East Gwillimbury - town in York Region, Ontario, Canada

East Gwillimbury, is a town of about 24,000 people (2016) in Ontario, about 30 minutes north of Toronto. It includes the villages and hamlets of Holland Landing, Queensville, Mount Albert, River Drive Park, and Sharon.

Understand

East Gwillimbury was named by Governor John Graves Simcoe, founder of York (now Toronto), in honour of his wife Elizabeth, whose maiden name "Gwillim."

The main centres in East Gwillimbury are the villages of Holland Landing, Queensville, Sharon, and Mount Albert.

History

East Gwillimbury began with the early development of Upper Canada by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe in the late 18th century. On his order, Yonge Street was constructed from Lake Ontario to what is now the village of Holland Landing in East Gwillimbury.

As the East Gwillimbury area grew, a number of communities developed. They were the villages or hamlets of Brown Hill, Franklin, Holland Landing, Holt (formerly Eastville), Mount Albert, Queensville (formerly colloquially known as the Four Corners), Ravenshoe, River Drive, and Sharon (formerly Hope).

Get in

Ontario Highway 404 runs from Toronto to just south of Keswick in the Town of Georgina, passing through East Gwillimbury. The town is served by three interchanges along Highway 404: Green Lane just north of Newmarket, Queensville Sideroad, and Woodbine Ave at the north end.

By train

Take GO Transit to the East Gwillimbury stop on the Bradford line.

• East Gwillimbury GO Station, 845 Green Ln E (at 2nd Concession (Main St. N)), 44.07800°, -79.45581°, +1 416-869-3200. 2020-10-22

By road

Highway 404 extends from Toronto through East Gwillimbury and to Woodbine Avenue near Ravenshoe Road in Georgina.

Get around

By bus

York Region Transit operates bus services to Sharon, Holland Landing and Mount Albert.

• GO Transit on their routes to Barrie and Georgina.

See

• Sharon Temple, 44.1013°, -79.4419°. The temple was built in 1825 by the Children of Peace, a Quaker sect, and restored in the 1920s. This unique Canadian Historic Site hosts music festivals throughout the summer and is open for tours Thursday to Sunday. The annual Illumination takes place on the first Friday each September, in keeping with the traditions of the Children of Peace. A jewel of Canadian architecture and music, the Temple is one of the best kept secrets North of Toronto. The site is composed of eight distinctive heritage buildings and dwellings, and houses 6,000 artifacts on a 1.8-hectare (4.4-acre) site.
• Brooks Farms, 122-141 Ashworth Rd, 44.138763°, -79.286390°, +1 905-473-3246, info@brooksfarms.com. 9AM-5PM. Pumpkin cannons, train rides, pig races, jumping pillow, corn cob blasters, straw jumps, corn maze, homemade jams and jellies, and fresh fruit and vegetables, - pick you own in season. 2018-06-14

Do

• Stardust Drive-in Theater (former North York Drive-in Theatre), 893 Mt Albert Rd, Sharon, 44.1001°, -79.4594°, +1 905-836-4444, info@stardustnewmarket.com. Classic drive-in showing new releases on 3 screens with snack bar serving burgers, poutine, etc. Open April through October. 2023-02-02
• Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park. A naturist (nudist) park located between the villages of Sharon and Mount Albert. 2018-06-14

Buy

• Queensville Antique Mall, 20091 Woodbine Ave, +1 905-478-4022. Th-M 10AM-5PM. 2018-06-14

Eat

• Chefies Eatery, 19415 Yonge Street, Unit 5, +1 905-836-2211. Tu-Su 7AM-3PM. Diner. 2018-06-14
• Twisted Fork, 62 Main St, Mount Albert (River Drive Park/Holland Landing), +1 905-473-1111, info@twisted-fork.ca. M 11:30AM-8PM, Tu W 11:30AM-9PM, Th F 11:30AM-9:30PM, Sa 8:30AM-9:30PM, Su 8:30AM-8PM. Mains $16-32, pastas $17.50-20 2018-06-14
• Tatlows Broiler Bar, 380 Queensville Side Road West, +1 905-953-9992. Su 7:30AM-9PM, Tu-Th 4PM-10PM, F 10:30AM-10PM, Sa 7:30AM-10PM. Seafood, burgers. 2018-06-14

Drink

Sleep

• Bradford Inn, 20590 Yonge St., +1 905-775-3212, bradfordinn@hotmail.com. Air-conditioning and wireless internet access. The property is primarily smoke and pet-free. Lake for fishing and boating less than 2 minutes away. Within walking distance f restaurants and shopping. Free parking. From $89 2018-06-14

Go next