Homes For Sale in Brockville

Why live in Brockville?

Brockville is a tight-knit community brimming with history, culture, charm, and plenty of great restaurants and recreational activities. The city is one of the oldest communities in Canada, having been settled by the British in the late eighteenth century. It also has a fascinating history involving the early indigenous inhabitants of the area, with pictographs on rock faces indicating the presence of the Point Peninsula people. Much of Brockville’s history can still be viewed today, such as at the Fulford Place Museum and Brockville Museum. Brockville was also the site of the first railway tunnel ever built in Canada. People can still visit the Brockville Railway Tunnel today. If Brockville’s history isn’t enough to entice you, just consider all the recreational activities that the city has to offer. It is located on the St. Lawrence River in the picturesque Thousand Islands Region. The Thousand Islands are an archipelago of over 1,800 islands in Ontario. Not only is this area incredibly unique but it features two UNESCO recognized sites, the Rideau Canal and the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. There’s a reason that the area has long been a go-to destination for tourists and locals alike. Golfing, diving, fishing, canoeing, paddleboarding, and kayaking are all popular activities here. Further, there are plenty of opportunities to hike around Brockville, such as in Lyn Valley Conservation Area, Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, and Cataraqui Region Conservation Area. A few other urban parks and trails in the city include The Brock Trail, St. Lawrence Park, Centeen Park, Blockhouse Island, Hardy Park, and Rotary Park. Beyond the great outdoors, Brockville is known as an arts hub. It is home to a number of galleries and museums, including the Brockville Arts Centre. Another perk of living in Brockville is the convenient location. Brockville is situated nearly halfway between Montreal and Toronto and is also only just over an hour from Ottawa. It’s also located along the U.S. border. Finally, what attracts many people to Brockville is the low cost of living. Compared to many other cities in Ontario and Quebec, Brockville is far more affordable, especially when it comes to housing.

Quality and diversity of education in Brockville

The Upper Canada District School Board and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario jointly provide public education to Brockville residents. Some of the main schools in Brockville are Thousand Islands Secondary School, Brockville Collegiate Institute, and St. Mary’s Catholic High School. Private school options in Brockville range from Fulford Academy to Brockville Montessori School Inc. and Trillium Hall Private School. Further, due to the city’s convenient location near Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal, residents have all kinds of top-notch post-secondary opportunities. First, St. Lawrence College has a campus in Brockville, but outside of that, you will need to travel to another city. Queen’s University is the largest university in Kingston, which is under an hour from Brockville. Queen’s also happens to be one of the top universities in the province. Meanwhile, Ottawa is home to Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Saint Paul University, and Algonquin College. Roughly two hours east of Brockville is Montreal, which has several English and French-language universities, such as Concordia University, McGill University, the University of Montreal, and the University of Quebec in Montreal.

Most populous cities in Brockville

The six main neighbourhoods that make up Brockville are Windsor Heights, Sheridan Park, Golf Side Gardens, Loyalist Park, Rows Corners, and Flanders Heights.

Quality of infrastructure for Brockville

Brockville Transit is the public transit system that operates in the city via a network of buses. Although modest in size, it transports residents to and from the city’s major hubs. That said, most Brockville residents prefer to get around by car. Thankfully, this is easy to do. A smaller population means minimal traffic and the city’s prime location translates to quick access to many of Ontario’s major highways, like Highway 2 and Highway 401. There are several train and coach bus services to be aware of if you are looking to travel elsewhere in Ontario or Canada. For instance, Via Rail has a train station in Brockville, which can transport passengers to Kingston, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Cornwall, Quebec City, and beyond. Megabus also operates a bus service that stops in Brockville. As for air travel, Brockville has a municipal airport, the Tackaberry Thousand Islands Regional Airport. However, you will need to travel to a larger city for an international airport. Ottawa International Airport is the closest major airport to Brockville, and it’s roughly an hour and 15 minutes away. Lastly, in terms of healthcare, Brockville General Hospital serves the city of Brockville. That said, there are several other hospitals nearby like Cornwall Community Hospital in Cornwall, the Ottawa Hospital General Campus, Riverside Campus, and Civic Campus in Ottawa, and Kingston General Hospital in Kingston.

Safety and security for Brockville

The Brockville Police Service is responsible for keeping Brockville residents safe. However, the good news is that Brockville has a crime rate well below the national average and is not at risk of natural disasters. Emergency services are available 24/7 by calling 9-1-1.

Brockville property market

The Brockville property market has experienced significant growth in recent years, which makes now a great time to buy. The city remains relatively affordable, especially compared to other major cities in Ontario, such as Toronto. Since the city tends to be populated by families and seniors, the majority of properties are townhomes, bungalows, detached homes, and semi-detached homes. That said, there are some condos and apartments.

Standard of living in Brockville

The standard of living in Brockville is high. As seen above, the small Eastern Ontario city has so much going for it. A rich history, low cost of living, convenient location, family-friendly attractions, low crime rate, and access to one of the most beautiful national parks in Canada, Thousand Islands National Park, all make Brockville a wonderful place to live.

Something wonderful about Brockville

Let’s dive deeper into Brockville's fascinating history. As mentioned above, it is one of the earliest settlements in Canada. It was first settled by English speakers in 1784 following the American Revolutionary War. It was at this time that Canada was receiving an influx of American refugees following the war. These refugees later became known as Loyalists due to their continued loyalty to the British monarch at the time, King George III. William Buell Sr. was the first Loyalist to purchase land in modern-day Brockville, which he did in 1785. At the time, the region was not called Brockville. It was originally known as Buell’s Bay, after the first official settlement, William Buell Sr. However, by 1810, it had been renamed to Elizabethtown. Within two years, the area started to be referred to as Brockville, after the commanding British General in Upper Canada, Major-General Isaac Brock. He was considered a war hero in Upper Canada due to the battles he had won in the War of 1812.

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