Gormley, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Gormley is a hamlet in York Region, Ontario
, Canada
that overlaps parts of Richmond Hill
, and Whitchurch–Stouffville, two municipalities within the Greater Toronto Area
. It was divided into two parts due to the construction of Highway 404. A portion of Gormley situated within Richmond Hill's political boundaries is subject to "Heritage Conservation District" controls. A post office in Gormley (East) serves as the mailing address for the Whitchurch–Stouffville communities of Bethesda
, Gormley, Preston Lake
, Vandorf
, and Wesley Corners
.
Gormley Road East, on the south side of Stouffville Road, leads to Gormley Court and a dead-end at the railroad tracks. On the other side of the tracks, accessible by Leslie Street, is Gormley Road West. The community used to have a significant railroad station (see picture below). Many of the houses are approximately 100 years old. The community celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.
The community was named after its first postmaster, James Gormley, who served from 1851 to 1876. The hamlet originally straddled the townships of Markham to the south and Whitchurch to the north, both in the County of York.
The old community of Gormley is situated east of the Highway 404 at the corner of Woodbine Avenue and Stouffville Road.
New Gormley or West Gormley, is the area near Leslie St and Stouffville Road.
A rail line owned by Canadian National Railway
runs through West Gormley; it is CN's primary freight corridor connecting Greater Toronto to Northern Ontario and Western Canada. The construction of the new GO Transit
commuter train and bus station will begin in the Fall of 2011.
A future challenge to the community of Gormley is the proposed development of an international airport immediately south-east of Whitchurch–Stouffville (the Pickering Airport
lands). Under the current plan, the approach for one of the three landing strips would be directly over Gormley, with planes descending above the hamlet from an elevation of 521 metres to 480 metres. The plan anticipates 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.
, which is north of Gormley, on Woodbine Avenue. A golf course formerly known as Gormley Greens is now called Station Creek, which is situated north of Stouffville Road off Woodbine Avenue.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
that overlaps parts of Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, and Whitchurch–Stouffville, two municipalities within the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
. It was divided into two parts due to the construction of Highway 404. A portion of Gormley situated within Richmond Hill's political boundaries is subject to "Heritage Conservation District" controls. A post office in Gormley (East) serves as the mailing address for the Whitchurch–Stouffville communities of Bethesda
Bethesda, York Regional Municipality, Ontario
Bethesda is a hamlet in York Region, Ontario, Canada, in the town of Whitchurch–Stouffville. The hamlet is centred at the intersection of Warden Avenue and Bethesda Road in the south-eastern region of Whitchurch–Stouffville; it flourished around 1875....
, Gormley, Preston Lake
Preston Lake, Ontario
The Community of Preston Lake is located in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville in the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario...
, Vandorf
Vandorf, Ontario
Vandorf is a small hamlet situated in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario, in Canada. It is the most westerly settlement within the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. With a population of approximately 722, Vandorf consists mainly of estate residential homes and farms.Vandorf was founded in...
, and Wesley Corners
Wesley Corners, Ontario
Wesley Corners is a community situated in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.The hamlet is located at the intersection of Woodbine Avenue and York Regional Road 15/ Aurora Road. It was originally known as Hacking's Corners, after Rev. James Hacking who settled there in 1817...
.
Gormley Road East, on the south side of Stouffville Road, leads to Gormley Court and a dead-end at the railroad tracks. On the other side of the tracks, accessible by Leslie Street, is Gormley Road West. The community used to have a significant railroad station (see picture below). Many of the houses are approximately 100 years old. The community celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.
History
The old community of Gormley is situated east of the Highway 404 at the corner of Woodbine Avenue and Stouffville Road.
New Gormley or West Gormley, is the area near Leslie St and Stouffville Road.
A rail line owned by Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
runs through West Gormley; it is CN's primary freight corridor connecting Greater Toronto to Northern Ontario and Western Canada. The construction of the new GO Transit
Gormley GO Station
Gormley GO Station is a proposed train and bus station in the GO Transit network to be located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, serving the community of Gormley, in Whitchurch–Stouffville...
commuter train and bus station will begin in the Fall of 2011.
A future challenge to the community of Gormley is the proposed development of an international airport immediately 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, the approach for one of the three landing strips would be directly over Gormley, with planes descending above the hamlet from an elevation of 521 metres to 480 metres. The plan anticipates 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.
Companies and attractions
The Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville Museum is located in VandorfVandorf, Ontario
Vandorf is a small hamlet situated in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario, in Canada. It is the most westerly settlement within the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. With a population of approximately 722, Vandorf consists mainly of estate residential homes and farms.Vandorf was founded in...
, which is north of Gormley, on Woodbine Avenue. A golf course formerly known as Gormley Greens is now called Station Creek, which is situated north of Stouffville Road off Woodbine Avenue.
- Digital LeisureDigital LeisureDigital Leisure, Inc. is a Canadian publisher of software. The company formed in 1997 with the vision to acquire, remaster, and publish numerous classic video-based arcade games such as Dragon's Lair, Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp and Space Ace. These three games were among the first to use...
- Bizzone
- Famous Sam's
- Canbrands Specialty Foods
- Station Creek Golf Club
- Golden Ridge Driving Range
- Gormley Arts and Leisure Centre