5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Oakville

Halton | Oakville | Ontario | Top 5 Fun |

Published September 26, 2017 at 5:27 pm

Here are some random things about Oakville you probably didn’t know — they may even win you a bar bet or two in the future. If so, you owe us a beer!

5. Hopedale Mall has one of the oldest 5 pin alleys in Ontario

There’s a legendary bowling alley downstairs at Hopedale Mall (aka the South Oakville Centre)! and it’s been serving families from Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Mississauga for nearly 60 years in the same location. The alley, which opened in fall 1959, is family-run and serves as a legit local landmark — whether it’s a party for yourself, your dad, your kids, or your grandma, chances are you’ve got fond memories for daaays from Hopedale Bowl.

4. Suits filmed in Oakville 

The Invictus Games and Prince Harry’s engagement to actress Meghan Markle are sizzling hot right now. You may only know the gorgeous brunette as Rachel Zane from the hit TV drama Suits. But did you know the show was filming in town in June 2016? Yup, little old Oakville has some ties to the world’s “It” couple! Their wedding is scheduled for May 19, 2018. Perhaps they’ll consider honeymooning in Oakville?

3. Lakeshore Rd.’s origin story

Lakeshore Rd. … we know it now as a stunning little stretch (downtown, anyway) and it makes for a fun, scenic drive that’s way better than sitting in gridlock along the QEW. But before the days of major highways, it was all we had. The QEW was paved with concrete to allow for automobiles to travel to Hamilton from Toronto in 1915. The QEW was built after. Can you even imagine life before going a buck 30 on the QEW?? 

2. Trafalgar Rd. had tolls

In 1846, Seventh Line (Trafalgar Rd.) became such a frequently travelled road that it was upgraded to a six-metre-wide and 30-km long plank road to accommodate heavy commercial traffic. To provide for maintenance and repair costs, toll gates were installed every few kilometres, however, plank roads weren’t durable and had to be rebuilt every five years. The planks, along with the tolls, were later phased out in the late 1850s.

1. Oakville could’ve been part of Mississauga

In a 1965 report commissioned by the province, Thomas J. Plunkett reviewed government structures and functions in the Counties of Halton and Peel, according to the good folks at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. He proposed dissolving the existing municipal bodies in the area, including all of the villages, towns, and townships, creating in their place two single-tier counties (one urban and one rural). The Proposed Urban County of Mississauga would’ve included old Brampton and all of modern Mississauga, Burlington, and Oakville. The Proposed Rural County of Peel-Halton would include communities such as Caledon East, Bolton, Georgetown and Milton, joined by much of modern day Brampton. See the maps and learn much more!

Cover photo courtesy of the Town of Oakville

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