Ajax

The pride and joy of the town's 75,000 residents, Ajax's Lake Ontario waterfront is the longest undeveloped waterfront in the Toronto area. Located directly east of Pickering, Ajax is also blessed with 465 acres of parkland and natural areas. There are numerous walking trails with plans for a comprehensive system of linked trails throughout the town and north to Greenwood Conservation Area.

Being so close to the country, residents enjoy amenities such as first-rate golf courses, horseback riding and horse racing at Picov Downs Racetrack.

Ajax is home to three community centres, including the Ajax Community Centre, which has an indoor pool, four ice rinks, fitness facilities, squash courts and the unique Higher Ground Rock Climbing facility, one of the few of its kind in the GTA.

One of the town's chief shopping districts is along Highway 2, where a host of new big box stores compete for Ajax's shopping dollars. Counterpoint to Pickering Village is the new Durham Centre with tenants such as Danier Leather, Chapters Bookstore, Starbucks, Moores the Suit People, Zellers, Future Shop, Winners, Home Depot, and Cineplex.

It's not uncommon to find second-generation residents buying homes in the old neighbourhood and raising their families in Ajax. Housing prices are lower here than in neighbouring Pickering and are significantly lower than in Toronto.