Rideau Lakes is home to one of Canada’s marque UNESCO World Heritage destinations – the Rideau Canal.  It is also one of Ontario’s premiere cottage country destinations.  We are working diligently to define and elevate our ‘Rideau’ brand regionally and globally. 

Relative to other premiere cottage country markets, such as Muskoka, Rideau Lakes offers deep value in terms of property and market opportunity.   Rideau Lakes’ diverse landscape mix, connected lake system, and unique heritage and stories drive significant tourism opportunities to high-value markets focused on authentic places, unique experiences, and ecological-based tourism. 

The future of working is changing. As such, Rideau Lakes spearheaded a multi-million-dollar fibre-to-the-home investment over the last three years. Businesses that rely on reliable high-speed service and 5G network technologies now enjoy rural living while maintaining an urban level of internet service. Rideau Lakes has been recognized as a leader in this respect, for initiating the process and working with companies to successfully see the infrastructure in place.

The Township is committed to the renewal of our villages as the commercial and social hubs of our community.  Major public investments, such as over $1M in streetscape renewal in the village of Elgin, demonstrate our unparalleled commitment to our villages.  Explore how your business could benefit from being strategically located in one of our villages, which each provide unique access to different local markets, amenity nodes, and travel corridors.

Farm consolidation opportunities, local elevators and agri-services, and access to seasonal resident and urban markets provide significant opportunities for major cash cropping as well as niche local foods.

Join us, and explore what a future for you and your business could look like in Rideau Lakes.  

Quality of Life

It’s a new reality that entrepreneurs are opting to start living a life where they don’t have to compromise their personal time or lifestyle goals.

Maybe it’s the natural beauty, maybe it’s the friendly, hard-working people, maybe it’s inspiring landscapes and the relaxed way of life, the affordability, prime location or waterfront lifestyle – whatever the reason, businesses are dreaming big in Rideau Lakes. 

Strategic Location

Rideau Lakes offers deep value in terms of property and market opportunity. It’s part of a wave of entrepreneurial businesses that are discovering the strategic benefits of the region’s location. Lying between Toronto and Ottawa/Montreal, while close to the international bridge to the United States and encapsulating the world-famous Rideau Canal, Rideau Lakes is in the centre of it all. 

Fibre Connectivity

The future of working is changing. As such, Rideau Lakes spearheaded a multi-million-dollar fibre-to-the-home investment over the last three years. Businesses that rely on reliable high-speed service and 5G network technologies now enjoy rural living while maintaining an urban level of internet service. Rideau Lakes has been recognized as a leader in this respect, for initiating the process and working with companies to successfully see the infrastructure in place.

Affordability

Calling Rideau Lakes home for business and living is affordable. Rural living means housing prices and cost of living is less than larger urban centres. According to the Rideau-St. Lawrence Real Estate Board, the year-to-date average price of homes sold in the Rideau Lakes region is sitting at about $486,000 – significantly lower next to bigger centres like Ottawa and Kingston.

Availability of Services

Rideau Lakes is also home to highly regarded elementary and secondary schools, which take pride in their communities, students and staff. Schools are complemented by licensed childcare, as well as outdoor spaces, children’s activities, day camps, a bustling modern library system, sports leagues, fitness classes and active community groups.

The Village Effect

Within a supportive business community, more entrepreneurs are seeing the future in Rideau Lakes; defining and elevating their brands while living their best life and being welcomed like family.

Whether a current business owner or looking to establish a business or invest in the community, Rideau Lakes facilitates connections with local businesses and economic development agencies to help turn ideas into reality.

It all adds up to turning entrepreneurial vision into reality – and businesses are certainly dreaming big in Rideau Lakes.