There’s a lot to love about Owen Sound. With a population of 21,612. the city describes itself as the urban heart of Grey County – “Where you Want to Live”. Find out why!

A cursory web search of life’s most stressful events will soon reveal numerous lists for various sources, most of which have several similarities Within the top 10 of most of these lists are “Moving to a New Home “and Retirement “ – no wonder the prospect of selling the family home and moving to a new location at this stage of life can prove daunting as we embrace our retirement years!

The experience of moving from the family home and reinventing one’s lifestyle in retirement is known as “rightsizing” or “downsizing”. Those engaged in the experience are mostly in their 60i’s, and at the tail-end of the “Baby boom” generation. Also described as “Empty nesters” and, if actively involved in the care of elderly parents, they are part of the “Sandwich” generation” as well!  It appears there’s a name for every situation and somewhere an expert opinion is waiting to be found!

When it comes to “rightsizing” or “downsizing” an abundance of advice is readily available – from how to approach decluttering, to lists to organize the moving process, to tips on decorating your new space. However, the most important decisions on your retirement likely will be the location where you want to be, and the lifestyle environment you want to surround you.

Many of our readers will be familiar with the desirable 4-seasons lifestyle Collingwood offers just a couple of hours drive north of Toronto and the GTA. But a well-kept secret, a little further up the coast of Georgian Bay along Hwy 26, or directly north of Orangeville and Shelburne on Hwy 10, is historic Owen Sound.

Situated on the southern shores of Georgian Bay in an incomparable setting, Owen Sound is a small city briming with the services, activities and amenities you need. Bordered by the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment, Owen Sound’s beautiful waterfront is just the beginning. Within the city numerous trails wind through sprawling parks linking to the iconic Bruce Trail network winding through the Niagara Escarpment up to Tobermory to the north. Nearby are several of the area’s famous scenic waterfalls such as the Inglis Falls and the 200-hectare Conservation Area, and to the south the city is bordered by gorgeous rolling countryside, perfect for a scenic drive and beloved by cycling enthusiasts.

Owen Sound is a city of enduring historic Ontario charm characterized by turn-of-the-20tthCentury brick architecture and magnificent tree-lined streets Interspersed with lush woodland hills.   A thriving, friendly downtown offers a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural scene including music venues, restaurants, the Tom Thompson Art Gallery, Billy Bishop Museum, plentiful boutique shopping, the year-round, weekly farmer’s market and more. Residents of Grey County are also well served by Brightshores Health System Owen Sound Foundation hospital.

Resale homes are good value with plenty of choice in the $500,00 – $750,000+ price range. New home developments are emerging in Grey County and Owen Sound as well. Mariposa Homes’ Master Planned Community MySeashore.ca offers Coastal Living on Lake Huron near Kincardine.  Devonleigh Homes’ Centre Point community in Markdale, just 30 mins south of Owen Sound, offers bungalow and 2-storey homes and in Owen Sound Flato’s Greystone Village will soon be selling.

Owen Sound has a rich history.  The town was a vital trans-shipment point and shipbuilding centre in the late 1800s due to its strategic location in the great lakes. And at that time the city was also the northernmost terminus of the Underground Railroad, https://www.mebondbooks.com/2018/09/17/owen-sound-underground-railroad/which operated from 1783 to 1865) for those fleeing slavery and seeking freedom in Canada. Many Black settlers established families and built communities in the area, leaving a lasting impact on the city’s heritage. Owen Sound has celebrated an Emancipation Picnic https://www.emancipation.ca/owen-sounds-black-history  every year since 1862 on Aug. 8

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