Character
Clearview is mostly farmland and countryside, with the Niagara Escarpment rising along its western side. The township was created in 1994 when the Town of Stayner, the Village of Creemore and the townships of Nottawasaga and Sunnidale were amalgamated. Its main administrative offices are in Stayner. The landscape changes a lot from east to west, from flat farmland near Stayner to the hills around Creemore and Duntroon.
Communities in Clearview
Village guide: Nottawa, just south of Collingwood →
Stayner
Stayner grew up around the railway built through the area between 1851 and 1855. It was first called Nottawasaga Station and became an agricultural and lumbering centre. Today it's Clearview's largest community and its administrative centre, with newer subdivisions, Stayner Collegiate Institute, and direct access to the County rail trail and LINX bus to Barrie.
Creemore
Creemore is a small village about 20 minutes south of Collingwood, on the eastern edge of the Niagara Escarpment. Its founder, Edward Webster, named it from the Irish croí mór, meaning "big heart." The village is home to Creemore Springs Brewery and the tiny Creemore Jail, now a museum, and the Copper Kettle Festival fills the streets each summer.
Homes you'll find
In Stayner you'll find a mix of older homes and newer family subdivisions. Creemore has village homes within walking distance of the main street. Across the township there are hamlets, farms and rural acreage, including properties with escarpment views on the western side.
Amenities & things to do
Stayner has the township's main shopping and services, and there are arenas in both Stayner and Creemore. Creemore's main street is lined with independent shops. The Clearview Public Library has branches in Stayner, Creemore and New Lowell. Simcoe County LINX Route 2 between Wasaga Beach and Barrie stops in Stayner.
Trails & outdoors
The County of Simcoe's rail trail now runs nearly 34 km from Collingwood through Stayner and New Lowell to Angus. The Bruce Trail follows the escarpment through the western part of the township. Devil's Glen Provincial Park is here too, and there's a cross-country ski centre at Duntroon.
Who it suits
Families who want more house and land for their budget, people who commute toward Barrie or the GTA, hobby farmers, and anyone drawn to a walkable village like Creemore.
Schools
Clearview is served by the Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Elementary schools include Clearview Meadows in Stayner and Nottawasaga & Creemore Public School, and Stayner Collegiate Institute is the public high school. Confirm the school and bus route for a specific address with the board.
Short-term rental rules
Clearview passed a short-term rental accommodation licensing by-law (By-law 26-62) on September 28, 2026. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and applications open that day, with a licence fee of $650 a year. Draft details reported during consultation included a cap on the number of licences and limits on which housing types can be licensed in settlement areas such as Creemore and Stayner. Check the final by-law on the Township's site before you buy with rental plans.
Content checked November 1, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your lawyer or the municipality.
Peter's take
Clearview is worth a look if you find yourself saying, "We love the area, but we want a bigger yard." Creemore and Stayner feel very different, so I suggest spending a Saturday in each before deciding.
Last updated November 1, 2026. Municipal rules (especially short-term rentals) and school arrangements change. Details come from the public sources below, so please confirm anything important for a specific property.