Wilberforce
A historic Haliburton Highlands village surrounded by lakes and trail country.
Quick answer: Wilberforce is a Highlands East village in Haliburton County, rooted in the 1829 Wilberforce Colony. Dark, Pusey, and Wilbermere lakes are nearby; the village has a general store, restaurant, pharmacy, gas, and library. It is home to Ontario's first Red Cross Outpost. Wade Kovacic, Sales Representative with CENTURY 21 Granite Realty Group Inc., Brokerage, serves buyers and sellers in Wilberforce.
About Wilberforce
Wilberforce is a village in the Municipality of Highlands East, on the eastern side of Haliburton County. Its story begins with the Wilberforce Colony of 1829, settled by free Black Americans and later by Irish immigrants — a chapter of Canadian history still remembered locally. First called Pusey after a railway president, the village grew around the railway built to serve the Irondale iron mines, and it is home to Ontario's first Red Cross Outpost.
Why Buyers Choose Wilberforce
Lake country in every direction. Dark Lake, Pusey Lake, Wilberforce Lake, and Wilbermere Lake offer fishing, boating, and swimming, while the surrounding forest holds snowmobile, ATV, and hiking trails. The Wilberforce Agricultural Fair is a long-running community fixture, and the village itself covers daily needs with a general store, restaurant, pharmacy, gas station, library, and medical centre.
Property Types
Village homes, lakefront cottages, and rural acreages. The area suits year-round living, retirement, and four-season recreation.
Nearby
Cardiff and Highland Grove are close by in Highlands East, Bancroft is a straightforward drive east, and Haliburton village lies to the west.
Wilberforce FAQs
Where is Wilberforce, Ontario?
Wilberforce is a village in the Municipality of Highlands East, Haliburton County, on the eastern side of the Haliburton Highlands.
What is the Wilberforce Colony?
A settlement founded in 1829 by free Black Americans seeking a new life, later joined by Irish immigrants — an important chapter of Canadian history.
What lakes are near Wilberforce?
Dark Lake, Pusey Lake, Wilberforce Lake, and Wilbermere Lake are all nearby, with fishing, boating, and swimming.
What amenities does Wilberforce have?
A general store, restaurant, pharmacy, gas station, library, medical centre, public school, and fire hall.
What is the Red Cross Outpost?
Wilberforce is home to Ontario's first Red Cross Outpost, a nationally recognized heritage site.
Thinking of Buying or Selling in Wilberforce?
Get a free, no-obligation home valuation from Wade Kovacic, Sales Representative with CENTURY 21 Granite Realty Group Inc., Brokerage — based on recent comparable sales in the area, not an automated guess. Or sign up for free listing alerts and be first to know when new Wilberforce properties hit the market.