Whitchurch-Stouffville
Whitchurch-Stouffville is a rural municipality in York Region with one significant urban area. It lies mainly on the Oak Ridges Moraine, which is protected against further suburban sprawl by legislation. There are many recreation trails through the town's conservation areas.
Since 2019, it has been calling itself "the Town of Stouffville", while retaining its full name for legal purposes. It is a largely rural area whose population is growing quickly.
Understand
It is located north of Markham, east of Richmond Hill and Aurora, south of Georgina, and west of Durham Region.
In 2016, it was home to 46,000 people. Its future growth is planned as "sustainable development", largely within the boundaries of urban Stouffville, home to 33,000 people in 2016, reflecting a vision of "small town tradition between the country and the city". Many of its residents commute to Toronto for work.
Other communities in Whitchurch-Stouffville include Ballantrae, Bethesda, Bloomington, Cedar Valley, Gormley, Lemonville, Lincolnville, Musselman's Lake, Pine Orchard, Pleasantville, Preston Lake, Ringwood, Vandorf, Vivian, and Wesley Corners.
Get in
By plane
Whitchurch-Stouffville is served mainly by Toronto Pearson International Airport. From Pearson Airport, you could use several methods to reach Whitchurch-Stouffville. By automobile, you would take 409 East, exit onto Highway 401 East, and then take Highway 404 North, and then exit at Stouffville Road, and then go eastbound.
Taking a taxi, the flat-rate fare to Stouffville is $140-170 depending on where in the municipality (Sep 2021).
A few flights also arrive at Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto. From Billy Bishop, there are several methods to reach Vaughan. By automobile, you could take the Gardiner Expressway Eastbound, Don Valley Parkway Northbound, exit at Stouffville Road, and go eastbound.
By train
Whitchurch-Stouffville is served by GO Transit commuter rail, as well as a heritage railway that goes to Uxbridge. Within Whitchurch-Stouffville are two GO stations: 1 Stouffville GO and 2 Old Elm GO (terminus), all part of the Stouffville Line. Stouffville Line goes southwest to Union Station. From Toronto, take the Stouffville Line north to either Stouffville or Old Elm stations. From Uxbridge, take the York-Durham Heritage Railway to Old Elm GO. From elsewhere, one must transfer at Toronto's Union Station in order to take the Stouffville line.
By car
There are no freeways in Whitchurch-Stouffville. However, Highway 404 forms the western border of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Highway 404 goes north to Georgina, and south to Toronto.
Highway 48 is a provincially maintained highway that starts at Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham. It arrives in Stouffville on the western border of the town.
Arterial roads in Whitchurch-Stouffville are laid out in a grid format, usually 2 km by 2 km. There are few turn restrictions, however, there are more in busier areas. Parking is generally free and readily available, except in downtown Stouffville.
By bus
GO Transit provides route 70 and 71 bus service between Uxbridge and Toronto, with intermediate stops including in Stouffville. Most of the morning and evening bus trips are synchronized to meet the trains arriving at Mount Joy GO station or Old Elm GO station.
There is only one York Region Transit bus route in Stouffville, which is 9 Ninth Line. From anywhere south of Whitchurch-Stouffville, one must travel to Markham Stouffville Hospital, which is a bus terminal, to board the bus. This service is run by York Region Transit.
Get around
Whitchurch-Stouffville is a rural and sparse municipality, save for the town of Stouffville. Getting around by car is the best way, although there are limited transit options.
Transit
Whitchurch-Stouffville is served by the York Region's Transit system (YRT and VIVA) as well as the provincial GO Transit.
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the main local transit agency. Click the link for an overview on bus service in York Region.
York Region Transit operates only one route in Whitchurch-Stouffville. The Route is 9 Ninth Line, which forms a square routing in the town of Stouffville and follows Ninth Line south of the town.
The primary fare media used on the YRT is the Presto Card, which is also usable on many surrounding transit systems, on UP Express between Pearson Airport and downtown, and on GO Transit which provides regional rail and bus service (including service to Niagara Falls). Presto cards may be purchased at many local outlets, and at any staffed GO Transit station, The card costs $6.00, and can be loaded with any desired amount of money. To use the card, tap it on the green reader when entering a bus. A green light and a beep will confirm acceptance. If multiple YRT/VIVA vehicles are used to complete a one-way journey under two hours from your initial tap-on, only a single fare will be charged. Separate fares apply on other transit systems.
GO Transit
GO Buses operate during off-peak times when train service on the Stouffville Line does not operate.
By taxi
Taxis are generally not found on the roads; therefore they cannot be hailed from the street. In order to acquire a taxi, it is best to pre-book a trip using a phone or using the internet.
Ride-share applications such as Uber and Lyft can also be used and are easier to acquire a ride compared to traditional taxis.
By bicycle
Cycling is possible throughout the municipality.
It is a provincial law that cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet, and all riders must have a bike with reflectors and a bell. This is almost never enforced due to the low number of cyclists.
The YRT has taken measures to be welcoming of bicycles. All YRT/VIVA buses have easy to use bike racks.
Beware of right-turning vehicles when you enter an intersection. Drivers usually do not expect cyclists or pedestrians due to the low number of peds and cyclists. Therefore they may not look before they turn, as they only look for other cars.
See
- 1 Latcham Art Centre, 2 Park Drive, Stouffville (in the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre), ☏ +1 905-640-8954. It hosts 5-6 curated exhibitions each year that reflect a range of artistic media and the cultural diversity of Ontario. Free.
- 2 Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum (Vandorf Park), 14732 Woodbine Ave, ☏ +1 905-727-8954. W-Sa 8AM-4PM. Many historic buildings including 1871 Vandorf Public School, 1870s log cabin – early settler home representation, 1850s Brown House red brick farmhouse. 1857 Bogarttown Public School. Location often used for weddings.
Do
- 1 Markham Fair, 10801 McCowan Rd (follow the signs for Markham Fairgrounds). mid-October. It is one of the oldest country fairs in Canada. Aside from agricultural displays, other entertainment includes farm animals, tractor pulls, demolition derby and straw bale competition. Although it is not in Whitchurch-Stouffville, it is immediately south of the boundary in the city of Markham.
- 2 Bruce's Mill Conservation Park, 3291 Stouffville Road, Stouffville, ☏ +1-416-667-6295. Forest trails, golf driving range, zip lines through the high tree canopy, and annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival. Adult $7, senior $6, child under 14 $4.
Buy
Eat
- 1 The King's Landing Bar & Grill, 5946 Main St #4, ☏ +1 905-591-7200.
- 2 Fishbone Bistro, 6146 Main St, ☏ +1 905-640-0355. M-Sa 5-9PM. Portuguese cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood.
- 3 Hanson Country Place, 3721 Aurora Rd (at Kennedy Rd), ☏ +1 905-888-1818. Daily 11:30AM-8:30PM. Chibese and Canadian food
Drink
- 1 Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Blvd, Stouffville, ☏ +1 905-640-8118. Daily 11AM-10PM. Gastropub.
Sleep
- 1 Days Inn by Wyndham Stouffville, 38 Ringwood Dr, Stouffville (off Main St, near Highway 48), ☏ +1 905-642-2929. From $100.
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- 2 Cedar Beach Trailer and RV Park on Musselman's Lake, Cedarvale Boulevard and Ninth Line. Musselman's Lake is a kettle lake, i.e., a depression/hole in an outwash plain formed by retreating glaciers or draining floodwaters. Virtually all of the waterfront is private residential property, but Cedar Beach Park is a small park and beach on the north side that can accommodate trailers up to 28 feet. No tent camping. $58-75/night for a site with water and 30-amp electricity.
Connect
Stay healthy
The closest hospital is 1 Markham Stouffville Hospital. Although the hospital has the name "Stouffville" in it, it is in Markham.
Go next
- Drive northeast for 20 minutes to Uxbridge
| Routes through Whitchurch-Stouffville |
| Georgina ← East Gwillimbury ← | N  S |
→ Markham → END |