Wasaga Beach | |
|---|---|
Town (lower-tier) | |
| Town of Wasaga Beach | |
 Beach One in August 2024 | |
| Nickname(s): “The Beach”, “Wasaga” | |
| Motto: "More To Explore" | |
  Wasaga Beach  Wasaga Beach | |
| Coordinates: 44°31′14″N 80°01′00″W / 44.52056°N 80.01667°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Simcoe |
| Incorporated | 1951 (as village) January 1, 1974 (as town) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Brian Smith[1] |
| • Deputy Mayor | Tanya Snell[1] |
| • Councillors | List |
| • MPs | Terry Dowdall (CPC) |
| • MPPs | Brian Saunderson (PC) |
| Area | |
| • Land | 58.64 km2 (22.64 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Total | 24,862 |
| • Density | 423.9/km2 (1,098/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Wasaga Beacher, Wasagan |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area code(s) | 705 |
| Website | www |
Wasaga Beach (or simply Wasaga) is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Situated along the longest freshwater beach in the world,[4] it is a popular summer tourist destination. It is located along the southern end of Georgian Bay, approximately 150 km (93 mi) north of Toronto and about 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Barrie. To the west, Collingwood and The Blue Mountains also attract visitors much of the year. The town is situated along a very long sandy beach[5] on Nottawasaga Bay in Georgian Bay and the winding Nottawasaga River. The beaches are part of the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park; the park area totals 168 hectares (415 acres).[6] Wasaga Beach has a year-round population of 24,862 as of 2021, but during the summer months the population increases with many seasonal residents.
The economy has struggled for some years, particularly since a major fire in late November 2007 destroyed many of the stores. It depends on tourists in an area where the primary shopping season is three to four months per year.[7] In March 2017, the town passed its Downtown Development Master Plan, a 20-year strategy for significant redevelopment of the tourist area and adding a downtown to the business area. The goal is to improve tourism, diversify the economy, and get beyond its "party town" image.[8]
- ^ a b "2022 Municipal Election Results". Town of Wasaga Beach. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Wasaga Beach census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Wasaga Beach". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "Visit Georgian Bay / Georgian Bay Coastal Route".
- ^ "Wasaga Beach". Ontario Parks web site. Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario). June 18, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
- ^ "Wasaga Beach". Ontario Parks. Province of Ontario. 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ Brandon, Rowe (July 28, 2016). "Struggling Wasaga Beach beachfront businesses will get chance to exit lease". CTV Barrie. Bell Media. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
Some business owners have complained to town council about the struggle and are being given a one-time option to get out of their lease without penalty.
- ^ "The Town of Wasaga Beach Downtown Development: Master Plan : Final Report" (PDF). Wasagabeach.com. March 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.