COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
The natural beauty of Hudson
If you’re looking for a picturesque village abundant in natural beauty, but not totally off the beaten path, Hudson may be just right for you. With public waterfront access, unique architecture and a rich culture and history, Hudson is indeed a special place to live in any season.
“Summertime bursts with pride as local gardeners display their talents, just one of the attractions for our many artists,” said councillor Natalie Best.
“In a few months, fall will bring spectacular colour and the bounty of local harvests from the Verger de Hudson and the Heartbeet Community Farm, and it’s the perfect time to explore our many walking trails.
“Then wintertime will transform the village into a storybook illustration with snow-capped centuryold homes that are reminiscent of gingerbread houses.”
Outdoor enthusiasts can also use the colder months to take advantage of the roughly 20 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails that run through Hudson.
“Once spring returns, the bulbs and blossoms will greet residents throughout the town again — starting with a magnificent daffodil display in front of the town’s museum,” Best said.
No matter the month, the small town of Hudson has a slew of activities and programs available for residents young and old. With more than 40 community and cultural groups, including sports and recreation organizations, music clubs, food collectives, Scouts and Girl Guides to name a few, there really is something for everyone.
“We have a wide variety of sporting clubs including a tennis club, four golf clubs and a yacht club,” Best said. “We also have venues for yoga, fitness, day camps during the summer, and a public swimming pool. Our community centre is a hub of activity throughout the year.”
Hudson also has an English and a French elementary school, as well as the only English high school in the region, making it an ideal place for families with children.
“If you choose to live in the heart of the village, everything is a stone’s throw away,” Best said. “As a small town, we’re surprisingly well serviced. We have a local health food store as well as a grocery store, hardware store and many boutiques.”
The community also has a variety of health and well-being services and professionals available including osteopaths, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and chiropractic services. In addition, there is a medical clinic open Mondays to Fridays.
“Hudson also prides itself on being awarded the Fair Trade Town of the Year in 2015,” said Laura McCaffrey, co-ordinator of tourism and culture. “Our many cafés and bistros offer a selection of fair-trade products in addition to gourmet delights.”
In keeping with its busy recreational schedule, Hudson also offers a wide array of cultural programming for its residents.
“It’s bursting with festivals and events all year-round,” McCaffrey said.
For instance, StoryFest, which lasts throughout the month of October, brings internationally renowned authors to Hudson to speak in intimate settings. Notable writers such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Alexandre Trudeau, Kim Thúy, and Roméo Dallaire have been StoryFest guests in the past. The events are held, in part, at the historic Greenwood Centre for Living History.
“There aren’t many properties in Canada able to claim they had already reached the century-anda-half mark by the country’s 150th birthday on July 1st of this year, but our Greenwood Centre for Living History easily exceeds it,” McCaffrey said. “After all, Greenwood’s oldest section is more than 100 years older than Confederation’s 1867 landmark date.”
In addition to StoryFest, the Hudson Film Society hosts awardwinning films as well as an opera series presented in the Hudson Village Theatre. That venue also holds the Hudson Festival of Canadian Film and Young Filmmakers Contest each March. In addition, Hudson has annual music festivals and auto shows, and a number of art exhibitions.
In terms of real estate, Hudson is known for its affluent waterfront properties. But, in truth, the community has something for just about every type of buyer on the market.
For instance, a three-bedroom home on a 6,000-square-foot lot on McNaughten St. is available for $259,000, while a brand-new four-bedroom home on a nearly 12,000-square-foot lot on Chemin du Golf is going for $458,180.
In addition to a recently completed condo project in the heart of Hudson, there’s significant interest from builders, Best said.
“A variety of developers are presenting proposals to council for condo and townhouse as well single-family homes.
“Hudson is a great place to live for all demographics,” she said. “Young families will delight in the safety of a small community and access to beautiful waterfront Jack Layton Park.”