Meaford, ON

Urban/Rural Partners with a Forward-Looking Approach to Growth

Fronting Nottawasaga and Owen Sound Bays, the Municipality of Meaford is both gorgeous and welcoming.  With just over 12,000 residents spread over more than 580 square kilometres, Meaford is embracing opportunities that will enrich the lives of residents and put the community on the map as an ideal place to live, work and play.

Part of the Clean Energy Frontier

In the same way that COVID 19 brought many newcomers to Meaford’s shores, the present tariff war may actually kick-start a multi-billion-dollar project here.  As Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to make Canada an energy superpower, the Ontario Government is advancing pre-development work for Ontario Pumped Storage (OPS) developed in partnership by TC Energy (TCE) and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON).  It would be built on the 18,000-acre 4^th Canadian Division Training Centre in the Municipality of Meaford.

The project is expected to bring long term benefits to SON as well as to the Municipality. “There’s a pumped storage plant at Niagara Falls, Ontario, and another in Niagara Falls, New York. Tells me this is neither new nor a threat to tourism,” notes Mayor Ross Kentner. “What TC Energy has done, however, will probably double the original cost estimate to ensure that what is built on Georgian Bay is state-of-the-art technology.”

Mayor Kentner sees Meaford playing a role in Canada’s clean energy future. He recounts, “We consider ourselves part of the Clean Energy Frontier which includes Huron, Bruce and Grey Counties.  “You can’t ‘turn down’ a nuclear plant, but you can store surplus energy to maximize the benefit of your nuclear fleet.”

The Science of Tomorrow

The municipality’s proximity to Bruce Power also opens up potential as a hub for medical isotopes, a byproduct of nuclear energy. “I believe that the future for Meaford will largely be in the clean energy and medical innovation sectors.  We’re really well-positioned for that,” according to the mayor. “When you combine the medical isotope applications with the pumped storage infrastructure, and our hospital network, I see an important niche for Meaford in the jobs of the future.”

The Meaford hospital is part of the Brightshores Health System, a six-hospital consortium, centred in the adjacent City of Owen Sound where it also operates a Wellness and Recovery Centre and a Research Institute. “A lot of towns the size of Meaford don’t have a hospital,” Kentner says. “We had 19,182 day-surgeries last year including cataracts, endoscopy and orthopedics; over 14,000 emergency visits; 11,300 radiology procedures; 587,000 lab tests; as well as clinics on dermatology and urology.  So this is not your typical small-town hospital.”

Area Growth Ranked Between Chilliwack, BC and Peterborough, Ont.

“Every week I’m attending a ribbon-cutting for a new business.  I take no credit for this.  It is simply that we are gaining momentum.  The march of the GTA to Georgian Bay first impacted the Towns of Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, then Town of Blue Mountains, and now Meaford.” This bold claim is supported by recent data. In 2024, U-Haul named the Owen Sound-Meaford area as Canada’s 17th fastest-growing market, citing a 16% increase in arrivals and just a 1% rise in departures, showing that people are choosing to make the Meaford area their home. “I know that moving to Meaford as a teenager presented me with opportunities I never imagined growing up in Toronto.  In my long experience, most people are here by choice.  Whether they chose to come or chose to stay, the result is a talent pool that makes everything better here,” the mayor asserts.

With a vision to create a fly-in community, new airport owner, Rick Horwath, president of Air Bravo, has made a significant investment in Meaford’s airport and restaurant, re-naming the Airport for Canada’s most decorated flyer.  Mayor Kentner was excited to hold his 2025 New Year’s Levy at the Major-General Richard Rohmer Meaford International Airport.

Heritage at the Heart of Downtown

Preservation is a big part of Meaford’s charming downtown, and the core is currently experiencing an infusion of restoration and creative redevelopment. The old firehall, now Station 87, is one example. “It is a restaurant, bar and market, with two outdoor patios, one in front of the three red Romanesque doors, and one on the roof of the later addition,” describes Mayor Kentner. “They poured something in excess of $4 million into this heritage building to renovate it. That is a huge gain for us.”

Right next door is the historic Meaford Hall, a community resource, and home to an opera house and gallery spaces. A block away, the Station 87 developer has acquired the former Capital Theatre. “I’m highly confident they’re going to do something extraordinary there as well,” Kentner adds. “All of this enhances our downtown core.”

Agriculture and its Spin-Offs

With 40 oilseed and grain farms, 43 hay farms, 203 cattle ranches, 45 fruit tree farms, and 19 dairy farms, Meaford is known for its rural roots.  “We’re also seeing a cross-over with tourists being attracted to our fruit and vegetable stands, rural wineries, cideries and event venues,” says Kentner.  “As well, while a lot of the factory jobs in town disappeared decades ago, they are being replaced by all kinds of On Farm Diversified Uses (OFDUs) along our rural routes.

Building for the Future

As the municipality prepares for the potential arrival of Ontario Pumped Storage, the need for housing is front and center. “If it proceeds, we are going to need a lot of worker housing overnight,” says Mayor Kentner. “If enough care is taken on where we locate and what type of worker housing we develop, it can serve its primary purpose and then, like an Olympic Village, go on to house more members of our existing work force.”

In the meantime, housing development is already well underway. “We have a lot of houses under construction right now, and approaching 2000 units planned throughout the municipality,” he adds. With an abundant clean water supply and plans to increase waste-water capacity, the town is well-positioned to support residential growth.

“Affordability remains a challenge for waterfront communities,” says Kentner, “but there are brand new houses being sold in the $400s. There are others that are being built to Net Zero standard, which means the savings on a house that heats and cools at little or no cost are tremendous!”

SkyDev is one developer currently active in the area, with condos under construction in several communities. Mayor Kentner points out the advantages of choosing Meaford. “The thing about the ones in Collingwood and Owen Sound is that, to get to the water, you have to cross a highway. In Meaford you’ll be able to walk out your patio door and step into Georgian Bay, because it’s right on the shore.” This development also includes thoughtfully negotiated changes based on community feedback. “They will present a lot of greenery on the edge of the development to better suit the surrounding neighborhood. They’ve made a lot of concessions and have been great to work with,” he remarks.

A Vision of Beauty and Distinction

Deputy-Mayor Shirley Keaveney notes that SkyDev has also partnered with Vintage Inns, known for landmark hotels like the Pillar and Post and the Prince of Wales in Niagara-on-the-Lake, to build a waterfront hotel-spa in Meaford. “My vision for Meaford is to be the Niagara-on-the-Lake of Georgian Bay,” she admits.

Part of this vision includes a new master plan for the harbour, integrating it with the downtown core and focusing on unique gateways to the community. “Once you get to Downtown Meaford you see the heritage facades of all these Victorian buildings, and it’s lovely. But we want to let people know as they approach urban Meaford that we’re different.” Keaveney expands.

“Meaford is the envy of every community around us when it comes to the success of our many signature events and the hundreds of volunteers who execute them.”  The Deputy Mayor lists Meaford’s award-winning annual Scarecrow Invasion and Apple Harvest Craft Show.  This is the 168^th year for the annual Fall Fair.  “Over the last few years, the list has grown to include our Summerfest (inclusive of Poutinefest), the Meaford International Film Festival and our ‘Christmas on the Bay’ European-style Market,” she says, adding “Our Canada Day celebrations are huge with events in the hamlets of Annan and Bognor as well as at Meaford harbour.”

Expanding on the importance of events, Keaveney relates that “2024 saw over 70 events honouring our Sesquicentennial. 150-years was celebrated with everything from parades to plays, concerts, festivals and even cow pie bingo!

Moving Forward

Looking ahead, Mayor Kentner says the Municipality of Meaford remains focused on intentional growth, thoughtful development, and enhancing quality of life amenities. He is also committed to building a strong leadership team that can help the municipality meet its long-term goals. This spring, Shawn Everitt, who has spent his entire career in the public sector…the past 32 years in Town of Blue Mountains…stepped into Meaford’s CAO role.

“I’m excited for the future of the Corporation of Meaford as we build a dynamic, innovative, creative and welcoming Municipal Team with a goal of setting the standard for the South Georgian Bay region.  The municipality has been extremely fortunate in recruiting expert staff that bring significant knowledge and experience and have been able to retain and engage key staff that assist in building and maintaining the Community that our residents expect and deserve.  As Chief Administrative Officer my role is an exciting and inspiring place to be with the strong and respectful support of a diverse, thoughtful, community-minded and extremely engaged Council.  The future of Meaford is an exciting place to envision and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful Team to assist in making the entire community and all of its historic communities proud of the Munincipality Meaford.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Meaford, Ontario

What: A growing municipality with major opportunity on the horizon

Where: Grey County, Ontario, Canada

Website: www.meaford.ca