Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound (population 6,500) is a
town in southern
Ontario,
Canada, located on the eastern shore of
Georgian Bay). Parry Sound is located 160 km (100 miles) south of
Sudbury and 225 km (145 miles) north of
Toronto. It is the seat of
Parry Sound District, a popular
cottage country region for
Southern Ontario residents increasing the town population to approximately 75,000 during the summer months. It is also the world's deepest natural freshwater port. Parry Sound is the hometown of
Bobby Orr,
Boston Bruins defenseman (Number 4), and the local
community centre located in town was named in his honour. During the early part of the
20th century, the area was a popular subject for the many scenic
art works of
Tom Thomson and members of the
Group of Seven. There was a slight decline in economic activity shortly after
World War I with
J.R. Booth's construction of the rival town on nearby
Parry Island,
Depot Harbour, but this setback was overcome through later developments in
tourism and
commerce, and the destruction by fire of the entire town of Depot Harbour during Parry Sound's celebrations of V-E Day, in 1945.
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.
During the late
1920s and early
1930s, 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 Soundâ€"Muskoka riding from
1981 through
2001.
Other attractions include the
30,000 Islands tour aboard the Island Queen, and the newly opened Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts in conjunction with 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 buses arrive daily en route to Sudbury. In addition,
VIA Rail (
Crown corporation passenger railway) serves the town with passenger rail service twice a week, on its line between Toronto and
Vancouver.
*
North Parry*Parry Sound
*
South Parry*
BoyneAccording to the
2001 Statistics Canada Census:
*% Change (
1996-
2001): -3.2
*Dwellings: 2,797
*Area (km²): 13.33
*Density (persons per km²): 459.3
*
List of airports in the Parry Sound area*
West Parry Sound Health Centre*
Welcome to Parry Sound*
Parry Sound Webcam and Community Interactive Portal*
Searchable Parry Sound and Area Business Directory*
Parry Sound Area Local News & Sports*
Local Georgian Bay Tourism Including Resorts, Cottages & Attractions*
Town of Parry Sound*
The Parry Sound and Area Chamber of Commerce
