Parry Sound, Ontario
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Parry Sound (2001 census population 6,120) is a town in central Ontario, Canada, located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay). Parry Sound is located 165 kilometres south of Sudbury and 225 kilometres north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the world's deepest freshwater port.
The body of water that gives the town its name was surveyed and named by Captain Henry Bayfield in the 19th century, in honour of the Arctic explorer Sir William Edward Parry. In 1857, the modern townsite was established near the Ojibwa village of Wasaukwasene ("shining shore") at the mouth of the Seguin River. In the late 19th century, rail service was established, making the town an important depot along the rail lines to Western Canada.
In the early 20th century, an explosives and munitions factory was established in the nearby town of Nobel, making Parry Sound an important part of the Second World War effort.
The town is host to an annual sailing regatta and a performing arts festival, The Festival of the Sound. It is the birthplace of hockey legend Bobby Orr. Former Ontario premier Ernie Eves also called the town home for many years; he was the MPP for the Parry Sound—Muskoka riding from 1981 through 2001.
Other attractions include the 30,000 island tour aboard the Island Queen, or the newly opened Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts / The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. The Stockey Centre has, since it opened, hosted many Festival of the Sound concerts.
Although construction on Highway 400 is scheduled to continue, Parry Sound is currently the northern terminus of Highway 400, where it changes into Highway 69.
Bus service from Toronto is available by Ontario Northland, the government-owned transportation company, and busses arrive daily en route to Sudbury, ON.
Communities
- North Parry
- Parry Sound
According to the 2001 Statistics Canada Census:
- % Change (1996-2001): -3.2
- Dwellings: 2,797
- Area (sq. km.): 13.33
- Density (persons per sq. km.): 459.3
| North: McDougall | ||
| West: Parry Island First Nation | Parry Sound | East: McDougall |
| South: Seguin |
External links
- Parry Sound Webcam and Community Interactive Portal (http://www.parrysound.com/)
- Searchable Parry Sound and Area Business Directory (http://business.parrysound.com/)
- Parry Sound Area Local News & Sports (http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/)
- Local Georgian Bay Tourism Including Resorts, Cottages & Attractions (http://www.exploregeorgianbay.com/)
- Town of Parry Sound (http://www.town.parry-sound.on.ca/)
- The Parry Sound and Area Chamber of Commerce (http://chamber.parrysound.com/)