Samac, Durham

Samac of Durham is a small residential area of Oshawa with a population of 14,191. This neighbourhood is pet and kid-friendly, with a low crime rate and beautiful landscapes around the houses. Samac is home to people from different cultural backgrounds who speak other languages but live together harmoniously.

The area mostly consists of double-floor houses with garden space, a swimming pool, or a shed. Most of the properties in Samac were built in the early 2000s and 2010s, so they have a combination of brick-and-frame exteriors and double parking spaces, giving them a classy villa vibe. The community is close to multiple schools, hospitals, and other essential service centres.

Samac is an extremely safe residential locality with a 53% reduced crime rate compared to the other localities of Canada. In this neighbourhood, you have 1 in 51 chances of being a victim of violent crime, making it 73% safer than the other neighbourhoods. Over the years, the town has repeatedly proven its security measures by reducing its criminal offences by up to 11% and having a violent crime rate of only 507 people per 100,000 residents.

Samac is home to people of many cultural backgrounds and provides excellent employment opportunities to its residents. This is why the unemployment rate here is 23% lower than the national average, with over 1.8% of the population earning more than $300,000. According to the national statistics, most people in Samac work in wholesale, retail, education and health services, thus increasing the median household income by 13%.

Samac is a wholesome place where residents of various nationalities and cultures celebrate their festivals together and live harmoniously. Here, 9.69% of the population is of South Asian descent, while African Americans comprise another 9.01%. Almost 2% of the people who live here are Chinese.

Samac is in the prime location of Durham, Oshawa, and offers easy access to luxury and essential services. It is located near many malls, restaurants, entertainment zones, educational institutions and tourist spots.

Schools

While Samac has only three public schools, it is located near many educational institutions and colleges. The town boasts 17% higher test scores than the other localities of Canada, with more than 85% of the population having high school diplomas. In addition, 18% of the residents hold a bachelor’s degree, which might explain the higher median income. Some of the schools in the area include:

• Kedron Public School
• Sherwood Public School
• Father Joseph Venini Catholic School
• Sunset Heights Public School
• Durham College

Restaurants

Samac consists of multiple restaurants and eateries that provide various cuisines. Many of these restaurants are kid-friendly and can be booked for parties and events. These include:

• The Kabab Shoppe
• Nathan's Jerk
• KP & R Tandoori Grill
• Rainbow Hospital
• Montana’s BBQ & Bar

Shopping Malls

Samac is located in the northern part of Oshawa and is popular in shopping centres and malls. These sell a huge range of essential and luxury products, even giving options for health-conscious or environment-friendly buyers. These are:

• Sobeys Oshawa
• Nadim’s NOFRILLS Oshawa
• FreshCo Simcoe & Winchester
• Food Basics
• Vinland Supermarket

Hospitals

Samac is a safe neighbourhood which provides its residents with the best healthcare facilities and is close to well-equipped clinics and hospitals. These include:

• Lakeridge Health Oshawa
• Simcoe Medical Centre
• Byron Street Medical Centre
• New Dawn Hospital

Even though Samac is not a tourist attraction place, residents of Samac can take advantage of the below-mentioned points and locations with their family and friends:

Camp Samac

Camp Samac is the perfect location for a family outing with kids or a nature retreat picnic with loved ones. This place is surrounded by lush greenery and trails to hike or bike. It is the hub of Scouts Canada, and anyone can play outdoor games in the area. The camp is known for hosting many educational programs, events and environmental stewardship programs.

Parkwood National Historic Site

The Parkwood National Historic Site offers a glimpse of Canada's Automotive Industry's golden company, General Motors Canada, and the lavish lifestyle of Samuel McLaughlin, the company's owner. The estate has beautiful gardens showcasing early 20th-century opulence and well-preserved interior objects, which can take visitors back to the company’s early days. You can hire a tour guide to understand the historical items of the place better.

Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens

The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens has many gardens and well-connected parks in the creek. Residents can enjoy the gardens' scenic views, floral displays, and picturesque bridges. This is the perfect place for a peaceful retreat for photographers, families and friends.

Samac, Durham offers many recreational activities to its residents that can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike. This place has a very tight-knit community, so you will never have friends to visit places with.

Biking and Hiking: Samac is an eco-friendly community with gorgeous gardens and huge trees surrounding each home. You can easily hike or bike with your friends anywhere or go to the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens for the same activity.

Shopping: Samac is surrounded by amazing shopping malls, such as Five Point Shopping Centre, Rossland Square, Whitby Mall, and Oshawa Centre. You can engage in retail therapy in any of these malls and find high-quality branded products.

Picnics: The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens and Camp Samac are perfect for family and corporate picnics. They have lush green gardens and reserved areas for outdoor sports. You might even get to pet dogs, as both are hotspots for dog walkers.

Learn about General Motors Canada: Samac is known for its Parkwood National Historic Site museum, which showcases the history of Canada's most popular company. The Camp Samac area was also built on the donated land of the company’s owner, Samuel McLaughlin. Hence, the entire neighbourhood has many landmarks associated with him and the company.

A small percentage of the population uses public transportation; the rest prefer private vehicles or taxis. Some of the popular locations in and near the neighbourhood include:

• Rotary Sunrise Lake Park: 23 minutes
• McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve: 21 minutes
• Oshawa Museum: 19 minutes
• Oshawa Second Marsh: 22 minutes
• Parkwood National Historic Site:11 minutes

Despite a small population of 14,191 people, Samac still has multiple shopping centres within and around the local boundaries. Here are a few excellent shopping markets where you will find a huge variety of products in affordable price ranges -

Smart Centres Oshawa

Smart Centre Oshawa caters to a broad range of shopping and lifestyle needs and serves as a one-stop shop for everyone. It has multiple retail outlets, dining options, lifestyle services, groceries, electronics and furniture. The best part about this shopping centre is that it is open 24/7.

Midtown Mall

The Midtown Mall of Oshawa, also known as Dollarama, has everything, from bestseller kitchen products to necessary office and school supplies. This mall hosts many community programs yearly and has some dining outlets. This mall is open from 10:30 am to 5 pm.

CF Fairview Mall

CF Fairview Mall of Durham offers diverse products and services, such as high-end fashion brands and daily home goods. The mall also has multiple dining options and a cinema hall, making it a convenient shopping place for Samac residents. This shopping place opens between 10 am and 9 pm.

Samac is a small but prominent part of Oshawa that offers residents great employment opportunities. The community comprises people of many nationalities and cultures, with a median age of 37.9. Here are some of the key demographics of the neighbourhood -

Samac, Durham has a very low crime rate and an excellent, friendly community, making raising kids and pets in the area safe. Here are a few places that you can visit with your children and play and walk with your pets:

McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve

The McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve has more than 400 types of plants and animals, with safe-distance walking trails and high-viewing platforms. This is a perfect walking and playing place for pets. You and your family can also host a picnic in the surrounding gardens while the kids explore nature and its beauty.

Purple Woods Conversation Area

The Purple Woods Conversation Area is a great hiking place for kids and pets (they must be on a leash). This area has many trails, and people can participate in the commemorative heritage walk. There is a separate picnic shelter in the area, which is available for hourly rental.

Although the residents of Samac enjoy a 15% lower living cost than the national average, including a reduced 39% cost of housing, the neighbourhood still ranks C+ in pricing because of its higher sales tax. You can check the average cost of living in the locality from the given table, assuming that the national average is 100 per data figure.

The real estate housing market of Samac, Durham, is booming because of its prime location in Oshawa and the many employment opportunities it offers. The neighbourhood mostly consists of two-storeyed independent homes with brick and frame exteriors. On average, each house in Samac is sold for between $823,000 and $10 million, depending on the house location and property type. The monthly rental prices of the neighbourhood range between $2,000 and $4,000.