Dunnville, Ontario
Dunnville is an unincorporated community of 6,000 people located near the mouth of the Grand River in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada, near the historic Talbot Trail. It was formerly an incorporated town encompassing the surrounding area with a total population of 12,000.
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History
General overview
Dunnville was the site of a Cayuga settlement called Detgahnegaha'gó:wah.[1]
The European settlement was originally built as the entrance to the Welland "feeder" canal and the town once boasted several water-powered mills and a once-bustling canal port. The feeder canal closed in the late 1880s and the last mill was destroyed and replaced with a condominium complex about ten years ago.
There is an impassable dam at Dunnville which regulates the level of the Grand River at Port Maitland which, in the 19th century, also helped regulate the level of the Welland Canal (from 1829 until 1887 when the (3rd) canal began to intake its water directly from lake Erie).
Dunnville was incorporated as a village in 1860 and then as a town in 1900. In 1974, the town amalgamated with the townships of Dunn, Canborough, Moulton and Sherbrooke when the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk was formed. In 2001, Dunnville and all other municipalities within the region were dissolved and the region was divided into two single tier municipalities with city-status but called counties. What was the incorporated town of Dunnville now consists of Wards 5 and 6 in Haldimand County.
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 1,452 |
| 1881 | 1,808 |
| 1891 | 1,776 |
| 1901 | 2,105 |
| 1911 | 2,861 |
| 1921 | 3,224 |
| 1931 | 3,405 |
| 1941 | 4,028 |
| 1951 | 4,478 |
| 1961 | 5,181 |
| 1971 | 5,576 |
| 1981 | 11,353 |
| 1991 | 12,131 |
| 2001 | 5,686 |
| 2006 | 5,729 |
Only a few kilometres from Lake Erie, Dunnville has many private vacation properties.
There are many events and natural attractions. In June the annual Mudcat Festival is held to celebrate one of the Grand River s most well-known inhabitants. The festival includes a parade, strongman contests, midway, fireworks and more. Another popular event is the Dunnville Agricultural Fair, held in late August which includes heavy, light and miniature horse shows; sheep and goat shows and much more.
Dunnville has tennis, golf, lawn bowling and swimming facilities and many Bed & Breakfasts to stay in while enjoying these activities. The community s camping experience is also second to none. Tuesday and Saturday are Farmers Market days.
The former World War II RCAF Training Base, the Dunnville Airport, offers a unique window on history with its massive hangars and runways now used for recreational flying and skydiving. The airport is also home to Haldimand County's newest museum, the No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum.
The Grand River and nearby Lake Erie offer a host of aquatic activities from swimming, sailing, wind-surfing, canoeing and feature prime locations for fishing.
Hike through Byng Island Conservation Area or Rock Point Provincial Park or enjoy a stroll along Port Maitland's beautiful, brand-new pier. In the fall, Rock Point hosts thousands of Monarch butterflies heading south. Dunnville is also the site of one of the largest expanses of provincially significant wetlands in Ontario and is perfect for bird watching and nature photography.
Smuckers Foods of Canada Co., which operates the Bick's Pickle Plant (Dunnville's largest factory), provides employment for a small percentage of the town's population, mainly students. In 2001 Bick's head office facility in Scarborough, Ontario was shut down and operations were transferred to the Dunnville location. The Bick's facility in Dunnville closed at the end of November 2011.
This community is the easternmost city that belongs to the Green Energy Hub of Southern Ontario.
2009 Grand River flood
On February 13, 2009 the Grand River flooded when the river ice thawed, damaging Cayuga and Dunnville.[2] On February 14, 2009, the CCGC Griffon proceeded up the river to help clear ice.
Notable residents
- James N. Allan, politician
- Ryan Barnes (ice hockey)
- David FenyvesRetired NHL player
- Charley Fox, World War II Hero who almost killed German Field Marshall [Erwin Rommel] during a strafing run on a lone German car
- Rob Lamothe, musician
- Matt Roik, professional lacrosse goaltender for the Washington Stealth
- Nathan Horton, NHL Player for the Boston Bruins
Amenities
Schools
- Dunnville Secondary School - Panthers
- St. Michael's Catholic School - Golden Hawks
- Dunnville Christian School
- Fairview Avenue Public School - Falcons
- Dunnville Central Public School - Dragons
- Thompson Creek Elementary School - Timberwolves
- Grandview Public School - Gators
- Anna Melick Public School - Mustangs
- Faith Jubilee Academy
Service clubs
- Lions Club
- Optimist Club
- Rotary International Club
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch 142
- 611 Harvard Royal Canadian Air Cadets
- Kinsmen
- 2nd Dunnville Scouting
References
- ^ Carrie Dick. Personal correspondence. Op. cit. GeoNative. "Iroquois: Mohawk, Cayuga, Wyandot". 1 Jan 1999. Accessed 20 Apr 2012.
- ^ Cathy Pelletier (2010-02-10). "The Flood --One Year Later". Dunnville Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dunnvillechronicle.com%2FArticleDisplay.aspx%3Fe%3D2442484&date=2010-02-21. "It was Friday the 13th, 2009 when the Grand River awakened from its winter hibernation and began to unleash an unprovoked assault upon its neighbours. Melting snow and the accumulation of waters flowing into the 300-km length of the Grand suddenly, and without warning, spelled disaster for Cayuga and Dunnville. A repeated cycle of ice jams and releases caused the crest of the water to rise and fall, spilling over the banks at various locations. Very early in the morning, the water began its considerable, rapid ascent in Cayuga, and emergency personnel embarked upon what would become a very long, intensive rescue effort."
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dunnville, Ontario |
- Dunnville's Music Shop
- Dunnville Community Theatre
- River Arts Festival
- Broad Street Tattoo
- Rijus Home Design Ltd.
- All natural baby store
Coordinates: 42°54′24″N 79°37′01″W / 42.906788°N 79.616806°W