Nestled between beautiful Lake Ontario and the majestic Niagara Escarpment, the picturesque town of Grimsby is known as “the gateway between Hamilton and Niagara” and serves as the starting point for touring the Niagara wine region. Grimsby, where the slogan is “Friendly by Nature”, is a town rich in history and heritage, vibrant in arts and culture, and a place where country wineries and seasonal fruit stands feature locally grown products. The downtown core is the heart and soul of Grimsby and offers a variety of specialty shops, bistros and stores for everyone.

Population in 2011:  25,325     Grimsby

Historical facts:

  • The town of Grimsby, originally named Township Number 6 and “The Forty”, was founded in 1790 after a group of United Empire Loyalists settled at the mouth of 40 Mile Creek in 1787.
  • Robert Nelles, a politician and later lieutenant-colonel in the War of 1812, was one of the main founders of the town.  His home, located on Main Street West, was used for many planning sessions during the war.
  •  In 1816 the village became known as Grimsby, the name of the surrounding township.
  • Canada’s first Chautauqua was established in 1859 in Grimsby Park and Beach but by 1900 interest had declined and by 1909 it had ceased.
  • The Village of Grimsby was officially incorporated in 1876 and became a town in 1922.
  • The town has gone through numerous changes, being first a small rural village; then a centre for the manufacture of farm machinery, hospital furniture, furnaces and other metal products; and later the hub of the Niagara Peninsula’s fruit-growing industry.  Until the 1960s, Grimsby also had a successful fishing industry.
  • The Town of Grimsby and the Township of North Grimsby were amalgamated in 1970 with the formation of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

Annual Event:

  • The Grimsby Festival of Art has celebrated local artists and their works for over 40 years.  The festival is held each year on the Saturday following Labour Day and is located on Nelles Boulevard and at the Centre School and Seniors Centre in Grimsby.   www.grimsby-festival-arts.com.

Places of interest:

  • Grimsby Museum includes galleries which interpret the history of the town including the area’s prehistory, the settlement of “The Forty”, the growth and development of Grimsby and the history of Grimsby Park – “The Chautauqua of Canada”.  The Grimsby Museum is located at 6 Murray St, Grimsby, Ontario 905-945-5292.
  • Centennial Park was created in 1967 to mark the 100th year of Canadian Confederation and stretches from Main Street East to the base of the Niagara Escarpment. A provincial plaque recognizes the park’s history as a native burial site for the Neutral Indians.
  • The Waterfront Trail runs along the shore of Lake Ontario and passes through historic Grimsby Beach, where  eye-catching board and batten cottages that have been well preserved with their “beachy” accents and striking, wild gardens.  Enjoy another piece of history at the Pumphouse at Forty Mile Creek Park.
  • The Forty Mile Creek Trail connects to the Bruce Trail and the Waterfront Trail and provides a walk through downtown Grimsby.
  • The Bruce Trail goes up the side of the Escarpment and through Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, where four lookouts offer an excellent panoramic view of Lake Ontario and the Town of Grimsby. The Trail also leads to the 23-metre Upper Beamer Falls over the Escarpment.
  • Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is the location of the annual spring hawk migration over the Niagara Peninsula. The conservation area is located on the Escarpment, off of Ridge and Quarry Roads.

Source: Wikipedia, Town of Grimsby; photo courtesy of Mark Wasilewski

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RAHB Photo Contest – Send Us Your Community Photo!

Calling all budding photographers!  We are looking for your great photos of the communities within RAHB’s jurisdictional area.  Like the photos in this month’s article, one of your photos may be published in REALINFO. Capture the essence of your community, and you will have a chance to win a free CE course and bragging rights among your fellow REALTORS®.

E-mail your jpeg photo to kathyr@rahb.ca

Pssst – also take note of what photos are published in the monthly REALINFOs over the next months.  They could be the answers to the contest at the 2014 REALTORS® Connections Member Services booth.  Pay attention now, and you could win!