Living in Alliston Ontario is as sweet and simple as the cold, clear rivers that run through it. Highlighting the perfect blend of rural and urban life, Alliston offers her 15,000 residents a beautiful natural playground and that small town feel that has everyone waving hello.

Part of the amalgamated town of New Tecumseth, Alliston boasts a range of clubs, activities, municipal centers and events that bring her residents together to mingle, celebrate and just shoot the breeze.

Activities

Whether you get your fun at the other end of a hockey stick or fishing pole, you can indulge in it all when you live in Alliston. There are several sports leagues to be a part of, with teams for all ages and all genders. You can play tennis, soccer, softball, hockey or even join a curling team or strap on some skates for a little roller derby.

If frolicking in nature is your thing, the surrounding Canadian countryside is just waiting for you to come play. The Boyne River runs through town, joining her sister river the Nottawasaga River downstream. From Earl Rove Provincial Park you can fish or canoe the river, or simply walk her banks, quietly looking for birds like the purple finch or yellow warbler.

Another fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors when you live in Alliston is to take a walk or bike ride along the Trans Canada Trail. This trail is planned to eventually link several municipal trails into one across all of Canada. A nearby section using an old railway line makes for a perfect trail to take the whole family all year round with either bikes, skis or snowshoes.

Arts

Despite its small town status, Alliston is also home to some great arts opportunities. The South Simcoe Arts Councils offers an array of classes and events around the arts such as Artists in the Classroom, which brings professional artists to area schools to give kids some hands on learning.

The Gibson Centre for Community Arts and Culture satisfies your inner thespian with shows, workshops and other staged events in a beautiful restored building. Another option for theater buffs is the Blackhorse Village Players that lets residents enjoy quirky shows, audition for a part, take a workshop or even submit a play for production.It is a terrific place to exercise your creative muse.

Events

Community events are the moments when small towns like Alliston shine. Here you gather with your neighbors, celebrating heritage or simple fun, catching up and enjoying family time. On Sundays during the summer there are free music concerts in Riverdale Park where folks of all ages come out to listen to local live bands and enjoy the summer evening.

Of course, you can’t live in Alliston without joining on during the Potato Festival. Held at beginning of August, this 41-year-old event honors the starchy treat that has a long history in the area. The weekend festival features a stunning parade, shows, entertainment, races and of course, food made from potatoes.

Lately, there has been a tremendous increase in the movement of residents who have been dwelling in Toronto shifting to Allison. Allison is a popular settlement located within Simcoe County in Canada. It is also a home to the annual potato festival, which celebrates the area major cash crop coupled with the picturesque Riverdale Park to the North and PPG Park to the South of Boyne River.

The Economy, What the Town has to Offer:

The town has a lot to offer to its residents. The town has a population of about fifteen thousand people. This small population gives new comers a warm homely welcome, a sense of closeness, community or one can actually say a sense of belonging to a large family. The town is also a home to about 4500 workers who work at the Honda manufacturing plants.

It is also a home to many thriving businesses, among them the major Canadian Pacific Railway and also it has its own electric company which was merged with Ontario Hydro. The town also has two beautiful parks , The Riverdale and The PPG Park. The Riverdale Park runs along the Boyne river and is to the North of the town.

Real Estate Settlements

Lately, the blooming and expansion of real estate homes has attracted many people from Toronto to Allison. There are also old homes that are up for sale in Allison which gives the new comers diversity as they can choose whether to buy a modern home or an old one with a historical background. The new homes are luxurious town homes and they are going for a affordable prices as compared to their counterparts in Toronto town. The new homes that are coming up offer a very convenient way of living. They have in place all social amenities available within the same estate.

Estate like Victorian village has an Amenities Galore:

• It has schools, hospitals, restaurants, shopping malls, home hard wares, barbs clothes closet all at a walking distance.
• It also opens to Earl Rowe Provincial Park, where you can camp or go swimming. It also boasts a man made beach, a one acre pool for canoe picnic.
• It also boasts beautiful Gibson hills, The Tecumseh recreation centre which has two indoor arenas, indoor soccer pitch, fitness facility and a walking track.

This friendly convenient neighborhood has attracted many people from Toronto to Allison. This is not the only venture of its kind in the place. There are many others like it. This is not the only thing that has attracted many people from Toronto.

One of the major concerns with young families is quality of Education for their children. The schools in Allison have a very favorable reputation and have been known for providing exemplary education to its beneficiaries. They have a wide range of schools from Pre-schools to public elementary schools, high schools and Union public school.

Over the years, we’ve built many different homes – but one thing we’ve heard over and over from buyers is that they wished they could have reserved a home when they first saw it. What’s going on here, and why are reservations so important?

Location, Location, Location

No two houses in Alliston are perfectly identical. Trust us on this one – we build the things. The simple truth of the matter is that even homes with identical floor plans can have very different feels if they’re placed in a different area. Imagine, if you will, a house placed majestically atop a hill, looking over a sea of roofs and down towards the town. That’s a nice view, isn’t it? Now imagine yourself being the owner of a home just behind that house, with the same floor plan but none of the view. Location matters, and houses with good locations tend to be snapped up faster than any others.

The Rising Costs of Homes

Did you know that simply having other inhabited homes surrounding yours can affect the value of the land and the final price of the house? It’s true! There are many factors that affect the prices of the homes in Alliston we sell, and prices tend to go up as the neighborhood improves. Our gorgeous homes are already designed to attract affluent owners, and the competition can get surprisingly fierce when people realize that there are only so many luxurious homes left – particularly when they’re running low on those good locations.

The Innovative Design Process

We’re the first to admit that we change things all the time. As a hands-on builder and developer, we have the freedom to implement creative new ideas and styles when constructing homes… but it’s also true that some people prefer our older methods. After all, if nobody liked a design choice, we’d never have adopted it in the first place! Elements like our nine-foot ceilings aren’t likely to change anytime soon, but other home design choices can certainly be modified… and if you wait too long to reserve a home, then you could lose a feature you wanted to have. Custom installations and revisions are always possible, of course, but you can expect this to be more expensive (and more time-consuming) to do.

Getting a Reservation

Okay, so you know that holding off on your reservation is bad… but how do you actually go about getting one? The first thing you should do is check out our Financing.

Most of our buyers are from the south. Why?  Our Price and Superior Location with schools, trails and amenities just steps away. Plus, we are the only builder that offers Brick and Stone consistently throughout  our subdivision.  Our buyers come to shop in our boutique style Victorian Village site, because we are unique. That is the key difference.  We stay away from that typical ‘cookie cutter’ subdivision look.  We are an elegant looking community.  One just has to drive through to see the unbelievable difference.

With Alliston being the next ‘it’ place to live, with lower prices and country feel community we expect to see more and more families from the south.  Some escaping the crazy prices, some escaping the crazy life style that they don’t want their children exposed to.  With Toronto being about an hour commute, Brampton about 45 minutes, Bolton 30 minutes for work, it really is a no brainer.  I would rather commute and raise my children in smaller, friendly, laid back neighbourhood  than a hostile, toxic environment.  What wouldn’t we do for our kids. After all, they are our little loves of our lives.

I have lived up this way since 1996.  I remember first living here, thinking, where am I going to shop?  I need a mall! Help!  As time went on, the mall trips became less frequent, I have it down to maybe once a year, even then I resent that I have to go.  I have discovered local shopping.  I have also discovered a lot of quaint towns within about 50 km radius, where I won’t find the same thing I would find in a mall, plus the different restaurants instead of the boring chain restaurants.  I like to make a day of it.  Walk a lovely down town, stop for a locally brewed coffee, with perhaps a pastry.  Continue on my shopping trek, stop at quaint restaurant for lunch and back out I go. My friends love coming for a visit and we venture out for the day like this.  Everyone becomes in different state of mind, calm.

With our Victorian Village site, I am encountering more and more purchasers who are feeling the same way, and are following  what I had discovered.  They are also now saying they can’t imagine living any where else.  The only regret they have, is not moving here sooner!

PREVIN COURT HOMES AT OUR VICTORIAN VILLAGE SITE IN ALLISTON HAS JUST RELEASED A NEW BLOCK OF EXECUTIVE SIZE, 25′ WIDE, BRICK AND STONE FREE HOLD TOWN HOMES. THESE LUXURIOUS TOWN HOMES ARE  OVER 2150 SF FT STARTING AT $334,900, ONE END UNIT IS EVEN 2570 SQ FT WITH A WRAP AROUND PORCH ON A GENEROUS CORNER LOT  ONLY $354,900.  AS ALWAYS, OUR TOWN HOMES ARE BRICK AND STONE, 9′ CEILING HEIGHT ON MAIN FLOOR, ROUNDED CORNERS, CALIFORNIA KNOCK DOWN, STEEL INSULATED GARAGE DOORS, BEAUTIFUL 8′ FRONT DOOR WITH DECORATIVE 3/4 GLASS INSERT, 8′ X 8′ PATIO DOORS…3 AND 4 BEDROOM DESIGNS  AVAILBLE FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM.  ALL AMENITIES ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO OUR VICORIAN VILLAGE SITE. BOTH PUBLIC AND CAHTOLIC SCHOOLS ARE AT OUR SUBDIVSION, NO BUSSING FOR YOUR CHILDREN. 100 ACRE CHALLENGING WALKING TRAIL ACROSS FROM US, RECREATION CENTRE JUST AROUND THE CORNER…

YOU REALLY HAVE TO TAKE A TOUR  THROUGH OUR SUBDIVSION TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP THAT GO INTO OUR BEAUTIFUL BRICK AND STONE HOMES. NO OTHER SITE  IN ALLISTON CAN COMPARE TO OUR VICTORIAN VILLAGE SITE.

Summer is the best time for relaxing and finding fun and entertainment.

Discover all the exciting and fun events occurring on the shores of Lake St. Claire in Tecumseh and Alliston. You will not want to miss out on all the hubbub. So continue reading on for more extended information about just a few of these great events in Tecumseh.

The Art of Eating Festival:
The Art of Eating Festival in Lakewood Park in Tecumseh, Ontario is scheduled for June twentieth and twenty-first of this year.

There will be plenty of beer and more than twenty varieties of locally made delicious wines. As well as an eclectic variety of delicious cuisine available from the many local and diverse restaurants of this area. Wine tasting and food sampling pair nicely with live entertainment, like:

• The Blue Stones
• Jackson Jill Rock Band
• Transeo
• Suzie McNeil
• The Modern Hearts and many more singers

This event is for adults only.

Potato Fest:
The Alliston Potato Festival is very well known and has been going on for more than forty years now. This fun and exciting festival is sponsored by numerous local contributors such as the Alliston Lion’s Club, Alliston Rotory Club and many more.

Proceeds are routinely and generously contributed to organizations such as:

• Alliston Relay for Life
• South Simcoe Pioneer Museum
• Community Living for South Simcoe, just to name a few

This is a very large event happening on August eighth, ninth and tenth this year.

It includes:

• A fun parade
• Many concerts in the park
• Poker tournaments
• Bike stunt performances
• A magic show
• A cute baby show contest
• A cupcake eating contest
• Lumberjack shows
• Bed races and much more

Tecumseh Corn Festival
At the Tecumseh Corn Festival happening August 21st to the 24th this year, you will find plenty of fun things to do and delicious food to eat also.

This festival is located in the lovely Lacasse Park. It boasts:

• A fun classic car show with plenty of beautiful old time vehicles
• A creative coloring contest for the kids to show off their talents
• A photo contest that you will not want to miss

There will be a fun and exciting parade, live entertainment, a Miss Tecumseh Pageant, and a whole lot more to entertain you and your family. All walking distance from our Victorian Village Site

When potential purchasers come through our homes, we always get asked if we offer a sense of community, with conveniences close by…We always answer “absolutely! We have the best location in the town of Alliston” and we do have the best location in town. Our Victorian Village site is surrounded by amenities galore. We have 2 schools that are at our subdivision, it will take your children a few minute walk or 1 minute bike ride to school, they do not have to take a bus or walk a long distance. Your family can walk or ride their bikes everywhere. We are surrounded by restaurants (East Side Marios, Shoeless Joess, Pita Pit, Dairy Queen, Subway, Swiss Chalet, Organic Bistro Burger, fabulous Thai, Indian restaurants…) Shopping (Zehrs, Sobeys, Butcher Shop, Dollar Rama, Canadian Tire, L.C.B.O.,Home Hardware, Barb’s Clothes Closet, Details House Ware…) Earl Rowe Provincial park a few km away, where you can camp or stay for the day and swim in the man made beach or 1 acre pool, canoe, hike, picnic. Rotary park and pool near by.We have the beautiful Gibson Hills – a 100 acre walking trail right across from out site. New Tecumseth Recreation Centre is just around the corner from us, it has 2 indoor arenas, indoor soccer, the second floor has a fitness facility, walking track, even a pub. We are the perfect family friendly neighborhood with everything at your doorstep.

Alliston, a popular settlement within Simcoe County, is home to the annual Potato Festival, which celebrates the area’s popular cash crop, and the picturesque Riverdale Park, situated to the north of the Boyne River, and PPG Park to the South.

Alliston’s popularity has been increasing especially among young families, whose foremost concern is their children’s education.  The good news is that schools in Alliston have a very favorable reputation, and are known for providing exemplary education to the town’s young population.

Pre-schools in Alliston

Creative Kids is a licensed non-profit school that has been serving the community since 1991, catering to children 2.5 to 5 years old. Creative Kids Pre School of Alliston, located at located at 9 Evans Rd, Alliston, ON L9R 1M1, is famous for its safe and stimulating environment and staffed by a qualified group of stimulating teachers. The school’s program incorporates theme-based circle time, crafts, nutritious snacks and plenty of outdoor play as long as the weather cooperates.  The preschool operates from September to June, and is only 2.5 km from the Allistton community. Find out more about this preschool at the school’s website: http://creative-kids-preschool.ca/.

Public Elementary Schools

Ernest Cumberland, located at  160 Eighth Avenue in Alliston, ON  L9R 1A6, and only 700 m from the Alliston Community holds approximately 700 students from Junior Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade.  The school operates on a modified school-year calendar, and it begins its session in Mid-August, with extra weeks off in both October and May. More information can be found online by visiting: http://ernestcumberland.edublogs.org/

Alliston Union Public School is currently in the process of building an impressive new facility, which is expected to open in September 2014, complete with a new library and energy-efficient building features. Alliston Union Public School now holds an enrollment of approximately 500 students.  The school is currently located at 25 Albert St W, Alliston, ON L9R 1H2, 1.7 km from the Alliston Community. You can find more information on their website: http://alu.scdsb.on.ca/.

High Schools in Alliston

Banting Memorial High School, located at 203 Victoria Street East Alliston, ON, L9R 1G5,  is part of the Simcoe County School District, and has a current student population of approximately 1800 students. The school is 2.8 km from the Alliston community. The high school opened in 1951 and  is named in honor of Sir Frederick Grant Banting, a pivotal member of the Canadian scientific team, who was born in Alliston,  and discovered how to extract and use insulin for the treatment of diabetes. The high school is widely known for its Cross Country Team.

The school’s departments include the following:

• Art (Drama, Music, Visual Art)
• Business
• Canada & World Studies – History/Geography
• English
• Health and Physical Education
• Information Technology
• Languages
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Sciences & Humanities
• Technology

Perhaps most exciting is Banting Memorial’s commitment to enriching the lives of its students through clubs and various extra curricular activities. A full list of clubs currently offered at the school is as follows:

• Aid for AIDS
• Announcement Club
• Athletic Society
• Band
• Badminton Club
• BSAID
• Choir
• Computers Club
• Dance Team
• Dragonboat Team
• Drama Club
• Fine Arts Council
• Habitat for Humanity
• Highland Dance Team
• Interact
• Math Club
• Peer Mediation
• Spanish Club

If you intend do move to Alliston, you can rest assured that your kids will get the best possible education. Similarly, there are colleges in Ontario that they can enroll in once they graduate from high school.

Alliston is not only the best potato-growing town in Canada, but also the birthplace of some of the most influential people in the world. From politicians to sports stars, this charming settlement in Simcoe County has born, bred and been home to famous and notable people. If you are considering moving to this bustling Canadian province, you can look forward to rich agriculture, buzzing social culture and possibly joining the league of the greatest minds in the country. Some of the famous residents of Alliston include the following:

Sir Frederick Grant Banting

Born in a farm house in 1981, Sir Frederick Grant Banting grew to make some of the biggest contributions in the history of Medicine. After being rejected by the military for having poor vision, the legendary scientist and doctor opted for a career in Medicine. His work was so revolutionary that it earned him a government lifetime annuity for his research.

Banting was credited as one of the discoverers of insulin and was awarded the Nobel Prize in the Medicine category. He spent his life studying and making new findings in the field of diabetes and has officially been named one of the Greatest Canadians that ever lived.

Margaret Eleanor Atwood

It is hard to find a library collection without this famous poet’s work. Margaret Atwood is a prolific novelist, poet and literary critic who has won numerous awards, including the coveted Booker Prize. With a line of bestselling novels and 15 poetry books, she is one of the most celebrated writers in the world.

Some of her famous works include The Blind Assassin and Oryx and Crake. Apart from her long lists of titles, she was also the co-founder of the Writers’ Trust of Canada and an important environmental activist.

James Lafazanos

A recognizable face across the globe, James Lafazanos is another Ontario resident that went on to make waves in the film and television industry. Most fans know him as Wraith in the popular series Stargate Atlantis. He has also made his mark in films such as Personal Effects and Ties That Bind.

Theodore Loblaws

Thousands of Canadians are very familiar with the popular Loblaws grocery stores. However, some might not know that these stores were the brainchild of the Alliston-born Theodore Loblaws. This ambitious Ontario resident was born in 1872. In his adult years, he was the co-manager of a local grocery outlet until he decided to open a chain of stores with UFCC.

Unfortunately, his first attempt was not successful. After the failed attempt, he decided to open a chain under his own name. This time, his efforts were rewarded and today, Loblaws grocery stores have evolved into an empire that is loved nationwide.

Zelda McCague

Recorded as one of the oldest people in the world, Zelda McCague was born in 1888. She married a local farmer as a young woman and lived until she was 113 years old. This Canadian treasure attributed her long life to a healthy, clean diet and is survived by many descendants who aspire to beat her record.

Joyce Trimmer

Joyce Trimmer was a celebrated Canadian politician, partly because she was the first woman to be elected as mayor of Scarborough. An environmentalist at heart, she fought to preserve natural resources and sights in Ontario and earned her place as one of the most memorable candidates in the region.

Locals born in the region find it difficult to leave and those that have migrated cannot wait to return. Between being part of a warm community to the area’s clean, healthy environment, there is much to love about Alliston, Ontario.

Prospective homeowners in Ontario often weigh the pros and cons of buying a new home vs. buying a used home in Alliston. Since buying a home is a major decision, it’s always good to take time. There are always better deals in the market, so nothing should be rushed as far as home acquisition is concerned. The following are the pros and cons of buying the two different types of homes.

The Pros of Buying a New Home

There are many advantages of buying a new home. For one, you get a new house that nobody has ever lived in, so you have the chance to customize it to meet your specific needs. Secondly, new houses usually come with a warranty, so you can enjoy free repairs, modifications and replacements if you discover something missing or damaged when you move in. This can be very helpful. Most builders usually give their clients a one to ten year warranty. The best warranties often cover structural and roofing systems. Other advantages include:

Buying a Used House

New homes usually cost a little bit more than pre-owned homes, so you will have to spend a little bit more to get a brand new house. Since nobody has ever lived in the house, personalizing it can be time-consuming and costly. Other drawbacks of purchasing new properties include:

• Warranties on new units do not usually cover damage due to improper use or wear and tear.
• If you wish to sell the house after a few months or years, you may not like the price because you will be competing with older properties
• New units have little or no vegetation since trees have not had time to grow

The Pros of Buying a Used House

The biggest advantage of purchasing a house that has previously been owned by another person is that it’s an affordable option. They are also:

• Available at a bargain compared to new houses
• Buyers can get bigger discounts by purchasing foreclosure properties
• Older homes often exist in established neighborhoods where all the neighbors know each other, so they feel like home
• These homes were built when land was much cheaper, so they have larger yards and bigger rooms
• The trees and vegetation in older homes are fully grown; some may even be decades or hundreds of years old, so they can provide a natural shade

When buying an old home, you should know that the structure of the building may be compromised. The roof may be leaking or foundation cracked. Older homes may:

• Have a mold problem
• Require renovation or remodelling
• Need replacement of the whole HVAC system because the old unit may be damaged due to wear and tear
• Need upgrading of the plumbing and electrical wiring systems to ensure safety
• Need adjustments and modifications in the garage to accommodate more vehicles

New Home vs. Used Home in Alliston

If you are planning to buy a house in Alliston, it is important that you weigh all the pros and cons of buying the two types of houses. For most people, it’s what they can afford that dictates what they can buy, while for others, it’s their taste and personal preferences. Whatever the case, all factors must be considered when deciding whether to buy a new home vs. used home in Alliston.