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Quality of Life

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Best Place to Live

Simcoe County is Ontario’s premier tourism destination. Visitors and residents alike can enjoy breathtaking views, vibrant arts and cultural community, walking trails, a multitude of recreational facilities, parks, marinas, shopping and dining, and a variety of entertainment ranging from a world class show at a casino, snowmobiling, skydiving and horse racing to lounging on the beach, boating and skiing.

Simcoe County has a wide range of housing options for everyone – from rental properties, starter homes, to single family dwellings and resort living by the water.

Among 415 communities across Canada, 14 out of 16 member municipalities in Simcoe County, along with the Cities of Barrie and Orillia, were all placed in the Top 150 Canada’s Best Places to Live in 2018!

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Deloitte, FDI Research and Value Propositions, 2017

For Greater Opportunity

“The County’s competitive residential real estate prices, high quality of life and locational attributes are an advantage for attracting the highest quality talent.”

Quick Facts
  •  Simcoe County is home to Wasaga Beach, the world’s longest freshwater beach
  • Bee keeping has been an important part of Simcoe County’s economy for over 150 years.  Canada’s first commercial bee keeper, David A Jones, was a postmaster and storekeeper in Clarksville, a small community in south Simcoe County. In 1875, the town was renamed Bee Town in his honour in 1875 and the spelling was later changed to Beeton.
  • The Trent Severn Waterway National Historic Site, connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay, and forms the northeastern border of the County.  Lock 45 connects the Severn River to Georgian Bay and is known as the Northern Gateway and is located at Port Severn, in Simcoe County

Simcoe County has a wide range of attainable housing options for everyone – rental properties, starter homes, single-family dwellings, multi-generational homes, cottages and resort-living by the water.

Citizens and permanent residents in Ontario can access universal health-care services under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.   Simcoe County is home to 5 hospitals and 19 urgent care clinics.

With more than 9 million visitors spending more than $1-billion a year, there are a number of reasons this region has been identified as a premier four-season destination in Ontario.

STATISTICS HIGHLIGHTS

50+

Golf Courses

60

Marinas

16

Farmers' Markets

7

Provincial Parks

4

Ski Resorts