A Journey to Bradford

On Friday I took another long walk through a northern, rural segment of the Greater Toronto Area. Despite some difficulties, I was successfully able to explore interesting, new territory. I passed through Holland Landing, Bradford West Gwillimbury, and the Holland Marsh during my 33.5-kilometer walk.

I begin at the intersection of Yonge Street and Morning Sideroad, approximately 1 km north of affluent, suburban Newmarket. I’m in the southern periphery of East Gwillimbury, a town that contains several small villages, separated by vast stretches of farms, fields, and forests. I had already explored Yonge & Morning during my walk through Holland Landing in April; however, I was curious to see what it was like during the summer.

I walk downhill on the original portion of Yonge Street, which runs north into the small village of Holland Landing. Old Yonge Street is a narrow dirt road that curves through a thick forest. There are a few residential homes, but they are deep inside tree-lined lots. Yonge is more pleasant than it was in April; there is lush vegetation along the sides of the road, and some small animals are present. The road, although still quite barren, has more traffic now than when I walked in April. I see a middle-aged couple walking and two teens biking uphill towards Morning. Eventually, I arrive at “downtown” Holland Landing, which consists of two small strip malls and a community centre. I buy some food and drinks and turn west onto Bradford Street.

As I walk along Bradford Street, I cross a bridge over the Holland River and get a nice view of the surrounding meadowlands. I turn northwest onto Toll Road, which features residential homes on the north side of the street and train tracks cutting through a thick, green field on the south. Surprisingly, this section of Toll Road also features the headquarters of Inscape Corporation, an office equipment manufacturer whose shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. I wonder why a large, public company chooses to be located in a rural part of the GTA.

Eventually I reach the intersection of Bathurst Street & Highway 11. From here, there are two roads that lead into Bradford; I must make a decision. My first option is to walk on the shoulder of Highway 11. However, this seems quite dangerous as the traffic is fast and quite heavy. My second option is to walk along the western half of Toll Road. This section of Toll, discontinuous with the one that housed Inscape’s headquarters, is a narrow dirt path surrounded by a thick line of trees on both sides. Despite the fact that traffic roars by on Highway 11, perhaps 50 meters to the south, this half of Toll Road qualifies as one of the most barren streets in York Region. The south side of the road features trees that separate it from the highway while the opposite side has thick trees, farmland, and empty fields. There are only a few signs of civilization; scattered beverage containers litter the ground and there are a few small houses at the road’s termini.

Finally, I enter the town of Bradford, a suburban community located near the fertile farmlands of the Holland Marsh. There are three landmarks at the town’s eastern limits: a flower bed celebrating Bradford's sesquicentennial anniversary, a sign proclaiming that I’ve entered “the heart of Canada’s vegetable industry” and, finally, an anthropomorphic carrot named “Gwilly”. More towns should have anthropomorphic vegetables as mascots.

I turn onto Canal Road, which runs through farmland in the Holland Marsh. The marsh is an integral part of Ontario’s agricultural industry and contains numerous vegetables farms. The area used to consist of untamed wetlands before Professor William Day (for whom a major street in Bradford is named) created a drainage system that transformed the area. I wanted to walk along Canal Road because a friend of a friend said it was a pleasant, scenic route. However, I get confused at the intersection of Canal Rd & Pumphouse Road and mistakenly turn onto the latter street.

I enjoy the scenery as I unknowingly walk south on Pumphouse. The street is sandwiched by small homes and farmland on the west side and a canal on the east. Unfortunately, the canal, a tributary of the West Holland River, is far from picturesque. The water is stained with algae and is colored goose-feces green. There appears to be little wildlife in the area, aside from the occasional fish that splashes loudly to the surface. Still, some of the scenery is pleasant; there's a forest and marshland vegetation across the stream, and fields, farm animals and distant mountains towards the west.

My peaceful walk ends abruptly at the intersection of Pumphouse Rd. and Graham Sdrd., as I realize that I hiked along the wrong street. Technically I’m not lost, since I could always turn around and walk north on Pumphouse, back to Canal Rd. I see a man fishing in the canal and ask him for directions; he tells me that if I walk east, I’ll be back in Bradford. The directions seem plausible; I squint and see a building far in the distance. I don’t want to retrace my steps and, knowing that I could turn around if necessary, I walk east along Graham.

Eventually, after walking for more than 30 minutes in sweltering heat, I reach the end of Graham Sdrd., at an intersection with Bathurst Street. Less than 200 meters north I see… the intersection of Bathurst & Highway 11. Yes, that’s the same landmark I passed on my way into the city. Thus, I’ve accidentally left Bradford entirely and have mistakenly walked halfway back to Holland Landing! Angry that I didn’t bring a mapbook, I turn around and head back towards Canal Road. I’m forced to re-trace my entire path along Graham and Pumphouse. After wasting nearly two hours in the intense heat, I’m back to where I started.

Finally, I start walking along Canal Road. The street is quite similar to Pumphouse, as it features farmland on one side and a stream on the other. However, Canal is sparser; there are fewer residential homes and virtually no traffic. While there were many people fishing and bike-riding on Pumphouse, I don’t see anybody on Canal beyond the first few hundred meters.

Apparently Canal Road is one of the most dangerous streets in Ontario. I can see the danger in driving there during an icy winter or at night; Canal Road is narrow, has numerous sharp turns, and there is no lighting. Most problematically, there are few barriers that would prevent cars from entering the canal. A single moment of fatigue, or a quick mechanical problem, could easily send a car into the water, unobstructed. It’s a shame that such a beautiful road has been the source of so many deaths.

Eventually, I reach the intersection of Canal Rd. & Simcoe Rd. I turn north on the latter street, which leads north into downtown Bradford. I spend two hours walking around the city and get a cheap but delicious hamburger at a diner in the west end of the city. Bradford is the largest of all the “small towns” I’ve seen during my long walks up north. While fairly small in geographic size, Bradford has a prosperous downtown core. The economy must be in good shape if a (fairly) small town is prosperous enough to have a tanning salon, a bowling alley and a Fabricland. A few of the larger stores (including a Shopper’s Drug Mart at Holland W & Collings) are comparable in size to what one would find in downtown Toronto or Richmond Hill.

The Village Inn is at the centre of the town; apparently it’s a restaurant, bar, hotel and strip club. Talk about convenience. The downtown core also features a large Go Transit station, a library, a community centre, and several parks. There are colorful murals on many walls. I’m still surprised by how close the farmland lays to the downtown core; the restless city and rustic farmland coexist, perhaps 2 km apart.

As the sun sets, a take a few more pictures of the canal and farmland in the Holland Marsh. I take the Go bus home. I’ve learned my lesson about not taking a map, and I reflect on Bradford’s uniqueness as a commercial oasis in the heart of the Holland Marsh.