Wasaga Beach, Ontario

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Wasaga Beach
known as = Wasaga Beach


map_caption = Location of Wasaga Beach in the province of Ontario
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flagicon|Canada Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = flagicon|Ontario Ontario
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Simcoe County
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Cal Patterson
leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor
leader_name1 = David Foster
leader_title2 = Council
leader_name2 = Rick Archdekin
Nina Bifolchi
Connie Gray
George Watson
Stan Wells
leader_title3 = MPs
leader_name3 =
leader_title4 = MPPs
leader_name4 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = January 1, 1974
area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Metric
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 58.43
area_footnotes =cite web |url= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?B1=All&Code1=3543064&Code2=35&Custom=&Data=Count&Geo1=CSD&Geo2=PR&Lang=E&SearchPR=01&SearchText=Wasag+Beach&SearchType=Begins |title= Statistics Canada. 2007. Wasaga Beach, Ontario (table). 2006 Community Profiles. 2006 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-591-XWE. Ottawa.|work= 2006 Census of Population|publisher= Statistics Canada|date= 2007-03-13|accessdate= 2008-04-18]
population_note =
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 15029
population_density_km2 = 257.2
population_footnotes =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_code = (705)
website = [http://www.wasagabeach.com - The Town of Wasaga Beach website]
latd=44 |latm=31 |lats=14 |latNS=N
longd=80 |longm=01 |longs=00 |longEW=W

The Town of Wasaga Beach (known as Wasaga Beach or just simply Wasaga) is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. It is a popular four-season tourist destination situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern end of Georgian Bay approximately two hours north of Toronto, and abuts, to the west, the resort town of Collingwood. Wasaga Beach is nestled in and around convert|14|km|mi|1|lk=oncite web |url= http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/wasa.html|title= Wasaga Beach|accessdate=2008-06-12|date= 2007-06-18|work= Ontario Parks web site|publisher= Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)] of white sandy beach on Nottawasaga Bay and the winding Nottawasaga River.

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 HMS Nancy was sunk at her moorings in an effort by the Americans to cut the supply line to Fort Michilimackinac and points to the north and west. [cite web |url= http://www.wasagabeachpark.com/war1812.html|title= The War of 1812 and the H.M.S. Nancy|accessdate=2008-06-12|work= History|publisher= The Friends of Nancy Island Historic Site and Wasaga Beach Park] Lumbering was the main industry for the remainder of the 19^th century. Logs crowded the river and the bay floating down to feed local saw mills.cite web |url= http://www.wasagabeach.com/About-Us.html|title= About Us|accessdate=2008-06-12|work= |publisher= Town of Wasaga Beach]

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. [cite web |url= http://www.wasagabeachpark.com/lumber.html|title= The Lumber Trade in the 1800's|accessdate=2008-06-12|work= History|publisher= The Friends of Nancy Island Historic Site and Wasaga Beach Park]

Wasaga Beach entered history's headlines in 1934 when the first overseas flight from mainland Canada, across the Atlantic to England and in a plane called the "Trail of the Caribou", used Wasaga's long flat sandy beach as a take off strip. [cite web |url= http://www.wasagabeachpark.com/caribou.html|title= The Trail of the Caribou|accessdate=2008-06-12|work= History|publisher= The Friends of Nancy Island Historic Site and Wasaga Beach Park]

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.

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 [cite web |url= http://www.wasagabeach.com/|title= Home|accessdate=2008-06-12|work= |publisher= Town of Wasaga Beach] (convert|14|km|mi|1|disp=s), 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). 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. [cite news |first= James|last= Rusk|authorlink= |title= From ice cream and french fries to condos and bistros|url= http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20070816.wwasaga16%2FBNStory%2FNational%2F&ord=105269729&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true |work= The Globe and Mail|publisher= CTVglobemedia|date= 2007-08-16|accessdate=2008-06-12 ] Because of 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.

Wasaga Beach Fire of 2007

On November 30, 2007, fire destroyed between 50-70% of the main street pedestrian mall, including 17 businesses and 5 apartments. [cite news |first= Isabel|last= Teotonio|authorlink= |title= Fire razes Wasaga beachfront|url= http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/281363|work= Toronto Star|publisher= Torstar|date= 2007-11-30|accessdate=2008-06-12 ] 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 at around 1:00 a.m. that morning, and was originally small, moments later, it was fuelled by very strong winds, eventually turning it into one of the biggest fires in Wasaga Beach history. Despite the major fire, the beach and the remaining businesses are open, Although Wasaga Beachers said that this site will never look the same again. [cite news |title= Fire guts at least a dozen buildings in Ontario resort town|url= http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/30/wasaga-fire.html|work= CBC News|publisher= Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date= 2007-11-30|accessdate=2008-06-12 ] [cite news |first= Karen|last= Hawthorne|authorlink= |title= Huge fire sweeps Wasaga Beach|url= http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2007/11/30/huge-fire-sweeps-wasaga-beach.aspx|work= National Post - Posted Toronto|publisher= CanWest Global Communications|date= 2007-11-30|accessdate=2008-06-12 ]

Land Area, Geology and Topography

The Town of Wasaga Beach covers an area of convert|61.13|km2|sqmi|2|lk=on 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. [cite web |url= http://www.wasagabeach.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=9|title= Land Area, Geology and Topography|accessdate=2008-06-12|date= 2007-09-28|work= Community Profile|publisher= Town of Wasaga Beach]

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.cite web|url= http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=14976|publisher= Hockey Hall of Fame|title= Legends of Hockey - Jason Arnott|accessdate= 2007-05-05]

ee also

* List of communities in Ontario

References

External links

* [http://www.wasaga.com/ Wasaga.com - Online Guide to Wasaga Beach]
* [http://www.wasaga.net/ Wasaga.net - Insiders Guide to Wasaga Beach]
* [http://simcoemuskoka.com/area_attractions/collingwood Wasaga Beach Area Attractions]
* [http://www.wasagainfo.com/ Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.wasagadome.com/ The newly opened Wasaga Dome]
* [http://ontarioplaques.com/Plaque_Simcoe08.html Ontario Plaques - Schooner Town]
* [http://www.wasagabeach.com/ Town of Wasaga Beach Municipal Website]
* [http://www.ntropy.us/air33/pblog/index.php?x=browse&category=27&pagenum=1/ Air33 of NTROPY.US winter wasaga photos]