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Wasaga Beach...a community rich in history dating back to the War of 1812
The
Town of Wasaga Beach has a history dating back to the fur trade days
when it was the main route to the Great North West. The Town evolved
into a strategic location in the War of 1812 when the Schooner Nancy
was sunk at her moorings in an effort by the Americans to cut the
supply line to Fort Michillimacinac and points to the north and west.
Lumbering was the main industry for the remainder of the 19th century.
Logs crowded the river and the bay floating down to feed local saw
mills.
Wasaga Beach entered history's headlines in 1934 when the
first overseas flight from Canada, a plane call the "Trail of the
Caribou", used Wasaga's long flat sandy beach as a take off strip.
Little
by little, in the 1900's, families began to discover the beauty of the
area. Gradually it became a place for family picnics and holidays.
During the 1940's, while stationed at a nearby military base,
servicemen from across Canada visited Wasaga's amusement park. They
made Wasaga Beach known across the country. After the war, Wasaga
Beach continued to be a popular place for cottages and day trips. A
century old tradition of city dwellers coming to the Beach in the
summer had begun.
The Town was originally referred to as "the
northern border of Flos Sunnidale and Nottawasaga Townships". The
first municipal reference occurred when a designation of Local
Improvement District emerged in 1947. In 1949, Wasaga Beach progressed
to the status of a Police Village in the Township of Sunnidale, and the
Police Village graduated to Incorporated Village status in 1951.
The
incorporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach became effective January 1,
1974. The permanent population stood at 4,034, a dramatic increase
from 1965, when only 500 people called Wasaga Beach home. Today,
17,000 full time residents and 16,000 seasonal and part time residents
reside at Wasaga Beach.
- For a complete history of Wasaga Beach, click here.
- For a community profile with information on demographics, building stats and other local information, click here.
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