Kincardine is a municipality located on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County in the province of Ontario, Canada. The current municipality was created in 1999 by the amalgamation of the Town of Kincardine, the Township of Kincardine, and the Township of Bruce. The municipality had a population of 11,389 in the Canada 2016 Census.

Communities

In addition to the main population centre of Kincardine itself (population 6,725), the municipality also contains the smaller communities of Armow, Baie du Dore, Bervie, Glammis, Inverhuron, Millarton, North Bruce, Tiverton, and Underwood.

History

In 1998, the Village of Tiverton lost its separate incorporation, and became part of the Township of Bruce. The Town of Kincardine, the Township of Kincardine, and the Township of Bruce were then amalgamated to form the Township of Kincardine-Bruce-Tiverton on January 1, 1999, with boundaries identical to those of the municipality that had existed in 1855. After the first election of the new municipal council, a plebiscite was conducted, and the name changed to the Municipality of Kincardine.

Historic sites

Kincardine has designated a number of historic sites, per the Ontario Heritage Act. These include (with local law numbers and listing dates):

Government

Council

The municipal government is overseen by a council of nine. The council includes a mayor elected at large, a deputy mayor elected at large, two councillors elected from Ward 1 (the former Town of Kincardine), one from Ward 2 (the former Township of Kincardine), one from Ward 3 (the former Township of Bruce). Three additional councillors are elected at large. The 2022–2026 council consists of:

Municipal departments

Climate

Kincardine has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold, snowy winters and warm summers.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kincardine had a population of 12,268 living in 5,160 of its 6,142 total private dwellings, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 11,389. With a land area of 537.8 km2, it had a population density of in 2021. Mother tongue (2016 census):

Education

The Bluewater District School Board is the school board for the Kincardine area, and Kincardine District Secondary School is the local high school for most students. Approximately 800 students attended in the 2007/2008 year. There are five local elementary schools: Elgin Market Public School, Huron Heights Public School, St. Anthony's Catholic School, Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School (located in Kincardine Township), and Ripley Huron Community School (located in Ripley).

Transportation

Kincardine is centrally located along Highway 21 and at the west end of Highway 9. There are two taxi companies in Kincardine. Kincardine Taxi and Fred's Cabs. Kincardine Municipal Airport is a modern full-featured airport which can accommodate traffic ranging from light jets to rotary wing aircraft. The town also has a harbour on Lake Huron for tourists who want to travel by watercraft.

Industry

The economy of Kincardine is dominated by the Bruce Nuclear Power Development since the 1970s, which is currently operated by Bruce Power, a private company under lease from Ontario Power Generation. Ontario Power Generation's Deep Geologic Repository for low and intermediate-level waste at the plant has been planned since 2001 and is awaiting federal approval. Since 2016, 7ACRES has been expanding its employment numbers. It's estimated to have 300 employees by 2019. There is also a thriving tourist industry, centered on its sandy beaches and Scottish cultural tradition.

Healthcare

The Kincardine and District General Hospital of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre is the hospital for the community. Further, the Kincardine Family Health Team, a Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care Initiative is located in the community offering programs and services surrounding health promotion and disease prevention. The Kincardine Family Health Team has locations in the Municipality of Kincardine and Township of Huron-Kinloss.

Recreation

Kincardine is home to many parks and trails that run throughout the town of Kincardine. The local community centre, The Davidson Centre is the central location for most recreation activities, as it has a park, skate park, soccer fields, track (indoor & outdoor), swimming pool, gym, basketball court and hockey rink. There is also the Tiverton Sports Arena. The original building was constructed back in 1975 and named after the Town of Kincardine's former recreation director, Keith Davidson. In late 2008 the Municipality of Kincardine approved the plans for a new addition to the Davidson Centre, which was officially opened September 2009. The new addition added on a new health club, seniors room with add joining kitchen, computer room, billiard room and 4 new bathrooms. The new addition costing $3 million includes a new gym for basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, dodge ball and more. There are 2 curtains that can come down to divide the gym into 3 parts. Above the new gym there is an indoor running track as well as bleachers for the gym and a warm viewing area for the adjacent skating rink. The addition also includes bathrooms and new change rooms for the ice rink including the change rooms for the Kincardine Bulldogs.

Sports teams

The Kincardine Bulldogs is the local hockey team. They compete in the Western Junior C hockey league. In the 2006–2007 and the 2007–2008 seasons the Bulldogs finished 1st in the WJCHL. All other hockey teams in town go under the name of "The Kincardine Kinucks".

Culture and events

Kincardine has a strong Scottish culture. The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band Parades happens every Saturday night during the summer months ending Labour Day weekend. Also every night in the summer (except for Saturdays) the Phantom Piper (a bag piper) plays his bagpipes on top of the light house at sunset. To continue the Scottish culture, every year Kincardine holds the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Showcasing Kincardine's artistic side, Kincardine is also home to Sundown Theatre (Summer Performance Company), Bluewater Summer Playhouse (Drama Festival) and The Kincardine Summer Music Festival. Kincardine also takes part in Doors Open Kincardine showcasing Kincardine's heritage homes and buildings. Every Monday Starting on the May long weekend until the labour day weekend Kincardine has a "Market in the Square" a sort of flea market in the local park located beside the downtown.

Attractions

Kincardine Lighthouse and museum are located on Harbour Street, as well as a building constructed in 1877 which has served as a bank, a barristers and solicitors office, a newspaper office, a doctor's office, a private residence, and a restaurant. The building is architecturally significant for its intricate brick work design around the windows and parapet. Paddy Walker House, the oldest building in Kincardine, is now a museum. Beaches in Kincardine include Tiny Tot beach, Station Beach (Reunion Park), and Boiler Beach. There are two piers attached to the marina, with the South Pier used for "cliff-jump" style swimming.

Media

Kincardine has two newspaper companies, Kincardine News and the Kincardine Independent. The Kincardine Times, an online newspaper, is a third source of local news. Kincardine also has its own radio station, CIYN-FM.

Notable people