Centre Wellington

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Centre Wellington
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Centre Wellington
Fergus Ontario St Andrew St E.jpg
St. Andrew Street in Fergus.
Centre Wellington, Ontario.png
Logo
Wellington locator map 2021.svg
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Centre Wellington
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Centre Wellington
Coordinates: 43°42′N80°22′W / 43.700°N 80.367°W / 43.700; -80.367
Country Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Province Flag of Ontario.svg  Ontario
County Wellington
EstablishedJanuary 1, 1999
Government
 • TypeTownship
 • MayorShawn Watters
 • Governing BodyCentre Wellington Township Council
 •  MP Mike Chong (Con)
 •  MPP Ted Arnott (PC)
Area
[1]
 • Land407.54 km2 (157.35 sq mi)
Population
 (2016) [1]
 • Total
28,191
 • Density69.2/km2 (179/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code FSA
N1M, N0B
Area code(s) 519, 226, 548
Website www.centrewellington.ca

Centre Wellington is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, located in Wellington County. The primary communities are Elora and Fergus. The area is agricultural but also includes industries such as manufacturing. In the Canada 2016 Census, the population was stated as 28,191. [1]

Contents

History

The township was established on January 1, 1999, by amalgamating Fergus, Elora, the Townships of Nichol, Pilkington, West Garafraxa and a part of Eramosa. [2] Fergus and Elora, in particular, have interesting histories that started in the 1830s. [3] [4]

Communities

In addition to Fergus and Elora, the township includes several small communities, hamlets and villages including; Aboyne, Belwood, Creek Bank, Cumnock, Dracon, Ennotville, Inverhaugh, Living Springs, Oustic, Pentland Corners, Ponsonby, Salem, Shiloh, Simpson Corners, Speedside and Spier.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Centre Wellington had a population of 31,093 living in 11,972 of its 12,701 total private dwellings, a change of

According to the 2011 Canadian Census, the median age was 42.7 years old, a bit higher than the national median at 40.6 years old. [6] According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the median value of a dwelling in Centre Wellington was $300,625, a bit higher than the national average at $280,552. [6] The median household income (after-taxes) in Centre Wellington was $66,764, higher than the national average at $54,089. [6]

Most of Centre Wellington's population in 2011 was of European descent; the following is the racial breakdown: [6]

Centre Wellington
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1996 21,786—    
2001 24,260+11.4%
2006 26,049+7.4%
2011 26,693+2.5%
2016 28,191+5.6%
2021 31,093+10.3%
[7] [1]

Economy

The Elora Mill Elora Mill 2014.jpg
The Elora Mill

Centre Wellington is heavily agricultural but is also the home to industries, manufacturers, retailers, health care services and trades people. The local economy also benefits greatly from tourism. [8] [9] At the time of the 2011 census, 6.4% of the workforce of Centre Wellington was involved in agriculture and other resource-based industries/utilities, 24.8% in manufacturing and construction, 19.8% in health and education and 13.2% in wholesale and retail trade. The top three categories for employment (in order of importance) were in Manufacturing, Healthcare and Agriculture. The major employers in the township include Jefferson Elora Corp., Nexans Canada, Polycorp Ltd., Groves Memorial Hospital, Wellington Terrace and PR Donnelly. The average real estate value, for a single detached home in 2014 was $342,817 in Centre Wellington. [10]

Restored buildings on Water St.; shops and restaurants line the Grand River in the downtown area. Elora Ontario 2013 p3.jpg
Restored buildings on Water St.; shops and restaurants line the Grand River in the downtown area.

Many tourists visit Centre Wellington, especially Elora, on daytrips, attracted by the historic nature of the towns or the Grand River Raceway with horse racing and slot machines. Also at the edge of town, the Elora Gorge Conservation Area often fills to capacity on summer weekends. The park offers paddleboat rentals, hiking, camp-grounds, fishing and picnicking. Also operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority, the nearby Elora Quarry is a popular swimming area. [11] The annual Elora Festival (2 weeks in July) is particularly popular; the headliner in 2017 was Gordon Lightfoot. [12] The Elora mill, built in the 1830s, was a hotel until 2010. It was restored to luxury level and reopened as the Elora Mill Inn and Spa on July 6, 2018. [13]

The township encourages the filming of movies and TV shows; quite a few productions have taken advantage of the historic look of Fergus and especially Elora for location work. [14] For example, in 2016, parts of the 10-part mini-series, Canada: The Story of Us, were filmed in Elora which stood in for scenes of WW II skirmishes in Holland and France. [15]

Local government

Township council includes a mayor and six councillors. Three of the latter live in Fergus while one lives in Elora. The Township is also represented on the County of Wellington Council which is made up of seven mayors and nine councillors. The head of this council is the Warden. [16]

The township of Centre Wellington has an active historical society and operates the Wellington County Museum and Archives in a historic stone building in Aboyne, halfway between Elora and Fergus, Ontario. [17] This two-storey Italianate stone building was the earliest known state-supported poorhouse or almshouse in Canada, called the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge when it opened in 1877. Subsequently, the home switched to caring for the elderly and chronically ill, eventually closing in 1971. The building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995. [18] [19]

Climate

This township has a humid continental climate (Dfb) under the Köppen climate classification with cold winters and warm summers.

Climate data for Fergus (1981−2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)15.6
(60.1)		12.0
(53.6)		23.9
(75.0)		29.0
(84.2)		32.0
(89.6)		34.0
(93.2)		35.5
(95.9)		35.0
(95.0)		35.0
(95.0)		28.9
(84.0)		24.4
(75.9)		17.5
(63.5)		35.5
(95.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)−3.6
(25.5)		−2.1
(28.2)		2.6
(36.7)		10.4
(50.7)		17.5
(63.5)		22.8
(73.0)		25.2
(77.4)		24.2
(75.6)		19.8
(67.6)		12.7
(54.9)		5.4
(41.7)		−0.7
(30.7)		11.2
(52.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)−7.4
(18.7)		−6.3
(20.7)		−1.9
(28.6)		5.7
(42.3)		12.2
(54.0)		17.5
(63.5)		20.0
(68.0)		19.0
(66.2)		14.9
(58.8)		8.3
(46.9)		2.1
(35.8)		−3.9
(25.0)		6.7
(44.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−11.1
(12.0)		−10.5
(13.1)		−6.5
(20.3)		0.9
(33.6)		6.9
(44.4)		12.2
(54.0)		14.7
(58.5)		13.8
(56.8)		9.9
(49.8)		3.9
(39.0)		−1.2
(29.8)		−7.1
(19.2)		2.2
(36.0)
Record low °C (°F)−35
(−31)		−32.8
(−27.0)		−31.7
(−25.1)		−18.9
(−2.0)		−6.1
(21.0)		−0.6
(30.9)		2.2
(36.0)		−0.6
(30.9)		−5
(23)		−11.7
(10.9)		−18.3
(−0.9)		−34.4
(−29.9)		−35
(−31)
Average precipitation mm (inches)67.9
(2.67)		55.9
(2.20)		59.6
(2.35)		74.1
(2.92)		86.9
(3.42)		83.8
(3.30)		89.2
(3.51)		96.6
(3.80)		93.1
(3.67)		77.2
(3.04)		93.0
(3.66)		68.6
(2.70)		945.7
(37.23)
Average rainfall mm (inches)27.8
(1.09)		25.3
(1.00)		36.7
(1.44)		67.9
(2.67)		86.8
(3.42)		83.8
(3.30)		89.2
(3.51)		96.6
(3.80)		93.1
(3.67)		75.6
(2.98)		80.5
(3.17)		34.7
(1.37)		797.8
(31.41)
Average snowfall cm (inches)40.1
(15.8)		30.6
(12.0)		22.9
(9.0)		6.2
(2.4)		0.1
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		1.6
(0.6)		12.5
(4.9)		33.9
(13.3)		147.8
(58.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)19.714.914.014.614.412.011.512.413.916.517.418.3179.5
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)4.74.57.412.914.312.011.512.413.916.313.16.8129.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)16.511.88.22.80.150.00.00.00.00.735.613.259.0
Source: Environment Canada [20]

Sports

Centre Wellington recently expanded the community centre in Fergus which now has two ice pads, a pool, a hall and a gym. The complex plays host to the Centre Wellington Fusion & Mustangs minor hockey associations, the Centre Wellington Thistles jr C minor lacrosse team, the Centre Wellington Riverhawks (formerly Mohawks) minor Lacrosse association, and the Fergus Flippers aquatic club. The Elora arena plays host to the Elora Rocks Sr.A hockey team, the Elora Mohawks Jr.B lacrosse team, and The Edge Ringette association. The Inverhaugh Cricket Club is the only privately owned turf wicket in Canada used for cricket. Highland Park is the home to Centre Wellington Minor Softball Association which has been providing safe and fun softball to families in CW for decades. They now offer Softball to both kids AND Adults to better serve the entire family and keep the people of Centre Wellington active. Fergus is also home to the Highland Rugby Club and the Fergus-Elora District Soccer Club (FEDS). [21]

Fergus Curling Club, Ontario's oldest continuously running Curling Club, was founded in 1834 by settlers from Scotland. Adam Fergusson was the first president. Matches were held outdoors until 1879 when an indoor rink was opened. [19]

Media

Centre Wellington is covered by local newspapers, television and local radio through the following services:

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Centre Wellington, Township [Census subdivision], Ontario and Alma [Population centre], Quebec". 2.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ "About Centre Wellington". Township of Centre Wellington. August 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Fergus-Elora: A history shaped by the Grand River". SouthWesternOntario.ca. July 5, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ "History of Fergus Ontario". Fergus.ca. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "NHS Profile of Centre Wellington". Statistics Canada . Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  8. ↑ "Do Business". Township of Centre Wellington. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Visitor Guide". Township of Centre Wellington. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Centre Wellington Fast Facts 2015" (PDF). Township of Centre Wellington. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Elora Gorge". Grand River Conservation Authority. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Things To Do". Elora Ontario BIA. Archived from the original on December 29, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ Slofstra, Martin (February 13, 2017). "Fergus Builds on its Small Town Appeal". The Toronto Sun . Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Filming in Centre Wellington". Archived from the original on July 1, 2016.
  15. ↑ Robinson, Mike (July 22, 2016). "Elora set part of filming of Canada: The Story of Us". Wellingtonadvertiser.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Meet Your County Council". Wellington County. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Wellington County Museum and Archives". Wellington County. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  18. ↑ Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge . Canadian Register of Historic Places .
  19. 1 2 "The Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge". OntarioPlaques.com. Alan L. Brown. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Fergus Shand Dam, Ontario". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada . Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  21. ↑ Espina, Pat. "Fergus BIA - Fergus Elora District Soccer, Fergus ON". www.downtownfergus.com. Fergus BIA. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
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