Midland

Midland is located south of the Georgian Bay and forms the northern hemisphere of the Simcoe County. The town is the economic backbone in the Georgian Bay, a health hub as it is home to a hospital that houses over 125 beds and is also the entry point into Georgian Bay as it hosts a local airport.

The town has a population that grows up to 100,000. The size of the population is seasonal as the town experiences a large tourist influx that come to experience cottages, resort hotels, provincial and national parks.

Midland is rich in the artworks with the centre of the town boasting of numerous murals most of which are the work of the celebrated artist Fred Lenz. The artwork in this town is the perpetuated effort of Fred Lenz and his sons who completed the largest mural that was placed on the silos overlooking the main harbor which has been started by a missionary.

Midland is also home to notable sites such as a living museum which is the Jesuit mission and is a wonderful demonstration of mission life in the 17th century. A Roman Catholic church stands in Midland named the Martyrs’ Shrine which is a commemoration of the Canadian Martyrs.

Midland is rich in culture and an annual Butter Tart Festival is held every June. The Butter Tart Festival brings many tourists from around the world and is one of the major foreign exchange earners in the town.

Besides being rich in art and culture, Midland hosts a wildlife conservation centre, The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre. The center provides suitable habitat for trumpeter swans, black terns and least bitterns. The rare species of birds is well celebrated in Midland and a symbol of the trumpeter swan has been erected by the harbor.

Water sports are also quite popular in this town with many locals participating in boating. The sport is boosted by the presence of marinas and sailing club all of which are based in the town. Fishing is also well backed by the marinas.

The road network within the town especially in the Midland Tri Club is favourable for active cycling which has attracted a good number of residents who participate in the popular weekly Time Trial Series and group rides that run all summer long.

In winter, snowmobiliing and ice fishing are some of the very popular activities.

The town of Midland emerged as a railway town in 1871. The Midland Railway of Canada ran from Port Hope to Beaverton in 1871 and the railway terminus was at the Mundy’s Bay which was sparsely populated. The railway attracted many settlers due to the transportation convenience it presented. The settlement was incorporated in 1890 as a town and it is on this advancement that many light industries emerged. These light industries are what has transformed Midland into an economic hub.