Meaford, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Meaford is a Canadian
municipality in Grey County
, Ontario
. Meaford is located on Nottawasaga Bay
, a sub-basin of Georgian Bay
, in southern Ontario.
The Canadian Army
maintains a training facility, LFCATC Meaford
5 km northwest of the town.
In addition to the town of Meaford itself (44°36′N 80°35′W), the municipality also includes the communities of Annan, Bognor, Leith, and Woodford. The community of Rockford is on the western boundary along Ontario Highway 6.
of various municipalities in Southern Ontario, the Town of Meaford, St. Vincent and Sydenham Township were amalgamated to form one municipality entity. Sydenham Township named in part for Lord Sydenham
, governor of Canada from 1839 to 1841. St. Vincent Township was named after The Earl of St. Vincent and Meaford was named after his stately house. A township is an area of land (about 15 miles by 12 miles)that is divided into 100 acre farms (usually). For more than one hundred years the townships of Ontario were municipal entities with an elected council and a reeve. Sometimes a small area of a township was separated and incorporated as a town. The town was then a separate and distinct municipality. This was the case with Meaford in 1874 when it was separated from St. Vincent township. However it ceased to be a town at the time of amalgamation.
A transition team preparing for the new municipality voted in September 2000 to name it Georgian Highlands, with the name Meaford ranking second. Highland Hills, Georgian Shores, Bayview, Trillium, Big Head Valley, Georgian View, Cape Rich, Bay Shore Highlands, Georgian Bay Highlands, North Grey and Queen's Bush were other names considered.
But the council of the new Georgian Highlands municipality voted 4-3 on 5 February 2001 voted to name the amalgated area Meaford, citing confusion with nearby municipalities such as Georgian Bluffs
and Grey Highlands
. A by-law to formalize the name change to Meaford for the amalgamated area was subsequently passed on 5 March 2001, also by a 4-3 vote.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 4442 (total dwellings: 5193)
:
The closest post-secondary school is Georgian College
regional campus in Collingwood, Ontario
.
Meaford is on the eastern edge of the Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
federal and provincial electoral district.
, originating from Wingham, Ontario
to the south, has a low-power retransmitter on 104.9 FM to serve Centreville and Meaford. Meaford is otherwise served principally by media from nearby Owen Sound.
and is the main road in and out of the town.
There is no public transit, but Greyhound Canada makes daily schedule stops at Meaford on the route from Toronto
to Owen Sound. Local taxis service the area around Meaford.
The closest airport is Owen Sound Billy Bishop Regional Airport to the west along Highway 26.
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...
municipality in Grey County
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...
, 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....
. Meaford is located on Nottawasaga Bay
Nottawasaga Bay
Nottawasaga Bay is a bay of Lake Huron in Ontario, at the southernmost end of Georgian Bay. Communities on Nottawasaga Bay include Meaford, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach....
, a sub-basin of Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
, in southern Ontario.
The Canadian Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
maintains a training facility, LFCATC Meaford
LFCATC Meaford
Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford is a Canadian Forces training facility operated by Land Force Central Area of Land Force Command ....
5 km northwest of the town.
In addition to the town of Meaford itself (44°36′N 80°35′W), the municipality also includes the communities of Annan, Bognor, Leith, and Woodford. The community of Rockford is on the western boundary along Ontario Highway 6.
2001 amalgamation
In 2001, with the amalgamationAmalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
of various municipalities in Southern Ontario, the Town of Meaford, St. Vincent and Sydenham Township were amalgamated to form one municipality entity. Sydenham Township named in part for Lord Sydenham
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham PC was a British politician and the first Governor of the united Province of Canada.-Background:...
, governor of Canada from 1839 to 1841. St. Vincent Township was named after The Earl of St. Vincent and Meaford was named after his stately house. A township is an area of land (about 15 miles by 12 miles)that is divided into 100 acre farms (usually). For more than one hundred years the townships of Ontario were municipal entities with an elected council and a reeve. Sometimes a small area of a township was separated and incorporated as a town. The town was then a separate and distinct municipality. This was the case with Meaford in 1874 when it was separated from St. Vincent township. However it ceased to be a town at the time of amalgamation.
A transition team preparing for the new municipality voted in September 2000 to name it Georgian Highlands, with the name Meaford ranking second. Highland Hills, Georgian Shores, Bayview, Trillium, Big Head Valley, Georgian View, Cape Rich, Bay Shore Highlands, Georgian Bay Highlands, North Grey and Queen's Bush were other names considered.
But the council of the new Georgian Highlands municipality voted 4-3 on 5 February 2001 voted to name the amalgated area Meaford, citing confusion with nearby municipalities such as Georgian Bluffs
Georgian Bluffs, Ontario
Georgian Bluffs is a township in southwestern Ontario, Canada, in Grey County located between Colpoy's Bay and Owen Sound on Georgian Bay.The township was incorporated on January 1, 2001 by amalgamating the former townships of Derby, Keppel, and Sarawak, and the village of Shallow...
and Grey Highlands
Grey Highlands, Ontario
Grey Highlands is a municipality in the southeast corner of Grey County, Ontario, Canada that was formed on January 1, 2001 by the amalgamation of the village of Markdale and the townships of Artemesia, Euphrasia and Osprey, which included the unincorporated hamlets of Eugenia Ceylon, Maxwell,...
. A by-law to formalize the name change to Meaford for the amalgamated area was subsequently passed on 5 March 2001, also by a 4-3 vote.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 10,948 (2001 to 2006 population change: 5.5 %)
- Population in 2001: 10,381
- Population total in 1996: 10,497
- Meaford (town): 4681
- St. Vincent (township): 2610
- Sydenham (township): 3206
- Population in 1991:
- Meaford (town): 4520
- St. Vincent (township): 2340
- Sydenham (township): 2991
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 4442 (total dwellings: 5193)
Schools
Meaford has three public schools with the Bluewater District School BoardBluewater District School Board
The Bluewater District School Board is a school board in the Canadian province of Ontario, with jurisdiction for the operation of schools in Bruce and Grey counties....
:
- St.Vincent Euphrasia Elementary School (Grades JK - 5)
- Meaford Community School (Grades JK - 8)
- Georgian Bay Secondary School (Grades 9 - 12)
The closest post-secondary school is Georgian College
Georgian 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....
regional campus in Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
.
Politics
The former mayors of Meaford were:- 1998-2000: Doug Grant
- 2001-2003: Gerald Shortt (first Mayor since 2001 amalgamation)
- 2003-2008: Wally Reif
- 2008–Present: Francis Richardson
Meaford is on the eastern edge of the Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935....
federal and provincial electoral district.
Media
The town is served by two community newspapers, the Meaford Express and the Meaford Independent, the latter an online publication. CKNX-FMCKNX-FM
CKNX-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 101.7 FM in Wingham, Ontario. The station broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format as 101.7 The One. The station was formerly known as FM102 before summer 2006....
, originating from Wingham, Ontario
Wingham, Ontario
Wingham is a community located in the municipality of North Huron, Ontario, Canada, which is located in Huron County...
to the south, has a low-power retransmitter on 104.9 FM to serve Centreville and Meaford. Meaford is otherwise served principally by media from nearby Owen Sound.
Transportation
Meaford is located on Ontario Highway 26, between Owen Sound and CollingwoodCollingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
and is the main road in and out of the town.
There is no public transit, but Greyhound Canada makes daily schedule stops at Meaford on the route from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to Owen Sound. Local taxis service the area around Meaford.
The closest airport is Owen Sound Billy Bishop Regional Airport to the west along Highway 26.
Notable residents
- Beautiful JoeBeautiful JoeBeautiful Joe was a dog from the town of Meaford, Ontario, whose story inspired the bestselling 1893 novel Beautiful Joe, which contributed to worldwide awareness of animal cruelty.-The real Beautiful Joe:...
, a dog immortalized by the 1894 book of the same name - Claude BissellClaude BissellClaude Thomas Bissell, was a Canadian author and educator.-Biography:He was the eighth president of the University of Toronto from 1958 to 1971. He played a major part in the expansion of the University of Toronto, tripling the size of the university during his tenure.He was born in Meaford,...
, author and educator - Keith BissellKeith BissellKeith Warren Bissell was a Canadian composer, conductor, and music educator. He was particularly known for his choral music, which often implemented elements of Canadian folk music. A passionate educator, he was a pupil of Carl Orff and was influential in popularizing the Orff Schulwerk...
: composer, conductor, and music educator (1912–1992). - James ConmeeJames ConmeeJames Conmee was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Algoma West from 1885 to 1902 and Port Arthur and Rainy River from 1902 to 1904 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Thunder Bay and Rainy River in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1911 as a Liberal...
, former Member of Provincial Parliament - Fred S. HainesFred S. HainesFrederick Stanley Haines , more commonly known as Fred S...
(1879–1960) artist - Tom HarpurTom HarpurThomas William Harpur is a Canadian author, broadcaster, columnist and theologian. An ordained priest, he is a proponent of the Christ myth theory, the idea that Jesus did not exist but is a fictional or mythological figure...
, Author and religious columnist - Don Knight, former Member of Provincial Parliament
- Brent LaingBrent LaingBrent Laing is a Canadian curler from Stayner, Ontario. He currently plays second for Glenn Howard....
, curlerCurlingCurling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a... - Ron LipsettRon LipsettRonald F. Lipsett is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990....
, former Member of Provincial Parliament - Marshall Burns Lloyd, inventor of Lloyd Loom, Pres. Lloyd Mfg., Menominee, MI
- Herb MitchellHerb MitchellHerbert Alexander "Hap" Mitchell was a professional ice hockey player who played 44 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Boston Bruins.- References :...
, former forward for the Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... - John MuirJohn MuirJohn Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
, naturalist, author, "Father of the (U.S.) National Parks" - Bill MurdochBill MurdochBill Murdoch is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1990, and represents the riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound as a Progressive Conservative....
, Member of Provincial Parliament - Darren Pang, former goaltender for the Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
- Glenn SmithGlenn SmithGrafton Glenarvon "Glenn" Smith was a professional ice hockey player who played nine games in the National Hockey League. Born in Meaford, Ontario, he played for the Toronto St. Pats. After his hockey career ended, he retired to the township of East York, in Ontario.- External links :...
, former defenseman for the Toronto St.Pats - Melville "Sparky" Vail, former defenseman for the New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
- Terry WongTerry WongCaptain Terry Wong, a helicopter pilot with the Canadian Forces, is slated to become the next Canadian astronaut, with the private firm Canadian Arrow....
, Canadian astronaut
Trivia
- Several scenes from the 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:...
were filmed in Meaford. - Several scenes from a local Collingwood movie, "Scarce", were filmed in Meaford and at Ted's Range Road Diner.
Culture
- Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre
- Meaford Creative Arts Association
- Meaford Museum
- Meaford International Film Festival
- Architectural Conservancy - Meaford Branch
- Beautiful Joe Heritage Society
- Fred S. Haines Commemorative Exhibition
See also
- CFB Meaford is a military base located northwest of the town and home to a tank range.