New to Georgina

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Our Community

Welcome to Georgina, Ontario, a lakeshore town in one of Canada’s fastest-growing economic regions, York Region, where residents, organizations and businesses work collaboratively with the municipality to create a well-connected and diversified economy poised for growth. 

Georgina is a community of communities with each area having a unique and historical identity, all united and proud to collectively call Georgina home. Lake Simcoe is our prized asset serving as an inspiration for the arts community and providing year-round recreation that attracts visitors from all over the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Only an hour from Toronto, Georgina offers a balanced rural and urban lifestyle making it a desired location to live, work and play.

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Arts and Culture
Arts and culture are a large part of what defines a place and Georgina is not in short supply. The Town has many assets and talented residents that make it recognized as an emerging cultural hub with a rich history. There is a range of ways to enjoy the area’s culture with performing arts, visual arts, an established Studio Tour and interactive museums. 
 
The Town works closely with the arts community, local businesses and event organizers to bring many cultural festivals and events to the Town through the Community Betterment Grant. It has also been developing a public art program and works to foster an environment of collaboration and partnerships for local artists to thrive through initiatives like Georgina Made. We are committed to continuing efforts for building our cultural identity,  attracting visitors and creating a sense of pride in our community. 
 
Learn more about arts and culture in Georgina.
Downtowns
Jackson's Point, Keswick and Sutton are business improvement areas (BIAs) that offer walkable downtown shopping and dining experiences close to Lake Simcoe. The main street in the community of Pefferlaw also has walkable shops and dining options near the Pefferlaw Dam. Learn more about the attractions and businesses within these areas.
 
The Town supports the promotion of these areas through campaigns and tourism development and is actively engaged with the BIA boards and businesses regarding Town initiatives such as Streetscaping Design Standards and the Waterfront Parks Master Plan.

Owning a business in a designated business improvement area

“Joining the Keswick BIA board has increased my communication with the Town to share my opinions, future dreams and be a part of the improvement for an area that I’m passionate about. It has also allowed me to connect with like-minded community members and BIA directors who want to see our community thrive,” ~ Uptown Keswick BIA’s board Chair Karin Cacciola.
Businesses located in one of the Town’s designated BIAs can apply for a grant under the Community Improvement Plan to enhance storefront facade, landscaping or accessibility. Business or property owners may also be eligible for COVID-19 grants to financially assist with setting up a temporary patio, enhancing technology or renovations to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about doing business in a designated BIA.
Education

Colleges and Universities

The Town of Georgina is close to a number of post-secondary campuses, all within a one-hour drive. This, combined with relatively affordable housing, make Georgina a desirable place to raise a family.

Georgina Trades Training Centre

Georgina's Trades Training Centre (GTTI) has provided skills and certificates to thousands of students since 2007.  This has helped students to find employment and/or move on to full apprenticeship programs. Program participants have the opportunity to learn a trade and put their skills in motion with an intimate understanding of the community they live in.

Business Incubator/Accelerator

The Town of Georgina and East Gwillimbury are partnering with York University’s premier entrepreneurship hub, YSpace, to offer a suite of programs supporting businesses in their home communities. This project will leverage existing facilities and programs to create an ecosystem that supports coworking and collaboration, fostering new business development as well as personal and professional development for recent and seasoned entrepreneurs. 
 
Healthcare

Ensuring accessible healthcare is an important factor to consider when choosing to move to or do business in a new place. The Town works with the medical community like Health Georgina to ensure all healthcare needs are available now and in the future as we continue to grow, welcoming new residents in our neighbourhoods and senior living centres.  Georgina’s closest hospital is Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, approximately 20 minutes from Keswick’s south end. If you live in the northeastern part of Georgina, your distance is approximately 35 minutes to the Newmarket hospital or Ross Memorial in Lindsay. Learn more about Georgina’s physicians, health centres, nurse practitioners, clinics and other healthcare providers.

Tourism
Georgina has been a tourism destination since the 1900s when the community of Jackson’s Point became a desired getaway for the city of Toronto residents. It has since been dubbed “Ontario’s first cottage country.” Lake Simcoe has also been labelled the “ice fishing capital of Canada” due to its size, location and plentitude of fish. 
 
The Town is a year-round destination for overnight stays and day trips with visitors being drawn to the area for its proximity to the city and 52 kilometres of Lake Simcoe shoreline. With many marinas, fishing operators and accommodation options to choose from, Georgina is a lake experience destination that is expected to see more tourism sector growth as York Region and the greater Toronto area’s population increases. To prepare, the Town is currently undergoing a Waterfront Parks Master Plan that will add infrastructure, increase tourism sector opportunities and establish Georgina as the place to explore and enjoy the outdoors close to the city. Learn more about the Town’s Tourism Strategy and attractions.

Georgina’s history

The Town of Georgina is the northernmost municipality in York Region. It was amalgamated in 1970, merging six dispersed communities (areas of which were previously part of the Town of North Gwillimbury). 
 
Georgina is bounded by Lake Simcoe to the north, the Township of Brock to the east, Cook's Bay and the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury to the west, and the Town of East Gwillimbury and the Township of Uxbridge to the south. The municipality is predominantly rural consisting of three larger urban centres – Keswick, Sutton, Jackson’s Point and the rural community of  Pefferlaw – and the hamlets of Virginia, Udora, Baldwin, Belhaven, Brownhill and Ravenshoe.

Future growth

There are many developments currently in progress and going through the approval process in the Town of Georgina that put the Town on target to reach a population of 71,900 by 2051. Keswick is the area with the most forecasted population growth and development. Jackson’s Point and Sutton are expected to experience a moderate degree of growth. Learn about current development.
 

Below are some links to useful information to help get you acquainted with life in our beautiful town: