Midland, Ontario

Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Huronia/Wendat region of Central Ontario.

Midland
Town (lower-tier)
Town of Midland
Downtown Midland
Coat of arms
Midland
Coordinates: 44°45′N 79°53′W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
CountySimcoe
Incorporated1890
Government
 • MayorStewart Strathearn
 • Governing BodyMidland Town Council
 • MPsBruce Stanton
 • MPPsJill Dunlop
Area
 • Land35.34 km2 (13.64 sq mi)
 • Metro
199.94 km2 (77.20 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Town (lower-tier)16,864
 • Density477.3/km2 (1,236/sq mi)
 • Metro
35,419
 • Metro density177.2/km2 (459/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Forward Sortation Area
L4R
Area code(s)705
Websitewww.midland.ca

Located at the southern end of Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, Midland is the economic centre of the region, with a 125-bed hospital and a local airport (Midland/Huronia Airport). It is the main town of the southern Georgian Bay area. In the summer months, the area's population grows to over 100,000 with seasonal visitors to more than 8,000 cottages, resort hotels, provincial and national parks in the surrounding municipalities of Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay.

History

The town of Midland was founded when, in 1871, the Midland Railway of Canada selected the sparsely populated community of Mundy's Bay as the new terminus of the Midland railway. At that time the Midland railway ran from Port Hope to Beaverton. The town site was surveyed in 1872–3 and the line to the town was completed by 1879. Settlers, attracted by the convenience of rail service, soon began to move into the area.[2] The company sold off lots in town (Midland City) to help finance the settlement. The village (incorporated in 1878) thrived based on Georgian Bay shipping and the lumber and grain trade. Incorporated into a town in 1890, a number of light industrial companies have established themselves in the area and tourism in the southern Georgian Bay area also contributes to the economy.

2010 tornado

On June 23, 2010, Midland was struck by an F2 tornado, causing $15 million in damage.[3] The most significant damage was reported at Smith's Camp, a trailer park at the south end of the town, where several mobile homes were completely destroyed. At one point, for the first time in 25 years, Emergency Management Ontario upgraded Environment Canada's Tornado warning to an extreme severe weather warning called "Red Alert" which was issued for most of Southern Ontario's cottage country due to the approaching severe weather and the possibility of violent tornadoes, informing residents in the area that they should seek shelter. In addition, a State of emergency was also declared in Midland. While electrical service was knocked out for a time, there were no fatalities caused by the storm.[4]

Geography and climate

Midland is located at the south end of the Georgian Bay and is the northern anchor of the Simcoe County.

Midland has a humid continental climate under the Köppen climate classification (Köppen Dfb) and has four distinct seasons. The climate is nearly the same as much of Southern Ontario and has balmy summers and chilly winters. Thunderstorms, hailstorms, snowstorm, lake effect snow and freezing rain are also common for this city.

Climate data for Midland (Midland Water Pollution Control Plant), 1981−2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.0
(57.2)		 15.0
(59.0)		 23.5
(74.3)		 30.0
(86.0)		 34.0
(93.2)		 35.5
(95.9)		 34.5
(94.1)		 34.5
(94.1)		 32.5
(90.5)		 30.0
(86.0)		 22.0
(71.6)		 18.0
(64.4)		 35.5
(95.9)
Average high °C (°F) −3.7
(25.3)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 3.0
(37.4)		 10.9
(51.6)		 17.4
(63.3)		 23.2
(73.8)		 25.6
(78.1)		 24.6
(76.3)		 20.4
(68.7)		 13.3
(55.9)		 6.4
(43.5)		 0.5
(32.9)		 11.7
(53.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −8.5
(16.7)		 −6.4
(20.5)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 5.8
(42.4)		 12.2
(54.0)		 18.1
(64.6)		 20.8
(69.4)		 19.9
(67.8)		 15.9
(60.6)		 9.3
(48.7)		 3.2
(37.8)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 7.1
(44.8)
Average low °C (°F) −13.2
(8.2)		 −11.4
(11.5)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 0.7
(33.3)		 7.0
(44.6)		 12.9
(55.2)		 15.9
(60.6)		 15.2
(59.4)		 11.4
(52.5)		 5.3
(41.5)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 2.5
(36.5)
Record low °C (°F) −36
(−33)		 −36
(−33)		 −31
(−24)		 −16.5
(2.3)		 −3
(27)		 2.0
(35.6)		 4.0
(39.2)		 4.0
(39.2)		 0.0
(32.0)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 −19
(−2)		 −31
(−24)		 −36
(−33)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 109.8
(4.32)		 69.9
(2.75)		 65.7
(2.59)		 65.1
(2.56)		 92.8
(3.65)		 89.5
(3.52)		 72.7
(2.86)		 77.9
(3.07)		 99.1
(3.90)		 90.1
(3.55)		 103.6
(4.08)		 104.4
(4.11)		 1,040.6
(40.97)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 21.5
(0.85)		 20.9
(0.82)		 36.1
(1.42)		 59.3
(2.33)		 92.8
(3.65)		 89.5
(3.52)		 72.7
(2.86)		 77.9
(3.07)		 99.1
(3.90)		 88.0
(3.46)		 74.8
(2.94)		 27.5
(1.08)		 760
(29.9)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 88.3
(34.8)		 49.3
(19.4)		 29.6
(11.7)		 5.9
(2.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 2.1
(0.8)		 28.9
(11.4)		 76.9
(30.3)		 280.9
(110.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 17 11.7 11.2 11.6 13.1 11.1 10.3 11.1 12.9 15.6 16.4 16.8 158.6
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 3.2 3.1 5.2 10.1 13.1 11.1 10.3 11.1 12.9 15.3 12.1 5.3 113.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 14.7 9.4 6.7 2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.70 5.5 12 51
Source: Environment Canada[5]

Local attractions

Around the centre of Midland there are a number of murals, most of which were painted by now deceased artist Fred Lenz. The largest, depicting a meeting between a local native and Jesuit Missionary Jean de Brebeuf is on the silos overlooking the main harbour. This work was completed by Lenz's sons following his death in 2001.[6]

Notable sites in or near Midland include the Jesuit mission of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, which is now a living museum depicting missionary life in the 17th century. The Martyrs' Shrine is a Roman Catholic church commemorating the Canadian Martyrs, eight missionaries from Sainte-Marie who were martyred during the Huron-Iroquois wars; it also operates as the Huronia museum. Pope John Paul II held a pastoral meeting at this site in September 1984.

The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is nearby.[7] The marsh provides habitat for trumpeter swans, black terns and least bitterns. The trumpeter swan is considered a symbol of Midland and a large statue of one has been erected by the harbour.

Martyrs' Shrine

An annual Butter tart festival, inaugurated in 2013, is held in early June. In 2016, the fourth annual Butter tart Festival sold more 100,000 butter tarts.[8] Many tourists flock to Midland during the festival. There are two divisions: amateur and commercial. The day after the Butter tart festival is the Butter Tart Trot, a 5-km fun run for older people and a 2.5-km run for children under 5 years old.

Little Lake Park is a tourist destination in the summer months. The park has a refreshment stand and a number of sports facilities including volleyball courts, a baseball field, skateboard park, disc golf course.[9]

Sports activities

Midland is the home of The Midland Flyers Ice Hockey Club of the Provincial Junior Hockey League in the Carruthers division in the Ontario Hockey Association. It is also home of the Midland Minor Hockey Association. Midland North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre is the home rink to these teams. The NSSRC is also the location of the Midland Sports Hall of Fame.

Boating, both power and sail, is very popular with a number of marinas and a sailing club based in the town. The town has easy access to the relatively sheltered waters of south eastern Georgian Bay. Among the marinas nearby are Bay Port Yachting Centre on the northwest side of the bay, and Wye Heritage Marina along the southeast shore. There is also good fishing.

Midland also has an ever-growing and active cycling base. The Midland Tri Club has increased the number of road riders in the area. Many of these riders also participate in the popular weekly Time Trial series and group rides that run throughout the summer months. Mountain view Ski Center has also encouraged the growth of mountain bikers, with an extensive trail system in town. The Center hosts a variety of races, including a summer long weekly series, as well as a night race, high school event, and 9 hour relay. Also, an MTB club has been borne of the Center, and is expanding its breadth into competition and other pursuits. The provincial cyclo-cross championships are to be hosted in Midland on November 13, 2016 as part of the Silver Goose CX Race.

In the winter, snowmobiling and ice fishing are popular activities. Mountain-view Ski Center has 25 kilometres (16 mi) of cross country ski trails.

Notable residents
Midland Sports Hall of Fame at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre

Demographics
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
18811,095—    
18912,088+90.7%
19013,174+52.0%
19114,663+46.9%
19217,016+50.5%
19316,920−1.4%
19416,764−2.3%
19517,206+6.5%
19618,656+20.1%
197110,992+27.0%
198112,132+10.4%
199113,865+14.3%
199616,347+17.9%
200116,214−0.8%
200616,300+0.5%
201116,572+1.7%
201616,864+1.8%
Canada census – Midland, Ontario community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 16,864 (+1.8% from 2011) 16,572 (+1.5% from 2006) 16,330 (+0.5% from 2001)
Land area: 35.34 km2 (13.64 sq mi) 35.37 km2 (13.66 sq mi) 29.09 km2 (11.23 sq mi)
Population density: 477.3/km2 (1,236/sq mi) 468.5/km2 (1,213/sq mi) 560.3/km2 (1,451/sq mi)
Median age: 50.1 (M: 48.2, F: 51.6) 44.4 (M: 42.9, F: 45.7)
Total private dwellings: 7,739 7,680 7,264
Median household income: $54,878 $45,256
Notes: Includes corrections and updates, adjusted figure due to boundary change. – References: 2016[11] 2011[12] 2006[13] earlier[14]

The census agglomeration area of Midland includes Tay Township and the Town of Penetanguishene.

Transportation

Midland is served by the Simcoe County LINX inter-community bus service on its Route 1 - Penetanguishene / Midland to Barrie.

Economy

Since 1952 ELCAN (Ernest Leitz CANada) is located in Ontario; it was founded in 1952 by Leica Camera and is owned by Raytheon Technologies since 1999.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Midland census profile". 2016 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  2. "Founding of Midland, The". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  3. "Midland tornado damage could reach $15M". CBC News. June 24, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  4. "Midland storm was an F2 tornado, experts confirm". CTV News. June 24, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  5. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data: Midland Water Pollution Control Plant". Environment Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  6. "The Historic Murals of Downtown Midland" (PDF). Downtown Midland BIA. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  7. "Welcome to Wye Marsh". Wye Marsh. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  8. nurun.com. "Butter Tart Festival was sweet". Sarnia Observer. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  9. "How Little Lake Park Continues to be Enhanced Since Its Inception Early in the Twentieth Century". OurMidland.ca. 2015-11-16. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  10. "Dudley, George – Biography – Honoured Builder". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  11. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  12. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  13. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  14. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  15. Leica Barnack-Berek-Blog 28 October 2016, ELCAN - Ernst Leitz Canada limited, retrieved 1 November 2020.
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