9 of the Friendliest Towns To Retire In Ontario

Ontario is home to some wonderfully friendly little towns that are perfect for an older demographic that enjoys living in proximity to gorgeous bodies of water and hundreds of parks and reserves. Deep River's Unity Park, with an awe-inspiring view of the Ottawa River and Laurentian Mountains, as well as available cultural experiences and activities like Mattawa's Golden Age Club, and Golf & Ski Resort. These nine Ontario towns offer some of the province's best in arts, leisure, amenities, and all-around friendly neighborhood vibes for those looking for a place to retire.

Mattawa

Built where the tributary of the Mattawa River joins the Ottawa River, Mattawa is a pretty little town of nearly 2,000 people. According to Statistics Canada, the near-retirement age of citizens is over 20 percent of the population, and retirement-age citizens account for over 28 percent of the population. This means there is already a well-established retirement community in Mattawa. In addition to its stunning waterfront park views and its many available outdoor activities at places like the Mattawa Golf & Ski Resort, where there is year-round fun to be had, Mattawa has very senior-friendly amenities with several grocery stores, boutique shops like Mattawa Variety and Elora Spirit Shop, as well as a hospital, dental clinic, and nursing home.

The Golden Age Club and Senior Citizens Club is a very open facility that provides affordable entertainment and activities like card games, exercise classes, music jam sessions, and even bus tours to North Bay for mall trips to the nearest city.

In addition to the live entertainment at the Golden Age Club, Mattawa also hosts the annual Voyageur Days Music Festival, coming up on its 26th year, having featured great Canadian acts such as April Wine, The Trews, Our Lady Peace, and The Sheepdogs. They also host a country music night, several tribute bands, and local musicians as well. Mattawa is a very welcoming, inclusive, and entertaining place to live with a pretty riverside view.

Paris

While it might not have the same allure as its namesake in France, Paris is a beautiful community to retire to, set within Brant County, only a 20 minute drive from nearby city center, Brantford. It was between Paris and Brantford that the very first phone call in the world was made. This wonderfully historic town, settled in 1829, is rife with cobblestone streets, elegantly masoned homes, and features several bridges spanning the Grand and Nith rivers, making Paris, Ontario, an idyllic place to call home. With only about 15,000 people in this cozy community, and a monthly outdoor market in the warm season, it's easy to connect with the locals.

The Paris Beer Co., Link Street Sausage House, Flour Power Bakery, and much more keep the town fed and watered while taking in a relaxing time at the Stillwaters Flawless Beauty and Health Spa, or taking in an event or function at the River's Edge Events Centre.

Over 20 percent of the population of Paris is retirement age, and with both the Penmarvian Retirement Home and Queensview Retirement Community so close together, there is plenty for the retiree to do, and there are plenty of friends to be made.

Huntsville

Nearly a full quarter of the population of Huntsville is of or over retirement age. If that isn't enough to suggest that there are some great and welcoming features for the prospective retiree right in the heart of the beautiful Muskoka region, then perhaps the Country Moments, Muskoka Tradition, Rogers Cove, and Muskoka Landing retirement homes and communities are. Not to mention the ParaMed Home Health Care system.

Playing the links at the Grandview Golf Club framed by impressive granite outcrops of the vast Canadian Shield, grabbing a pint at the Canvas Brewing Company, where there's always something new to try, or enjoying a four-season nature experience followed by spa and culinary magic at the Deerhurst Resort are only a few of the ways a retiree can pass the time in this community-oriented piece of cottage country.

In addition to these amenities, Huntsville is home to the Algonquin Theatre which features both world-renowned entertainment as well as local artistry of all sorts. Currently, the theatre is preparing to open a community theatre production of The Spongebob Musical. Huntsville focuses on community-involved events and businesses, and what better way to meet new friends in such a social little town?

Arnprior

Essentially, the first stop on the way out of the national capital city of Ottawa, Arnprior is the gateway town to the rest of the Ottawa Valley. This allows residents easy access to both city flair and rural getaways. With a population of about 10,000 and over twenty seven percent of that population over the age of sixty five, Arnprior is a cozy, close-knit and social little town, nestled along the Ottawa River, fed by the Madawaska River flowing through the town. This makes for a very beautiful and photogenic place to call home.

Given that over a quarter of the population is of retirement age there are, of course, senior services by way of housing, programming, and home care. The Arnprior & District Family Health Team boasts fifteen doctors, two nurse practitioners, two social workers, a dietician, and more to ensure that retirees are cared for in the community.

Beyond the practicality of moving to Arnprior, the town hosts a number of great social events to showcase the talent of locals and to bring the tiny town closer together. Priorpalooza is specifically geared to local talent, and the Concerts In The Park series gives residents a weekly afternoon of music in the beautiful Robert Simpson Park. Add to that the weekly downtown market, Nick Smith Centre, parks, beaches, trails, and senior-specific programming through the Older Adults Club with sports, conditioning, cards, line dancing and more, and Arnprior is a clear candidate for one of the friendliest towns to retire in Ontario.

Eganville

With a striking thirty-two percent of the population of this little town being of retirement age, Eganville is a pretty little place that is perfect for a friendly retiree.

Aside from the natural beauty of the town, surrounded by forest and bisected by the Bonnechere River, Eganville's greatest feature for a friendly retirement town is the Echo Center, with programming run by the Eganville & District Seniors group. The Echo Centre hosts an array of activities, including, but not limited to, cards, shuffleboard, floor curling, computer classes, and exercise classes. They also host several clubs for books, hobbies, crafts and more. Featuring monthly drive-thru dinner services from local caterers to raise money for the centre isn't a bad idea either.

The Bonnechere Union Public Library, Bonnechere Museum, annual Bonnechere Authors Fesitval, and Music In The Park series are all additionally great ways to forge new friendships through mutual interests in a small community that is perfect for the retiree who wants to sit and play cards, spend the day fishing, take in some local history and culture, or get active in sports or exploration of the many trails surrounding the warm community of Eganville.

St. Marys

The historic little town of St. Marys is filled with beautiful stonework and is divided into three sections by the joining of the North Thames River and Trout Creek. Aside from all of the age-old landmarks like the Junction Station, and Victoria Bridge, there is plenty of arts and culture to take in, despite the size of the town. With a population just over 7,000, over twenty five percent of that are retirement age.

With such a large portion of the population in their retirement years, the promotion of arts, culture, and recreation activities is key to sustaining an active and healthy community. Whether it's catching a show by the St. Marys Community Players at the historic Townhall Theatre, or taking a tour of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, or even perusing a new exhibition at the St. Marys Station Gallery, there is a surprising amount of both art and culture, bringing the residents of the town closer together.

Boasting such services for seniors as EasyRide accessible transportation, Meals on Wheels, and the St. Marys Friendship Centre makes St. Marys an ideal and friendly community focused on inspiration and recreation.

Rainy River

Rainy River is certainly the tiniest town in this article, with under 1,000 people living along the Ontario/Minnesota border, over a third of whom are at least age sixty five. Aside from Minnesota often being compared to Canada due to its iconic accent, love of hockey, and overall friendliness, its border town of Baudette shares a beautiful view of the eponymous Rainy River with its Ontario counterpart, which is a wonderful spot for boating, fishing, and bird-watching.

Three parks in town, Hannam, Norma Blight, and Pines offer various forms of rest and recreation from exercise equipment, camp sites, wading pool, and plenty of room for contemplation. A curling rink, rec center, and community garden round off the communal approach to living that Rainy River promotes.

From walleye tournaments, to pumpkin fesitvals, and from haunted walks to winter carnivals, Rainy River has something going on for its close community all year round.

Renfrew

With over a third of the population at or beyond retirement age, Renfrew has a buzzing community that not only caters to retirees but also integrates them within the broader community with town-wide events like the Frew Fest Family Day Winter Carnival and the Craft Beer and Food Truck Festival.

Aside from the seasonal activities, there are plenty of outdoor activities to do all year round along the Bonnechere River, and through the many hiking and biking trails. For those retirees who'd rather stay indoors, the Renfrew Public Library has some great programming, like the Small Town Shorts Film Festival, which has a category specifically for directors 65 and over.

The Bonnechere Manner, Groves Park Lodge, and Quail Creek Retirement Centre provide quality programming for the more active retirees and personalized care for those who require it. Renfrew has plenty to offer the retirement community both in and out of doors, making it an ideal place to live.

Deep River

Built along the mighty Ottawa River, Deep River is a retiree's dream location to call home. Aside from the beautiful waterfront view of the Laurentian Mountain range, there are several beaches, the Four Seasons trail system for hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing, and a lush forest enclosing the rest of the town.

Set along the Trans Canada Highway, Deep River is only a two hour drive from Ottawa (to the east) and North Bay (to the west), ensuring a quiet little town with easy access to a city adventure. Within the town itself, the Deep River Public Library, North Renfrew Long Term Care, and the Town Hall itself offer programming and amenities both day and night in the form of art exhibitions, kayak rentals, book clubs, live music, game nights and more.

More than a quarter of the population is retirement age, and there is something for every one of those retirees, whether it be performing in Choral Group, Community Band, Deep River Symphony Orchestra, catching a cabaret from River Run Theatre, or having a day of pickleball, followed by some great food and drink at the Deep River Yacht Club's Hexagon Waterfront Patio & Restaurant, Deep River keeps its seniors active and engaged with a wide variety of entertainment and activity.

In Conclusion

Ontario is a vast province, and while there are eighty-eight official towns, aside from villages, hamlets, settlements and so on, and while they all have something to offer the soon-to-be retiree, the above nine towns shine in their own particular ways to give a beautiful, unique, friendly and senior-oriented way of living that will make anyone feel at home, making them nine of the friendliest towns to retire to in Ontario.