Georgina, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Georgina is a town in south-central Ontario
, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. It forms part of the northern boundary of the Greater Toronto Area
and is situated on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe
. Although incorporated as a town, it operates as a township, in which dispersed communities share a common administrative council. The largest communities are Keswick
, Sutton
and Jackson's Point; smaller communities include Pefferlaw
, Port Bolster, Udora
and Willow Beach. The estimated population in 2011 was 51,000.
The town was incorporated in 1986 and was formed by the merger of the Village of Sutton, the Township of Georgina and the Township of North Gwillimbury in 1971, but the area's history dates back to the 18th century. North Gwillimbury took its name from the family of Elizabeth Simcoe
, née Gwillim.
, Belhaven, Sutton
, Jackson's Point, Baldwin, Virginia
, Pefferlaw
, Port Bolster, Udora
and Willow Beach.
Census:
The Town of Georgina is growing at a fast rate mostly due to beach lovers leaving the hustle and bustle of Toronto
to relax. It has been a favourite for retirees.
Racial profile
Religions
The Town of Georgina operates under a ward system, and its Municipal Council consists of the Mayor, Regional Councillor (known procedurally as Deputy Mayor) and a Councillor for each of the five wards. The current council consists of:
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor represent Georgina at meetings of York Region Council.
Georgina is part of the Federal riding of York—Simcoe
, represented by Peter Van Loan
of the Conservative Party
, elected in 2006.
Provincially, it was part of the riding of York North
until 2007 and is now part of Provinical riding of York-Simcoe, represented by Julia Munro
of the Progressive Conservative Party
, who was first elected in 1995.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. It forms part of the northern boundary of the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
and is situated on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
. Although incorporated as a town, it operates as a township, in which dispersed communities share a common administrative council. The largest communities are Keswick
Keswick, Ontario
Keswick is a community in the south central portion of the Canadian province of Ontario. Located north of Toronto on Cook's Bay , Keswick is part of the Town of Georgina...
, Sutton
Sutton, Ontario
Sutton is a suburban community located nearly 2 km south of Lake Simcoe in Ontario, Canada. The community was formerly a village but is now part of the Town of Georgina after amalgamation with it and North Gwillimbury in 1971.-Geography and information:...
and Jackson's Point; smaller communities include Pefferlaw
Pefferlaw, Ontario
Pefferlaw is a community within the Town of Georgina, located 3 kilometres south of the southeastern shores of Lake Simcoe and in the eastern end of the town. A river, known officially as the Pefferlaw River, runs just south of the community's commercial district...
, Port Bolster, Udora
Udora, Ontario
Udora is a small rural community in Ontario, Canada. It has a population estimated to be around 500 and is situated in the most south-eastern part of Georgina, split between York Region and Durham Region. The town was originally known as Snoddon Corners and was the location of the Snoddon Hotel....
and Willow Beach. The estimated population in 2011 was 51,000.
The town was incorporated in 1986 and was formed by the merger of the Village of Sutton, the Township of Georgina and the Township of North Gwillimbury in 1971, but the area's history dates back to the 18th century. North Gwillimbury took its name from the family of Elizabeth Simcoe
Elizabeth Simcoe
Elizabeth Simcoe was an artist and diarist in colonial Canada. She was the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.-Biography:...
, née Gwillim.
Municipal composition
The main centres in Georgina are the communities of KeswickKeswick, Ontario
Keswick is a community in the south central portion of the Canadian province of Ontario. Located north of Toronto on Cook's Bay , Keswick is part of the Town of Georgina...
, Belhaven, Sutton
Sutton, Ontario
Sutton is a suburban community located nearly 2 km south of Lake Simcoe in Ontario, Canada. The community was formerly a village but is now part of the Town of Georgina after amalgamation with it and North Gwillimbury in 1971.-Geography and information:...
, Jackson's Point, Baldwin, Virginia
Virginia, Ontario
Virginia is a community in the town of Georgina, Ontario, Canada. The community is centered at Highway 48 and Hadden Road.- External links :...
, Pefferlaw
Pefferlaw, Ontario
Pefferlaw is a community within the Town of Georgina, located 3 kilometres south of the southeastern shores of Lake Simcoe and in the eastern end of the town. A river, known officially as the Pefferlaw River, runs just south of the community's commercial district...
, Port Bolster, Udora
Udora, Ontario
Udora is a small rural community in Ontario, Canada. It has a population estimated to be around 500 and is situated in the most south-eastern part of Georgina, split between York Region and Durham Region. The town was originally known as Snoddon Corners and was the location of the Snoddon Hotel....
and Willow Beach.
Demographics
According to the 2006 Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
Census:
- Population: 42,346
- % Change (2001–2006): 7.9%
- Dwellings: 15,518 (2001)
- Area (km².): 287.72
- Density (persons per km².): 136.5 (2001)
The Town of Georgina is growing at a fast rate mostly due to beach lovers leaving the hustle and bustle of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to relax. It has been a favourite for retirees.
Racial profile
- 96.1% WhiteWhite peopleWhite people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
- 1.6% AboriginalAboriginal peoples in CanadaAboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
- 0.5% BlackBlackBlack is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
- 0.3% Chinese
Religions
- 45.7% Protestant
- 22.4% Roman Catholic
- 3.3% other ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
- 0.3% Jewish
- 28.3% non-religious
Government
- Mayor: Robert Grossi
- Deputy Mayor/Regional Councillor: Danny Wheeler
- Councillor Ward 1: Naomi Davison
- Councillor Ward 2: Phil Craig
- Councillor Ward 3: Dave Szollosy
- Councillor Ward 4: Ken Hackenbrook
- Councillor Ward 5: Brad Smockum
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor represent Georgina at meetings of York Region Council.
Georgina is part of the Federal riding of York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979, from 1988 to 1997 and since 2004.It covers part of the region north of Toronto by Lake Simcoe....
, represented by Peter Van Loan
Peter Van Loan
Peter Van Loan, PC MP is a Canadian politician who is the Member of Parliament for the electoral district of York—Simcoe. He has been the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons since May 18, 2011, a role he previously held from 2007 to 2008.-Biography:Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Van...
of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
, elected in 2006.
Provincially, it was part of the riding of York North
York North
York North was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from Confederation in 1867 until 2004. It is also an electoral district that was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 2007...
until 2007 and is now part of Provinical riding of York-Simcoe, represented by Julia Munro
Julia Munro
Julia Munro is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the Greater Toronto Area riding of York—Simcoe for the Progressive Conservative Party....
of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
, who was first elected in 1995.
Notable residents
- Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame member Whipper Billy WatsonWhipper Billy WatsonWilliam John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
was a life-long resident, and he spearheaded the campaign to build the Georgina Cultural Centre in the 1980s, which also houses the Stephen Leacock Theatre. - Keswick is the birthplace and childhood home of former NHL goaltender Curtis JosephCurtis JosephCurtis Shayne Joseph is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League....
- Captain William JohnsonCaptain William JohnsonCaptain William Johnson was born in Chirnside, Scotland on September 19, 1784. He was a second lieutenant on HMS Blake and retired with the title of Captain. When he entered the Navy in 1801 he dropped the "t" and "e" from his last name which was previously Johnstone.He later founded the town of...
. - Noted writer Stephen LeacockStephen LeacockStephen Butler Leacock, FRSC was an English-born Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist...
settled on a farm near Egypt, Ontario in Georgina.
Attractions
- Canadian Ice Fishing Championships Annual Ice Fishing Championships.
- Captain William Johnson's Old Mill
- St. George's Anglican Church, built in 1877 by the pioneering Sibbald family and burial place of Stephen LeacockStephen LeacockStephen Butler Leacock, FRSC was an English-born Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist...
and Mazo de la RocheMazo de la RocheMazo de la Roche , born Mazo Louise Roche in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, was the author of the Jalna novels, one of the most popular series of books of her time.-Early life:... - Roche's Point Anglican Church, built in 1862
- Red Barn Theatre, Canada's oldest summer stock theatre.
- Stephen Leacock Theatre
- Duclos Point Nature Reserve
- Georgina Arts Centre and Gallery
- Georgina Pioneer Village & Museum
- The Peter GzowskiPeter GzowskiPeter Gzowski, was a Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter, most famous for his work on the CBC radio show Morningside. His first biographer argued that Gzowski's contribution to Canadian media must be considered in the context of efforts by a generation of Canadian nationalists to understand...
Festival of Stories - Georgina Public LibrariesGeorgina Public LibrariesGeorgina Public Libraries is a library system operating under the Town of Georgina Department of Leisure Services in Keswick, Sutton and Pefferlaw Ontario, Canada...
- Georgina Skate Park
- Georgina Studio Tour
- York Regional Forests
- Sibbald Point Provincial ParkSibbald Point Provincial ParkSibbald Point Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Sutton West, Ontario, Canada on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe, 70 km north of Toronto...
- Sutton Fair and Horse Show
- Walking Trails
- The Briars Resort and Golf Club, built and owned by the Sibbald family
- Ice FishingIce fishingIce fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
, Georgina was proclaimed the Ice Fishing Capital of North America in the 1990s - Willow Beach Conservation Area
Local clubs and associations
- Georgina IceGeorgina IceThe Georgina Ice are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Georgina, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association since 1994.-History:...
Junior C Hockey - Georgina-Brock Garden Club
- Georgina Girls Hockey Association
- Georgina Minor Baseball Association
- Georgina Minor Hockey Association
- Georgina Trail Riders Snowmobile Club
- Kinsmen Club of Keswick
- Lake Simcoe Gardeners
- Lake Simcoe Soccer Club
- Sail Georgina
- South Lake Simcoe Naturalists (Nature Group)
- Sutton Agricultural Society
- Kinsmen Club of Sutton (Service Club)
- Georgina Military Museum