Here's how Wasaga Beach intends to put the town 'back on the map'
In Wasaga Beach, tourism is everything, which is why after four years, the town is reopening Beach Drive to inject some life into the waterfront.
"At the end of the day, it's about putting Wasaga Beach back on the map. It's about creating a world-class destination as we were for many years and getting this area redeveloped which should've been done a long time ago, but we're here now and going to do that," said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith.
Beach Drive remains closed between 2nd and 3rd Street for a temporary amphitheatre being made out of recycled stone from the wall that was built to keep water away from the storefronts.
The amphitheatre will now host several summer activities.
"High-level performers and bands. Just really good energy. I think the beach kind of sells itself, but to have these top-notch performers on the beachfront with us, it's just a fun place to be," said Candice Grisbrook, the Wasaga Beach senior special events coordinator.
"Now that everything is opening up, it's a totally different experience," said one local worker.
The town hopes these attractions and a busy summer schedule will benefit local businesses with all their land holdings and shops fully rented for the summer.
"We make custom t-shirts. We sell literally everything. Floaties, women's bikinis. Now that everything is reopening, everything is going to be way busier, and that's definitely a lot more business for us," explained one local business owner.
Some residents believe there is still much more work to be done before Wasaga Beach is once again thriving, but they hope this summer can officially kickstart a return to normalcy.
"A return to what this beach was. If they bring the car shows back, the bike shows, the food trucks, the fair opens up a little longer. Try to put a little more supervision on the beach itself," said a Wasaga Beach resident.
Now with bigger crowds comes more demand for parking.
The town has increased the cost of parking for visitors but says it's still some of the cheapest in the region on top of another change.
"This year, we made parking for full-time residents free, which has never been the case before, and so we're giving back to our community and still inviting our guests to come and enjoy our wonderful beach," said Smith.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
And after a four-year hiatus, the Wasaga Beach Brewing Company will reopen a beach bar with a new 53-foot trailer with food and live music overlooking the beachfront.
The town also wants to crack down on large and disruptive unlicensed gatherings that have become a trend in the community in recent summers.
"It creates an issue for our bylaw. It creates an issue for the OPP, for emergency vehicles, and for the citizens. More importantly, the full-time citizens who live here wanting to just go home," said Smith.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.