Owen Sound, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Owen Sound the county seat of Grey County
, is a city in Southern
(Southwestern)
Ontario
, Canada
. Owen Sound is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi
and Sydenham Rivers on an inlet of Georgian Bay
named Owen Sound Bay.
was first formally surveyed in 1815 by William Fitzwilliam Owen
and Lieutenant Henry W. Bayfield. The inlet was named "Owen's Sound" in honour of Admiral Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen, the explorer Owen's older brother.
The city of Owen Sound was originally known as Sydenham when it was first settled in 1841 by Charles Rankin
. Prior to that the area had been inhabited by the Ojibwa
y people. The city gained its current name in 1851 and was incorporated in 1857. For much of its history, Owen Sound was a major port city, known as the "Chicago
of the North". Its location on Georgian Bay
gave it access to the upper Great Lakes, and major rail lines moved cargo south from there. Port duties have declined dramatically since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway allowed shipping directly to the lower lakes and dramatically lowered costs compared to transshipment
via Owen Sound. Being both the gateway to cottage country
, and in the heart of Ontario's beef, apple and corn region, farming and tourism are still integral parts of the local economy.
At one time, Owen Sound's roaring seaport made it a rowdy town that was known to sailors as "Little Liverpool
". Louis' Steakhouse, a popular upscale restaurant just outside of town, was opened by the Gavaris family in the 1980s and the historic building has changed hands several times since. It was originally a brothel
where the madam
would stand from its castle-like tower and watch the port
for a ship to come in, and she would ready her prostitutes to excite the sailor
s. This reputation for vice and villainy, and the problems that came with it, caused the city to ban all drinking establishments for several decades. The city was "dry"
until 1972.
One of the city's most famous sons was World War I
flying ace
and Victoria Cross
winner William Avery "Billy" Bishop
, Canada's leading pilot in the war. Bishop is also one of the few to have tangled with the Red Baron and survived, forcing the German
pilot to retreat in a damaged aircraft. The Billy Bishop Regional Airport
in the nearby Municipality of Meaford
was named after him. His modest gravesite can be visited in the city's Greenwood Cemetery
by those willing to take the time to locate the stone. His boyhood home is now a museum dedicated to his life and to Canada's aviation history. The town was also the home of NHL Hall-of-Fame goaltender Harry Lumley and the artist Tom Thomson
(buried in the nearby village of Leith
). Surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune, an avowed communist and pioneer of public medicine who gained notoriety in his innovative medical work with the Chinese
army during the Second Sino-Japanese War
, is an alumnus of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute
. Legendary hockey broadcaster Bill Hewitt
was once sports director of the local AM radio station, CFOS. Tommy Holmes, another Victoria Cross winner, was also from Owen Sound, and the city's armoury
bears his name.
Owen Sound is home of SummerFolk Festival, a popular folk festival that takes place annually in August. Summerfolk attracts over 4,000 people annually to the shores of Georgian Bay, specifically Kelso Beach Park located on the West shore of Owen Sound. The festival has run continuously since 1977 and is nationally renowned for its music and craft excellence. Many performers who have played there have gone on to great commercial success, such as Leahy
, Valdy
, The Rankins and Natalie MacMaster
. Other more commercial Canadian talent has also graced the stages of summerfolk over the years with the likes of Gowan
, Rik Emmett
, Blue Rodeo
and Bruce Cockburn
. One of Summerfolk's most famous and revered performers was Stan Rogers. The Main stage features a memorial to Stan and is dedicated to his memory.
In 2005 Owen Sound became the National Communities in Bloom
champion in the cities of 20,001–50,000 category in Canada for its beauty, natural landscape, and strong sense of community.
(Köppen climate classification
Dfb) that is moderated by Lake Huron
. Winters are cold and very snowy, while summers are warm and humid. Precipitation is moderately high, with an annual average of 1100 mm.
Grey County, Ontario
Grey County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is in Owen Sound. The population was 92,411 in 2006. It is located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Southwestern Ontario...
, is a city in Southern
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
(Southwestern)
Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
Ontario
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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Owen Sound is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi
Pottawatomi River
The Pottawatomi River is a river in Grey County in southern Ontario which empties into Georgian Bay at Owen Sound.The river drops over the Niagara Escarpment at Jones Falls.-External links:*...
and Sydenham Rivers on an inlet of Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
named Owen Sound Bay.
History
This area of the upper Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
was first formally surveyed in 1815 by William Fitzwilliam Owen
William Fitzwilliam Owen
Vice Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen , was a British naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his exploration of the west and east African coasts, discovery of the Seaflower Channel off the coast of Sumatra and for surveying the Canadian Great Lakes...
and Lieutenant Henry W. Bayfield. The inlet was named "Owen's Sound" in honour of Admiral Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen, the explorer Owen's older brother.
The city of Owen Sound was originally known as Sydenham when it was first settled in 1841 by Charles Rankin
Charles Rankin
Charles Rankin 1797 - 1886, born in Enniskillen, Ireland, died at Owen Sound, Ontario. Charles Rankin moved to Upper Canada in his early years, in 1820 he was appointed deputy provincial surveyor and worked in the Southwestern Ontario area. He began work in Nottawasaga Bay in 1833 and settled on...
. Prior to that the area had been inhabited by the Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
y people. The city gained its current name in 1851 and was incorporated in 1857. For much of its history, Owen Sound was a major port city, known as the "Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
of the North". Its location on Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
gave it access to the upper Great Lakes, and major rail lines moved cargo south from there. Port duties have declined dramatically since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway allowed shipping directly to the lower lakes and dramatically lowered costs compared to transshipment
Transshipment
Transshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
via Owen Sound. Being both the gateway to cottage country
Cottage country
Cottage country is a common name in Eastern Canada for areas that are popular locations for recreational properties such as cottages and summer homes. The name is often applied locally; that is, any major population centre may have its own popular "cottage country" area...
, and in the heart of Ontario's beef, apple and corn region, farming and tourism are still integral parts of the local economy.
At one time, Owen Sound's roaring seaport made it a rowdy town that was known to sailors as "Little Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
". Louis' Steakhouse, a popular upscale restaurant just outside of town, was opened by the Gavaris family in the 1980s and the historic building has changed hands several times since. It was originally a brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
where the madam
Madam
Madam, or madame, is a polite title used for women which, in English, is the equivalent of Mrs. or Ms., and is often found abbreviated as "ma'am", and less frequently as "ma'm". It is derived from the French madame, which means "my lady", the feminine form of lord; the plural of ma dame in this...
would stand from its castle-like tower and watch the port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
for a ship to come in, and she would ready her prostitutes to excite the sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s. This reputation for vice and villainy, and the problems that came with it, caused the city to ban all drinking establishments for several decades. The city was "dry"
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
until 1972.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
and Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
winner William Avery "Billy" Bishop
Billy Bishop
Air Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace, and according to some sources, the top ace of the British Empire.-Early life:Bishop was born in Owen Sound,...
, Canada's leading pilot in the war. Bishop is also one of the few to have tangled with the Red Baron and survived, forcing the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pilot to retreat in a damaged aircraft. The Billy Bishop Regional Airport
Owen Sound/Billy Bishop Regional Airport
Owen Sound Billy Bishop Regional Airport or Billy Bishop Regional Airport, , is located east of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. The airport is named for World War I flying ace Billy Bishop....
in the nearby Municipality of Meaford
Meaford, Ontario
Meaford is a Canadian municipality in Grey County, Ontario. Meaford is located on Nottawasaga Bay, a sub-basin of Georgian Bay, in southern Ontario....
was named after him. His modest gravesite can be visited in the city's Greenwood Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
by those willing to take the time to locate the stone. His boyhood home is now a museum dedicated to his life and to Canada's aviation history. The town was also the home of NHL Hall-of-Fame goaltender Harry Lumley and the artist Tom Thomson
Tom Thomson
Thomas John Thomson , also known as Tom Thomson, was an influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. He directly influenced a group of Canadian painters that would come to be known as the Group of Seven, and though he died before they formally formed, he is sometimes incorrectly credited...
(buried in the nearby village of Leith
Leith, Ontario
The unincorporated village of Leith, named after Leith, Scotland, is located on the eastern shore of the Owen Sound, an inlet on the south shore of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, about 9 km northeast of the city of Owen Sound, Ontario in Canada. Leith was established on the Telfer Creek where it...
). Surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune, an avowed communist and pioneer of public medicine who gained notoriety in his innovative medical work with the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
army during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, is an alumnus of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute , located in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, is one of the oldest schools in Canada having been founded in 1856 and in the late 1880s and early 1890s was the most academically successful school in Ontario....
. Legendary hockey broadcaster Bill Hewitt
Bill Hewitt
Foster William Alfred Hewitt was a Canadian radio and television sportscaster. He was the son of hockey broadcaster Foster Hewitt and the grandson of Toronto Star sports journalist W. A. Hewitt.Hewitt excelled at football, track & field and hockey, while at Upper Canada College...
was once sports director of the local AM radio station, CFOS. Tommy Holmes, another Victoria Cross winner, was also from Owen Sound, and the city's armoury
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
bears his name.
Owen Sound is home of SummerFolk Festival, a popular folk festival that takes place annually in August. Summerfolk attracts over 4,000 people annually to the shores of Georgian Bay, specifically Kelso Beach Park located on the West shore of Owen Sound. The festival has run continuously since 1977 and is nationally renowned for its music and craft excellence. Many performers who have played there have gone on to great commercial success, such as Leahy
Leahy
Leahy is the name of a Canadian folk music group. The eight band members, all from the Leahy family of eleven siblings, are from Lakefield, Ontario and have been actively touring Canada and internationally since the early 1980s when they were known as The Leahy Family...
, Valdy
Valdy
Paul Valdemar Horsdal, CM , commonly known as Valdy, is a Canadian folk musician whose solo career began in the early 1970s. He is known for "Rock and Roll Song", his first mainstream single released in mid-1972 on Haida/A&M.He was a member of the London Town Criers during the 1960s and...
, The Rankins and Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
. Other more commercial Canadian talent has also graced the stages of summerfolk over the years with the likes of Gowan
Gowan
Gowan can refer to:Sport:*Gowan Rugby, Ancient Mouri form of non contact rugbyPeople:* Peter Gowan, academic* Lawrence Gowan, a Canadian musician who used the stage name Gowan* Hunter Gowan, Irish Protestant politician and militiaman...
, Rik Emmett
Rik Emmett
Richard Gordon Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of the Canadian rock band Triumph. Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Absolutely, was released in 1990 and became a moderate hit across North America thanks to the hits "When a Heart...
, Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
and Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
. One of Summerfolk's most famous and revered performers was Stan Rogers. The Main stage features a memorial to Stan and is dedicated to his memory.
In 2005 Owen Sound became the National Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization that fosters friendly competition between Canadian communities to beautify their civic spaces. It was established in 1995 as a national competition between 29 communities, and has since expanded to include competitions in various...
champion in the cities of 20,001–50,000 category in Canada for its beauty, natural landscape, and strong sense of community.
Geography & climate
Owen Sound experiences a humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb) that is moderated by Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
. Winters are cold and very snowy, while summers are warm and humid. Precipitation is moderately high, with an annual average of 1100 mm.
The city's downtown is located in a deep valley in the Niagara Escarpment
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
.
Culture and events
Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival
The Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival is an annual music festival held in Owen Sound, Ontario that takes place during the third weekend in August. The festival was founded in 1975 by brothers Tim and John Harrison...
, held every August, and the Festival of Northern Lights
Festival of Northern Lights
The Festival of Northern Lights is a large award winning display of Christmas lights in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.The Festival runs from mid November well into January each year. It consists of more than 350 lighted displays and approximately of light strings displayed over several miles of city...
, a large Christmas lights festival with many displays along the Sydenham River, downtown, and in Harrison Park, held from November until January every Winter, as well as A Novel Marathon, a special event fund raiser for the Adult Literacy Program of the Owen Sound and North Grey Public Library.
In 2007 Owen Sound celebrated its 150th year since incorporation, with special events throughout the year highlighted by the 10-day Homecoming 2007 celebrations July 27 to August 5.
Theatrically, the city's 400-seat Roxy Theatre, owned and operated by the Owen Sound Little Theatre, is used for the city's professional live theatre performances, as well as some concerts. The Youth Theatre Coalition is also prevalent in the area. It is a youth theatre company run entirely by youth and for youth. The organization presents musical, theatrical, and concert type performances throughout the year.
The city is also home to a good number of museums and cultural attractions, including:
- Grey Roots Museum and ArchivesGrey Roots Museum and ArchivesGrey Roots Museum and Archives began as a county museum in 1955. Since then it has taken a large role in preserving the history and promoting the heritage of Grey County....
– showcasing the history of the city of Owen Sound and Grey County - Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery – featuring a large collection of memorabilia and works from Tom ThomsonTom ThomsonThomas John Thomson , also known as Tom Thomson, was an influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. He directly influenced a group of Canadian painters that would come to be known as the Group of Seven, and though he died before they formally formed, he is sometimes incorrectly credited...
, one of Canada's most famous artists who grew up in the Owen Sound area. - Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum – showcasing the city's rich history in rail and water transportation and its role in the growth of Ontario.
- Billy Bishop Heritage Museum – located in the former Billy Bishop homeBilly Bishop Home and MuseumThe Billy Bishop Home & Museum is a museum and National Historic Site of Canada in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada that commemorates the life and achievements of World War I flying ace and Victoria Cross winner Air Marshall William Avery Billy Bishop VC, CB, DSO and Bar, MC, DFC, and to Canada's...
, dedicated to the life and times of Billy BishopBilly BishopAir Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace, and according to some sources, the top ace of the British Empire.-Early life:Bishop was born in Owen Sound,...
and Canada's history in aviation. - Black History Cairn – located in historic Harrison Park, celebrating Owen Sound's status as a northern terminus of the Underground RailroadUnderground RailroadThe Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. - Owen Sound Farmer's Market – occupying the same location since 1868, the Market is open every Saturday morning throughout the year and hosts a wide variety of growers and artisans.
- Today Owen Sound's Beth Ezekiel Synagogue, a designated building under Ontario's Heritage Act, remains the last example of the early small town synagogueSynagogueA synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
- Georgian Bay SymphonyGeorgian Bay SymphonyThe Georgian Bay Symphony located in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada was founded in 1972 by a small group of dedicated area musicians. The GBS is a community orchestra with over 60 volunteer musicians and a core group of professionals under the musical direction of John Barnum...
– is a regional community orchestra consisting of 55 volunteer musicians and five professional core string players. The Symphony performs 5 Main Concerts a year at the OSCVI as well as performing at various civic events. - Each year, the City of Owen Sound hosts the Owen Sound Cultural Awards (the "OSCAs"). A community jury selects winners in up to 10 award categories, presented at a gala entertainment event in mid-autumn.
- Over the past twelve years, 37 different writers have created 86 short novels, made friends and raised thousands of dollars for the Adult Learning Centre.
- The Owen Sound City Band circa 1923 is a volunteer organization whose membership is made up of amateur musicians of all ages and abilities, from high school students to senior citizens. The band plays a wide range of music from Dixieland, Golden Oldies and Classical to Movie Themes and Easy Listening and medium Rock. Venues include Canada Day Events (Kelso Beach), Christmas Parades; in the city, neighbouring towns and villages through-out Grey and Bruce Counties, Opening ceremonies such as Festival of Northern Lights and various nursing homes.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 3,369 |
| 1881 | 4,426 |
| 1891 | 7,497 |
| 1901 | 8,776 |
| 1911 | 12,559 |
| 1921 | 12,190 |
| 1931 | 12,839 |
| 1941 | 13,810 |
| 1951 | 16,423 |
| 1961 | 17,421 |
| 1971 | 18,469 |
| 1981 | 19,883 |
| 1991 | 21,674 |
| 2001 | 21,431 |
| 2006 | 21,753 |
Owen Sound had a population of 21,753 people in 2006, which was an increase of 1.4% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Owen Sound was $40,919, which is below the Ontario provincial average of $60,455.
Education
Owen Sound is home to a campus of Georgian CollegeGeorgian College
Georgian College is an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology. Its primary campus is in Barrie, Ontario, with satellite campuses in Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, Bracebridge, Port Colborne, Orangeville, and Owen Sound....
. The campus, which currently offers 11 full-time programs, is known worldwide for its Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre. The centre trains professionals already working in the marine industry and students enrolled in the Marine Navigation Technology program and the Marine Engineering Technology program. Owen Sound is also home to Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute , located in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, is one of the oldest schools in Canada having been founded in 1856 and in the late 1880s and early 1890s was the most academically successful school in Ontario....
, one of Canada's oldest schools having been founded in 1856.
Transportation
Highway 6 (Ontario)
King's Highway 6, also known as Highway 6, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It crosses a distance of between Port Dover on the north shore of Lake Erie and Espanola on the northern shore of Lake Huron, ending at the Trans-Canada Highway in McKerrow.- Port...
, 10
Highway 10 (Ontario)
King's Highway 10, commonly referred to as Highway 10 and historically as the Toronto–Sydenham Road, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
, 21
Highway 21 (Ontario)
King's Highway 21, commonly referred to as Highway 21, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that begins at Highway 402 mid-way between Sarnia and London and ends at Highway 6, Highway 10 and Highway 26 in Owen Sound...
and 26
Highway 26 (Ontario)
King's Highway 26, commonly referred to as Highway 26, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting the cities of Barrie and Owen Sound.- Route description :...
, the city serves as a gateway to the Bruce Peninsula
Bruce Peninsula
The Bruce Peninsula is a peninsula in Ontario, Canada that lies between Georgian Bay and the main basin of Lake Huron. The peninsula extends roughly northwestwards from the rest of Southern Ontario, pointing towards Manitoulin Island, with which it forms the widest strait joining Georgian Bay to...
.
Owen Sound Transit
Owen Sound Transit
Owen Sound Transit provides local bus service and specialized transit for the city of Owen Sound, Ontario, which is located at the southwest end of Georgian Bay....
provides local bus service and specialized transportation for those unable to use the regular transit buses.
As home port of the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited
Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited
This is an historical account of the Owen Sound Transportation Company, Limited , the forerunner of the enterprise that currently operates the vehicle and passenger ferry - M.S. Chi-Cheemaun - between Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. For updated...
, the inner harbour is where the MS Chi-Cheemaun car ferry from Tobermory
Tobermory, Ontario
Tobermory is a small community located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula in the municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. It is 300 km northwest of Toronto...
to South Baymouth is docked during the winter months.
The Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
Owen Sound subdivision connected Orangeville
Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County.-History:Before European settlers, Orangeville was thought to be a native hunting ground...
and Owen Sound. Service was discontinued and the line was formally abandoned in 1995. The Canadian National Railway subdivision connected Guelph and Owen Sound via Palmerston, this line was discontinued in the 1990s.
Aircraft flying to Owen Sound may land at the Owen Sound Billy Bishop Regional Airport (CYOS).
Industry
The Parrish & Heimbecker Grain Terminal (Great Lakes Elevator Co Ltd) is located in the inner harbour. The original CPR grain elevators were destroyed by fire in 1911.Health care
Grey Bruce Health Services
Grey Bruce Health Services is an amalgamation of health services in Grey and Bruce county.It includes six hospitals:*Lion's Head Hospital*Markdale Hospital*Meaford Hospital*Southampton Hospital*Wiarton Hospital*Owen Sound Hospital...
and has the largest hospital (Owen Sound Hospital) in the Grey County and Bruce County
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
region.
Recreation
The city is one of two (the other being BarrieBarrie
Barrie may refer to:* Barrie, city in Ontario, Canada* Barrie , Canadian federal electoral district* Barrie , provincial electoral district* Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, former Canadian electoral district...
) that are home to The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group...
Primary Reserve Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment, as well as various cadet corps.
Some of the largest rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
in the world have been caught in Owen Sound, and annual fishing derbies draw large participation from all over North America.
Southeast of the city are two popular Ontario ski resorts, Talisman and Beaver Valley. The city and area also have numerous snowmobile trails.
Sports
Owen Sound is the smallest city in Ontario (and one of the smallest in Canada) to host an OHL Major Junior HockeyCanadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
Team, in the Owen Sound Attack
Owen Sound Attack
The Owen Sound Attack are a junior ice hockey in the Ontario Hockey League since the year 2000. The Attack are based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
who play at the Bayshore Community Centre
Bayshore Community Centre
The Bayshore Community Centre contains the J.D. McArthur Arena, a 4,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. The facility was opened in 1983 on the east shore of Owen Sound Bay and replaced the city's old downtown arena.Known locally as "Bayshore Arena," it is home to the Owen...
arena.
- Owen Sound AttackOwen Sound AttackThe Owen Sound Attack are a junior ice hockey in the Ontario Hockey League since the year 2000. The Attack are based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
– Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... - Owen Sound GreysOwen Sound GreysThe Owen Sound Greys are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
– Mid-Western Junior Hockey League - Owen Sound WoodsmenOwen Sound WoodsmenThe Owen Sound NorthStars are a Canadian Senior box lacrosse team. The team played in the City of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada and participate in the OLA Senior B Lacrosse League...
– OLA Senior B Lacrosse LeagueOLA Senior B Lacrosse LeagueThe OLA Senior B Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Many of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League... - Owen Sound North Stars – OLA Junior B Lacrosse LeagueOLA Junior B Lacrosse LeagueThe Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association in Ontario, Canada.-History:The Junior "B" level of the Ontario Lacrosse Association has been around since at least 1964...
- Owen Sound United – Mid Western Soccer League
- Owen Sound Colts – Gridiron Elite League
Former teams
- Owen Sound MercurysOwen Sound MercurysThe Owen Sound Mercurys are a defunct Canadian senior ice hockey team. The team played in the City of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada and participated in the OHA Senior A Hockey League, the highest possible level of Canadian Senior hockey.-History:...
– OHA Senior A Hockey League - Owen Sound Crescents – OHA Senior A Hockey League
- Owen Sound Canadians – Northern Senior B Hockey League
- Owen Sound Trappers – OHA Intermediate A Hockey League
- Owen Sound PlatersOwen Sound PlatersOwen Sound Platers was a name used for a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, after the team was sold, new ownership renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.-History:...
– Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(became Attack) - Owen Sound North StarsOwen Sound North StarsThe Owen Sound North Stars are a defunct Canadian Senior box lacrosse team. The team played in the City of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada and participated in the Major Series Lacrosse and the OLA Senior B Lacrosse League...
– Major Series LacrosseMajor Series LacrosseMajor Series Lacrosse is a Senior A box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Most of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the... - Owen Sound Crescents – Major Series Lacrosse
Municipal government
Deborah Haswell (born 1960) is mayor of the city. A 13-year council veteran, she unseated popular incumbent Ruth Lovell Stanners by a mere 41 votes in the October, 2010, municipal electionGrey County municipal elections, 2010
Elections will be held in Grey County, Ontario on October 25, 2010 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.-Grey County Council:-The Blue Mountains:-Chatsworth:-Georgian Bluffs:-Grey Highlands:-Hanover:-Meaford:-Owen Sound:...
.
Jail
The County of Grey opened a complex in 1854, including a courthouse and police services, a land registry office and a county jail. In 1960, the County of Grey moved the courthouse and land registry to another location at the edge of present-day Owen Sound, Ontario. At that time, March 11, 1960, the County of Grey and the City of Owen Sound signed a two-part agreement that was subsequently passed into bylaw. The first part required that the City of Owen Sound immediately purchase the courthouse portion of the complex. Part two of the agreement requires the City of Owen Sound to purchase the jail portion when the County of Grey no longer needs it for its own use. This occurred in 1978, when the province of Ontario transferred the county jails to provincial entities. The County of Grey and the City of Owen Sound escaped the latter part of the 1960 agreement and have profited greatly ever since. The County of Grey receives a monthly payment (approximately $ 12,000 as of 2011) for which they have no obligation to maintain the property; the City of Owen Sound kept the police services in the old courthouse until 1987/88 and then leased it to an arts council. In doing so, the jail lost all of their former entrances and moved all activities to the side of the jail, immediately beside the adjacent residence.Notable residents
- Shelagh ArmstrongShelagh ArmstrongShelagh Armstrong is a Canadian illustrator, and was the recipient of the 1985 Will Davies award for excellence in illustration.Armstrong is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Ontario College of Art...
– artist - Cody BassCody BassCody Bass is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . He plays the forward position, and possesses the versatility to play either centre or wing....
– NHL and AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
player - Norman BethuneNorman BethuneHenry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
– physician and medical innovator - Billy BishopBilly BishopAir Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace, and according to some sources, the top ace of the British Empire.-Early life:Bishop was born in Owen Sound,...
– ace Canadian World War I pilot - Barry BrownBarry Brown (Canadian musician)Barry Brown is a Canadian country music artist and songwriter. Brown, a former member of Family Brown and Prescott-Brown. Both bands included his sister, singer Tracey Brown.-Biography:...
, Canadian country music singer-songwriter, former member of Family BrownFamily BrownFamily Brown was a Canadian country music band founded in 1967 by Joe Brown , along with his son Barry and daughters Lawanda and Tracey , as well as Dave Dennison and Ron Sparling . Between 1967 and 1990, the band charted several singles in both Canada and the United States...
and Prescott-BrownPrescott-BrownPrescott-Brown was a Canadian country music trio composed of Tracey Brown, her brother Barry and her husband Randall Prescott. Tracey is a former member of Canada's most awarded country band, Family Brown, Barry is an award winning songwriter, and Randall is one of Canada's most awarded producers... - Robert Pim ButchartButchart GardensThe Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive more than a million visitors each year...
– horticulturist - Hap DayHap DayClarence Henry "Happy" Day , later known as Hap Day, was a Canadian professional hockey player who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans...
– NHL player and member of the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup... - Cheryl HickeyCheryl HickeyCheryl Hickey is host of ET Canada, an entertainment news magazine for Global Television Network which launched on September 12, 2005....
– television personality - Janis Mackey FrayerJanis Mackey FrayerJanis Mackey Frayer is a Canadian journalist. She is currently the CTV National News South Asia Bureau Chief based in New Delhi. She was the network's Middle East Bureau Chief from 2003-2009....
– journalist - Heather HiscoxHeather HiscoxHeather Hiscox is a Canadian news anchor who hosts CBC News Now from 6 to 9 a.m. on weekdays on CBC News Network. She was also the host of the CBC's former flagship morning television program CBC News: Morning which became part of CBC News Now when the network re-branded itself in 2009.Hiscox was...
– CBC news anchor - Thomas William HolmesThomas William HolmesThomas William Holmes VC was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces, during the First World War...
– Canadian soldier and Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
recipient - Alvin "Buck" JonesAlvin "Buck" JonesAlvin "Buck" Jones was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 50 games in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Owen Sound, Ontario.-External links:...
– professional hockey player - Harry Lumley – NHL goaltender and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Agnes MacphailAgnes MacphailAgnes Campbell Macphail was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons, and one of the first two women elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario...
– Canadian politician and writer - Jock McKeenJock McKeenJock McKeen , is a Canadian physician,acupuncturist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute with Bennet Wong. He has written on East-West medicine, alternative medicine, holistic health, Asian studies and personal growth.-Education:McKeen received his M.D...
– physician, author and lecturer - Chris MinardChris MinardChristopher Minard is a Canadian ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League . Minard began his professional career in 2002 with the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL.-Playing career:...
– NHL and AHL player and former Owen Sound Plater - Mike MinardMike MinardMichael Edward Roger 'Mike' Minard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League game for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1999–2000 NHL season....
– former NHL and AHL goaltender - Nathan PerrottNathan PerrottNathan Perrott is a Canadian professional boxer and former professional ice hockey player.-Hockey career:...
– retired professional hockey player - Curtis SanfordCurtis SanfordCurtis Sanford is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
– NHL player and former Owen Sound Plater - Eddie SargentEddie SargentEdward Carson Sargent was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1987, as a member of the Liberal Party....
– Canadian politician - Tom ThomsonTom ThomsonThomas John Thomson , also known as Tom Thomson, was an influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. He directly influenced a group of Canadian painters that would come to be known as the Group of Seven, and though he died before they formally formed, he is sometimes incorrectly credited...
– artist
In media
- Owen Sound was one of the filming locations for the filming of the DisneyWalt Disney PicturesWalt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
movie One Magic ChristmasOne Magic ChristmasOne Magic Christmas is a 1985 Canadian-American holiday film from Walt Disney Pictures directed by Phillip Borsos and starring Mary Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton.-Synopsis:...
along with MeafordMeaford, OntarioMeaford is a Canadian municipality in Grey County, Ontario. Meaford is located on Nottawasaga Bay, a sub-basin of Georgian Bay, in southern Ontario....
, most notably with its city hallCity hallIn local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
serving as the town hall in the film.
- On the October 18, 2006, episode of The Colbert Report, host Stephen ColbertStephen Colbert (character)The Reverend / Sir / Dr. / Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., brain-child of Google, is the persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. Described as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot", the character is a self-obsessed right-wing...
asked his viewers to send in suggestions for bad things to say about Owen Sound, being unable to think of any himself.