Wainfleet is a rural township in southern Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada.

Wainfleet
Township of Wainfleet
Wainfleet Township Hall
Wainfleet Township Hall
Wainfleet is located in Regional Municipality of Niagara
Wainfleet
Wainfleet
Wainfleet is located in Southern Ontario
Wainfleet
Wainfleet
Coordinates: 42°55′30″N 79°22′30″W / 42.92500°N 79.37500°W / 42.92500; -79.37500
Country Canada
Province Ontario
RegionNiagara
Formed1970
Government
 • MayorBrian Grant
 • Federal ridingNiagara West
 • Prov. ridingNiagara West
Area
 • Land217.31 km2 (83.90 sq mi)
Elevation
177 m (581 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total6,372
 • Density29.3/km2 (76/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code
L0R, L0S
Area code(s)905, 289, 365, and 742
Websitewww.wainfleet.ca

There is a small and growing tourist industry, near and on Lake Erie at the southern area of Wainfleet called Long Beach. Wainfleet is also the home of the Marshville Heritage Village, a living history museum, recreating life in Ontario c. 1850–1910.[2]

Communities

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The township includes the communities of Attercliffe, Beckett's Bridge, Belleview Beach, Burnaby, Camelot Beach, Chambers Corners, Long Beach, Morgan's Point, O'Reilly's Bridge, Ostryhon Corners, Perry, Wainfleet (known until the 1920s as Marshville), Wellandport (which straddles the border with the neighbouring Township of West Lincoln), Willow Bay and Winger. Wainfleet is near Willow Bay. The administrative offices of the township are located in Wainfleet.

Coat of arms

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Wainfleet Township's coat of arms consists of a white shield depicting a red cross, which symbolizes the arms of Lincoln, England, with a maple leaf in its centre. The maple leaf represents Canada and divides the shield into four quarters. Two of the quarters are filled with blue wavy lines symbolizing water. A third section contains a wagon wheel, and the other a harrow. The Harrow represents development of agriculture in the area. A cranberry bush crown on the coat of arms is indicative of the natural flora in Wainfleet.

Anglo-Saxon meaning of Wain "a wagon" and Fleet "a creek - a river" is "a creek through which a wagon can pass."

Two men stand on either side of the coat of arms: a Mississauga native who represents the tribe that settled a long Lake Ontario and a Franciscan Priest who represents Father Daillon, the first European among the priests that established the settlement in 1626–1678.

Demographics

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In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wainfleet had a population of 6,887 living in 2,615 of its 3,116 total private dwellings, a change of 8.1% from its 2016 population of 6,372. With a land area of 217.53 km2 (83.99 sq mi), it had a population density of 31.7/km2 (82.0/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19916,203—    
19966,253+0.8%
20016,258+0.1%
20066,601+5.5%
20116,356−3.7%
20166,372+0.3%
[4]

This population is diverse in age: the largest population bracket is the 45-49 age range with 595 residents, and the smallest is 85 and older with only 65 residents.[5]

People

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Tony Dekker, singer/songwriter/guitarist for indie folk band Great Lake Swimmers, grew up on a farm in Wainfleet. A&E Network personality Tanya Memme is also a native of Wainfleet.

Attractions

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  • Long Beach Conservation Area and Campground
  • Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area
  • Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Wainfleet, Township". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  2. ^ Marshville Heritage Society & Village
  3. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 census
  5. ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (8 February 2012). "Statistics Canada: 2011 Census Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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