More docks mean more money and that's the reason the Town of Collingwood has spent a lot of money to make room for about 60 more boats.

Collingwood Harbour is home to the community sailing school, canoe club, and yacht club but if you want to visit in a boat, finding a place to dock for the day is tough. There are only two slips for transient boaters.

Peter Devries says additional docks have been needed for years and they are finally becoming a reality.

“Great demand to join the yacht club and the town with a list of 70 or 80 people who want a spot for boats so this is a remarkable beginning to accommodating that,” he says. “There is a need for that for sure.”

The Collingwood Yacht Club spent $225,000 to build a wave break in the spring after low water levels forced the club to move some boats out of their traditional location. The town also committed $412,000 to build another 600 feet of dock - enough space for about 30 boats.  And the hope is - this is just a start.

When all of the new docks are installed, boaters will be able to pull up and dock at the foot of Collingwood’s Main Street where dozens of shops, restaurants, and services are only a short walk away.

A survey conducted by the harbour committee found that boaters would spend between $50 and $250 per day while they are here.

Communities around the region have made their waterfronts a priority. The City of Orillia recently completed a revitalization of its harbour. Its chamber of commerce says the 220 transient slips have already proven to be a benefit to the downtown. 

Boater Ian McRuer is hoping Collingwood enjoys a similar success.

“I'm really optimistic now that Collingwood is getting finally the docks and inviting people from all over Georgian Bay to enjoy this area,” he says.

Sherri Banks isn't a boater but is happy to see how Collingwood’s water front is developing into a recreation destination. She says she has seen the impact boaters can have.

“When I was in Toronto I lived near the harbour and that was a big deal for the Queen Street economy to have that spit and those boats and those people came in especially to our restaurants they enjoyed a hot meal, so I would hope anybody coming in would enjoy our restaurants because we have some fabulous food here,” she says.

The plan is to have the work done by sometime in August.