Owen Sound

Owen Sound
—  City  —
Owen Sound Harbour
Nickname(s): The Scenic City
Coordinates: 44°34′N 80°56′W / 44.567°N 80.933°W / 44.567; -80.933Coordinates: 44°34′N 80°56′W / 44.567°N 80.933°W / 44.567; -80.933
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Grey
Government
- City Mayor	Deborah Haswell
- Governing Body	Owen Sound City Council
- MPs	Larry Miller
- MPPs	Bill Murdoch
Area[1][2]
- Land	24.22 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
- Urban	25.98 km2 (10 sq mi)
- Metro	627.80 km2 (242.4 sq mi)
Elevation	307 m (1,007 ft)
Population (2006)[1][2]
- City	21,753
- Density	898.1/km2 (2,326.1/sq mi)
- Urban	22,649
- Urban density	871.8/km2 (2,258/sq mi)
- Metro	32,259
- Metro density	51.4/km2 (133.1/sq mi)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Postal Code	N4K
Area code(s)	519/226
Website	www.owensound.ca
Dwellings: 9,532 dwellings

Owen Sound (Canada 2006 Census population 21,753; UA population 22,649; CA population 32,259), the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern (Southwestern) Ontario, Canada. Owen Sound is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi and Sydenham Rivers on an inlet of Georgian Bay named Owen Sound Bay.^[3]

History

This area of the upper Great Lakes was first formally surveyed in 1815 by William Fitzwilliam Owen and Lieutenant Henry W. Bayfield. The inlet was named "Owen's Sound" in honour of Admiral Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen, the explorer Owen's older brother.

The city of Owen Sound was originally known as Sydenham when it was first settled in 1841 by Charles Rankin. Prior to that the area had been inhabited by the Ojibway people. The city gained its current name in 1851 and was incorporated in 1857. For much of its history, Owen Sound was a major port city, known as the "Chicago of the North". Its location on Georgian Bay gave it access to the upper Great Lakes, and major rail lines moved cargo south from there. Port duties have declined dramatically since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway allowed shipping directly to the lower lakes and dramatically lowered costs compared to transshipment via Owen Sound. Being both the gateway to cottage country, and in the heart of Ontario's beef, apple and corn region, farming and tourism are still integral parts of the local economy.

At one time, Owen Sound's roaring seaport made it a rowdy town that was known to sailors as "Little Liverpool". Louis' Steakhouse, a popular upscale restaurant just outside of town, was opened by the Gavaris family in the 1980s and the historic building has changed hands several times since. It was originally a brothel where the madam would stand from its castle-like tower and watch the port for a ship to come in, and she would ready her prostitutes to excite the sailors. This reputation for vice and villainy, and the problems that came with it, caused the city to ban all drinking establishments for several decades. The city was "dry" until 1972.

Billy Bishop Home/Museum

One of the city's most famous sons was World War I flying ace and Victoria Cross winner William Avery "Billy" Bishop, Canada's leading pilot in the war. Bishop is also one of the few to have tangled with the Red Baron and survived, forcing the German pilot to retreat in a damaged aircraft. The Billy Bishop Regional Airport in the nearby Municipality of Meaford was named after him. His modest gravesite can be visited in the city's Greenwood Cemetery by those willing to take the time to locate the stone. His boyhood home is now a museum dedicated to his life and to Canada's aviation history. The town was also the home of NHL Hall-of-Fame goaltender Harry Lumley and the artist Tom Thomson (buried in the nearby village of Leith). Surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune, an avowed communist and pioneer of public medicine who gained notoriety in his innovative medical work with the Chinese army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, is an alumnus of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute. Legendary hockey broadcaster Bill Hewitt was once sports director of the local AM radio station, CFOS. Tommy Holmes, another Victoria Cross winner, was also from Owen Sound, and the city's armoury bears his name.

Owen Sound is home of SummerFolk Festival, a popular folk festival that takes place annually in August. Summerfolk attracts over 4,000 people annually to the shores of Georgian Bay, specifically Kelso Beach Park located on the West shore of Owen Sound. The festival has run continuously since 1977 and is nationally renowned for its music and craft excellence. Many performers who have played there have gone on to great commercial success, such as Leahy, Valdy, The Rankins and Natalie MacMaster. Other more commercial Canadian talent has also graced the stages of summerfolk over the years with the likes of Gowan, Rik Emmett, Blue Rodeo and Bruce Cockburn. One of Summerfolk's most famous and revered performers was Stan Rogers. The Main stage features a memorial to Stan and is dedicated to his memory.

In 2005 Owen Sound became the National Communities in Bloom champion in the cities of 20,001–50,000 category in Canada for its beauty, natural landscape, and strong sense of community.

Geography & climate

Owen Sound experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb)^[4] that is moderated by Lake Huron. Winters are cold and very snowy, while summers are warm and humid. Precipitation is moderately high, with an annual average of 1100 mm.

Climate data for Owen Sound
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	15.5 (59.9)	18.5 (65.3)	24.5 (76.1)	30.5 (86.9)	31.7 (89.1)	35 (95)	34 (93)	34 (93)	31.7 (89.1)	28.3 (82.9)	22 (72)	18.5 (65.3)	35 (95)
Average high °C (°F)	−2.2 (28.0)	−1.7 (28.9)	3 (37)	9.8 (49.6)	16.6 (61.9)	21.4 (70.5)	24.5 (76.1)	23.8 (74.8)	19.6 (67.3)	13.3 (55.9)	6.5 (43.7)	0.7 (33.3)	11.3
Average low °C (°F)	−9.4 (15.1)	−9.5 (14.9)	−5.4 (22.3)	0.8 (33.4)	6.1 (43.0)	11.1 (52.0)	14.9 (58.8)	14.8 (58.6)	11.0 (51.8)	5.7 (42.3)	0.5 (32.9)	−5.4 (22.3)	2.9
Record low °C (°F)	−30 (−22)	−34 (−29)	−27.5 (−17.5)	−15 (5)	−4.4 (24.1)	0 (32)	4.4 (39.9)	3.3 (37.9)	−1.1 (30.0)	−5.6 (21.9)	−15.5 (4.1)	−24 (−11)	−34 (−29)
Precipitation mm (inches)	134.8 (5.307)	78 (3.07)	77.4 (3.047)	70.2 (2.764)	72 (2.83)	76.3 (3.004)	72.6 (2.858)	88.6 (3.488)	105.2 (4.142)	88.8 (3.496)	109.4 (4.307)	126.9 (4.996)	1,100.1 (43.311)
Snowfall cm (inches)	110.9 (43.66)	58.1 (22.87)	37.6 (14.8)	8.7 (3.43)	0.2 (0.08)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2.3 (0.91)	33.5 (13.19)	93.9 (36.97)	347.2 (136.69)
Source: Environment Canada[5]

The city's downtown is located in a deep valley in the Niagara Escarpment.

Culture and events

Festival of Northern Lights.

The City of Owen Sound was a 2004 Cultural Capital of Canada and is home to a number of cultural events and facilities. It is home to the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival, held every August, and the Festival of Northern Lights, a large Christmas lights festival with many displays along the Sydenham River, downtown, and in Harrison Park, held from November until January every Winter, as well as A Novel Marathon, a special event fund raiser for the Adult Literacy Program of the Owen Sound and North Grey Public Library.

In 2007 Owen Sound celebrated its 150th year since incorporation, with special events throughout the year highlighted by the 10-day Homecoming 2007 celebrations July 27 to August 5.

Theatrically, the city's 400-seat Roxy Theatre, owned and operated by the Owen Sound Little Theatre, is used for the city's professional live theatre performances, as well as some concerts. The Youth Theatre Coalition is also prevalent in the area. It is a youth theatre company run entirely by youth and for youth. The organization presents musical, theatrical, and concert type performances throughout the year.

The city is also home to a good number of museums and cultural attractions, including:

Tom Thomson Art Gallery

• Grey Roots Museum and Archives – showcasing the history of the city of Owen Sound and Grey County
• Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery – featuring a large collection of memorabilia and works from Tom Thomson, one of Canada's most famous artists who grew up in the Owen Sound area.
• Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum – showcasing the city's rich history in rail and water transportation and its role in the growth of Ontario.
• Billy Bishop Heritage Museum – located in the former Billy Bishop home, dedicated to the life and times of Billy Bishop and Canada's history in aviation.
• Black History Cairn – located in historic Harrison Park, celebrating Owen Sound's status as a northern terminus of the Underground Railroad.
• Owen Sound Farmer's Market – occupying the same location since 1868, the Market is open every Saturday morning throughout the year and hosts a wide variety of growers and artisans.
• Today Owen Sound's Beth Ezekiel Synagogue, a designated building under Ontario's Heritage Act, remains the last example^{[citation needed]} of the early small town synagogue
• Georgian Bay Symphony – is a regional community orchestra consisting of 55 volunteer musicians and five professional core string players. The Symphony performs 5 Main Concerts a year at the OSCVI as well as performing at various civic events.
• Each year, the City of Owen Sound hosts the Owen Sound Cultural Awards (the "OSCAs"). A community jury selects winners in up to 10 award categories, presented at a gala entertainment event in mid-autumn.
• Over the past twelve years, 37 different writers have created 86 short novels, made friends and raised thousands of dollars for the Adult Learning Centre.
• The Owen Sound City Band circa 1923 is a volunteer organization whose membership is made up of amateur musicians of all ages and abilities, from high school students to senior citizens. The band plays a wide range of music from Dixieland, Golden Oldies and Classical to Movie Themes and Easy Listening and medium Rock. Venues include Canada Day Events (Kelso Beach), Christmas Parades; in the city, neighbouring towns and villages through-out Grey and Bruce Counties, Opening ceremonies such as Festival of Northern Lights and various nursing homes.

Demographics

Census	Population
1871	3,369
1881	4,426
1891	7,497
1901	8,776
1911	12,559
1921	12,190
1931	12,839
1941	13,810
1951	16,423
1961	17,421
1971	18,469
1981	19,883
1991	21,674
2001	21,431
2006	21,753

Owen Sound had a population of 21,753 people in 2006, which was an increase of 1.4% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Owen Sound was $40,919, which is below the Ontario provincial average of $60,455.^[1]

Education

Owen Sound is home to a campus of Georgian College. The campus, which currently offers 11 full-time programs, is known worldwide for its Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre.^{[citation needed]} The centre trains professionals already working in the marine industry and students enrolled in the Marine Navigation Technology program and the Marine Engineering Technology program. Owen Sound is also home to Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute, one of Canada's oldest schools having been founded in 1856.

Transportation

MS Chi-Cheemaun in Owen Sound.

Located at the junctions of Ontario Highways 6, 10, 21 and 26, the city serves as a gateway to the Bruce Peninsula.

Owen Sound Transit provides local bus service and specialized transportation for those unable to use the regular transit buses.

As home port of the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited, the inner harbour is where the MS Chi-Cheemaun car ferry from Tobermory to South Baymouth is docked during the winter months.

The Canadian Pacific Railway Owen Sound subdivision connected Orangeville and Owen Sound. Service was discontinued and the line was formally abandoned in 1995. The Canadian National Railway subdivision connected Guelph and Owen Sound via Palmerston, this line was discontinued in the 1990s.

Aircraft flying to Owen Sound may land at the Owen Sound Billy Bishop Regional Airport (CYOS).

Industry

The Parrish & Heimbecker Grain Terminal (Great Lakes Elevator Co Ltd) is located in the inner harbour. The original CPR grain elevators were destroyed by fire in 1911.

Health care

Owen Sound Hospital

Owen Sound is the seat of Grey Bruce Health Services and has the largest hospital (Owen Sound Hospital) in the Grey County and Bruce County region.

Recreation

The city is one of two (the other being Barrie) that are home to The Grey and Simcoe Foresters Primary Reserve Infantry regiment, as well as various cadet corps.

Some of the largest rainbow trout in the world have been caught in Owen Sound, and annual fishing derbies draw large participation from all over North America.

Southeast of the city are two popular Ontario ski resorts, Talisman and Beaver Valley. The city and area also have numerous snowmobile trails.

Sports

Owen Sound is the smallest city in Ontario (and one of the smallest in Canada) to host an OHL Major Junior Hockey Team, in the Owen Sound Attack who play at the Bayshore Community Centre arena.

• Owen Sound Attack – Ontario Hockey League
• Owen Sound Greys – Mid-Western Junior Hockey League
• Owen Sound Woodsmen – OLA Senior B Lacrosse League
• Owen Sound North Stars – OLA Junior B Lacrosse League
• Owen Sound United – Mid Western Soccer League
• Owen Sound Colts – Gridiron Elite League

Former teams

• Owen Sound Mercurys – OHA Senior A Hockey League
• Owen Sound Crescents – OHA Senior A Hockey League
• Owen Sound Canadians – Northern Senior B Hockey League
• Owen Sound Trappers – OHA Intermediate A Hockey League
• Owen Sound Platers – Ontario Hockey League (became Attack)
• Owen Sound North Stars – Major Series Lacrosse
• Owen Sound Crescents – Major Series Lacrosse

Media

Main article: Media in Owen Sound

Municipal government

Deborah Haswell (born 1960) is mayor of the city. A 13-year council veteran, she unseated popular incumbent Ruth Lovell Stanners by a mere 41 votes in the October, 2010, municipal election.^[7]

Jail

The County of Grey opened a complex in 1854, including a courthouse and police services, a land registry office and a county jail. In 1960, the County of Grey moved the courthouse and land registry to another location at the edge of present-day Owen Sound, Ontario. At that time, March 11, 1960, the County of Grey and the City of Owen Sound signed a two-part agreement that was subsequently passed into bylaw. The first part required that the City of Owen Sound immediately purchase the courthouse portion of the complex. Part two of the agreement requires the City of Owen Sound to purchase the jail portion when the County of Grey no longer needs it for its own use. This occurred in 1978, when the province of Ontario transferred the county jails to provincial entities. The County of Grey and the City of Owen Sound escaped the latter part of the 1960 agreement and have profited greatly ever since. The County of Grey receives a monthly payment (approximately $ 12,000 as of 2011) for which they have no obligation to maintain the property; the City of Owen Sound kept the police services in the old courthouse until 1987/88 and then leased it to an arts council. In doing so, the jail lost all of their former entrances and moved all activities to the side of the jail, immediately beside the adjacent residence.

Notable residents

Thomas William Holmes V.C.

• Shelagh Armstrong – artist
• Cody Bass – NHL and AHL player
• Norman Bethune – physician and medical innovator
• Billy Bishop – ace Canadian World War I pilot
• Barry Brown, Canadian country music singer-songwriter, former member of Family Brown and Prescott-Brown
• Robert Pim Butchart – horticulturist
• Hap Day – NHL player and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Cheryl Hickey – television personality
• Janis Mackey Frayer – journalist
• Heather Hiscox – CBC news anchor
• Thomas William Holmes – Canadian soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
• Alvin "Buck" Jones – professional hockey player
• Harry Lumley – NHL goaltender and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Agnes Macphail – Canadian politician and writer
• Jock McKeen – physician, author and lecturer
• Chris Minard – NHL and AHL player and former Owen Sound Plater
• Mike Minard – former NHL and AHL goaltender
• Nathan Perrott – retired professional hockey player
• Curtis Sanford – NHL player and former Owen Sound Plater
• Eddie Sargent – Canadian politician
• Tom Thomson – artist

In media

Owen Sound City Hall

• Owen Sound was one of the filming locations for the filming of the Disney movie One Magic Christmas along with Meaford, most notably with its city hall serving as the town hall in the film.

• On the October 18, 2006, episode of The Colbert Report, host Stephen Colbert asked his viewers to send in suggestions for bad things to say about Owen Sound, being unable to think of any himself.

Sister cities

The sister city of Owen Sound is Miamisburg, Ohio.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Owen Sound (city) community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3542059&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Owen%20Sound&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Owen Sound (census agglomeration) community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMA&Code1=566&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Owen%20Sound&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
3. ^ [1] Natural Owen Sound
4. ^ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/North-America_Koppen_Map.png Köppen Climate Classification Map of North America (University of Melbourne)
5. ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 26 August 2010
6. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2009-02-24. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2009-02-24. 
7. ^ "Haswell sworn in as Owen Sound mayor". Owen Sound Sun Times, December 7, 2010.

External links

• City of Owen Sound
• Owen Sound Black History
• Owen Sound City Band
• Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival
• Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce
• Georgian Bay Symphony