Gravenhurst Progress

A new Home Hardware store is being put in where trees formerly decorated the beautiful highway as it wends its way north. It changes the character of a place. I do so love the small towns, those like Stratford, and Niagara-on-the-lake, that have endeavoured to honour the spirit and the flavour of a small town feel.


Another sign of 'progress'. Despite many closed stores in the inner core, and spaces that would house new owners in the centre of town, it has been sad to see the massive ripping away of trees just north of the town on highway #169.



Before the trees were stripped...the forests looked like this.


A lovely garden and nursery sits on the shoulder of the highway. Nestled into the trees. Just beside it, after a vista of greenery and flowers, we will now see a Home Hardware store.

Now, this is going to hamper traffic. As we drive this strip of Gravenhurst, it is the spot where I spotted my bear a month or so ago. (See the side bar!)

In behind are some nice homes, with a lovely rural feel, and traffic will be forced to stop. It is difficult turning on and off the highway here, since many speed their way through town, ignoring the 60 km/hr signage. Our super OPP spend a lot of time with radar traps, bless them!


Traffic was down to one lane in November, 2008, as they worked on the roads. There were grumpy people passing in stupid places. I don't know how frustrated local residents feel.

This is such a lovely residential area.







The big condos have painted a picture of people who do not care for the lake view.

Now, they are destroying the forest vista with more construction, and the removal of the trees.

It is a lovely drive, with the Gallery, a park, some stores, and a a ball park. It has been changed. Be prepared.