Located on Lake Ontario's shore, this upscale suburban town has 200-year-old harbors, high-end shopping on Lakeshore Road, and annual jazz festivals at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park.
Oakville, a city of 233,700 residents, sits between Toronto and Hamilton on Lake Ontario's shore. You can browse through independent boutiques on downtown's Lakeshore Road, watch the Oakville Symphony Orchestra perform at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, cycle along 150 kilometers of waterfront trails, play a round at Glen Abbey Golf Course, or catch live performances at the Downtown Jazz Festival in summer.
Getting to Oakville
You can reach Oakville, 30 kilometers west of Toronto, by car via the QEW, 403, and 407 highways. Regular GO Transit trains connect the city to downtown Toronto. Three international airports serve the area: Toronto Pearson, Billy Bishop, and Hamilton - all within a 40-minute drive.
Downtown and Shopping Areas
Oakville has three distinct commercial areas. Along Lakeshore Road, downtown's Victorian-era buildings house independent boutiques and cafes. In Bronte Village, you can dine at seafood restaurants with waterfront patios near the working harbor. Kerr Village's family-run shops serve international cuisine. Look for the interpretive signs along designated walking routes in each district to learn about local stories.
Parks and Lake Ontario Waterfront
The city maintains 200 parks across 1,420 hectares, including 31 waterfront areas. You can launch your boat or walk along paved paths at Bronte and Oakville harbors. A connected waterfront trail system lets you walk from Bronte Creek Provincial Park to Joshua's Valley Park. In summer, bring a blanket to Coronation Park's amphitheater for concerts and community festivals.
Arts and Performance Venues
Watch performances at the 485-seat Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, which runs over 260 shows annually in its main auditorium and studio space. The 65-member Oakville Symphony Orchestra performs regular seasons here. At Sheridan College's campus theater, you can see four major musical theatre productions each year - many graduates go on to perform in Broadway shows like "Come From Away."
Sports and Recreation Facilities
Play a round at Glen Abbey Golf Course, where Jack Nicklaus designed the 7,402-yard course in 1977. The course has hosted 30 Canadian Open championships. Join the Oakville Soccer Club's programs, which include 19,000 players and 83 fields throughout the city. You'll find 74 baseball diamonds and six recreation centers with year-round programs. Run the annual Oakville Half Marathon through Shell Park and along waterfront trails.
Historical Background
Colonel William Chisholm founded Oakville in 1857 as a shipbuilding center. The city became a crucial stop on the Underground Railroad, with local residents operating safe houses to help formerly enslaved people reach freedom in Canada. Visit the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate, Chisholm's former home, to see exhibits about the city's maritime and social history.
