South Bruce Peninsula

South Bruce Peninsula is not to be confused with the Municipality of South Bruce, Ontario
South Bruce Peninsula
Town (lower-tier)
Town of South Bruce Peninsula
The Malcolm Bluff near Purple Valley,
as seen across Colpoys Bay
South Bruce Peninsula
Location in southern Ontario
Coordinates: 44°44′N 81°12′W / 44.733°N 81.200°W / 44.733; -81.200Coordinates: 44°44′N 81°12′W / 44.733°N 81.200°W / 44.733; -81.200
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Bruce
Formed January 1, 1999
Government
 • Mayor Janice Jackson
 • Federal riding Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
 • Prov. riding Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
Area[1]
 • Land 538.32 km2 (207.85 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 8,413
 • Density 15.6/km2 (40/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code N0H
Area code(s) 519 and 226
Website www.southbrucepeninsula.com
Wiarton
Entering South Bruce Peninsula from Highway 21

South Bruce Peninsula is a town at the base of the Bruce Peninsula of Ontario, Canada, in Bruce County between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. It was formed on January 1, 1999, when the town of Wiarton, the village of Hepworth, and the townships of Albemarle and Amabel were amalgamated. This new municipality was created to provide necessary political representation, administrative support and necessary municipal services on behalf of the residents.[2]

Tourism, particularly cottage rental and providing services to visitors, is the major industry in the area. Many cottages are found along Sauble Beach (North and South).

Communities

The town comprises a number of villages and larger communities. These include the following:

  • Albemarle Ward: Adamsville, Colpoys Bay, Hope Bay, Howdenvale, Mar, Purple Valley, Red Bay; McIver
  • Amabel Ward: Allenford, Clavering, Elsinore, Hepworth, Oliphant, Park Head, Sauble Beach, Wiarton; French Bay, Sauble Beach South, Skipness, Tolmie

The administrative centre of the region is found in Wiarton.[3]

Town politics and services

An elected mayor, deputy major and three councilors provide the municipal government, guided by provincial legislation. A number of Committees and local Boards assist Council. "Council establishes policies and budgets for programs and services delivered by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula." The Legislative Services Department includes the Clerk's Division, By-Law Enforcement and Animal Control, and the Building Division.[4]

The Town's Community-Based Strategic Plan, Creating Our Future, was originally completed in 2012 and was updated in 2014 and 2016. The intent is to "ensure the protection of the natural resources while balancing the desire for business, tourism and recreational opportunities."[5]

The Parks & Recreation Department services parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, ball diamonds, arena, aquatic programs and various programs.[6] The town has Fire stations but policing is provided by the Ontario Provincial Police from the Wiarton Detachment.[7]

There has been some friction between the Town and the Saugeen First Nation because of continuing land claims in the Sauble Beach area. A settlement was mediated in 2014 but was subsequently rejected by South Bruce, leading to a lawsuit against the Town, to be heard in court no earlier than 2018.[8]

There is one hospital in the Town, Wiarton Hospital with emergency and ambulance services, with 14 beds. Nearby, though outside the Town, is the Grey-Bruce Regional Health Centre in Owen Sound. The latter is larger and is the regional referral centre for Grey and Bruce counties with over 50 specialists on staff.[9]

Demographics

Canada census – South Bruce Peninsula community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 8416 (0.0% from 2011) 8413 (0.0% from 2006) 8415 (4.0% from 2001)
Land area: 532.29 km2 (205.52 sq mi) 538.32 km2 (207.85 sq mi) 531.90 km2 (205.37 sq mi)
Population density: 15.8/km2 (41/sq mi) 15.6/km2 (40/sq mi) 15.8/km2 (41/sq mi)
Median age: 54.5 (M: 53.8, F: 55.1) 51.9 (M: {{{2011_median_age_m}}}, F: 52.7) 49.9 (M: 48.7, F: 50.9)
Total private dwellings: 6945 6959 6759
Median household income: $57,766 $54,403
References: 2016[10] 2011[11] 2006[12] earlier[13]

Mother tongue:[12]

  • English as first language: 94.4%
  • French as first language: 0.7%
  • English and French as first language: 0.5%
  • Other as first language: 4.3%

Population trend:[14]

  • Population in 2001: 8090
  • Population total in 1996: 8004
    • Albemarle (township): 1217
    • Amabel (township): 3917
    • Hepworth (village): 470
    • Wiarton (town): 2400
  • Population in 1991:
    • Albemarle (township): 1140
    • Amabel (township): 3815
    • Hepworth (village): 453
    • Wiarton (town): 2326

Attractions

The main tourist attractions for the area are Sauble Beach, Wiarton Willie (Groundhog Day), and fishing locations on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

The region has many annual festivals such as the Wiarton Willie Festival, held each February; the Wiarton Rotary Village Fair, held on Civic Holiday weekend each August; the Oliphant Regatta, held each summer; Sauble Sandfest, held each August; and the Wiarton Fall Fair, held each September.

The Bruce Trail, the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada, with over 440 km of side trails, runs up the eastern side of the Bruce Peninsula.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "South Bruce Peninsula census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  2. ↑ "South Bruce Peninsula". Town of South Bruce Peninsula. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "South Bruce Peninsula". Communities of South Bruce Peninsula. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "South Bruce Peninsula". Town of South Bruce Peninsula. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "South Bruce Peninsula". Town of South Bruce Peninsula. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "South Bruce Peninsula". Town of South Bruce Peninsula. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  7. ↑ Town of South Bruce Peninsula Police Services. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016 http://www.southbrucepeninsula.com/en/townhall/police_services_board.asp. Retrieved 3 March 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ Gowan, Rob (18 October 2016). "Gammie holds Sauble land claim meeting". Sun Times. Owen Sound. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  9. ↑ "South Bruce Peninsula". Town of South Bruce Peninsula Healthcare. Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "2016 Community Profiles". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  11. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  12. 1 2 "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  13. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  14. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001 census
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.