About Parry Sound

The Town of Parry Sound, located at the mouth of the Seguin River on Georgian Bay, was well-known long before the first people of European origin arrived. For generations, aboriginals utilized the location as a trading and meeting area.  Later, a trading fort occupied a site close to where the Stockey Centre is now located.  Trappers needing access into the fur rich interior of the area traversed the rivers of east shore of Georgian Bay, including the Seguin, Moon, Shawanaga and the French.

The vast stands of white pine which covered the area lured the first permanent settlers into the area in the 1860s.  Later, free land grants to settlers brought a wave of immigration from other parts of the young country and from Europe to the area.  Life was miserable to many of these pioneers who carved their homesteads out of the vast wilderness, and many abandoned those original farms and headed to the prairies, after finding the thin, stony soil to acidic to effectively grow crops.

Today, the town bears little resemblance to the original settlement William Beatty established 140 years ago.  The largest town in the region, Parry Sound has a population of about 6,000 people and serves an area of about 20,000 permanent residents.  In the summer month, it is estimated the region's population balloons to around 75,000 people.

The tourism sector remains vital to the town and area's economic well-being.  Moves to diversify the economy have proven to be successful with the establishment of several small manufacturing factories which have seen steady growth.  As well, the new West Parry Sound Health Centre and expansion to the town retail sector has created a labour shortage for people in the service industries and health care professionals.

Recently, we have seen a marked increase in the amount of retirees moving into the area.  As the first wave of baby boomers enter their retirement years, there is little doubt that the area's population will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.