Civil and Municipal - Jan 22

83 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 TOWNSHI P OF ST I RL ING-RAWDON, ONTAR IO Over a century later, the landscape remains the same, despite the Township having grown to include hamlets. Stirling-Rawdon may be agricultural-based, but it also has a thriving Urban Centre filled with local businesses. There are seasonal events such as the Stirling Agricultural Fair, Go-Buff Festival and Village Christmas, proving there’s so much more to this eclectic Township. “We’re mostly rural and agricultural with 2,000 people living within the Village of Stirling and the rest in rural area,” Mayor Bob Mullin explains. “We have quite a good mix of farms, from dairy to cash crops. We’re lucky to have good land; we’re one of the largest agricultural in Hastings County. Although we don’t have a lot of industry, we do have good assortment of retail options. There’s also an active cabinet making sector, one of our best-known industries. We’re between the King’s Highways 401 and 7, although we don’t touch either of them. It’s a wonderful location for tourism because we’re a reasonable distance from Toronto, Ottawa, and the Montreal corridor. Stirling-Rawdon still has a nice rural flavor to it, even though we’ve started to grow over the last three or four years.” Part of Stirling-Rawdon’s charm is how it encourages residents to enjoy a high quality of life while keeping in mind the area’s historic legacy. One of the most distinctive features is the Hastings Heritage Trail in Stirling that passes through Stirling-Rawdon. This four- season, multi-use trail network follows a disused railway line. Along its pathways, hikers, cyclists, and snowmobilers enjoy the stunning views. This trail system merges with the Trans Canada trail, making it an ideal location to start your recreational day. Stirling-Rawdon provides numerous parking areas which provides easy access to the trail system. Another popular destination is Farmtown Park, home to the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage. This 45,000 square- foot gallery is made up of nine buildings, proudly showcasing a steam engine and even a spectacular Heritage Village Streetscape. Andrew Redden, Economic Development & Tourism Manager for Hastings County, also considers The Stirling Festival Theatre a landmark, since it opened in 1927. He shares, “It’s a major anchor of the community. During the pandemic they’ve even pivoted to hosting events outside. There was the Off-Road Comedy Show for riders of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The theatre also partnered with Kings Mill Cider, a local brewery, to host the first Busker Festival.” Local organizations have organized an assortment of beautification projects throughout the municipality. The Stirling Rotary Club has planted trees and the Stirling & District Lions Club installed a baseball ball diamond at The Stirling Agricultural Society Fairgrounds. “We’re very much a community,” states Roxanne Hearns, Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer