The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG)

January 30, 2025

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG)

Ontario’s Fastest Growing Hub of Community and Opportunity

 

How balancing economic expansion and sustainability has improved the quality of life for BWG residents

South-central Ontario’s diverse landscape is at the precipice of transformative growth, largely due to blooming towns like Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG).

Nestled on the southern edge of Simcoe County, just north of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Bradford West Gwillimbury’s proactive leadership, policies, and projects have allowed its small-town charm to evolve into a thriving culture of recreation and urban convenience.

The town has adopted a holistic approach focusing on five vital pillars: healthcare, education, recreation, culture, and community safety.

Bradford West Gwillimbury’s partnerships concentrate on providing closer specialized services for residents to achieve this.

BWG also pursues collaborations with leading universities, establishes roots in the community, and offers secondary education opportunities that prepare local youth for the future.

Simultaneously, its bold, resident-centered infrastructure projects demonstrate the town’s commitment to sustainability and smart urbanization. The developmental principle is simple: the best way to nurture the community’s essence is through cutting-edge projects prioritizing people’s quality of life.

Additionally, BWG already has programs encouraging businesses to settle down and establish roots. These programs ensure robust economic growth while delivering tangible benefits to families through education, healthcare, and cultural enrichment.

Overall, Bradford West Gwillimbury’s pace of growth has been slow but steady. When visitors arrive, they find people working, playing, and thriving and a community culture that residents cherish.

With a population that has grown from 10,000 to 48,000 during the last 28 years—and projections to reach 85,000 within the next 25 years—BWG proudly stands as Ontario’s next epicenter of multifaceted development.

A Town Known for Its Geography, Culture, Community Initiatives

BWG’s community is rooted in its farming heritage. The town is home to the Holland Marsh, often called the “Salad Bowl of Ontario,” which serves as a vital agricultural crossing and a scenic gateway for visitors arriving via the 400 highway.

“We are a farming community, but we’re still bringing in manufacturing, and we have an employment land area. We’re changing, but our culture has always been all about inclusiveness and diversity. We’re the most diverse community in Simcoe County,” says Mayor James Leduc.

With 25% of its residents identifying as immigrants, Bradford West Gwillimbury is considered a multicultural tapestry by many, and this fact is reflected in the town’s festivals, events, and recreational atmosphere.

“Bradford’s location is just on the outer edge of the GTA. We’re the southernmost valley of Simecoe County, which gives us the perfect location for anybody that wants to live here and can work in Toronto,” Mayor Leduc states.

With a GO Transit station providing a direct link to Toronto in just 45 minutes and easy access to outdoor recreation such as fishing, hiking, and skiing to the north, BWG offers a unique blend of urban accessibility and natural serenity.

BWG also leverages various media channels to share its story, from local outlets like BradfordToday to broader regional networks like Rogers Media. BWG also produces a quarterly magazine called Connected, which informs residents about community updates, events, and infrastructure projects.

The town values modern media channels, so it also uses social and other digital platforms to showcase its family-friendly environment, robust housing market, and diverse lifestyle opportunities.

As Mayor Leduc puts it, “This is a wonderful place to raise a family, invest, and thrive. ” That is largely due to his overall growth strategy for the town, which centers on more than just business—it prioritizes community well-being.

The introduction of a concierge program exemplifies this focus. The program is designed to connect new residents and businesses with essential services like schools, housing, and healthcare providers, ensuring they feel at home and supported.

This program works in tandem with BWG’s healthcare investments. Upcoming announcements in early 2025 will detail new local healthcare facilities, reducing residents’ need to travel for essential medical services.

“We’ve signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Southlake Health, which is looking to provide services closer to home. So, we’re taking hospital services and bringing them to our community,” Mayor Leduc explains.

Furthermore, education is another pillar of Bradford’s development framework.

“We are aggressively working with some universities in Ontario and looking to see if they’d like to establish roots here in Bradford. Eventually, we will be a larger community, and if we can provide those secondary education opportunities right here at home, we certainly want to do that,” Mayor Leduc says.

By offering education opportunities locally, BWG seeks to foster a sense of hometown pride among young professionals, making them more likely to settle in and invest in their community.

Addressing Key Infrastructure and Economic Needs

With a focus on residential well-being, Bradford West Gwillimbury’s growth strategy emphasizes the logistical necessities associated with it, namely supportive infrastructure and commercial activity.

The town will invest $469 million over the next 10 years in key municipal infrastructure.

Its key projects include expanding its wastewater treatment plant, a $90 million initiative, and a $30 million downtown revitalization project, which aims to transform Holland Street into a pedestrian-friendly hub while preserving its historic charm.

There are more examples, but the centerpiece of these efforts is the Bradford Bypass, a provincial highway project poised to transform the town into a logistical hub for Ontario’s economy. This project is estimated to invest $28 billion in infrastructure across the region over the next decade.

Bradford also offers a comprehensive Community Improvement Program (CIP) to incentivize new businesses to prepare for and engage with the upcoming infrastructure changes.

“We have what we call a CIP program that helps with small funding, potential tax increment deferrals, grants, permit fees subsidies, and things like that,” Mayor Leduc says.

With three tailored programs—industrial, downtown, and seniors housing CIPs—the town can ensure targeted support for its sectors.

BWG’s town council is also exploring ways to expand these programs community-wide, especially as it moves towards creating more employment opportunities via the 400 highway, which incoming businesses have already taken advantage of.

“We’ve had Toromont, Canada, come to our community. They’ve built a 140,000-square-foot facility and plan on expanding that facility as they move forward,” Mayor Leduc says, highlighting some of the local businesses that have already positively impacted Bradford West Gwillimbury’s economy.

Rieker Shoes has also brought its headquarters and first non-European facility to the BWG community.

Additionally, the town’s already robust automotive industry is positioned to develop, with manufacturing giants like Kumi, Channel Industrial, and Spectra Aluminum set to expand their employment opportunities.

Fortunately, with these businesses leading the charge, Bradford West Gwillimbury is predicted to grow by about 30,000 jobs.

Residential Leisure and a Cutting-Edge Future on the Horizon

Bradford West Gwillimbury’s leaders have prioritized projects that promote cultural and physical well-being.

The new Civic Centre, slated for completion in 2025, will be a multifaceted facility combining administrative, recreational, and cultural spaces. Key features include a state-of-the-art performing arts center with a 300-seat capacity, a gym, and fitness facilities.

Adjacent to the Civic Centre, plans are underway for an 18-acre park that will offer passive recreation opportunities.

While construction is scheduled for 2026, design efforts are already in progress, ensuring the park will be a tranquil space for residents to connect with nature.

Additionally, the town’s Civic Square, set to open in June, will serve as a central gathering space for events, farmers’ markets, and cultural activities, complete with a water feature and outdoor stage.

Transportation innovation is another hallmark of Bradford’s growth strategy. The town recently signed an agreement with Argo, a tech-forward firm founded by Canadian software specialists from Silicon Valley.

This partnership will introduce an all-electric, on-demand transit service, the first of its kind in the region. Set to launch in April 2025, this $1-per-ride service will provide door-to-door transit, complementing existing bus routes and reducing traffic congestion.

“It’s going to be the 1st all-digitized on-demand electric bus service… I think it’s cutting-edge, and it’s going to change the way people move around this community,” Mayor Leduc says.

Among the many initiatives shaping Bradford’s future, the Civic Centre and Argo’s on-demand transit system stand out as transformative projects.

Together, these developments will enhance the town’s infrastructure, promote cultural and recreational opportunities, and improve residents’ quality of life.

As Bradford West Gwillimbury continues its journey from a small town to a thriving community, its leaders remain steadfast in their mission to build a place where residents can live stress-free, fulfilling lives.

Approaching its next chapter, the town’s leadership remains focused on creating a community that balances growth with quality of life. From state-of-the-art infrastructure to vibrant green spaces and a thriving local economy, BWG is a model of sustainable development. “We want to be a big player in Ontario’s success,” Mayor Leduc affirms.

With its strategic investments and community-first approach, Bradford West Gwillimbury is poised to welcome new residents, businesses, and opportunities while preserving the values that make it a special place to live and work.

AT A GLANCE

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG)

What: BWG is a thriving community that has evolved from its agricultural roots into a dynamic, urbanized hub.

Where: Simcoe County, Ontario, just north of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Website: www.townofbwg.com

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