Warden Janet Horner sees the county as an ideal place to call home. “One thing that is very special about Dufferin is that we’re close to all kinds of amenities,” she shares. “We’re an hour from the airport and yet we’re in the country at the same time. We’ve got nature right at our back door, and we’ve got some of the wonderful attributes of urban living right here as well.” Rajbir Sian, Director of Development and Tourism, conveys, “We really do bring that mix together and offer a lot of newcomers, young families, an opportunity to live, grow and work in Dufferin County,” she says.“But on the other end of the spectrum, we also offer a lifestyle that a lot of individuals who have been in the hustle and bustle their whole lives are looking to escape and come out to the countryside and enjoy more of a slower pace” ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH LOCAL ROOTS Agriculture is a major player in Dufferin’s economy, and farms across the county are diversifying.“Many times the agricultural industry is underestimated in its ability to adapt to change and to technology,” notes Horner.“Within Dufferin County, you’re going to find some of the most technically advanced farmers in the province, using all kinds of GIS technologies and the latest in sprayers and robotics.” She emphasizes that a significant investment in broadband is essential to this progress. “If you’re going to run a modern dairy farm, you’ve got to have that available to the robots that are operating within that dairy barn. So we’ve got some highly technical operations here, not just in the primary production, but then in the further processing.” Beyond large scale operations like Lennox Farms, the largest rhubarb producer in North America, many farmers engage in farm gate sales and Agritourism ventures that connect them directly with the community and visitors. “We have a lot of first class ag businesses here who are interested in strengthening the community,” adds Sian. “They are very much a part of our ongoing discussions on how we position Dufferin for future growth, and how we ensure that that growth still honors that agricultural history and strength that we have from our past.” Logistics is another important economic driver, and Dufferin’s location makes it an ideal spot for distribution and warehousing. “We have major arterial highways that run throughout our county, Highway 9, Highway 10, and we’re very close to the 400 series highways,” Sian describes. “That really positions our county very uniquely for those that are in logistics.” TOURISM AND RECREATION Life in Dufferin County is a four-season experience, 61 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 DUFFERIN COUNTY, ON
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