great choice for people looking for a casual place to hike. The reserve has 14 hectares of protected land and has parking and washroom facilities. Another local green space is North Maple Regional Park, which is close to North Maple Park Soccer Fields just north of a large pond. North Maple Regional Park has large fields with interconnecting gravel pathways and is a great place to walk, run, or walk your dog.

Maple Downs Golf & Country Club is a great recreational escape for people living in Rural Vaughan. This club not only has an 18-hole golf course, but there are also three tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and a restaurant. Another smaller golf course in this area is Carrick Macross Golf. The closest community centre for people living in Rural Vaughan is Elgin West Community Centre & Pool. This centre features a leisure pool and hosts programs for swimming, fitness, recreational skating, and outdoor adventure.

The drive from Rural Vaughan to downtown Toronto will start by driving south on Dufferin Street then turning east onto Highway 407. After following the 407 you will turn south on Highway 404. This highway eventually turns into the Don Valley Parkway, which will lead you to Toronto’s downtown core. Arriving by public transit starts by taking a bus south from Jane Street and Major MacKenzie Drive. This bus ride will bring you to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. From here you can take the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line south to downtown Toronto.

Driving north out of Vaughan’s city centre you might be surprised at how quickly the terrain changes to natural parkland and golf courses. This feature of the area is due to Ontario’s Greenbelt, which protects the green landscape of Rural Vaughan. The Greenbelt creates a unique community shared by forested areas and residential communities. This neighbourhood is close to shopping centres in the southern community of Maple, which is also where locals can go for a wide range of culinary experiences. Rural Vaughan is a great place for commuters heading out of the city or to downtown Toronto as it is close to many commuter highways like the 404 and 407.