Although Mississauga ranks as Canada’s sixth largest city—it was created from the amalgamation of several towns and villages—a few charming districts retain their historic roots in more than the neighbourhoods’ names. These spots offer some starting points to explore local history and heritage architecture—with some great options for modern-day shopping and dining.

PORT CREDIT
The city’s “Village on the Lake”

ROOTS In the 19th century, Port Credit’s harbour was a base for stone hooking: workers sailed out to collect stone from the bottom of Lake Ontario which they piled into boats for later use as building materials. Today, the waterfront vista includes the Ridgetown, not a shipwreck, but a freighter that was filled with stone and sunk as a breakwater in 1974—an appropriate choice given the area’s history.

RIGHT NOW Port Credit’s iconic lighthouse now serves as a beacon for visitors looking for a quaint area to shop, stroll, dine and more. Surrounding the lighthouse is Port Credit Memorial Park (20 Lakeshore Rd. E.) where visitors can enjoy the pathway system, recreational facilities like basketball keys, a skateboard area and playground, plus heritage displays and special events. Active types can pick up Mississauga’s Waterfront Trail, a 21.5-km path along Lake Ontario that stretches from Etobicoke Creek to the Oakville border, for hiking, jogging, biking and enjoying nature.

To enjoy the waterfront, fine dining options here come with a view if you wish to settle in, like award-winning Breakwater Restaurant. For those who prefer to get extra close to the waves, Credit Village Marina offers exclusively transient docking right in the village, or the nearby Lakefront Promenade Marina provides seasonal berths for about 170 boats as well as a licensed patio.

FIND IT At the mouth of the Credit River on Lake Ontario, Port Credit nestles along Lakeshore Road between Mississauga Road and Hurontario Street.

CLARKSON VILLAGE
Must-see museums of heritage

ROOTS The area was named after an early 19th-century resident, Warren Clarkson, a United Empire Loyalist who settled in this region in the early 1800s. His family ran the general store and post office here for many years, and their home, circa 1819, remains on Clarkson Road.

RIGHT NOW A pair of historic houses restored to their former glory are now museums that honour early settlers and local heritage. Benares Historic House is a time capsule of refined life as it was in the early 20th century. Home to four generations of Harris and Sayers families, the restored Georgian-style residence is filled with original family artifacts and furnishings—more than 2,000 pieces were donated by family members. The grounds of Bradley House Museum encompass an 1830 saltbox-style farmhouse built by Lewis Bradley (1771–1843), where he and his wife, Elizabeth, lived with their seven children. The home is restored to reflect life as it was for the Bradleys and other settlers. The Anchorage, a Regency-style cottage that was once the home of retired naval officer John Skynner shares the grounds and now houses exhibits and a tearoom.

A short distance away, Rattray Marsh (on the waterfront west of Southdown Road) is a wetland conservation area, the last remaining lakefront marsh between Toronto and Burlington. Its 94 acres shelter abundant natural life, including more than 400 plant species, plus close to 300 types of animals. Trails include an interpretive boardwalk with viewing platforms. Limited parking is available at Old Poplar Row.

FIND IT This lakeside community sits on the border near Oakville, around the intersection of Lakeshore Road West and Southdown Road.

MEADOWVALE VILLAGE
Ontario’s first Heritage Conservation District

ROOTS Soon after the first settlers arrived at this site, located near the Credit River, the settlement became a milling village. The river provided power for the saw and carding mills, which were eventually taken over by Gooderham and Worts, the same company behind the original distillery at what is now the Distillery Historic District in downtown Toronto. Mill ruins can still be seen in Meadowvale today. Meadowvale Village gained the honour of becoming Ontario’s first Heritage Conservation District in 1980.

RIGHT NOW The fast-paced development of Mississauga is evident all around this once-quiet enclave. But souvenirs from the era within the conservation district remain, including the Millworkers’ Double Houses (7067 Pond St.)—built around 1840, they’re two of the earliest buildings in Meadowvale—and the Ball Hotel (1090 Old Derry Rd. W.), which blacksmith George Ball built in 1844; today, it’s residential. Also of note is the restored Gooderham Estate (929 Old Derry Rd. W.), a mansion built for C. H. Gooderham, now protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. In its history, the house has welcomed notable residents: it has been both a seminary and home to painter George Chavignaud (who is represented in the National Gallery of Canada). Many other 19th-century houses remain.

FIND ITThis gem of Mississauga history is almost truly hidden—it’s north of Hwy. 401 at Old Derry Road West and Second Line West, but it can be tricky to find.

STREETSVILLE
Peel County’s oldest village

ROOTS he oldest village in Peel county, Streetsville takes its name from the man who surveyed this area along the Credit River, Timothy Street. As compensation for his work, the surveryor was awarded 1,000 acres of land. In 1824, the area came to be known as Streetsville. The riverside location fostered the development of five major mills. Built in 1825 near his mill site, Street’s house (41 Mill St.) is said to be the first brick house in the county.

RIGHT NOW Streetsville retains a small-town feel, with plenty of specialty shops for gifts, jewellery, games, hobbies and more—not to mention free parking. Within its bounds, the quaint hamlet harbours a treasure trove of historic sites. You can take in more than two dozen of them—the largest concentration of buildings with historic designation in Mississauga. Many of the original buildings and their facades remain untouched, though they now serve contemporary functions. The ornate Robinson Bray House boasts decoratively edged windows and awnings, and was once the home of a local butcher. Today, it houses The Tea Room at Robinson Bray House (223 Queen St. S., 905-542-7674).

Other gems to enjoy while strolling among this architectural heritage are Abigail Street House (27 Mill St.)—an 1850s Regency-style residence that was the home of the widow of Streetsville’s founder, Timothy Street—and Streetsville United Church (274 Queen St. S.), a High Victorian-era building with Gothic elements that was originally the place of worship for the area’s Methodist and Presbyterian congregations.

FIND IT The enclave stretches along Mississauga Road (called Queen Street in the village), five minutes from either Hwy. 401 to the north or Hwy. 403 to the south.

Publication Date: 8/2008