When we launched On The Bay 11 years ago, we chose as our tagline, “Celebrating Life in Southern Georgian Bay.” The region was just starting to morph from a retirement and ski resort area into something more, and we wanted to capture that lifestyle element in our magazine.
Some of our earliest stories in On The Bay looked at the changing demographics. David Foot, in his seminal book Boom, Bust & Echo, referred to our area as a NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community). We could see that it had the potential to be more than simply a haven for retirees, and coined the acronym NATs to refer to Naturally Attracted Thirty-somethings to reflect the increasingly diverse demographics coming here to live, work, play, raise their families, build their businesses, and enjoy an active retirement.
We’ve seen the region go from a winter wonderland to a four-season playground. Golf took off, and then plateaued. Now sports like cycling and stand-up paddleboarding are attracting a whole new cohort of active millennials, thirty-somethings and forty-somethings (sorry, David Foot, but when you predicted that people drawn to this area would eventually take up birdwatching, you could not have been more wrong).
The transition is continuing on all fronts. More young families, more small businesses, more activities … and more places that define our communities. For my article about placemaking in this issue, I took a look at how our area is defining – and redefining – itself through the creation of public spaces and experiences that bring people together.
Communities across Southern Georgian Bay are at different stages in their evolution. Creemore, for example, has transformed itself from a quaint retirement community to a vibrant and thriving town focused on arts, culture and families. Thornbury is looking to capitalize on its connection to water. And Wasaga Beach, struggling to bring the excitement back, has literally put its money where its mouth is, buying up a swath of beachfront property in an effort to remake the town.
It’s a transitional time for our region. In conducting the interviews for the story, there was a feeling of excitement and promise that came through. We are fortunate to have so many people in our communities that are willing to get involved, contribute and make things happen. From mayors, councillors and town staff to businesspeople and residents (both full-time and part-time), there is a feeling of collaboration and community involvement that bodes well for a bright future in Southern Georgian Bay.
My sense is that our power of place is stronger than ever, and will only continue to crystallize over the coming years. And powerful places mean more to celebrate. ❧
