January 2017 | Business View Magazine

150 151 O wen Sound, Ontario was originally founded in the mid-1800s as a logistics hub, with a safe, long harbour on the southern edge of Georgian Bay that facilitated the movement of goods and people across the Great Lakes. At one time, it was a roaring, rowdy seaport known as “Corkscrew City”–which may have resulted in the area going ‘dry’ just after the turn of the century. It remained that way until 1972. Today, a balance of commerce, tourism, and community passion make Owen Sound the thriving regional centre of Grey and Bruce Counties, living up to the tag- line: “Where you want to live.” “A common perception is that we’re far away. People hear ‘Geor- gian Bay’ and they think we’re six, seven, eight hours north. That’s not the case,” says Economic Development Manager, Steve Furness. “We’re in southern Georgian Bay, just a two-hour drive from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), two hours from Barrie, less than that from Kitchener and Guelph.” Owen Sound, Ontario owen sound, ontario Balance through diversity