Walkerton, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian
province of Ontario
, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton
. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County
. It is located on the Saugeen River
, at the junction of King's Highway 9
and Route 4, and is 75 km southwest of Owen Sound
.
The town was incorporated in 1871 and was named after Joseph Walker, who settled in this area in 1850. On January 1, 1999, it became part of the Municipality of Brockton
.
The town is also rumored to have been placed in the Guinness World Records
for having a church on each corner of the jail
and courthouse
complex. This is proven, and it has been covered by Ripley's Believe It or Not!
The town is also home town to Laryssa Biesenthal
who currently has six world championship medals, an Olympic
silver medal as a member of the quad sculls crew in 1996 and the women's eights in 2000 where she received bronze. She also took part in Pan Am Games champion in double sculls.
The town of Walkerton is home to a very successful Junior C hockey team, the Walkerton Hawks
, and a Senior A hockey team, the Walkerton Capitals
.
Walkerton has two high schools: Walkerton District Secondary School, and Sacred Heart High School.
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...
province of 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....
, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton
Brockton, Ontario
Brockton is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Bruce County. , the population was 9,658. The area was 565.07 square kilometres....
. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of 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 ....
. It is located on the Saugeen River
Saugeen River
The Saugeen River is located in southern Ontario, Canada, flowing generally north-west about 160 km before exiting into Lake Huron. The river is navigable for some distance, and was once an important barge route...
, at the junction of King's Highway 9
Highway 9 (Ontario)
King's Highway 9, also known as Highway 9, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Often cited as an example of poor planning, Highway 9 has been divided into two segments since January 1, 1998, when the segment between Harriston and Orangeville was downloaded to...
and Route 4, and is 75 km southwest of Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
.
The town was incorporated in 1871 and was named after Joseph Walker, who settled in this area in 1850. On January 1, 1999, it became part of the Municipality of Brockton
Brockton, Ontario
Brockton is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Bruce County. , the population was 9,658. The area was 565.07 square kilometres....
.
The town is also rumored to have been placed in the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for having a church on each corner of the jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
and courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
complex. This is proven, and it has been covered by Ripley's Believe It or Not!
The town is also home town to Laryssa Biesenthal
Laryssa Biesenthal
Laryssa Biesenthal is a Canadian rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com...
who currently has six world championship medals, an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
silver medal as a member of the quad sculls crew in 1996 and the women's eights in 2000 where she received bronze. She also took part in Pan Am Games champion in double sculls.
The town of Walkerton is home to a very successful Junior C hockey team, the Walkerton Hawks
Walkerton Hawks
The Walkerton Hawks are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western Junior C Hockey League.- History :The Walkerton Blackhawks entered the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League in 1976...
, and a Senior A hockey team, the Walkerton Capitals
Walkerton Capitals
The Walkerton Capitals are a senior hockey team based out of Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. The Capitals play in the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League.-2008-09 Capitals Season:...
.
Walkerton has two high schools: Walkerton District Secondary School, and Sacred Heart High School.
2000 water contamination incident
In May of 2000 the water system in Walkerton became contaminated with the highly dangerous O157:H7 strain of E. coli bacteria. Nearly half the population fell ill, and seven people died as a result.Famous people From Walkerton
- Samuel Lewis HoneySamuel Lewis HoneySamuel Lewis Honey, VC, DCM, MM was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and posthumous 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.-Biography:Samuel Lewis Honey...
, VC, DCM, MM (9 February 1894 – 30 September 1918) was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and posthumous 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. Honey was a graduate of Walkerton District High School. - David MilneDavid MilneDavid Milne may refer to:* Sir David Milne , British admiral* David Milne , Canadian artist* David Milne , Australian rugby league player...
, considered to be Canada's foremost painter, was a graduate of Walkerton District High School. - Canadian National softball player and two-time Olympian Alison BradleyAlison BradleyAlison Bradley is a Canadian softball left fielder.Bradley began playing softball at age seven, and was a student at University of Western Ontario...
is a graduate of Walkerton District Secondary School. - Singer-songwriter EstheroEstheroEsthero ,born Jenny-Bea Englishman, is a Canadian singer-songwriter who currently lives in Los Angeles, California. The name Esthero refers both to the singer and formerly to the two-person team of herself and producer Doc McKinney...
lived in Walkerton. - Greg McNeish, wrestling analyst and critic, famous for his legendary thought-provoking appearances on shows such as The Friday Fishbowl and The Wrestleview International Desk
External links
- Town web site
- http://canadanews.about.com/cs/walkerton/
- Water Science and Technology article