YOUR FUTURE NEIGHBOURS
Kelso Beach at Nawash Park
We acknowledge the Traditional Territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations, and further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash, now known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land.
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FROM THE DESK OF MAYOR BODDY
Our city is at the forefront of an innovation revolution.
We are home to a cluster of companies and supply chain networks pioneering the products and technologies that will lead Canada into its clean energy era.
From lifesaving medical isotopes to electrified heavy machinery to prototyping new ideas, we have the space, the people, and the resources to support entrepreneurs looking to grow their impact and work towards a sustainable future.
Owen Sound is a regional economic hub, building on strong relationships that transcend municipal boundaries to fuel creativity and innovation among the people who live, work, and study here.
Our community is founded on collaboration— and that’s why we’ve decided to take a different approach in the Community Profile you’re now holding.
Throughout this profile you’ll find QR codes that will take you to the most up-to-date data about our city – population, sector specific information, household income, available land and buildings to name a few; but we’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few of your future neighbours who made the choice to invest in our city and grow with us.
After all, community is what sets us apart, and it’s the reason we celebrate Owen Sound as Where You Want to Live.
We believe that the resilience and prosperity of our city stems from the exceptional quality of life we are privileged to share and our abundance of natural and cultural resources. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an established business looking to relocate or expand, this is your invitation to become a part of our community.
Big city amenities, small town charm.
You’ll find it all here.
The Milk Maid
You’ll bump into your dentist swimming laps at the Y, meet a colleague at the weekly farmers’ market, or see the mayor at your local coffee shop.
With 60% of residents commuting less than 15 minutes, we actually have time to enjoy our abundant parks and trails, catch the local OHL hockey game, and meet up for a meal in the River District where menus are prepared using the freshest ingredients grown right here in Grey County.
In this Community Profile, you’ll meet some of the people you’ll get to know as neighbours. People who were just like you—from large urban cities, or countries on the other side of the world—who made the decision to pull up a chair at our table and call Owen Sound, home.
There’s a feeling of connectedness here, something we value deeply alongside creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurship.
If you share these values, we’d like to meet you.
The Goods Kitchen, Pastry & Coffee Bar
The McMillins moved to the area from Toronto.
Tiffany, a professional photographer, took on a new role as theatre manager for The Roxy, a 400-seat theatre and one of the River District’s crown jewels.
Justin opened The Goods Kitchen Pastry and Coffee Bar in a small storefront before expanding to his new location inside the Georgian Bay School of the Arts’ building.
May Ip immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in the early 90s.
In 2013 she initiated the local celebrations of the Lunar New Year, which now includes an annual community art exhibit curated by artist Raquell Yang, pictured here in Owen Sound’s Grey Gallery.
May also works as a coordinator for the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership, welcoming newcomers to the region.
Grey Gallery
The land on which Owen Sound is situated has been inhabited for thousands of years. Known as the heart of Turtle Island, the region is the traditional home of the Anishnabek Nation.
The spirit of sharing knowledge and resources that originated with these communities continues to this day through partnerships between Saugeen Ojibway Nation, long-time settler families, and newcomer residents.
THE GICHI-NAME WIIKWEDONG RECONCILIATION
GARDEN
Located on the waterfront walking trails close to the original Nawash village, the garden is a contemplative place where the community can pause, reflect and remember.
Recognized as the northernmost terminus of the Underground Railway, the home of Billy Bishop, and once known as the Chicago of the North during its era as a bustling shipping port, Owen Sound has a storied past and a bright future.
Learn more about our history.
Georgian College Centre for Marine Training and Research
Arjun Govil is a marine navigation student at Georgian College.
He moved to the area from Ajax and found a community of friends and mentors who share his passion for “big boats,” exploring ports all over the world with state-of-the-art virtual reality simulators.
He’ll begin his first co-op placement this summer.
Dr. Mike Collins embraced the community while completing his residency in Owen Sound and stayed to take over a family practice from a retiring physician.
From his office in the Family Health Team building, he is supported by a network of colleagues as he advances his medical career.
He makes time for his own health too as a champion bodybuilder, cheered on by his partner and friends (he’s the one in the green shorts).
You don’t need to beat the traffic to enjoy ‘cottage country’.
You’re already here.
TOBERMORY
Georgian Bay Lake Huron
OWEN SOUND
Just 2.5 hours from Toronto, regionally connected by land, water, and air.
KITCHENER WATERLOO
TORONTO
Brightshores Health System
BIG CITY AMENITIES, SMALL TOWN CHARM
Technology
Owen Sound is a 5G cellular community, with fibre optic connectivity to every home and business. This means ultra-fast and reliable connections are ready when you need them, wherever you need them. We’re also investing in the future as part of the Rural ReCharge network, with 30+ public electric vehicle charging station ports (Level 2/Level 3) within 15km.
Health
The Owen Sound Hospital is the largest in the Brightshores Health System, offering community care and specialized acute services, including MRI. The city is host to a robust network of family physicians and extended health care providers, including physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, osteopathy, sports medicine, acupuncture and massage. Our community is actively exploring alternate healthcare delivery models in collaboration with neighbouring municipalities as part of a regional recruitment strategy.
Education
Providing quality education for students from primary to post-secondary, Owen Sound is served by the Bluewater District School Board and the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, and also offers French-language, Montessori, and Forest School education. The Owen Sound campus of Georgian College includes Canada’s most advanced marine simulation and research centre and a growing apprenticeship program now providing more than 750 placements annually.
Community
Owen Sound is home to more than 250 community services and organizations. These groups have an enormous impact on our city and the surrounding area, including the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre, OSHARE, Kiwanis Club of Owen Sound, United Way of Bruce Grey, The Scenic City Order of Good Cheer, and many more! Local volunteers are recognized annually at the city’s Volunteer Awards.
Food
Owen Sound’s year-round farmers’ market is a beloved Saturday tradition. Enjoy farm-to-table dining at local establishments, with world-class menus highlighting our abundance of fresh produce. The city boasts a charming blend of local specialty shops and major grocery chains. Need your caffeine? You can sample the 40+ different teas at Frog Ponds Café or pick up your go-to order from Starbucks or Tim’s.
Sport
The Owen Sound Attack is an Ontario Hockey League team that’s been a cornerstone of the city’s sports culture since 1989. Owen Sound has produced several notable professional athletes, including NHL Hall-of-Famer Harry Lumley, lacrosse player Adam Jones, and Olympic skier Larisa Yurkiw. Other athletes like Curtis Sanford, Cody Bass, Chris Minard, and golfer Jessica Shepley have also brought pride to the community. These athletes have made significant contributions to their sports and highlight Owen Sound’s rich sports heritage and continue to give back and be actively involved with the local minor sports associations.
Nature
Internationally recognized as a Tree City of the World, Owen Sound’s natural abundance includes beaches, rivers, hiking trails, and waterfalls. There’s actually a public park or playground within 800m of every residence. From vibrant forest walks to sunsets over the harbour to stargazing under the northern lights, our community loves to get outside. We have not one, but two incredible regional parks within the city: Kelso Beach at Nawash Park and the 100-acre Harrison Park.
Culture
An arts and culture hotspot known for its thriving creative community, Owen Sound is home to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, a historic Carnegie public library, and multiple museums you can access for free with the innovative OPEN card. You can also check out a play at the 400-seat Roxy Theatre, catch a foot-stomping musical act at Heartwood Concert Hall, immerse yourself in the Georgian Bay Symphony Orchestra at the OSCVI Auditorium, or join a community choir at the Harmony Centre.
The city hosts an abundance of free community events, including Canada Day and New Year’s Eve, as well as live music every week throughout the summer. From Pride Month and Summerfolk to the Salmon Spectacular and the Festival of Northern Lights, our community celebrates together year-round.
Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival
Born and raised in Owen Sound, Chef Zach Keeshig is making waves in the culinary world, already recognized by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants.
Naagan, which originated as a pop-up in the Owen Sound Farmer’s Market, now has its own brick-and-mortar location offering progressive indigenous cuisine using locally sourced and foraged ingredients.
Naagan is pronounced in three syllables (naw-AW-gan) and is the Ojibway word for dish.
Naagan
Harrison Park
Hilary Coburn & Arthur Murgatroyd are sharing their passion for the outdoors with their sons, Jasper & Tully.
Hilary founded the Youth Climate Action Conference while on parental leave and is now a teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School.
Arthur, who immigrated from Australia, teaches at Bluewater’s Outdoor Education Centre.
Jasper, 3, showed off his skiing skills before hopping into the chariot with his baby brother for a ride around Harrison Park.
Population: 22,732
Businesses: 2,105
Growth Industries:
Clean Energy
Technology
Manufacturing
Professional Services
See our up-to-date numbers
When one-third of your day is devoted to work, the decision of where that work happens is more important than ever.
Owen Sound serves a population of more than 50,000 living within a 30 minute drive—we’re the largest urban centre in the Grey and Bruce counties.
We have a diverse and highly-skilled talent pool that extends beyond our borders.
We have the space and resources to support businesses of every size.
We have strong regional partnerships to facilitate collaboration and growth.
Owen Sound has a history of excellence in every era of our country’s economic development, and our story is still being written.
Will you be part of our next chapter?
OurCleanEnergyEra
Owen Sound is one of four founding members of the Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition, a partnership with Gamzook’aamin aakoziwin, the Nuclear Innovation Institute, and the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council to drive research and investment in lifesaving medical isotopes. We’re also part of the Clean Energy Frontier, a tri-county network driving innovation in Canadian energy production in partnership with Bruce Power.
Many local companies are pioneering new methods to decarbonize and electrify their industries, including globally-recognized innovators like Hydrogen Optimized and MacLean Engineering.
ClimateChangeResilience
While enjoying the natural protection of our freshwater resources and stable geology, Owen Sound is doing its part to prepare for climate change impacts through regional collaboration on mitigation strategies and preparedness. We’re also investing in future changemakers as host to the Youth Climate Action Conference, and a proud member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
Innovation Partners
As a hub for regional connectivity and innovation, Owen Sound works alongside Grey County and neighbouring municipalities to ensure that you can access the people, information, and resources to build or grow your business.
The Sydenham Campus is a regional skills training, trades, and innovation center in Owen Sound, adjacent to Georgian College, with support for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It is also host to the region’s largest Makerspace at 8,000 sq.ft., complete with eight dedicated fabrication spaces to support prototyping and training. Over 150 machines and state-of-the-art equipment are available in this space.
Community Investment
Our community has identified targeted areas for growth and investment. The tools to support these investments include a five-point Community Improvement Plan, grants for individuals and businesses, physician recruitment initiatives, and county-wide economic development programs.
Sydenham Campus
Hydrogen Optimized
Denis Krude, CEO of Hydrogen Optimized, saw the potential for the company to become a world leader in clean hydrogen. He moved from his home in Germany, starting his new role the same day as the 2024 solar eclipse—a dramatic welcome to the team.
Despite their busy schedules, Denis and his colleagues still make time to hike the local trails and appreciate the area’s natural beauty.
SAY HELLO
Pull up a seat, we’ve set the table for you
When we spoke with the neighbours featured in this profile, they told us about moving to our community to grow their ideas, their business, their family, or in search of personal growth.
Maybe you’re a doctor or nurse practitioner looking to spend more time getting better outcomes for your patients rather than planning your daily commute. Maybe you’re a manufacturer looking to scale up your operations. Maybe you’re a new parent looking for a walkable community and great parks.
Well, we want to help you find it.
Owen Sound is ready to invest in you.
Contact our team
The Milk Maid
Our local collaborators: Designed by Nash Paul D’Souza
‘Neighbours’ series by Sophie Thérèse Photography
Additional photography by John Fearnall/Good Noise Michael McLuhan, CPA Grey County Destination Ontario
Printed & Bound in Owen Sound by Qwik Print
