Perth South, Ontario

This article is about the township in Perth County, Ontario. For the similarly named town in Lanark County, see Perth, Ontario.
Perth South
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Perth South
Nickname(s): "Ontario's Food Basket"
Perth South
Coordinates: 43°18′N 81°09′W / 43.300°N 81.150°W / 43.300; -81.150Coordinates: 43°18′N 81°09′W / 43.300°N 81.150°W / 43.300; -81.150
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Perth
Formed January 1, 1998
Government
  Mayor Robert Wilhelm
  Federal riding Perth—Wellington
  Prov. riding Perth—Wellington
Area[1]
  Land 393.03 km2 (151.75 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 3,993
  Density 10.2/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code N0K
Area code(s) 519 and 226
Website www.perthsouth.ca

The Township of Perth South is a lower-tier municipality in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located in the County of Perth at the confluence of the River Thames and the Avon River. The Township was created on January 1, 1998 as a result of an amalgamation of the former Township of Blanshard and the former Township of Downie.[2]

Canada's ninth Prime Minister, Arthur Meighen, was born in Anderson, a community in Perth South.[3]

Communities

The township encompasses the Villages of Sebringville and Kirkton. There are smaller settlement areas knows as Hamlets that include: Avonbank, Avonton, Conroy, Harmony, Prospect Hill, Rannoch, St. Pauls, Whalen Corners and Woodham.[2]

The Township is composed predominantly of a mix of rural agricultural land and hamlet residential uses with a total land area of 39,202 hectares. Agricultural uses represent one of the Township's most significant economic and cultural assets.[2]

Economy

Perth South is served by the Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce whose mandate is to maintain and improve trade and commerce and to provide the economic, commercial, tourist, agricultural and environmental welfare of the region.[4] Perth South is also a part of the Southwest Economic Alliance: an organization covering much of southwestern Ontario and designed to create partnerships between local government, educational institutions, the broader public sector, and the private sector.[5]

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the largest economic sectors by number employed are manufacturing (430 workers); agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (395 workers); construction (250 workers) and health care and social assistance (180 workers). Other industries employing 100 or more workers include wholesale trade; retail trade; finance and insurance; educational services; and health care and social assistance.[6]

Demographics

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1996 4,343    
2001 4,299−1.0%
2006 4,132−3.9%
2011 3,993−3.4%
Source: Canada 1996 Census, Canada 2001 Census

2006 Census of Canada

2011 Census of Canada

According to the 2011 census, the Township of Perth South had a population of 3,993 people, a 3.4% decrease from the 2006 population of 4,132.[7] Children aged 9 and under account for approximately 10% of the population, while the percentage at retirement age (65 and over) is approximately 12%. The median age is 41.7 years of age.[7]

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, only 6% of the population have immigrant status. The most common countries immigrants come from are the Netherlands (36%) followed by the United Kingdom (15%) and Germany (13%).[6]

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the majority of residents of Perth South are members of a Christian faith and account for 81.6% of the population with the remaining population reporting no religious affiliation. Of the religious population, the largest religious affiliation is Roman Catholic (27.7%) followed by United Church (21.4%), Presbyterian (18.8%), Lutheran (10.4%, Anglican (0.5%) and other Christian (13.9%).[6]

Government

Local Government

The Township of Perth South is governed by a Township Council composed of seven members. Council positions are held for a four-year term.[8]

The Township's services include Public Works, Building & Bylaw Enforcement, Recreation & Leisure, Drainage, Environmental, Planning, Fire, Police (Ontario Provincial Police), Economic Development, and Emergency Management.[9]

Township Council 2014-2018[8]

Position Name
Mayor Robert Wilhelm
Deputy Mayor James Aitcheson
Councillor Stuart Arkett
Councillor Cathy Barker
Councillor Sam Corriveau
Councillor Bill Jeffrey
Councillor Melinda Zurbrigg

County Government

Because the Township of Perth South is part of the upper-tier municipality Perth County, Ontario, it has representation on the County Council. The Perth County Council is determined by a restructuring order that came into force on January 1, 1998. Under this order, the Township of Perth South has two(2) members appointed to the County Council.[10] Perth County Mayor Robert Wilhelm and Deputy Mayor James Aitcheson serve as Perth South's representatives on County Council.[11]

Provincial Government

Perth—Wellington is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since the 2007 provincial election. It was created in 2003 from parts of Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington ridings.

It consists of the County of Perth, and the Town of Minto and the townships of Mapleton and Wellington North in the County of Wellington.[12] As of October 6, 2011, the MPP for the riding is Randy Pettapiece.[13]

Perth—Wellington
Assembly Years Member Party
Riding created from Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington
39th  2007–2011     John Wilkinson Liberal
40th  2011–2014     Randy Pettapiece Progressive Conservative
41st  2014–Present

Federal Government

Main article: Perth-Wellington

Perth—Wellington is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2004. It was created in 2003 from parts of Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington ridings.

It consists of the County of Perth, the City of Stratford, the Town of St. Mary's and the Town of Minto and the townships of Mapleton and Wellington North in the County of Wellington.[14]

Parliament Years Member Party
Perth—Wellington
Riding created from Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,
Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington
38th  2004–2006     Gary Schellenberger Conservative
39th  2006–2008
40th  2008–2011
41st  2011–Present

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Perth South, Ontario (Code 3531013) census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  2. 1 2 3 "About | Perth South". www.perthsouth.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  3. Arthur Reginald Marsden Lower, Canadians in the making: a social history of Canada (1958) p 343
  4. "StratfordChamber.com | Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce". www.stratfordchamber.com. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  5. "Southwest Economic Alliance " About". swea.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  6. 1 2 3 "2011 National Household Survey - Perth South Township". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  7. 1 2 "Census Profile from the 2011 Census, Statistics Canada - Validation Error". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  8. 1 2 "Council Members | Perth South". www.perthsouth.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  9. "Department | Perth South". www.perthsouth.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  10. "Perth County • Cultivating Opportunity • Council Composition". www.perthcounty.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  11. "Perth County • Cultivating Opportunity • Council". www.perthcounty.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  12. "Perth-Wellington". www.elections.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  13. "Legislative Assembly of Ontario | Members (MPPs) | Current MPPs | Randy Pettapiece, MPP (Perth—Wellington)". www.ontla.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  14. "Perth–Wellington | Maps Corner | Elections Canada Online". elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.

External links

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