Communities

Tiny, Ontario

Population 11,787 Settled in 1800s and incorporated in 1868.

Tiny Township is located on the peninsula that separates Severn Sound and Nottawasaga Bay at the south end of Georgian Bay, and has a coastline of 70 kilometres. It extends southward into the Wye River watershed. The municipality is home to Awenda Provincial Park on Georgian Bay at the north end, and the Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area, source of the Wye River, in the south.

Tiny contains an artesian well that produces some of the purest spring water in the world.

Residents enjoy the perks of having access to all the beaches in the county with the purchase of a parking pass. A perfect place to enjoy the private waters of Georgian Bay.

The township was named in 1822 after a pet dog of Lady Sarah Maitland (1792-1873), wife of Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. Humans have occupied the area now known as Tiny Township for at least 11 000 years. Excavations in what is now Awenda Provincial Park in the 1970s uncovered four archaeological sites dating from the Paleo-Indian period. 

Around 1100 C.E., agriculture was introduced to south Central Ontario, with people growing corn, beans, squash, tobacco, and sunflowers. This led to the development of villages centred around longhouses. By 1600 C.E., the five nations of the Huron-Wendat Confederacy had established their villages in the territory they called Wendake, a part of which included what we now call Tiny Township.

In the 1700s, as the threat from the Haudenosaunee waned, Ojibwe people began to move back into the area. In 1798, the Ojibwe and the British signed Penetanguishene Bay Purchase turning some of the land which would become Tiny Township over to the British who soon after established a naval base at Penetanguishene. A subsequent treaty in 1815, the Lake Simcoe Lake Huron Purchase turned over the remaining part of the land which would become Tiny Township.

By the mid-19th century, families from Quebec began moving to the Tiny Township area for the cheap and fertile land to farm. The Baldwin Act of 1850 established the Corporation of the United Townships of Tiny and Tay. In 1868, the townships were separated through a Simcoe County by-law.

Penetanguishene, Ontario

Population 8,962 Incorporated in 1882 with history dating to 800AD

Waterfront bilingual community with access to Georgian Bay, marinas, bike & hiking trails, Awenda Provincial Park and Georgian Bay Islands National Park. English & French public & Catholic schools.

Penetanguishene is a friendly destination that will keep you entertained, active, and enlightened.

Penetanguishene has many cultural attractions, wide range of leisure & recreation activities to choose from at our community centres and libraries and on our sports fields. Experience the outdoors in our parks, along our pathway system and our beach and harbour.

 

Midland, Ontario

Population 16,864 Incorporated in 1890

The town of Midland was founded when, in 1871, the Midland Railway of Canada selected the sparsely populated community of Mundy's Bay as the new terminus of the Midland railway. At that time the Midland railway ran from Port Hope to Beaverton. Settlers, attracted by the convenience of rail service, soon began to move into the area. The village thrived based on Georgian Bay shipping and the lumber and grain trade. Incorporated into a town in 1890, a number of light industrial companies have established themselves in the area and tourism in the southern Georgian Bay area also contributes to the economy.

The Town of Midland is a dynamic community situated on Georgian Bay and based in the heart of one of our nation's most beautiful recreational areas.

The Town of Midland bustles in the spring and summer months as tourists and residents, alike, take advantage of the many recreational opportunities.  Midland has a dynamic recreational waterfront, which includes the picturesque Harbour, and waterfront trail for walking, biking and rollerblading.  The summer season affords an opportunity to view the beautiful horticultural displays throughout Midland. Take a stroll through the hub of our downtown area and enjoy the array of boutiques, restaurants and services, as well as the beautiful murals scattered throughout the downtown core. 

 

Port Mcnicoll (Tay), Ontario

Population of 10,033 Established in 1908

The community of Port McNicoll was established in 1908 as a Great Lakes port on the southern shores of Georgian Bay. It was the home port of the Canadian Pacific Railway's Great Lakes Service from 1908, when the eastern terminus of the marine operations were relocated from Owen Sound. Port McNicoll was also the western terminus of the CPR's Georgian Bay and Seaboard Railway, connecting to its Ontario and Quebec Railway, near Bethany.

From 1912, Port McNicoll was home port of the CPR's passenger and package freight steamships, SS Keewatin and flagship SS Assiniboin. Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Scotland as Hull No. 453, the Keewatin was launched 6 July 1907 and entered service in the following year. She ran continuously for almost 60 seasons, being retired in 1966. 

Port McNicoll has one public elementary school, teaching children from Jr. Kindergarten to Grade 8, after which students head to either Midland Secondary School or St. Theresa's High School, both located in Midland, Ontario.

Most people living in Port McNicoll work in various industries in the Midland/Penetanguishene area. It is a quiet town, whose population increases some, due to cottagers, during the summer months. Most cottages are located near the many beaches on the shores of Georgian Bay.

Tay Township boasts many cultural and natural attractions that are sure to please. Come and discover Georgian Bay.

Springwater, Ontario

Population 19,059 Formed in 1994 and incorporates the historic town of Elmvale.

A year-round recreational paradise with many trails, ski hills, golf courses and conservation areas. The town has a vibrant historic downtown with boutique shopping and vibrant restaurants. 

Springwater township offers residents a vibrant place to live, work and play. With many local schools, parks, farmers markets, a splash pad, library, festivals, trails and attractions like the Elmvale Jungle Zoo, they're many things to do and see. Not to mention, Sprinwater's proximity to Barrie and Georgian Bay. 

Come and Discover Springwater.