Centre Wellington is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, located in Wellington County. The primary communities are Elora and Fergus. The area is agricultural but also includes industries such as manufacturing. In the Canada 2016 Census, the population was stated as 28,191.
The township was established on January 1, 1999 by amalgamating Fergus, Elora, the Townships of Nichol, Pilkington, West Garafraxa and a part of Eramosa. Especially Fergus and Elora have interesting histories that started in the 1830s.
The small communities in the township, some hamlets or villages, include Aboyne, Belwood, Creek Bank, Cumnock, Dracon, Drayton, Ennotville, Inverhaugh, Living Springs, Oustic, Pentland Corners, Ponsonby, Salem, Shiloh, Simpson Corners, Speedside and Spier.
Video Centre Wellington
Demographics
According to the 2011 Canadian Census, the population of Centre Wellington was 26,693, a 2.5% increase from 2006. The population density was 65.5 people per square km. The median age was 42.7 years old, a bit higher than the national median at 40.6 years old. There were 10,729 private dwellings with an occupancy rate of 92.7%. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the median value of a dwelling in Centre Wellington was $300,625, a bit higher than the national average at $280,552. The median household income (after-taxes) in Centre Wellington was $66,764, higher than the national average at $54,089.
Most of Centre Wellington's population in 2011 was of European descent; the following is the racial breakdown:
- 96.5% White
- 2.1% Aboriginal; 1.4% First Nations, 0.7% Metis'
- 0.4% South Asian
- 0.3% East Asian; 0.3% Chinese, 0.0% Korean, 0.0% Japanese
- 0.2% Latin American'
- 0.2% Black
- 0.1% Southeast Asian; 0.1% Filipino
- 0.0% Arab
- 0.0% West Asian
- 0.0% Multiracial; 0.7% including Metis
- 0.2% Other
According to the Canada 2016 Census:
- Population: 28,191
- % Change (2011-2016): +5.6
- Private dwellings: 11,499
- Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 10,823
- Area (km².): 407.54
- Density (persons per km².): 69.2
Population trend:
- Population in 2016: 28,191
- Population in 2011: 26,693
- Population in 2006: 26,049
- Population in 2001: 24,260
- Population total in 1996: 21,786
Maps Centre Wellington
Economy
Centre Wellington is heavily agricultural but is also the home to industries, manufacturers, retailers, health care services and trades people. The local economy also benefits greatly from tourism. At the time of the 2011 Census, 6.4% of the workforce of Centre Wellington was involved in agriculture and other resource-based industries/utilities, 24.8% in manufacturing and construction, 19.8% in health and education and 13.2% in wholesale and retail trade. The top three categories for employment (in order of importance) were in Manufacturing, Healthcare and Agriculture. The major employers in the township include Jefferson Elora Corp., Nexans Canada, Polycorp Ltd., Groves Memorial Hospital, Wellington Terrace and PR Donnelly. The average real estate value, for a single detached home in 2014 was $342,817 in Centre Wellington.
Many tourists visit Centre Wellington, especially Elora, on daytrips, attracted by the historic nature of the towns or the Grand River Raceway with horse racing and slot machines. Also at the edge of town, the Elora Gorge Conservation Area often fills to capacity on summer weekends. The park offers paddleboat rentals, hiking, camp-grounds, fishing and picnicking. Also operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority, the nearby Elora Quarry is a popular swimming area. The annual Elora Festival (2 weeks in July) is particularly popular; the headliner in 2017 is Gordon Lightfoot. The Elora mill, built in the 1830s, was a hotel that closed in 2010. It is being restored to luxury level and should reopen as the Elora Mill Inn and Spa in 2018.
The township encourages the filming of movies and TV shows; quite a few productions have taken advantage of the historic look of Fergus, and especially Elora, for location work. Most recently, in 2016, parts of the 10 part mini series, Canada: The Story of Us, were filmed in Elora which was a stand-in for scenes of WW II skirmishes in Holland and France.
Local government
Township council includes a Mayor (Kelly Linton) and six councilors. Three of the latter live in Fergus while one lives in Elora.
The Township is also represented on the County of Wellington Council which is made up of seven mayors and nine councilors. The head of this council is the Warden (Dennis Lever).
The township of Centre Wellington has an active historical society and operates the Wellington County Museum and Archives in a historic stone building in Aboyne, halfway between Elora and Fergus, Ontario. This two-storey Italianate-style stone building was the oldest known state-supported poorhouse or almshouse in Canada, called the House of Industry and Refuge when it opened in 1877. Subsequently, the home switched to caring for the elderly and chronically ill, eventually closing in 1971. The building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995.
Climate
This township has a humid continental climate (Dfb) under the Köppen climate classification with cold winters and warm summers.
Sports
Centre Wellington recently expanded the community centre in Fergus which now has two ice pads, a pool, a hall and a gym. The complex plays host to the Fergus Force Jr.A hockey team, the Centre Wellington Fusion minor hockey association, the Centre Wellington Thistlehawks minor lacrosse association, and the Fergus Flippers aquatic club. The Elora arena plays host to the Elora Rocks Sr.A hockey team, the Elora Mohawks Jr.B lacrosse team, the Elora Lightning minor hockey association and the Elora Mohawks minor lacrosse association. The Inverhaugh Cricket Club is the only privately owned turf wicket in Canada used for cricket. Highland Park is the home to Centre Wellington Minor Softball Association which has been providing safe and fun softball to families in CW for decades. They now offer Softball to both kids AND Adults to better serve the entire family and keep the people of Centre Wellington active. Fergus is also home to the Highland Rugby Club and the Fergus-Elora District Soccer Club (FEDS).
Fergus Curling Club, Ontario's oldest continuously running Curling Club, was founded in 1834 by settlers from Scotland. Adam Fergusson was the first president. Matches were held outdoors until 1879 when an indoor rink was opened.
Media
Centre Wellington is covered by local newspapers, television and local radio through the following services:
- The Wellington Advertiser
- TVCogeco
- Fergus-Elora News Express
- The Grand @ 101 (101.1 FM)
See also
- List of townships in Ontario
- Wellington County, Ontario
- Grand River (Ontario)
- Fergus, Ontario
- Elora, Ontario
References
External links
- Township of Centre Wellington
- Wellington Guelph Community Portal
Source of article : Wikipedia
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