Brock ON
Overview
Brock was previously a city and geographic township before the amalgamation that created the current municipality. Presently, it is known as the township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario.
The northern border of the municipality is formed by the Trent-Severn Waterway which goes into Lake Simcoe through Ramara Township. There are five locks in Brock and Thorah Island in Lake Simcoe is within the city limits of Brock.
Real Estate
Real estate in Brock can be found 95 kilometres northeast of the City of Toronto. This town is recognized as Durham Region’s “Gateway to the North.” Predominantly, this rural township has three small urban centres called Beaverton, Cannington, and Sunderland.
Beaverton is the biggest community in the area and is situated the farthest north, just off Highway 12 on the shores of Lake Simcoe. The Beaver River and the railway make their way through the middle of this charming village.
Cannington is approximately 10 minutes south of Beaverton also off Highway 12. Heritage street signs humbly let visitors know they have made their way to this historic town. Brock civic offices are found in Cannington (1 Cameron Street East). Further south off Highway 12 is the Village of Sunderland, best known for its yearly Maple Syrup Festival that attracts guests from all over the district.
Homes
The Greater Toronto Area has so many diverse neighbourhoods ranging from urban to rural. This multicultural North American area is sure to have a place for everyone searching for a great place to live. Homes for sale in Brock attract people who prefer to reside in a small town in and around character homes.
Sunderland, Cannington, and Beaverton all showcase diverse downtown heritage areas that feature a great assortment of Victorian residences from the middle and late 1800s in addition to Edwardian style homes and smaller workman’s cottages from the 1910s and ‘20s.
These homes possess a certain old-world charm, though there are newer styles of properties in the community as well. On the edge of these villages, people interested in purchasing real estate for sale in Brock might run into ranch-style bungalows, split-level homes, as well as two-storey houses. The majority of the housing stock here was built from the 1960s, right up to the present.
History
The Township of Brock’s coat of arms depicts the rich history of this rural township and includes the Scottish thistle, the English rose, and the Irish clover-trefoil which pay homage to the heritage of the early settlers of this region.
The soldier and farmer characterized on the coat of arms symbolize the ex-military men who first settled this town. The eagle and the grenadier were taken from the coat of arms of Sir Issac Brock, whom the township was named after.
The crowned mascot at the height of the crest is in tribute of a local man, Phillip St. John, who was regarded as the King of Brock. The Latin words at the bottom of the coat of arms translate to: A Community with a Heart.
The Township of Brock was established in 1974, as the result of a merging of the villages of Beaverton, Cannington, and Sunderland, and the rural hamlets of Thorah and Brock.
Getting Around
MLS listings might offer some information about getting around town in Brock. Public transit is available as Go Transit bus service runs from Beaverton, Cannington and Sunderland. Since it is a small town, bus service is limited to one bus a day, going south in the morning and coming back in the afternoon rush hour.
The bus ride from Beaverton to the Whitby Go Train Station takes roughly an hour and a half while the train ride from the Whitby Go Station to downtown Toronto’s Union Station takes about fifty minutes. The commute to Toronto by car also takes about one hour and a half.
Shopping
Real estate in Brock does include some great amenities as well as shopping options. Beaverton has a great shopping corridor centred along Simcoe Street in the core of its downtown heritage district. The selection of retailers here includes hardware stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, a florist, as well as antique shops, restaurants and professional offices.
A comparable combination of locally owned and operated stores make up the retail mix in the Cannington shopping corridor located along Cameron Street West, and the Sunderland shopping district on River Street.
The Beaverton Farmers Market is open weekly on Friday afternoons from Victoria Day weekend until Thanksgiving weekend. Local producers are the vendors at this market and sell everything from maple syrup, to fresh produce, meat, dairy products, and handmade crafts.
Finally, Brock has public libraries in Beaverton, Cannington, and Sunderland. All these branches feature computers and internet connections as well as Story Time for Children.
Entertainment
The local entertainment attractions are what make Brock homes for sale appealing to many. The East Lake Simcoe Art Association has combined an eclectic group of artists from Beaverton and the surrounding area. Their members’ art has been featured at the Beaverton Town Hall and the Beaver River Museum. The Cannington Village Gallery (14 Cameron Street East) is a cooperative project showcasing original works of art, and sells unique gifts, furniture, as well as accessories.
Locally, Centennial Park includes a basketball court, a skateboard park, beach volleyball, as well as a children’s playground, and picnic areas. Brock also has three community centres that offer ice arenas, ball diamonds, tennis courts, and playgrounds. Residents of Brock love the golf courses which include the pay-as-you-play, Simcoe Shores Golf and Country Club on Thorah Concession 3, and the Cedarhurst Golf and Country Club in Beaverton.
