Georgian Bay, Ontario

The Township of Georgian Bay is an area municipality of the District Municipality of Muskoka, in south-central Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Severn River, where it empties into the eponymous Georgian Bay. The municipal offices are at Port Severn.

Georgian Bay
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is located in Southern Ontario
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Coordinates: 44°59′N 79°49′W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
District municipalityMuskoka
Government
 • TypeTownship
 • MayorPeter Koetsier [1]
 • Governing BodyGeorgian Bay Township Council
 • MPScott Aitchison (CPC)
 • MPPNorm Miller (OPC)
Area
[2]
 • Land547.61 km2 (211.43 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total2,499
 • Density4.6/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code span
L0K
Area code(s)705, 249
Websitewww.gbtownship.ca

This township is the administrative centre of the Moose Deer Point Ojibway First Nation reserve.

Local Government

Georgian Bay is governed by a mayor, two district councillors and four councillors, with each councillor representing each of the four municipal wards. The Mayor of Georgian Bay represents the town on the Muskoka County Council. As of the 2022 election, the elected council members are:[4]

Mayor: Peter Koetsier

District Councillors:

  • Wards 1 & 3: Brian Bochek
  • Wards 2 & 4: Peter Cooper

Councillors:

  • Ward 1: Steven Predko
  • Ward 2: Stephen Jarvis
  • Ward 3: Kristian Graziano
  • Ward 4: Allan Hazelton

Communities
Little Bluff Conservation Area in South Bay

The township contains the communities of Bayview Park, Big Chute, Cedar Nook, Crooked Bay, Franceville, Go Home, Honey Harbour, Macey Bay, MacTier, Moon River, Potters Landing, South Bay, Wolverine Beach and Wood Landing.

Honey Harbour serves as a launching point to the "30,000 Islands" that make up the Georgian Bay geography. The islands, that are accessible from Honey Harbour, are dotted with hundreds to thousands of cottages. The cottages serve mostly as summer residences. Many very large cottages have been built recently, which has resulted in an increase in property values. The economic cycle of Honey Harbour is tied to the cycle of the cottagers. Honey Harbour has a small grocery store ("Towne Centre" and Picnic Island Resort, which features its own general store and gas bar), a post office, a liquor store, a bakery, a Catholic church and school, a public elementary school, several small craft stores, a large resort (the "Delawana Resort"), and several marinas. In addition to cottages, there are multiple waterfront trailer park resorts. There are also numerous clean beaches lining both the shore and islands, inhabited by the diverse Ontario wildlife.

The double H's of Honey Harbour are a play on founder's name Harvey Hewitt of Pasadena, California. Hewitt was also the original pioneer and co-developer of Woolite.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Georgian Bay had a population of 3,441 living in 1,660 of its 5,175 total private dwellings, a change of 36.9% from its 2016 population of 2,514. With a land area of 525.29 km2 (202.82 sq mi), it had a population density of 6.6/km2 (17.0/sq mi) in 2021.[5]

Canada census – Georgian Bay community profile
202120162011
Population3,441 (+36.9% from 2016)2,499 (0.7% from 2011)2,482[6] (6.1% from 2006)
Land area525.29 km2 (202.82 sq mi)547.61 km2 (211.43 sq mi)546.97 km2 (211.19 sq mi)
Population density6.6/km2 (17/sq mi)4.6/km2 (12/sq mi)4.5/km2 (12/sq mi)
Median age58.4 (M: 58.4, F: 58.4)56.2 (M: 55.9, F: 56.4)
Private dwellings5,175 (total)  1,660 (occupied)4,700 (total)  5,173[6] (total) 
Median household income$82,000$59,981
References: 2021[7] 2016[8] 2011[9] earlier[10][11]

Water bodies

Culture

Library

There are library branches in Honey Harbour and MacTier, and a satellite library branch in the new Township Community Services Building in Port Severn. These libraries are popular destinations for recreational reading materials, DVDs, and tourist information. Services include information and reference services, access to full text databases, community information; internet access, reader's advisory services, programs for children, youth and adults, delivery to homebound individuals, interlibrary loan, and free downloadable audiobooks.

Items within the libraries' collection are business directories, phone books, maps, government publications, books, periodicals, genealogy, local history.

Transportation

Intercity motor coach service to MacTier is available through Ontario Northland along its Toronto–Barrie–Parry Sound–Sudbury route's local schedule; it is bypassed by express schedules, but still receives twice-daily service northbound and southbound.

See also

References
  1. "Certificate of Election Results" (PDF). Township of Georgian Bay. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  2. "Georgian Bay census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  3. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Georgian Bay, Township". Statistics Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  4. "Certificate of Election Results" (PDF). www.gbtownship.ca. October 24, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  5. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  6. "Corrections and updates: Population and dwelling count amendments, 2011 Census". Statistics Canada. February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  7. "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  8. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  9. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  10. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  11. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
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