Owen Sound

Owen Sound, located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi and Sydenham Rivers on an inlet of Georgian Bay, and protected by the Niagara Escarpment, is the urban heart of Grey County.

Well known to eco tourists, and featured in this design is one of the many beautiful waterfalls the area has to offer. 

First Nations, dating back over 10,000 years, including the Ojibway and Wendat inhabited this area. Gchi-wiigwedong is the Ojibway name for the area.

In 1815, William Owen surveyed the area and named the inlet after his older brother Admiral Edward Owen.

The town of Owen Sound,  previously a settlement called "Sydenham" established by Charles Rankin in 1840, was named in 1851 when a direct road to Toronto (now highway 10) serviced the area.

Early Owen Sound (aka  Chicago of the North, Corkscrew City, and Little Liverpool) was a major port with a colourful reputation.  Interestingly, a block away from the "Bucket of Blood" tavern on "Damnation Corners", was "Salvation Corners" an intersection with a church on each corner. 

Today's Owen Sound, a Cultural Capital of Canada (2004), is home to many cultural events (eg. Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival and the Festival of Northern Lights) and facilities including the Roxy Theatre.