Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 9

154 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9 AT A GLANCE SHELBURNE, ONTARIO WHAT: A vibrant rural community with small town charm; population 9,000 WHERE: Dufferin County, Ontario WEBSITE: www.shelburne.ca Shelburne, O N T A R I O T he friendly town of Shelburne, Ontario is known for staying true to its small- town charm amid extensive change. Nestled at the crossroads of Highways 10 and 89 and County Road 124, the historically rural community is not the same neighborhood of mostly retired farmers it was 30 years ago. Its high median age population diversified over the past 10+ years, and now includes a younger demographic with about 9,000 residents. Wade Mills, Mayor of Shelburne, reports that this “community in transition” is becoming the home of young families attracted to the small-town vibe and loyal to local businesses – providing a major advantage for Shelburne’s economy. He notes, “Our town motto is ‘a people place, a change of pace,’ and despite the growth we’ve seen, I think that in many respects, we still hold true to that motto.” Shelburne’s economy takes pride in its mixed catalogue of local businesses, particularly those in the retail, service, and industrial sectors. Many brokerages, law offices, and doctor and health care professionals including dentist offices reside in this hub for Dufferin County and Grey County. Meanwhile, Dufferin’s largest employer, KTH Parts Industries – an auto parts manufacturer known for supplying parts to Honda in nearby Alliston – is based in the town. As far as franchise companies go, the town’s expansion is drawing larger businesses to the area. Shelburne is home to two very busy Tim Hortons locations – on Main Street and Colonel Philip Drive. A new Starbucks and McDonald’s A W E L C O M E C H A N G E O F P A C E