Ballantrae, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Ballantrae, Ontario is a hamlet
in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville. Named for the village of Ballantrae
in South Ayrshire, Scotland, the community is centred around the intersection of Aurora Road (York Regional Road 15) and Highway 48
. The hamlet was first settled in the early 19th century, and by 1895 it had a population of 300.
The town was located on the edge of the vast lumber industry centred in the hamlet of Vivian; a spur-line of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
built in 1877 ran through Ballantrae from Stouffville to Jackson's Point on Lake Simcoe
. In the early 20th century, Ballantrae's population declined dramatically due to large-scale deforestation and the erosion of the thin soil of northern Whitchurch Township into virtual sand deserts. With the passage of the Reforestation Act (1911), the process of reclaiming these areas slowly began. The Vivian Forest, a large conservation area on the edge of Ballantrae, was established in 1924 for this purpose.
In early 21st century, Ballantrae experienced tremendous new growth. According to Statistics Canada
, the Ballantrae community in Whitchurch–Stouffville was the fastest growing community in Canada
, with 300% growth between 2001 and 2006. Most of this growth happened in the Ballantrae Golf and Country Club and Savoia subdivisions. Ballantrae has one public school of the same name (Ballantrae Public School), with approximately 259 pupils.
A significant issue facing Ballantrae in the coming years is the federal government's proposed development of an international airport directly south-east of Whitchurch-Stouffville (the Pickering Airport
lands); under the current plan, an approach for one of the three landing strips would be directly above the communities of Ballantrae and Musselman's Lake
, with planes descending (or ascending) from 535 to 500 metres. The 2004 plan calls for 11.9 million passengers per year (or 32,600 per day) by 2032. A "Needs Assessment Study" was completed by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
for the federal government in May 2010. After a "due diligence review," Transport Canada
released the report in July 2011.
Managing growth will also be a key issue for this area of Whitchurch-Stouffville in the future. In 2010 Ballantrae experienced a significant rise in the water table level—a normal result of deforestation on small watersheds--and residents were expressing concerns about wet basements and the frequent operation of their sump pumps. Already in 1993, the Whitchurch Historical Committee warned a new generation of "Whitchurch-Stouffville residents" to be ever "vigilant to treat trees and forests with respect ... . In the 1990s care must be taken so that urbanization and concrete road-building do not repeat the destruction to our forest heritage."
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville. Named for the village of Ballantrae
Ballantrae
Ballantrae is a community in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The name probably comes from the Scottish Gaelic Baile na Tràgha, meaning the "town by the beach"....
in South Ayrshire, Scotland, the community is centred around the intersection of Aurora Road (York Regional Road 15) and Highway 48
Highway 48 (Ontario)
King's Highway 48, also known as Highway 48, is a provincially-maintained highway in southern Ontario that extends from Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham, through Whitchurch-Stouffville, to Highway 12 south-east of Beaverton, Ontario. Prior to 1998, Highway 48 extended from Highway 401 in Toronto to...
. The hamlet was first settled in the early 19th century, and by 1895 it had a population of 300.
The town was located on the edge of the vast lumber industry centred in the hamlet of Vivian; a spur-line of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
Toronto and Nipissing Railway
The Toronto and Nipissing Railway was chartered in 1868 to build a narrow gauge railway in Ontario, Canada from Toronto to Lake Nipissing, via York, Ontario, and Victoria Counties. It opened in 1871, with service between Scarborough and Uxbridge. By December 1872 it was extended to Coboconk...
built in 1877 ran through Ballantrae from Stouffville to Jackson's Point on Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
. In the early 20th century, Ballantrae's population declined dramatically due to large-scale deforestation and the erosion of the thin soil of northern Whitchurch Township into virtual sand deserts. With the passage of the Reforestation Act (1911), the process of reclaiming these areas slowly began. The Vivian Forest, a large conservation area on the edge of Ballantrae, was established in 1924 for this purpose.
In early 21st century, Ballantrae experienced tremendous new growth. According to Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
, the Ballantrae community in Whitchurch–Stouffville was the fastest growing community in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, with 300% growth between 2001 and 2006. Most of this growth happened in the Ballantrae Golf and Country Club and Savoia subdivisions. Ballantrae has one public school of the same name (Ballantrae Public School), with approximately 259 pupils.
A significant issue facing Ballantrae in the coming years is the federal government's proposed development of an international airport directly south-east of Whitchurch-Stouffville (the Pickering Airport
Pickering Airport
Pickering Airport is a proposed international airport for the Greater Toronto Area, to be located in the city of Pickering, Ontario, Canada, 50 kilometres north-east of downtown Toronto, and 65 kilometres east of Toronto Pearson International Airport...
lands); under the current plan, an approach for one of the three landing strips would be directly above the communities of Ballantrae and Musselman's Lake
Musselman Lake, Ontario
Musselman Lake is a community settled adjacent to a kettle lake of the same name in the town of Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. It is located about 6 km north-northwest of urban Stouffville, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area....
, with planes descending (or ascending) from 535 to 500 metres. The 2004 plan calls for 11.9 million passengers per year (or 32,600 per day) by 2032. A "Needs Assessment Study" was completed by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority operates Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The GTAA operates Canada's largest airport facility with a traffic of 31.0 million passengers in 2006. The authority's headquarters are on the airport...
for the federal government in May 2010. After a "due diligence review," Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
released the report in July 2011.
Managing growth will also be a key issue for this area of Whitchurch-Stouffville in the future. In 2010 Ballantrae experienced a significant rise in the water table level—a normal result of deforestation on small watersheds--and residents were expressing concerns about wet basements and the frequent operation of their sump pumps. Already in 1993, the Whitchurch Historical Committee warned a new generation of "Whitchurch-Stouffville residents" to be ever "vigilant to treat trees and forests with respect ... . In the 1990s care must be taken so that urbanization and concrete road-building do not repeat the destruction to our forest heritage."