Essa Township is situated in the middle of a few larger cities and towns such as Barrie and Collingwood. Living here provides you with a mix of rural living with the convenience of urban amenities being a short drive away. It encompasses three major communities Angus, Baxter, and Thornton, and a few smaller hamlets.
Thornton has a small main street with a few local businesses like the popular ice cream parlour “The Parlour”. It’s a quiet community for the most part, with not much going on. As you drive through the town you will see acres of farmland and forested land that separates neighborhoods. Single-family homes with large lots make up the housing styles here making it a great option for families to consider buying here.
There aren’t any schools local to Thornton, so kids are bussed to a nearby elementary school Baxter Central Public School in Egbert. Secondary school students will attend Nottawasaga Pines Secondary School located in Angus.
There’s plenty of green space for kids to play and participate in sports throughout the community. Cunningham Park has a playground and a couple of tennis courts, while the Thornton Arena Ball Park has a baseball diamond, basketball nets, playground, and splash pad during the summer.
The Thornton-Cookstown Trail is a 15-kilometer multi-use walking trail that travels through pastureland and forests. It’s a great trail for those who enjoy walking and running and even cross-country skiing during the Winter. It’s all one level making it an accessible trail for wheelchair users and those with strollers.
The Thornton Arena and community center offers public skating, shinny ice, and organized hockey leagues for kids during the winter months. In addition to these, they also offer fitness programs all year round to provide residents with a way to live a healthy lifestyle.
The Township of Essa is known for its sense of community, and it shows in their community events. Every year at the end of summer the whole community comes together for the “Barrie Fair” at the Essa Agriplex. There’s plenty of fun for the whole family here with kid’s activities like an animal petting zone, amusement rides and games, and food. The Tractor race is one of the more popular activities that everyone gets excited about kicking off the weekend of activities.
On Thornton’s main strip you will find some unique local businesses. The Parlour is a popular ice cream shop in Thornton that’s family-owned and operated. They make all their ice cream from scratch and have a variety of flavors to choose from. If you’re looking for a great place to have breakfast here the Thornton Café is a community favorite. They serve all-day breakfast and daily lunch specials and provide a friendly atmosphere you will be sure to appreciate.
Thornton is a great place to raise a family as it has plenty of opportunities for recreation and play and convenient access to urban amenities.
-The BDAR Team