
Wasaga Beach
'Wasaga Beach' is a
town in the
Canadian province of
Ontario. It is located in the
census division of
Simcoe County.
Wasaga Beach is the world's longest
freshwater beach (14km or 8.5 miles). It is approximately 2 hours north of downtown
Toronto and abuts, to the west, the resort town of
Collingwood. Its position on the waters of
Nottawasaga Bay means its summer
temperatures are moderated somewhat by the water, so summer days are much more comfortable than Toronto's scorching days, but the same winds off the water trigger very heavy and intense
snow squalls in the winter. As such,
snowmobiling,
skiing, and other winter sports are extremely popular along the beach.
Wasaga Beach is currently in the midst of a building boom as reported in the Globe and Mail on August 16, 2007 that a major development for the beach was planned with the goal of making Wasaga Beach a year-round tourist destination.
Due to its proximity to Toronto, there is a heavy outflow of money from Toronto and surrounding towns and cities into cottage or weekend properties located in the Beach.
Also located in the town of Wasaga Beach is
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. In the summer months it is a very popular place for
beach volleyball and
sunbathing. The picture to the right shows Beach 1 (the main beach) looking west. Beaches 2 and 3 are far away in the distance. A
boardwalk runs most of the way along Beach 1 and 2. There are six public beach areas numbered from 1 to 6; the higher the number, the smaller and less crowded it gets and the more rocks on the shore there are.
In the winter there are many miles of fresh groomed trails for snowmobiling thanks to the
OFSC and in part to the purchasers of the trail passes. There are a variety of elementary schools, but no high schools in Wasaga Beach. There are bus services that bring students to surrounding high schools of their choice. The town of Wasaga Beach recently built an addition to the community center known locally as the Rec-Plex, which added an auditorium, an amphitheater and a YMCA.
Famous Wasaga Beachers
★ Rock musician
Kim Mitchell has been a long-time resident of Wasaga Beach.
★ In the summer of 2000,
Jason Arnott day was declared in Wasaga Beach to celebrate his Stanley-Cup-winning goal scored in double overtime.
[1]
The 2006 Canadian census indicated a population of 15,029 residents, making Wasaga Beach one of the fastest growing communities in Canada based on population growth percentage.
See also
★
List of communities in Ontario
External links
★
Wasaga.com - Online Guide to Wasaga Beach
★
Wasaga.net - Insiders Guide to Wasaga Beach
★
Wasaga Beach Area Attractions
★
Chamber of Commerce
★
Ontario Plaques - Schooner Town
★
Town of Wasaga Beach Municipal Website
References
1.