Wheatley, Chatham kent

Wheatley is a developing residential community in Canada that offers an active outdoor lifestyle in southwestern Ontario and close to the Greater Toronto Area. It lies within the municipality of Chatham-Kent and about 12 km east of Leamington. Wheatley is also known as the ‘Freshwater Fishing Capital of the World’ because of being located on the shores of Lake Erie. The community of Wheatley is complete with education centres, restaurants, hospitals and shopping malls that are centrally located to cater to the residents’ everyday needs. The township is important for marine-based businesses and cross-border trade and distribution with the United States.

The Wheatley neighbourhood has a decent livability index compared to other parts of Ontario and Canada. The cost of living is not too high here; however, amenities here have a lower grade of D-. Employability is also a problem here. The cost of school and housing is not very high either. The crime rate in Wheatley is 11% lower than the national average and is rated as B+. Wheatley is safer than 24% of the cities in Ontario. This makes the neighbourhood of Wheatley a calm residential community for those looking to settle here.

The median household income in the Wheatley neighbourhood is 4% higher than the national average and much higher than the average of the Chatham-Kent area. In Wheatley, 3.8% of the people earn $20,000 or less, while 13.2% of people earn between $80,000 to $1,00,000. In Wheatley, 95.3% of the residents speak only English, while 0.1% of the residents speak only French. This means that the community is dominated by English speakers and is apt for immigrants who are comfortable with the language.

Wheatley is complete with amenities such as schools and hospitals in the vicinity of the homes. The area has several parks and restaurants for community living, while the shopping centres in Chatham-Kent are sufficient to meet the shopping needs of the residents.

Schools

The neighbourhood has a good number of schools and daycares that are centrally located. Some of the popular schools in the Wheatley neighbourhood include the following:

• Wheatley Area Public School
• East Mersea Public School
• Tilbury District High School
• Gore Hill Public School
• Greater Essex County District School

Restaurants

The Wheatley neighbourhood has many cafes, bakeries and fine-dining restaurants for the leisure of locals and visitors. Freshwater fish is a popular cuisine here, with many restaurants offering delicacies:

• Renny’s The Village Smokehouse
• Original Guys Pizza Pies
• Taylor’s Fish & Chips
• Lil Hil’s Coffee Shop
• Dockside Fisheries

Shopping Malls

Shopping centres in and near Wheatley are great for meeting the requirements of the residents. Some of these are in the Catham-Kent area and Leamington. A few of the shopping centres in the area are as follows:

• Leamington Mall
• Erie Plaza
• China Town
• Smart Centres Chatham
• Claire Shores Shopping Centre

Hospitals

Furthermore, hospitals have been built close to the community and across Catham-Kent for the convenience of the residents. These facilities are complete with trained medical professionals and best-in-class equipment to meet the healthcare needs of the locals. Some of the prominent healthcare centres in the area include the following:

• Erie Shores Healthcare Centre
• Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital of Bluewater Health
• Catham-Kent Health Alliance

Wheatley has popular tourist destinations in and near the area owing to the natural scenic beauty around. It has rich flora and fauna and is bustling with recreational outdoor activities.

Wheatley Provincial Park

Wheatley Provincial Park is a 241-hectare protected park located on Lake Erie and near the community of Wheatley. Several small creeks flow through the park, which provides opportunities for canoeing, fishing and viewing waterfowl. It has four campgrounds, and visitors to the nearby Point Pelee National Park often camp here.

Two Creeks Conservation Area

Two Creeks conserve the unique flora and fauna of the Carolinian forest over 85-acre land. It has various natural trails for hiking and biking, where one can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Great Lakes all year round. The Conservation Area lies on the flight route of migrating waterfowl birds and butterflies and is a popular tourist destination for bird watchers.

Talbot Trail Golf Club

Talbot Trail Golf Club is a beautiful 18-hole golf course that lies in the scenic shadows of Wheatley Provincial Park. One can witness the surrounding countryside for miles around. Apart from the lush green grounds, the golf club offers a variety of tournaments all year round for all levels of players.

Nestled near the Great Lakes and in proximity to many conservation areas, Wheatley offers various recreational activities. Locals and visitors of all age groups and interests enjoy year-round activities in the Wheatley neighbourhood.

Hiking and Biking

Wheatley offers many hiking and biking trails around the community where the residents can take leisure walks and enjoy the scenic beauty. The Two Creeks Conservation Area has a 15 km long hiking and bicycling path. Weekly outdoor concerts are also held here throughout the summers. You can also walk the Grant Bowman Trail while viewing the beautiful butterfly garden.

Birdwatching

Wheatley is a must-visit town in spring and autumn for birdwatchers who do not want to miss the seasonal waterfowl migrations. Wheatley is located on the flight path for migratory birds and monarch butterflies. This attracts bird watchers from around the world every year.

Fishing and Fish Festival

Wheatley has many fishing charters where locals and visitors can spend a relaxing day enjoying freshwater fishing. The Wheatley Fish Festival is a popular annual event held in August to celebrate the rich culture of fishing in the area. The festival includes family events, rides, and all-you-can-eat fish fry.

Many nearby locations are accessible from Wheatley through the car route. Some of them include the following:

• The nearest railway station is in Chatham, which is 46.3 km away and can be reached in 37 minutes by car.
• The nearest international airport to Wheatley is the Windsor International Airport in Windsor which is 61.4 km away and can be 43 minutes by car.
• Leamington, which is bustling with recreational outdoor activities, is 12.4 km away and can be reached in 11 minutes by car.

There are many popular markets in and near Wheatley, particularly across the Chatham-Kent area, where residents can shop for groceries, apparel, furniture and more. Some of these markets are detailed below:

Ridgetown Farmers’ Market

Ridgetown Farmers’ Market is a weekly market of fresh farm produce held at Main Street in Ridgetown from spring to fall, from May to October. Dozens of local vendors sell their fresh produce of fruits and vegetables, dairy and poultry, and a variety of baked goods. The market is held every Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Wallaceburg Farmers’ Market

Wallaceburg Farmers’ Market is a popular bi-weekly market held on Saturdays from Spring through fall. The vendors here sell locally produced honey, maple syrup, meat, poultry, baked items and more. The items sold in this market are fresh, and the market is frequented by Wheatley residents.

Taylor Fish Company

Wheatley is the hub for commercial freshwater fishing, and one of the most popular fish stores in the area is the Taylor Fish Company which takes pride in delivering quality, fresh fish to customers. It is a small, family-run business that sells fish through its retail store every day from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Taylor Fish Company also runs a food truck from Thursdays to Sundays.

The Wheatley neighbourhood has a total population of 3,320 individuals. The population density is moderate at 627 people per square kilometre. The median age in Wheatley is 40.2 years, indicating that the population is mostly middle-aged.

All of Chatham-Kent, including Wheatley, offers many options for outdoor activities. You can take your kids camping at Wheatley Provincial Park, Campers Cove or Holiday Harbour, all of which offer spectacular waterfronts, spacious campsites, fun playgrounds and gorgeous beaches. Since Wheatley is located on Lake Erie, it is a haven for fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers. You can plan your summers to take your kids on a range of water and fishing-related activities. Other than water activities, the trails and conservation areas in Wheatley offer hiking and biking paths for such leisure activities. Wheatley also hosts the annual fish festival, which has many family activities like the Big Boys Tournament for catching the biggest fish, amusement rides and more. The Chatham-Kent area has a vibrant art and culture scene with many galleries, theatres and museums for kids to explore and learn from. Children can learn pottery or musical instruments at the classes held at some of these galleries. You can take your pets to local parks and also to various hiking adventures.

The cost of living in the Wheatley neighbourhood is not very high and is 13% lower than the national average. The cost of housing in Wheatley is 65% lower than the national average. Apart from that, groceries, healthcare services and transportation are the same as that of Chatham-Kent.

The configuration of housing properties in Wheatley is mostly detached homes and row houses. These are mostly two and three-bedroom homes. About 80% of the dwelling are owned, while 20% are rented. The average home listing price in Wheatley is $639,900, and the property stays on the market for an average of 56 days. Wheatley is a good neighbourhood for those who prefer quiet areas with low-noise traffic. There are a few parks nearby for the leisure of the residents. The houses built here are mostly dated between the 1960s and the 1990s.