When we imagine an ideal retirement life for our parents or grandparents, good health, a great social life, safety, and so on come to mind. But safety is arguably the most important of them.
Our older folks will likely want to live an independent lifestyle after retirement. However, this plan may become difficult to actualize if they are not guaranteed a sense of security and peace of mind. Noteworthily, the environment and happenings around significantly contribute to how safe they feel.
For this reason, we must ensure that our parents reside in secure environments where they can live an enjoyable and fulfilling life. Ontario, for instance, is one of the safest provinces in Canada, offering great living opportunities to older adults.
With a focus on the comfort and satisfaction of adult residents in Ontario, Seasons Retirement provides various living options in their serene and peaceful communities. Check this page for the safest cities in Ontario for older people.
Alternatively, using safety as the major criterion, we have curated a list of the best places to retire in Ontario, and they include:
1. LaSalle
A secure place for older adults, LaSalle is one of the safest cities in Ontario and even Canada at large, and its Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 14.65 is proof of that. In addition to its excellent CSI, LaSalle’s crime rate has dropped by an encouraging 4.7% in the past five years, making it an ideal retirement location for your loved one.
Furthermore, LaSalle is much better than many other Canadian cities in terms of security, with studies showing that it is safer than 92% of other places in the country. In fact, the crime rate in the city is 69% lower than the national average. Likewise, LaSalle’s crime rate is below the provincial average for Ontario.
However, safety is only one of the many things that the city of LaSalle offers to older folks. Its relatively sparse population of 33,000 people makes it even more appealing for adults. Moreover, the affordable city has excellent weather, a family-friendly environment, and the best retirement communities in Ontario.
2. King City
As the name suggests, King City can almost be referred to as a fortress. It is a highly-rated city, ranked as the safest city in Ontario in 2021.
Their safety status is difficult to dispute when you look at the city’s crime data – it shows that King’s total crime and property crime rates are about 78% lower than the national average. Meanwhile, the city’s violent crime is 77% below the average.
Furthermore, King is situated in the York Region, considered one of Ontario’s safest places to live in 2020. This city is one of the most habitable places in Canada due to its attractive median household income and the exceptional healthcare system.
Moreover, the welcoming nature of the King’s populace places it fourth on the list of best places for people moving into Canada to reside. So, if your loved one is looking to move to a safe place where they would settle in quickly, King City is a great option.
3. Owen Sound
The city’s motto says ‘Where You Want To Live,’ and this phrase is entirely accurate in every sense of the word. For older adults, Owen Sound is a perfect city to live in, as it is very peaceful and friendly. While it is the biggest urban area in Grey and Bruce Counties, a considerable percentage (30%) of Owen Sound’s population is 65 years old and above.
Owen Sound boasts a fantastic healthcare system, good law enforcement agencies, and effective emergency services. Meanwhile, the city’s landscape is stunning, possessing numerous natural attractions such as waterfalls.
The city of Owen Sound is suitable for older folks, which is underlined by the availability of excellent retirement communities in the area. For instance, Seasons Retirement provides quality care to address the needs of its adult residents.
4. Markham
One of the largest cities in the Greater Toronto Area, Markham has a pretty large population of over 350,000 habitants. Despite its size, this city is still one of the safest cities in Ontario.
Given its vast population, Markham has a rich and ever-growing diversity, making it one of the best places to retire in Ontario.
Markham is relatively peaceful for older adults, and its low crime rate is a testament to that fact. In fact, Markham was named one of the safest Canadian cities for 2021.
5. Kingsville
Kingsville is one of the best places to retire in Ontario, and its livability score of 74% confirms that. Although Kingsville boasts many other excellent features such as low living costs, excellent employment rate, affordable accommodation, and good education, its high level of security seems to be the city’s best quality.
Kingsville’s total crime rate is 56% below the national average, while property crimes and violent crimes are 55% and 57% lower. Furthermore, the city had a significantly low CSI of 28.15 in 2020.
6. Lakeshore
One of the safest places in Ontario, Lakeshore, is a municipality situated on Lake St. Clair in Essex County. To put Lakeshore’s security into perspective, the city’s total crime rate is quite encouraging – 64% below the national average.
Apart from Lakeshore’s exceptional safety, there are numerous recreational opportunities for your older folk to engage in here. For instance, the Atlas Tube Centre is an excellent recreational location suitable for family gatherings and other outings.
Additionally, Lakeshore hosts several exciting events such as Sunsplash, Comber Fair, and the well-anticipated Belle River Christmas Tree Lighting.
Lakeshore is a wonderful place for older adults to reside, and it has arguably the most outstanding retirement communities in Ontario Canada.
Conclusion
As inferred earlier, safety is an essential factor to consider when your older one decides where to retire in Ontario.
Now, using the information from this article, you can help your loved one make an informed choice on the best city to enjoy their retirement.