Port Dover, Ontario is a picturesque town on the north coast of Lake Erie, with a population of about 6,000 and growing. This fishing port is located in Norfolk County and is easily accessible to major centres and highways. Hamilton, Brantford, and Tillsonburg are less than an hour away. The City of Toronto, Niagara Falls and London are within two hours drive.
Port Dover has all the characteristics of a small town. It is friendly, safe, and clean. It boasts beaches, marinas, live theatre and many interesting festivals and activities to attend throughout the year. Many visitors come to the area for famous Lake Erie Perch or an Arbor Hotdog.
A large number of housing starts in the last few years have seen many new retirees moving into the Port Dover community. These starts include many single family homes and new condominiums. It is predicted that this community will continue to attract middle age and older residents within the next ten years.
Many retail and financial services are offered to the residents of Port Dover and area. The downtown core is a collection of standard retail outlets, including a post office and weekly newspaper. Many interesting boutiques help to attract a large number of visitors. A small plaza which houses the local supermarket is on the fringe of the downtown. A state of the art library has just been completed in association with the Lakewood Elementary school.
The local economy is driven by tourism, commercial fishing, general and dairy farming, growing fruit, vegetables, tobacco, ginseng, and peanuts. Major employers include: Imperial Oil, U. S. Steel Lake Erie Works, Toyetsu plant in Simcoe and small industry. Safety and security issues are handled by the OPP and a Volunteer Fire Department.
A Medical Centre with three physicians, lab, pharmacy and optometrist is located beside the local elementary school, library, community centre, and arena, while a fourth doctor's office is on the main street next to a pharmacy. There are plans to build a new medical centre with up to date facilities and access within the next year to attract more doctors to Port Dover. Dover Cliffs is the local nursing home, and is located a block away from Grace United. Two dentists, chiropractors, pharmacists and holistic health care providers also have offices in Port Dover. Norfolk General Hospital is located in Simcoe, a short 10 minute drive away. For more serious illnesses, local patients are transferred to hospitals in London, Hamilton and Brantford.
Lakewood Public School houses grades JK to 8. Grades 9 through 12 are educated at Simcoe Composite School and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Secondary School in Simcoe to which they are bussed. The school board operates a GED program in the downtown mall in Simcoe. Post secondary education can be found locally at Fanshawe College in Simcoe. Within a two hour radius you can attend: Mohawk College in Hamilton, Laurier University, Nipissing College in Brantford, McMaster University in Hamilton, Western University in London, Waterloo and Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener, Brock University in St. Catharine's, and Guelph University in Guelph.
As mentioned, one of the major economic drivers of the community is tourism.
Festivals and events staged each year:
· New Years Day Polar Bear Plunge
· Perch Derby
· Lighthouse Festival Theatre
· Sunday Evening Band Concerts in the summer
· Canada Day Celebrations - July 1
· Summer Festival - Art in the Park
· Christmas Fest and Santa Claus Parade
· Friday the 13th Biker Bash(s)
· The Artisans Studio Tour
Port Dover is also the home of the Harbour Museum where our rich fishing industry and heritage is celebrated. Divers can explore sunken ship wrecks a few kilometers from shore. Close by, you will find the world famous Long Point Biosphere Reserve and Bird Sanctuary.
For those interested in fitness there are the Sit and Fit at St. Paul's Church, T. O. P. S. at Grace United Church, a number of fitness and yoga clubs, Tai Chi club at Grace United Church, a square dance group in Simcoe, a Scottish Country Dance group at Knox Church, an indoor walking club, and a run and walk club at the Runner's Den. For outdoor enthusiasts, many walking and cycling routes including the Lynn Valley Trail have a starting point in Port Dover. Several golf courses are close by. Tennis, a skateboard park, ball hockey and sailboat racing are also available. Minor sport groups include: Baseball, Softball, Hockey, Soccer, and Figure Skating. Scouts and Guides are also active groups; as are two Probus Clubs and a number of music groups. A Newcomers club; and service clubs such as Lions, Lioness, Kinsmen, Masonic Lodge, Knights of Columbus, and Legion provide many community services.
Other activities include swimming classes and pool therapy at the Simcoe pool, a new library housed in the elementary school, a model train club, a river tour and boat cruises, the Harbour Marina, several local wineries, one of the most desirable beaches in Southern Ontario, and Long Point Bay for sport fishing and boating.
Port Dover has all the characteristics of a small town. It is friendly, safe, and clean. It boasts beaches, marinas, live theatre and many interesting festivals and activities to attend throughout the year. Many visitors come to the area for famous Lake Erie Perch or an Arbor Hotdog.
A large number of housing starts in the last few years have seen many new retirees moving into the Port Dover community. These starts include many single family homes and new condominiums. It is predicted that this community will continue to attract middle age and older residents within the next ten years.
Many retail and financial services are offered to the residents of Port Dover and area. The downtown core is a collection of standard retail outlets, including a post office and weekly newspaper. Many interesting boutiques help to attract a large number of visitors. A small plaza which houses the local supermarket is on the fringe of the downtown. A state of the art library has just been completed in association with the Lakewood Elementary school.
The local economy is driven by tourism, commercial fishing, general and dairy farming, growing fruit, vegetables, tobacco, ginseng, and peanuts. Major employers include: Imperial Oil, U. S. Steel Lake Erie Works, Toyetsu plant in Simcoe and small industry. Safety and security issues are handled by the OPP and a Volunteer Fire Department.
A Medical Centre with three physicians, lab, pharmacy and optometrist is located beside the local elementary school, library, community centre, and arena, while a fourth doctor's office is on the main street next to a pharmacy. There are plans to build a new medical centre with up to date facilities and access within the next year to attract more doctors to Port Dover. Dover Cliffs is the local nursing home, and is located a block away from Grace United. Two dentists, chiropractors, pharmacists and holistic health care providers also have offices in Port Dover. Norfolk General Hospital is located in Simcoe, a short 10 minute drive away. For more serious illnesses, local patients are transferred to hospitals in London, Hamilton and Brantford.
Lakewood Public School houses grades JK to 8. Grades 9 through 12 are educated at Simcoe Composite School and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Secondary School in Simcoe to which they are bussed. The school board operates a GED program in the downtown mall in Simcoe. Post secondary education can be found locally at Fanshawe College in Simcoe. Within a two hour radius you can attend: Mohawk College in Hamilton, Laurier University, Nipissing College in Brantford, McMaster University in Hamilton, Western University in London, Waterloo and Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener, Brock University in St. Catharine's, and Guelph University in Guelph.
As mentioned, one of the major economic drivers of the community is tourism.
Festivals and events staged each year:
· New Years Day Polar Bear Plunge
· Perch Derby
· Lighthouse Festival Theatre
· Sunday Evening Band Concerts in the summer
· Canada Day Celebrations - July 1
· Summer Festival - Art in the Park
· Christmas Fest and Santa Claus Parade
· Friday the 13th Biker Bash(s)
· The Artisans Studio Tour
Port Dover is also the home of the Harbour Museum where our rich fishing industry and heritage is celebrated. Divers can explore sunken ship wrecks a few kilometers from shore. Close by, you will find the world famous Long Point Biosphere Reserve and Bird Sanctuary.
For those interested in fitness there are the Sit and Fit at St. Paul's Church, T. O. P. S. at Grace United Church, a number of fitness and yoga clubs, Tai Chi club at Grace United Church, a square dance group in Simcoe, a Scottish Country Dance group at Knox Church, an indoor walking club, and a run and walk club at the Runner's Den. For outdoor enthusiasts, many walking and cycling routes including the Lynn Valley Trail have a starting point in Port Dover. Several golf courses are close by. Tennis, a skateboard park, ball hockey and sailboat racing are also available. Minor sport groups include: Baseball, Softball, Hockey, Soccer, and Figure Skating. Scouts and Guides are also active groups; as are two Probus Clubs and a number of music groups. A Newcomers club; and service clubs such as Lions, Lioness, Kinsmen, Masonic Lodge, Knights of Columbus, and Legion provide many community services.
Other activities include swimming classes and pool therapy at the Simcoe pool, a new library housed in the elementary school, a model train club, a river tour and boat cruises, the Harbour Marina, several local wineries, one of the most desirable beaches in Southern Ontario, and Long Point Bay for sport fishing and boating.
