Collingwood, Ontario - Ontario's Recreational Oasis on Georgian Bay
The town of Collingwood has been growing in popularity among urban dwellers who favour a greener and cleaner living space, away from the daily chaos of city life. Located in Simcoe County in Ontario and situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay, this picturesque town may be an ideal choice for new buyers looking for an affordable home. In fact, last year Macleans named Collingwood as one of Canada’s 25 best places to live, and rightly so, for its proximity to Blue Mountain, a scenic ski resort and Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, a biosphere reserve. With its lush parks and trails, vibrant community and great schools, it is no wonder Collingwood has become a haven for those looking to part ways with modern city life and start a fresh chapter.
History and Population
First inhabited by the Iroquoian-speaking Petun nation, the area was eventually claimed by European settlers in the 1840s. Later with the advent of the Simcoe and Huron Railway in the 1850s, Collingwood’s harbour became a shipping point for goods travelling to Thunder Bay and the upper Great Lake ports of Chicago. After the World War II, shipbuilding emerged as one of the key industries in the town until 1980s when competition and other factors led to its collapse.
Today, Collingwood is the biggest industrial employer in the region with several manufacturing companies. Populated by approximately 24,000 residents, Collingwood’s growing real estate market is attracting both retirees and “boomer” home buyers.
Economy
Some of Collingwood’s primary industries are Pilkington Glass of Canada, Goodall Trelleborg Rubber Ltd., Collingwood General & Marine Hospital, and VOAC Inc. The whiskey brand, Canadian Mist, is also distilled in Collingwood.
Recreation and hospitality industries make up a large part of Collingwood’s economy given its attractive location on the southern shores of the Georgian Bay, neighbouring Blue Mountain and Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The Village at Blue Mountain has a number of restaurants, cafes, golf courses and the sprawling 25 acre Scandinave Spa.
Last year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) listed Collingwood fifth overall and third among mid-sized cities for entrepreneurship in Canada.
Entertainment and Attraction
Collingwood is not only a charming lake side town but also allows for a range of diverse outdoor activities. Collingwood offers the chance to breathe in some of the freshest air and swim in the cleanest water in Canada. After all, Wasaga beach has been declared as a Blue Flag destination, an eco label awarded to only 24 beaches in Canada.
Regardless of the season, there is never a dull moment in this town. Fun summer activities include cycling around the Georgian Bay Trails or sailing on one of Collingwood’s many marines, such as Ruperts Landing, Cranberry Resort, Thornbury Marina and the Collingwood Downtown Harbour Front, while skiing and snowboarding are popular in the winter season. Moreover, some of the top rated gold courses, Monterra Golf, Batteaux Creek Golf Club, OslerBrook Golf and Country Club, the Georgian Bay Club, and Lora Bay Golf Club, are all found within a 15 minute drive of Collingwood.
The quaint downtown area hosts a number of boutiques, restaurants, cafes and stores as well as contains several landmarks like the Shipyards redevelopment on former site of Collingwood Shipbuilding, Collingwood Terminals grain elevator, and the town hall. Collingwood Heritage Conservation District, known locally as Creative Simcoe Street, harbours art galleries, a museum and a library as well as the Simcoe Street Theatre.
Schools
For families with school aged children, the good new is that Collingwood has some of the best schools in Simcoe county, including the new and specialized French elementary Catholic school, e Notre-Dame-de-la-Huronie. Collingwood also has a thriving Youth Centre that offers after school programs, camps, and community activities for kids aged 10-17.
Even in terms of post-secondary education, Collingwood does not lag behind. The southern campus of Georgian Bay College is located in Collingwood and was ranked third in the world in 2013.
As this brief guide highlights, there is hardly a shortage of reasons to buy a home in Collingwood. A perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts, Collingwood has a variety of amenities that can occupy both the young and old. Whether it is boating on the clear waters of the Georgian Bay or skiing down the slopes at Blue Mountain, the tranquil town has got it all. The best part however is Collingwood’s affordable housing market. With the ever sky rocketing rates of real estate in the GTA, people of all ages are now eyeing the prospects of owning a home in Collingwood and even starting a local business in the lively and entrepreneurial community. Only a short distance from the metropolitan, Collingwood offers a true escape to a serene yet active life for anyone who prefers a gust of fresh breeze over the smog filled city air.
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