INSIGHT: The Art of Living speaks to expert real estate brokers about the towns blazing their own trail outside of the city hub.

 

Ontario, Prince Edward County

Surrounded by Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte, scenic Prince Edward County — aka The County — includes the towns of Welling-ton, Bloomfield and Picton and is Ontario’s fastest-growing wine region. With a proliferation of organic farms and a flourishing foodie community, it has attracted the likes of singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge, actor Anthony Lemke and chef Jamie Kennedy to put down roots.

The Appeal  “The County is a unique alternative to Muskoka,” says Iris Andrews, a real estate broker at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. “It offers a laid-back lifestyle and diverse experiences, such as a plethora of wineries, the pristine Sandbanks beaches and miles of waterfront, beautiful farmland offering organic produce, up-and-coming craft breweries, trendy shops, galleries, the Taste and Arts trails. And it is a hub for cyclists.” Once considered simply a tourist destination, The County has also been luring city dwellers looking to downsize and those opting for country living.

The Range of Properties  Expect quiet leafy streets in The County lined with Victorian and Georgian-style century houses, waterfronts and farms and cottages dating back to the United Empire Loyalists. “Some of these old homes have been renovated, but there are many still waiting to be given a new lease on life,” says Andrews. Those who prefer something move-in-ready, could opt for Twelve Trees Condominiums, a new waterfront development in Wellington, priced range from $400,000 to over $1.5 million.

New and Notable  Main Street in Wellington is being revitalized with trendy shops alongside local restos such as East & Main and The Courage. The County’s theatre company, Festival Players, has recently announced that its new artistic director is Stratford Shakespearean actor Graham Abbey. Meanwhile, in Picton, The Royal Hotel is undergoing a highly anticipated transformation under the wing of its new owner, Greg Sorbara. The former Ontario finance minister. Sorbara is bringing in Albert Ponzo, who is leaving Toronto’s Le Sélect to lead The Royals’ kitchen.

Alberta, Elbow Valley and Springbank

In the southwest end of Calgary lies Rocky View County, where the rural communities of Springbank and Elbow Valley, a subdivision within Springbank, are located. Considered to be among the fastest-growing municipalities in the province, Springbank and Elbow Valley boast lake access, miles of recreational pathways and stunning vistas of the Rockies nearby. They are also just a 25-minute commute to downtown and a short distance to Calgary International Airport.

The Appeal  This affluent postal code is affiliated to some of the highest net worth in the country. Springbank, with its history of ranching, appeals to those with equestrian connections, as well as to families looking for established hockey and figure-skating programs for their children. Both communities also offer access to prestigious public schools. “The elementary, middle and high schools in Springbank rank up there with some of the top private schools in Calgary,” says Barb Richardson, a senior vice-president of sales at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.

The Range of Properties  Springbank and Elbow Valley have substantial lots ideal for custom-built residences. Detached estate homes in Springbank range in price from $1.5 million to $8 million, many of them with breathtaking mountain views. Elbow Valley, a planned community of some 700 homes, has lots ranging from ¼ to two acres. “People [here] are looking for an intimate community feel but with larger lots than what you can get in the city proper and with more outdoor amenities,” says Richardson. Another noteworthy new project at Elbow Valley is a smaller 60-unit development with villas geared to empty nesters.

New and Notable  Close to the Springbank Airport is the new subdivision Harmony, consisting of multi-family homes, detached estates and villas, plus an 18-hole golf course, the largest man-made lake in Alberta, miles of new recreational pathways and a new school. Meanwhile, the second to the last segment of the Stoney Trail highway — Calgary’s main freeway — is scheduled for completion in 2021, which will shorten the commute from this area to the city, as well as to Calgary International Airport.

 

British Columbia, Sun Peaks

 
Canada’s second-largest ski area (after Whistler), Sun Peaks is located in the interior of British Columbia and a 45-minute drive from Kamloops and four hours from Vancouver.

The Appeal  Offering the charming ambience of an alpine village, Sun Peaks is unique, says Liz Forster, a managing broker at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. There’s a creek and an 18-hole golf course in the centre of town, which is walkable and has a European sense of style. “Prior to the Vancouver Winter Olympics [in 2010], the Austrian ski team trained here in part because it reminded them of the architecture back home,” says Forster. The school offers a unique four-day week and physical education classes are based on the school’s backyard recreational activities such as skiing, biking and golf. Sun Peaks is also the first and only resort in Canada to earn the ISO 14001 designation for environmental management.

The Range of Properties  After being granted its resort municipality status in 2010, the village has been attracting young families and retirees who desire a year-round, active lifestyle. Village Walk, a new townhouse development in the centre of the village is 80 per cent sold. There are some modern-designed homes, but anyone wanting to renovate will have to follow strict, building design guidelines — such as natural exterior cladding, landscaping that suits the mountain environment — to ensure the style and quality of the village stays intact.

New and Notable  An on-the-mountain medical centre, slated to open this October, will be 10 times larger than the current health centre (locals make the 45-minute drive to the hospital in Kamloops, if needed). Sun Peaks was the North American venue for the Snowbombing music festival last April, which featured rapper Ludacris and Soul Clap. It also hosted the Winter Okanagan Festival of Wine last January.

Quebec, Eastern Townships

The Eastern Townships area — located in the Appalachian hills, between Montreal and Quebec City, and bordering Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire — is comprised of more than 90 towns and villages, the fastest-growing among them being Brome-Missisquoi, Memphrémagog and Bromont.

The Appeal  Top marks go to scenery and landscape here, where you’ll find everything, from mountains and rolling hills to farmland and bodies of water for boating and fishing, as well as four national parks. “There’s something for everyone,” says Johanne Meunier, a real estate broker at Sotheby’s International Realty Quebec. “There is an authenticity here — a close-knit community, slower-paced lifestyle, a thriving art scene, but also lots of space for outdoor activities such as skiing, golfing and horse riding,” she says. And the local microclimate makes the Eastern Townships ideal for wineries and organic farming.

The Range of Properties  Homes are prominently New England style but Meunier says that the selection is vast. “New construction and condos are being built in the mountains and the larger villages like Bromont, and families or first-time home buyers are renovating the older, outdated farms, chalets or country houses,” says Meunier. The area also attracts city-dwellers on the hunt for a weekend or summer house; even retired locals are downsizing but sticking around, resulting in a heated market for coveted areas by the lake.

New and Notable  It’s home to distinguished fairs and cultural events such as Brome Fair, International Bromont (a must-see equestrian competition now in its 42nd year) and the popular Route Des Vins (Wine Route). The area’s famous alpaca farms and cabane à sucre (sugar shacks) are also not to be missed.
 

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By Tracey Ho Lung – *This article originally appeared in INSIGHT: The Art of Living | Fall 2017

Photos: Wine with a farm-to-table feast – the perfect ending to a biking tour in scenic Prince Edward County in Southern Ontario | Abbaye Saint-Benoit-du-Lac overlooks Lake Memphrémagog, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.