Dunnville is an unincorporated community located near the mouth of the Grand River in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada, near the historic Talbot Trail. It was formerly an incorporated town encompassing the surrounding area with a total population of 12,000.

Dunnville
Unincorporated community
St. Michael's Catholic Church
St. Michael's Catholic Church
Motto: 
Grand Living in a Great Town
Dunnville is located in Ontario
Dunnville
Dunnville
Dunnville is located in Canada
Dunnville
Dunnville
Coordinates: 42°54′10″N 79°37′00″W / 42.90278°N 79.61667°W / 42.90278; -79.61667
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Regional MunicipalityHaldimand
Incorporated as Village of DunnvilleJanuary 1, 1860
Incorporated as Town of Dunnville1900
Joined Haldimand CountyJanuary 1, 2001
Government
 • Mayor of HaldimandShelley Ann Bentley
 • Governing bodyThe Council of the Corporation of Haldimand County
 • Ward 6 (Dunnville) CouncillorPatrick O'Neill
 • MPLeslyn Lewis (Conservative)
 • MPPToby Barrett (PC)
Area
 • Total5.39 km2 (2.08 sq mi)
Elevation
183 m (600 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total5,907
 • Density1,086.8/km2 (2,815/sq mi)
DemonymDunnvilian
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
Area code(s)905, 289, 365

History edit

Dunnville was the site of a Cayuga settlement called Detgahnegaha'gó:wah.[1] The European settlement was originally built as the entrance to the Welland "feeder" canal, and the town once boasted several water-powered mills and a once-bustling canal port. The feeder canal closed in the late 1880s, and the last mill was destroyed and replaced with a condominium complex about ten years ago. There is an impassable dam at Dunnville which regulates the level of the Grand River at Port Maitland, which, in the 19th century, also helped regulate the level of the Welland Canal (from 1829 until 1887 when the third canal began to intake its water directly from Lake Erie). Dunnville was incorporated as a village in 1860 and then as a town in 1900. In 1974, the town amalgamated with the Dunn, Canborough, Moulton and Sherbrooke townships when the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk was formed. In 2001, Dunnville and all other municipalities within the region were dissolved and the region was divided into two single tier municipalities with city-status but called counties. What was the incorporated town of Dunnville now consists of Wards 5 and 6 in Haldimand County.

Census Population
1871 1,452
1881 1,808
1891 1,776
1901 2,105
1911 2,861
1921 3,224
1931 3,405
1941 4,028
1951 4,478
1961 5,181
1971 5,576
1981 11,353
1991 12,131
2001 5,686
2006 5,729
2011 5,626
2016 5,759
2021 5,907

It is located only a few kilometres from Lake Erie, so Dunnville has many private vacation properties.

 
The Mud Cat of Dunnville

There are many events and natural attractions. In June, the annual Mudcat Festival is held to celebrate one of the Grand River's most well-known inhabitants. The festival includes a parade, strongman contests, midway and fireworks. Another popular event is the Dunnville Agricultural Fair, held in late August, which includes heavy, light, miniature horse shows, and sheep and goat shows.Dunnville has tennis, golf and swimming facilities and many Bed and Breakfasts and campsites to stay in. Tuesday and Saturday are Farmers Market days since the relocation of the local arena. Dunnville is currently constructing a new Farmers Market Pavilion, providing more protection from the elements while helping to support what the local farming has to offer (heating may still be an issue).

 
RCAF Memorial, Dunnville Public Library

The former World War II RCAF Training Base, the Dunnville Airport, offers a unique window on history with its massive hangars and runways. Previously used for recreational flying and skydiving, the airport is now closed due to six large wind-turbine power generators on the airfield.[2] The airport is also home to Haldimand County's newest museum, the No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum. It has also been the home of the Driver Rehabilitation Centre for the reality television program Canada's Worst Driver since 2010. The Grand River and nearby Lake Erie offers aquatic activities including swimming, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and features prime locations for fishing. Nearby are Byng Island Conservation Area, Rock Point Provincial Park and Port Maitland's new pier. In the fall, Rock Point hosts thousands of monarch butterflies heading south. Dunnville is also the site of one of Ontario's largest expanses of provincially significant wetlands; bird watching and nature photography are practised there. Smuckers Foods of Canada Co., which operates the Bick's Pickle Plant (Dunnville's largest factory), employs a small percentage of the town's population, mainly students. In 2001, Bick's head office facility in Scarborough, Ontario was shut down, and operations were transferred to the Dunnville location, where it remained until the end of November 2011, at which point it closed. This community is the easternmost city that belongs to the Green Energy Hub of Southern Ontario.

2009 Grand River flood edit

On February 13, 2009, the Grand River flooded when the river ice thawed, damaging Cayuga and Dunnville.[3] The next day, the CCGC Griffon proceeded up the river to help clear ice.

Demographics edit

Canada census – Dunnville community profile
20212016
Population5,907 (+2.6% from 2016)5,759 (+2.4% from 2011)
Land area5.44 km2 (2.10 sq mi)5.39 km2 (2.08 sq mi)
Population density1,086.8/km2 (2,815/sq mi)1,068.4/km2 (2,767/sq mi)
Median age50 (M: 47.6, F: 52.0)48.2 (M: 46.3, F: 49.8)
Private dwellings2,585 (total)  2,535 (total) 
Median household income$62,400$50,048
References: 2021[4] 2016[5] earlier[6][7]

Ethnicity edit

Only those populations that comprise more than 1% of the population have been included.[8]

Ethnic Groups in the Community of Caledonia, Ontario (2021)
Ethnic
Group
2021[8] 2016[9]
Pop. % Pop. %
Canadian 1,095 18.54% 2,105 36.55%
English 1,750 29.63% 2,070 35.94%
Irish 1,170 19.81% 1,080 18.75%
Scottish 1,250 21.16% 1,260 21.88%
French[a] 470 7.96% 550 9.55%
German 875 14.81% 995 17.28%
Italian 170 2.88% 110 1.91%
Ukrainian 200 3.39% 220 3.82%
Dutch 875 14.81% 810 14.06%
Polish 165 2.79% 155 2.69%
Métis 60 1.02% 30 0.52%
Welsh 100 1.69% 90 1.56%
Portuguese 60 1.02% 40 0.69%
American 65 1.1% 40 0.69%
Hungarian 115 1.95% 145 2.52%
North American Indigenous[b] 70 1.19% 250 4.34%
Total responses 5,710 96.66% 5,610 97.41%
Total population 5,907 100% 5,759 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Language edit

As of the 2021 census, 5,585 citizens spoke English only, 140 that spoke both official languages and five that spoke neither.[8]

Religion edit

As of the 2021 census, 3,255 citizens were identifying as Christian and 2,395 as non-religious and secular perspectives.[8]

Education edit

Public education is administered by the Grand Erie District School Board. Schools located in Dunville include:[10]

Catholic Education is administered by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. Catholic schools located in Dunnville include:

  • St. Michael's School

Notable people edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Carrie Dick. Personal correspondence. Op. cit. GeoNative. "Iroquois: Mohawk, Cayuga, Wyandot". January 1, 1999. Accessed April 20, 2012.
  2. ^ Wind Turbines Close Flight Operations at Historical Dunnville Airport
  3. ^ Cathy Pelletier (February 10, 2010). "The Flood --One Year Later". Dunnville Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. It was Friday the 13th, 2009 when the Grand River awakened from its winter hibernation and began to unleash an unprovoked assault upon its neighbours. Melting snow and the accumulation of waters flowing into the 300-km length of the Grand suddenly and without warning spelled disaster for Cayuga and Dunnville. A repeated cycle of ice jams and releases caused the crest of the water to rise and fall, spilling over the banks at various locations. Very early in the morning, the water began its considerable, rapid ascent in Cayuga, and emergency personnel embarked upon what would become a very long, intensive rescue effort.
  4. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d "Dunnville, Ontario Census 2021". Statistics Canada. February 1, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "Census Profile: Dunnville Ontario (Population centre)". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "School Boundary Map". Grand Erie District School Board. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Poitras, Cameron. "Pete DeBoer fired by Devils". CBC Sports. The Associated Press. Retrieved May 16, 2015.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Statistic includes all individuals that identified as having a French origin but not otherwise specified.
  2. ^ Statistic includes all individuals that identified as having an Indigenous origin but not otherwise specified.