Wasaga Beach, Ontario
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| Town of Wasaga beach | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| Incorporated | January 1, 1974 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Cal Patterson |
| - Deputy Mayor | David Foster |
| - Council | Rick Archdekin Nina Bifolchi Connie Gray George Watson Stan Wells |
| - MPs | |
| - MPPs | |
| Area [1] | |
| - Total | 58.43 km² (22.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| - Total | 15,029 |
| - Density | 257.2/km² (666.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | (705) |
| Website: - The Town of Wasaga Beach website | |
The Town of Wasaga Beach (known as Wasaga Beach or just simply Wasaga) is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is a popular four-season tourist destination situated in in the census division of Simcoe County at the southern end of Georgian Bay approximately two hours north of Toronto and abuts, to the west, the resort town of Collingwood. It is nestled in and around 14 kilometres of white sandy beach on the Nottawasaga Bay and the winding Nottawasaga River.
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[edit] History
The Town of Wasaga Beach has a history dating back to the fur trade days when it was the main route to the Great North West. The Town evolved into a strategic location in the War of 1812 when the Schooner Nancy was sunk at her moorings in an effort by the Americans to cut the supply line to Fort Michillimacinac and points to the north and west. Lumbering was the main industry for the remainder of the 19th century. Logs crowded the river and the bay floating down to feed local saw mills. [2]
Wasaga's unsuitable sandy soil contributed to the late settlement of the area. The lack of suitable farming land made it unattractive to settlers. In the 1820s the first sign of settlement in the area began as John Goessman surveyed Flos Township. In 1826, land was being sold for four shillings an acre. The 1830s had officially surveyed most of the land in this area. Though unsuitable for farming, the Wasaga area had an abundance of trees. In the late 1830s and throughout the rest of the century the logging industry would play an important role in the development of the area. [3]
Wasaga Beach entered history's headlines in 1934 when the first overseas flight from Canada, a plane call the "Trail of the Caribou", used Wasaga's long flat sandy beach as a take off strip.
Little by little, in the 1900s, families began to discover the beauty of the area. Gradually it became a place for family picnics and holidays. During the 1940s, while stationed at a nearby military base, servicemen from across Canada visited Wasaga's amusement park. They made Wasaga Beach known across the country. After the war, Wasaga Beach continued to be a popular place for cottages and day trips. A century old tradition of city dwellers coming to the Beach in the summer had begun.
The Town was originally referred to as "the northern border of Flos Sunnidale and Nottawasaga Townships". The first municipal reference occurred when a designation of Local Improvement District emerged in 1947. In 1949, Wasaga Beach progressed to the status of a Police Village in the Township of Sunnidale, and the Police Village graduated to Incorporated Village status in 1951.
The incorporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach became effective January 1, 1974. The permanent population stood at 4,034, a dramatic increase from 1965, when only 500 people called Wasaga Beach home. Today, 17,000 full time residents and 16,000 seasonal and part time residents reside at Wasaga Beach. [4]
[edit] Geography, Popularity and Statistics
Over two million people visit the Town every summer to stroll the shores of the longest freshwater beach in the world[citation needed] (14km or 8.5 miles), swim in warm clean waters and enjoy the panoramic mountain views across the Bay. There are endless recreational trails that are used for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The Nottawasaga River offers game fishing and great canoe routes to explore.
The beach is divided into smaller beaches with the public beaches numbered 1 to 6 sequentially from east to west. Its position on the waters of Nottawasaga Bay means its summer temperatures are moderated somewhat by the water, so summer days are much more comfortable than Toronto's scorching days, but the same winds off the water trigger very heavy and intense snow squalls in the winter. As such, snowmobiling, skiing, and other winter sports are extremely popular along the beach.
The 2006 Canadian census indicated a population of 15,029 residents. When compared to its 2001 population of 12,419, Wasaga Beach is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada based on population growth percentage (21.0% over 5 years). [5] Wasaga Beach is currently in the midst of a building boom including a major development for the beach planned with the goal of making Wasaga Beach a year-round tourist destination [6]. Due to its proximity to Toronto, there is a heavy outflow of money from Toronto and surrounding towns and cities into cottage or weekend properties located in the Beach.
Also located in the town of Wasaga Beach is Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. In the summer months it is a very popular place for beach volleyball and sunbathing. A boardwalk runs most of the way along Beach 1 and 2. Beach 1 draws the largest crowds, with the popularity quality of the beaches decreasing the further west. West of the main beaches is another large beach (New Wasaga) that abuts up to many houses and cottages.
In the winter there are many miles of fresh groomed trails for snowmobiling thanks to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and in part to the purchasers of the trail passes. There are a variety of elementary schools, but no high schools in Wasaga Beach. There are bus services that transport students to surrounding high schools of their choice (either Collingwood Collegiate Institute, Stayner Collegiate Institute, Jean Vanier Catholic High School or Elmvale District High School). The town recently built an addition to the community center known locally as the Rec-Plex, which added an auditorium, an amphitheater and a YMCA.
[edit] Fire of 2007
On November 30, 2007, a massive fire destroyed 70% of the main street pedestrian mall, including 17 businesses and 5 apartments. Despite the fire, the beach and the remaining businesses remain open.[7] Although Wasaga Beachers said that the site will never look the same again. Plans are under way to rebuild the beach front in a modern style including shopping, an indoor/outdoor theme park and monorail service. Controversy has also arisen over whether or not the fire was deliberately set in order to allow unobstructed progression with the planned development or whether it was simply an accident. The fire originated small at around 1:00 a.m. that morning, but was fuelled by strong winds making it one of the biggest fires in Wasaga Beach's history. [8][9].
[edit] Land Area, Geology and Topography
The Town of Wasaga Beach covers an area of 61.13 km2 comprised predominately of sand and loamy sand that exhibit excessive to good drainage and irregular to moderately sloping topography. The Canada Land Inventory for Agriculture rates the lands as predominately Class Six and Seven with primary restrictions of adverse topography, erosion damage and low natural fertility.[10]
[edit] Famous Wasaga Beachers
- Rock musician Kim Mitchell has been a long-time resident of Wasaga Beach.
- In the summer of 2000, Jason Arnott day was declared in Wasaga Beach to celebrate his Stanley-Cup-winning goal scored in double overtime.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Statistics Canada. 2007. Wasaga Beach, Ontario (table). 2006 Community Profiles. 2006 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-591-XWE. Ottawa. Released March 13, 2007.. Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population (2007-03-13). Retrieved on 2008-04-18.
- ^ The Town of Wasaga Beach Website
- ^ The Friends of Nancy Island Historic Site and Wasaga Beach Park
- ^ The Town of Wasaga Beach Website
- ^ 2006 Community Profiles - Census Subdivision
- ^ The Globe and Mail - 16/08/2007
- ^ "Fire razes Wasaga beachfront", Canadian Press, November 30, 2007.
- ^ Fire guts at least a dozen buildings in Ontario resort town - Yahoo! Canada News
- ^ Huge fire sweeps Wasaga Beach - Posted Toronto
- ^ [1]
- ^ Legends of Hockey - Jason Arnott. The Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
