Saugeen Shores

Saugeen Shores
Town (lower-tier)
Town of Saugeen Shores

Old town hall, Southampton
Saugeen Shores

Location in southern Ontario

Coordinates: 44°26′N 81°22′W / 44.433°N 81.367°W / 44.433; -81.367Coordinates: 44°26′N 81°22′W / 44.433°N 81.367°W / 44.433; -81.367
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Bruce
Settled ca. 1850
Formed 1996
Government
  Mayor Mike Smith
  Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau
  Vice Deputy Mayor Diane Huber
  Federal riding Huron—Bruce
  Prov. riding Huron—Bruce
Area[1]
  Land 170.97 km2 (66.01 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 12,661
  Density 74.1/km2 (192/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code N0H
Area code(s) 519 and 226
Website www.saugeenshores.ca

Saugeen Shores is a town in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, formed in the 1990s, as municipal restructuring merged the towns of Southampton, Port Elgin, and the township of Saugeen.

In addition to the two main population centres of Southampton and Port Elgin, the town also includes a portion of the communities of Burgoyne and North Bruce, straddling the municipal eastern and southern boundary respectively.

History

Saugeen Shores traces its history back to 1847 when government agents arrived to survey land at the Saugeen River's mouth. Southampton was Ontario's northernmost lake port, and the first port on the Bruce Coast. By 1852, over 12 families lived there, sustained by the thriving fishery. Settlers continued to arrive from Scotland, Ireland, England, and Germany. By 1857, there were 130 homes, six shops, two hotels, five warehouses, a planing mill, a gristmill, and a steam sawmill. Post and customs offices assured the village's growth, becoming a town in 1904. Saugeen Township's first settler, Alexander Wallace, arrived in early 1851. A few years later, land was available for two dollars an acre and earnest settlement of Bruce County's smallest township began. Land was cleared, and the rich soil yielded many agricultural products, marking the start of a still thriving industry.

In 1859, the Chantry Island Imperial lighthouse was completed, steering sailors clear of the island's dangerous shoals.

The village of Port Elgin was born in 1849, when Lachlan McLean built a shanty and settled there for the winter. For several years he ran a tavern, his patrons consisting primarily of settlers and sailors passing through the little port. By 1854, the community had three houses, a tavern, and mill. Shops, churches, schools, and roads followed, and ten years later the population totalled six hundred and thirty. Early industries included a steam sawmill, foundry, and woolen mill. In 1873, the railway arrived, allowing Southampton and Port Elgin products to travel out into the world.

In 1999, these three municipalities amalgamated to form the Town of Saugeen Shores. The amalgamation created a diverse community with common historical and cultural ties, and a strong economic base. Agriculture, tourism, small business, and energy are the local economy's cornerstones.

Demographics

Port Elgin
YearPop.±% p.a.
1871750    
19011,313+1.88%
19111,235−0.61%
19211,291+0.44%
19311,305+0.11%
19411,395+0.67%
19511,558+1.11%
19611,632+0.47%
19712,855+5.75%
19816,131+7.94%
19916,857+1.13%
Saugeen Shores
YearPop.±% p.a.
200111,388    
200611,720+0.58%
201112,661+1.56%

According to the 2009 Saugeen Shores Community Profile Census:

Income

Retail Sales

Disposable & Discretionary Income

Labour Force

Economy

The major economic activities in this region are agriculture, small business, electricity generation and tourism. The town of Saugeen Shores has recently experienced a boom in development, with the addition of stores such as Walmart and Shopper's Drugmart, plus expansions of Canadian Tire, two Rexall Pharmaplus stores, one in Port Elgin, the other in Southampton. Restaurants such as Chester's Bar & Grill, Andres' Swiss dining, Armen's Rooftop Patio, The Woodpecker Fresh Dining & Lounge, Saffron, and Rosina's Ristorante (Italian) provide unique dishes not common to this area.

Agriculture

Historically, agriculture is the longest standing economic practice in the region. Intensive livestock operations include beef and dairy, cattle and hogs. Bruce County beef is famous throughout the country, as over a third of Ontario's beef industry is based here. Two-thirds of the land within Saugeen Shores is excellent for cash crops. Fresh produce grown locally is sold locally too. Beef and Dairy farming are the primary agricultural activities with orchards, berries, and some large market gardens also in operation.

Small business

Southampton resembles a turn-of-the-century fishing village with its variety of retail stores, boutiques, restaurants, and gift shops. Port Elgin's main street features varied retail uses plus gift shops, restaurants, grocery stores, boutiques, and novelty shops. The Port Elgin Business Park has land for industrial and commercial uses. Businesses already located here are in the transportation, fuel, technology, recreation and automotive sectors. The Municipal Offices, Community Complex, Police Department and Bruce County Library Headquarters are also here.

Electricity generation

Saugeen Shores and Ontario's energy sector have a long-standing relationship via the region's largest employer. Bruce Power forms the core of the municipality's economic base by providing highly skilled, well paid jobs. More than a third of its 3,500 employees reside in Saugeen Shores. Bruce Power is the licensed operator of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station.

Tourism

Sunsets in the region have been raved as being the most beautiful in Canada for many years now, and have been nominated as one of Canada's Seven Wonders.[2] From Port Elgin's busy harbour on Lake Huron, to Southampton's serene Chantry Island, to the Saugeen river winding its way through the countryside of Saugeen Township. Saugeen Shores is also home to a number of trailer parks, cottages, hotels and two municipal Tourist Camps.

Summer residents are a longstanding feature of Saugeen Shores. The local population more than doubles during the summer, substantially benefitting local businesses. Highlights include the Chantry Island Imperial Lighthouse tours; the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre; walking, running, and cycling trails.

Education

The Bluewater District School Board has one secondary and three elementary schools in Saugeen Shores; the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board has one elementary school. The Catholic secondary school, St. Mary's High School, is in Owen Sound. Several post secondary institutions are within a two-hour drive, with Georgian College's Owen Sound campus being the closest.

Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS)

Saugeen District Secondary School is the home of the Saugeen Royals. A school that is noted for its strong performances in the arts, sports, and academic studies—ranging from history & English, to science and technology. Musicals are performed every 2nd school year, allowing students to expand their knowledge and abilities within acting, singing, and dancing; some recent musicals have been "Beauty and the Beast" (2011), "Oklahoma!" (2009), "The Wizard of OZ" (2007), "Oliver!" (2005), and "Bye Bye Birdie" (2003). SDSS is also home to the 2007 Ontario Football CWOSSA Champions. The Royals had a very successful boys hockey team which was undefeated in regular season play over its four-year existence (1995–1999). The team was CWOSSA champions in 1996 and 1998, finishing 8th and 9th at the Ontario Championships (OFSAA) in such years. Rugby, cheerleading, and numerous other sports have also claimed many championships and awards over the years. Saugeen District is highly acclaimed by Universities and Colleges alike for being one of the top schools in Ontario to focus their academic courses upon building student's abilities to write proper English and historical essays —surprisingly a rare thing for many high schools in Ontario, which are essential to achieving success in today's post-secondary learning environments. It is also the only school in Bruce County to offer education in electrical training, while the automotive technology course offers students an opportunity to repair vehicles and race the "Solar Prowler"— a solar powered racecar, in local competitions at nearby Sauble Speedway.

Port Elgin Saugeen Central Elementary School

Saugeen Central is home to the SC Wildcats.

Northport Elementary School

Northport is home to the Northport Cougars.

St. Joseph School

St. Joseph is home to the Knights.

G.C. Houston Public School

G.C. Houston is home to the G.C Hawks.

Health care

The hospital in Southampton, with a staff of 105, is part of the Grey Bruce Health Services' network of hospitals in northern Bruce and Grey Counties. Its full-time emergency department has the second highest volume of emergency visits across GBHS' hospitals, due mostly to the high summer population. The community recruited family physicians for inpatient care and emergency department coverage year round. In addition to 16 inpatient beds, the hospital offers many outpatient services. Medical clinics in both Port Elgin and Southampton have enticed doctors to the community. The hospital also houses other community health providers. Day surgery services are offered and include ear, nose and throat surgery.

Retirement and assisted living

Saugeen Shores has two retirement and assisted living facilities, and one nursing home. Long Term Care programs provide in home support allowing elderly residents to live at home as long as possible.

Religious Places

Churches

Nineteen churches, representing most major denominations, serve the municipality's spiritual needs.

Mosques

Saugeen Shores Has One Mosque at the Maple Square Mall in Port Elgin.

Recreation

Arts, culture, and heritage

33 Victoria Street, the Old Public School, now part of the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre.

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Saugeen Shores community profile". 2011 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  2. CBC - Seven Wonders of Canada

Sources

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