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York Region

York Region has a population of over 870,000 people and covers an area of over 1,750 square kilometres. Sitting between Peel Region in the West and Durham region in the east, York Region consists of the Cities of Markham and Vaughan, with the townships of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The two main population centers are the Cities of Markham and Vaughan. Both Cities have average populations with Markham being the largest in the Region with over 220,000. Markham is renowned for being the Hi Tech capital of Canada with several high profile corporate head offices making the city their home. The city is modern with excellent healthcare and schooling. Vaughan has one particular claim to fame in being directly north of Toronto, making them “above” the main city. This too is a rapidly expanding city with great facilities and plenty of new communities springing up.

The York Region is host to over 25,000 businesses which provide 400,000 jobs – a number that is growing by approximately 20,000 per year at current rates. With close proximity to the Pearson International airport and a young, well educated workforce, York Region is one of the fastest growing regions of the GTA and is very popular with Immigrants. The York Region Transit system connects most communities within the Region to each other and the Toronto GO Transit system to give a very effective public transport network.

The Region administers the Healthcare and Education following the Provincial guidelines. The York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board are responsible for the day to day operations of the Region’s schools – all of which can be contacted via these sites.

The Town Of Aurora – With a population of over 43,000, the Town of Aurora is another rapidly expanding town. The population is young and has a high average income (compared to most Canadian towns) of around $110,000 per household. The housing is fairly expensive though with an average price of a single family detached home being over $370,000 two years ago!

There is a large variety of employers in the town and it is also commutable to the Toronto downtown core. This gives a low unemployment level of 4% in 2001 with the majority of employment in management/business, finance and sciences/technology. Manufacturing and retail are the other big areas of employment. To research all the businesses currently operating in the town go to the chamber of commerce site via the towns Economic Development Division page on the Town website.

The town itself is a historical place with plenty of old buildings with lots of character. With close proximity to both the big city of Toronto and the rural areas, Aurora provides excellent recreational opportunities to its residents. This ranges from parks, playgrounds and pedestrian trails to championship golf courses, fine dining and theatre. A full recreational program is offered in the Town which will soon be augmented by a new state of the art Recreation Centre.

The Town Of East Gwillimbury is a semi rural area located only half an hours drive from Toronto. Another historic area with settlement dating back to the 1700’s, the population is now over 20,000 and growing.

Again, East Gwillimbury has an excellent array of recreational facilities including arena’s, trails, play parks and over 135 acres of parkland. There are ice rinks, outdoor sports pitches, the usual golf courses and for the less active a 16 screen movie theatre.

There are a wide variety of employers in the town providing ample employment and the new GO Transit station gives good access to the city. The population also enjoys an above average household income.

The Town Of Georgina is the most northerly area of the York Region and is made up of several smaller communities. Situated on the South eastern shores of Lake Simcoe, the communities of Georgina have plenty of beaches and open space – especially with the area being known as “Getaway Country”.

The lake offers up year round recreation including swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing and ice fishing to name a few. On top of this the great outdoors is all around and the communities have good facilities. Some of the more prominent communities are Keswick, Sutton, Udora, Jacksons Point and Port Bolster.

Most employment seems to be in the local services and tourism sector though full research can be carried out through the chamber of commerce website.

The Township Of King is home to around 20,000 people and is a fairly rural area. Famous for the Holland Marsh – a fertile area that produces most of the Provinces fresh vegetables – most industry is based upon the support of agriculture. There are a lot of Horse breeders in the area along with livestock and dairy farms. There is some light industry and the Seneca College campus is located on the former Easton estate.

As with most Canadian towns, King has good sporting and leisure facilities including golf courses, trails, parks and 3 arena’s. Most facilities are pay as you use – more details can be found on the township website. The Township has a rich history dating back to the aboriginal peoples and then the western settlers in the late 1600’s. A museum is now dedicated to the area’s history and will be well worth a visit.

There are excellent transport links to Toronto and it’s only around 40 minutes to drive to Pearson International airport (south). A prosperous town, the average income back in 1996 was over 97,000 with an unemployment rate of 5%. In the 8 years since I can only see that the average income would rise to over $100,000 per household.

The Town Of Newmarket is another large town with a population of over 73,000 that is growing fairly quickly. Over 70% of the population are under 45 years old. With all the amenities you would expect for a big town, Newmarket is home to the York Region Administrative Headquarters, the Provincial Court and the District 1 Police HQ.

The Southlake regional health centre is a fully equipped modern hospital with plans for expansion. These combine to make local government the highest employer in the area. On top of this, the local business community is growing at over 3.5% each year with retail stores and manufacturing companies having a large presence. Use the links on the town site to go to the Chamber of Commerce site for the full listing of businesses.

For recreation purposes there is a full program of sports and activities with the new Ray Twinney Rec. centre having two arena’s and an indoor pool. There are several other arena’s, pools and rinks in the town as well as a youth centre with a fully equipped skatepark. All the usual outdoor activities are available in the area including hiking, cross country skiing and golf. For the less energetic, the Upper Canada Mall is an impressive 1 million square feet of shops which should pacify even the most hardy shopper!

House prices are reasonable for Ontario with the average in 2001 being $242,000 for a single family detached home. Being located close to Toronto brings obvious benefits with great transport links including the GTA GO Transit system. The York Region Transit system also operates in the town. Highway 404 will direct you to the downtown area of Toronto in around 30 minutes and Pearson International airport is only an hour away. Buttonville airport in nearby Markham is useful for lighter regional aircraft.

The Town Of Richmond Hill is one of the fastest growing large municipalities in Canada and has a population of over 158,000. Situated directly North of Toronto, (between Markham and Vaughan), Richmond Hill is ideally located for commuting and access to the city for recreation or onward travel. As with the other municipalities, Richmond Hill has the York Transit, Toronto Transit Commission and the GTA GO Transit networks providing great options for transport.

Richmond Hill is renowned for its world class high tech manufacturing and research companies with the lowest R

About the Author

dave Lympany emigrated to Canada with his family in 2003 and has developed a free onestop information resource for Canada and Canadian Immigration – http://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com

Skiddaw English Lake District 31/12/08

Walks with Children in the Lake District: Keswick and the Newlands Valley (Questa Walks with Children) …

Walks Keswick and the Northern Lakes (Hallewell pocket walking guides) $5.64 …

Three Walks in and Around Keswick: Lake District (Footloose Pocket Guides) …

Hiking in Italy – Lake District (Chapter) $3.5 This is the Lake District chapter from Lonely Planet’s Hiking in Italy guidebook.

Lake District – Keswick & Derwent Water (Chapter) $3.6 This is the Keswick & Derwent Water chapter from Lonely Planet’s Lake District guidebook, available to Pick & Mix. Derwent Water embodies all that’s green and good about the Lakeland landscape, with its pebbled shores and stunning mountain backdrop. But as this chapter reveals, the region also boasts conifer forests and steep valleys, literary landmarks and the charming market town of Keswick.

Lake District – Grasmere & the Central Lake District (Chapter) $4.2 This is the Grasmere & the Central Lake District chapter from Lonely Planet’s Lake District guidebook, available to Pick & Mix. No wonder Wordsworth and his fellow Romantics waxed so lyrical about Grasmere! One of the most picturesque Lakeland valleys, Grasmere and its surrounds are bursting with literary landmarks and natural allure. Poetry not your thing? World-renowned hiking trails will keep you busy instead.

Lake District – Western Lake District (Chapter) $2.4 This is the Western Lake District chapter from Lonely Planet’s Lake District guidebook, available to Pick & Mix. Dramatic rather than picturesque, breathtaking rather than charming, the western Lakes’ lonely valleys and mist-shrouded fells make up one of England’s last remaining pockets of wilderness. Travellers love the region for its views and its hiking challenges: this chapter explains why.

Lake District – Windermere & Around (Chapter) $4.8 This is the Windermere & Around chapter from Lonely Planet’s Lake District guidebook, available to Pick & Mix. Tracing a shimmering 10.5-mile curve from Newby Bridge to Ambleside’s Waterhead jetties, hemmed in by copses, fields and whale-back fells, Windermere is England’s largest and most-visited lake. Grab your hiking boots, your camera and this chapter, and succumb to the scenery!

Frommer’s Lake District Day by Day $13.99 Enjoy your holiday in the Lake District with this handy practical guide. Through the use of special-interest tours in the books, travellers are able to get a good idea of the geography of the area before exploring it in an interesting way, giving people some surprising choices for what to see and do, that they might not have thought to consider normally. Includes: Special Interest Tours: Writers and Artists, Wordsworth, Houses & Gardens, Heritage & History and Gourmet; Recommendations on the best of the outdoors including suggestions on walking, cycling, horse riding, climbing, walking and cruises; Best Towns and Cities – includes Ambleside, Cockermouth, Windermere, Coniston, Grasmere, Kendal, Keswick, Penrith and Whitehaven; Full colour with fold out map .

Lake District $9.99 ISBN-13: 9781563642319 ISBN-10: 156364231x Title: Lake District. Author: Vision Video.

Lonely Planet: Lake District $11.52 ISBN-13: 9781741790917 ISBN-10: 1741790913 Title: Lonely Planet: Lake District.

The Lake District, a century of conservation $8.48 The Lake District, a century of conservation by Geoffrey Berry Published in 1980 by J. Bartholomew

Hiking New Hampshire, 2nd (State Hiking Series) $14.48 Most comprehensive resource on hiking the finest trails in the Granite State with details on 100 hikes including maps, photos and elevation graphs.

Hiking Wisconsin (State Hiking Series) $7.98 Profiles 64 of the best hikes in the state. Detailed maps and directions and a superb selection of day hikes and overnight trips make this book accessible to all hiking enthusiasts, from families to outdoor fanatics. AHS

Arizona Hiking $14.48 Arizona Hiking describes hikes in five categories: urban backyard hikes; family hikes that range from easy to moderate; tougher day hikes that range from moderate to advanced; Grand Canyon hikes ranging from easy to advanced; and overnight hikes. Each description gives specific driving directions, elevations, recommended maps, safety suggestions, and official contacts for details on fees, regulations, etc. Hiking chapters start with two to four feature hikes, followed by at-a-glance descriptions of several additional hikes. Other chapters give general hiking preparation and safety guidelines and list additional resources. Includes seven chapters, total, with index and color map of Arizona.

Hiking Ohio $14.48 Hiking Ohio is a comprehensive guide to more than 40 of the most scenic foot trails in the Buckeye State. From the Lake Erie islands to the foothills of the Appalachians, from virgin forests to native grasslands, from small creeks to the Ohio River, this book serves as a tour guide to the diverse natural and human history of Ohio only as seen by foot. Hiking Ohio includes descriptive photographs for each hike; digitally designed maps detailing each hike; in-depth trail descriptions with difficulty ratings; detailed route directions; schedules, local attractions, eateries, and more.

Hiking Colorado $20.98 The landscape of Colorado sweeps from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains to the uplifted plateaus in the western part of the state. Its ecological zones include desert and alpine tundra. It is a land of great variety and geographic extremes, of panoramic vistas and cold creeks, and of rivers with raging rapids and others that meander across the plains. Some of the state’s most precious sites are protected as national forests, monuments, or parks. Hiking Colorado introduces you to hiking opportunities in every region of the state. Detailed descriptions of 100 routes, written by veteran Colorado hikers, take you to high-country summits, great fishing spots above timberline, the eastern plains, and sandstone canyons on the arid western slope of the Rockies. There are even hikes through Denver and other Front Range cities. These hikes, many recommended by land management agencies, are among the state’s treasures. Along with the descriptions come maps, photographs, information on natural history and archaeology of Colorado, hiking safety, equipment, backcountry ethics, hiking with children, and trails and facilities for hikers with special needs. Whether you’re a veteran hiker or beginner, Hiking Colorado will lead the way to outdoor adventure.

Hiking Virginia $3.48 From the Blue Ridge Mountains to rolling forests and farmlands to coastal beaches and islands, Virginia presents a varied landscape with a multitude of hiking opportunities. Hiking Virginia, formerly The Hiker’s Guide to Virginia, takes you to the highest point in the Old Dominion–Mount Rogers–and along the beaches of the Assateague National Seashore, through the historic Richmond area, into Shenandoah National Park, and to dozens of hiking areas, some well known, others relatively undiscovered. The guide has been updated and includes phone numbers to call for further information, with recently changed area codes. The book can be used to plan leisurely family strolls, urban walks, and overnight backpacking trips. Hiking Virginia, by travel and outdoor writer Randy Johnson, includes 50 hikes-a sampler of the state’s most scenic and historic paths. The book also contains detailed maps for each hike, black-and-white photos that give glimpses of the landscape, and sections of history, geography, and safety. Hiking Virginia is an essential item for all hikers in the Old Dominion.

Hiking Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness (Hiking Guide Series) $12.98 Provides detailed descriptions and maps of the best hiking in the wilderness, with inside tips on camping sites and the best times of year to visit.

Best of Western Colorado Hiking Trails $7.98 Best of Western Colorado Hiking Trails by Don Lowe Revised Published in 1753 by Outdoor Books and Maps

Adventures in Hiking $5.98 A book designed expressly for young people to learn the ways of hiking, how to hike and enjoy the out-of-doors, and how to discover the wonders of the Adirondack Park. This book puts young people in charge of learning about the woods, how to protect themselves and be safe in the woods, and how to protect the woods. It also encourages hikers to begin to read maps and to use a compass.

Hiking Pennsylvania $3.48 Thousands of miles of hiking trails wander through Pennsylvania’s premier parks, sanctuaries, forests, and mountains. Sparkling waterfalls and mazes of rock outcrops stand among old-growth forests, providing scenic backdrops for enjoyable hiking experiences. Walk the same paths followed by Native Americans and Colonial and Civil War soldiers; enjoy a profusion of rhododendron and mountain laurel blooms; and perhaps catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer or a broad winged hawk. Hiking Pennsylvania, by veteran outdoor writers Rhonda and George Ostertag, contains first hand descriptions for 75 of the best hikes from Lake Erie and the Allegheny and Pocono mountains to the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions. Choose from a variety of easy one-hour strolls along quiet nature trails, moderate day hikes, overnighters, and extended backpack trips. This guide also includes accurate, up-to-date information, detailed maps, interesting photos and helpful tips on preparation and planning. Whether you are a first-time wilderness traveler or a seasoned backpacker, Hiking Pennsylvania will lead the way to outdoor adventure in the Keystone State.

Hats Hats Hats $75.03 ISBN-13: 9780688122744 ISBN-10: 0688122744 Title: Hats Hats Hats . Author: Ann Morris.

Hats $28.98 Over 350 color photographs depict a magnificent array of fashion hats from the early 19th century to present day, including the earliest known American straw bonnet. The hats are presented chronologically according to primary materials; straw, felt, horsehair, feathers, silk, velvet, and flowers. Trends in hat designs, Hollywood style, Stetson hats, tips on collecting, and contemporary millinery are also discussed. The captions include specific details about each hat, as well as labels and information about the milliners. This useful reference includes a glossary, a detailed price reference, and index with photographs of designer labels. This beautiful book will be cherished by collectors, dealers, fashion connoisseurs, and everyone who simply loves hats!

Hiking $7 ISBN-13: 9780736809160 ISBN-10: 0736809163 Title: Hiking. Author: Kristin Thoennes Keller.

Hats On! $12.98 Caps are wonderful knitting projects–small and portable, providing just the right mix of challenge and simplicity. From the basic watch cap to fanciful multicoloured and textured creations, knitters will be enticed by the intriguing diversity of style and technique: double-, triple-, and quadruple-thicknesses for warmth and weather resistance; hats with earflaps, ornamental cuffs, and jester’s tassles; and even ornaments to hang from the Christmas tree.

Hiking! $3.48 Distributed by Westcliffe Publishers for the first time, this introspective and intelligently written book explores the "why" of hiking, rather than the "how", underscoring its profound effect on health and well-being. The authors delve beyond the simple physical benefits of hiking to illuminate its philosophical, psychological, interpersonal, creative, and spiritual elements. Geared more for day-hikers than backpackers, it offers new insights to seasoned trailblazers, encourages novices to begin their own journeys into this exciting and popular pastime, and establishes hiking as a means to regain balance in our lives.

Hats! $14.48 When a young boy enters a hat shop and sees there is a sale that day, he carefully chooses the perfect hat. Proudly wearing his new hat, he walks through town. When he reaches the park, a bully tells him, "Dumb hat!" The boy is crushed–is his hat really dumb? But other kids who come along think the hat is pretty cool, and in a surprise twist, the boy and his friends turn the tables on the bully.

Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? $9.37 ISBN-13: 9780873588287 ISBN-10: 0873588282 Title: Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?. Author: Carmela Lavigna Coyle.

Wenger Alpina Hiking Boots – Men’s $98.95 Weather rated to -25F, when the trail is cold and wet, the Wenger Alpina Hiking Boots – Men’s is at its best. The Hydrofoil 3D waterproof membrane creates an impermeable layer to resist water penetration, even when submerged.

Hiking $7 ISBN-13: 9780736809160 ISBN-10: 0736809163 Title: Hiking. Author: Kristin Thoennes Keller.

Hiking! $3.48 Distributed by Westcliffe Publishers for the first time, this introspective and intelligently written book explores the "why" of hiking, rather than the "how", underscoring its profound effect on health and well-being. The authors delve beyond the simple physical benefits of hiking to illuminate its philosophical, psychological, interpersonal, creative, and spiritual elements. Geared more for day-hikers than backpackers, it offers new insights to seasoned trailblazers, encourages novices to begin their own journeys into this exciting and popular pastime, and establishes hiking as a means to regain balance in our lives.

Merrell Men’s Moab Ventilator Mid Hiking Shoe $89.95 When you’re hiking, biking or working under a hot sun, the last article of apparel you want to shed is your boots. Well, almost the last. Fortunately, the Moab Ventilator Mid is like air conditioning for your feet. Mid-height uppers are Dura leather with lots of exposed breathable Ventilator mesh. Breathable mesh linings and bellow tongue. Rubber toe bumper and heel counter, Vibram Multi-Sport Plus sole provide the protection, support and traction you need when the action heats up.

Merrell Women’s Moab Ventilator Mid Hiking Shoe $89.95 When you’re hiking, biking or working under a hot sun, the last article of apparel you want to shed is your boots. Well, almost the last. Fortunately, the Moab Ventilator Mid is like air conditioning for your feet. Mid-height uppers are Dura leather with lots of exposed breathable Ventilator mesh. Breathable mesh linings and bellow tongue. Rubber toe bumper and heel counter, Vibram Multi-Sport Plus sole provide the protection, support and traction you need when the action heats up.