Best Rivers & Lakes to Paddle in Grey & Bruce
We like to think Grey and Bruce counties have some of the best outdoor activities in all of Ontario! We’re especially proud of our paddling routes. Whether you canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard, we’ve got a great route for you!
Rivers in Grey & Bruce Counties
The popular Saugeen River starts in Hanover, winds through Paisley, and stretches to Southampton and Denny’s Dam. One of the best canoe routes in Southern Ontario, this 102-kilometre trip passes by wooded shorelines, through small towns and villages, and between breathtaking bluffs. Visit Explore The Bruce’s paddling tours page for maps and more information on six segments of this river.
The gently flowing Beaver River is perfect for novice paddlers. Running from north of Kimberley to the village of Heathcote, this route features some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Ontario, with panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and the surrounding countryside. Enjoy open areas and wooded stretches, wildlife viewing, and fishing. FYI: You may need to make short portages to bypass log jams.
If you are near Owen Sound, check out Sydenham River and Harrison Park. Canoe rentals are available at the park, and you can paddle south to the mill dam or north towards the bottom of beautiful Inglis Falls.
Lake Huron
On calm days, a paddle along the Lake Huron shoreline is a destination experience.
For intermediate paddlers, a popular destination is Chantry Island, about 2 kilometres off the shore of Southampton. The island is home to a federal bird sanctuary, a lighthouse, and a restored lightkeeper’s home (book a tour to visit the island). Foot traffic is permitted on the island if you are with a tour group.
Near Oliphant, a great paddling route is among the Fishing Islands, a chain of islands stretching 20 kilometres north from Chief’s Point to Pike Bay.
Georgian Bay
For the very experienced and adventurous paddler, a sea kayak is your best choice for exploring the clear waters and stunning views of Georgian Bay, “the sixth Great Lake.” All the way from Tobermory to Owen Sound, Meaford, Thornbury, and further east, the shoreline has numerous bays and inlets to explore.
In Tobermory, glide over shipwrecks in Little Tub and Big Tub harbours.
Near Thornbury, paddle to the wreck of the Mary Ward, four kilometres from Northwinds Beach (parking fees apply).
Much of the Georgian Bay route is shared with larger, motorized boats, so exercise caution.
Bell’s Lake
Bell’s Lake is a remote and beautiful property owned by Saugeen Conservation. There are no facilities or amenities on this property, but it is well known locally for its canoeing, calm waters, and peaceful surroundings.
Where can I find more information about paddling in Grey and Bruce counties?
Visit Grey County’s paddling page, Explore The Bruce’s paddling tours page, or Bruce Grey Simcoe’s Where to Paddle page.
Explore the Trails in Grey & Bruce!
Grey and Bruce counties offer an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. Our region offers many trails for any kind of outdoor activity you can think of: everything from hiking and cross-country skiing to horseback riding and snowmobiling.
Here are just a few of our favourites!
Horseback riding
Glendale Farms Riding Ranch is located just outside Owen Sound in Benallen. This small, unique riding ranch offers a riding program, more than 35 well-schooled horses and ponies, 2000 acres of groomed trails, two outdoor grass riding rings, and a newly built bright indoor Coverall riding ring. Glendale Farms caters to all levels of rider.
Hollow Hills Equestrian Centre, located north of Hepworth, offers riding lessons, horse camps, equipment rental, a heated tack room, a laundry room, and a viewing room.
Windsong Ranch, located southeast of Owen Sound on Grey Road 29, welcomes horse enthusiasts of all ages. Riders can enjoy rolling hills and winding forest trails on your own horse or their experienced horses. They take groups of up to 10 people, and beginners are always welcome. They offer trail riding, horse leasing, basic and beginner’s lessons for trail riding, driving lessons, English & Western coaching/lessons, boarding, transportation, and more.
The Bridal Path Equestrian Centre, just south of Wiarton, offers riding lessons and camps, equine exposure, schooling shows, indoor boarding, and horse training.
Want to learn more about horseback riding? Read my blog posts, 10 Tips for Horse Trail Riding and 10 Tips for Horse Care. Visit Grey County’s horseback riding page for more trail information.
Hiking the Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail is Canada’s longest marked footpath, running 900 km along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara Falls to Tobermory at the top of the Bruce Peninsula.
The trail passes through some of the larger towns in our region (Owen Sound, Wiarton, Lion’s Head, and Tobermory) and takes hikers past many impressive waterfalls.
Just south of Owen Sound, Inglis Falls rises high above the Sydenham River and is a popular destination to start hiking on the many trails accessible from the parking lot right next to the falls.
Near Wiarton, Skinner’s Bluff and the caves and trails at the Bruce’s Caves Conservation Area are local gems.
Want more information? The Bruce Trail Conservancy offers both a print and digital version of Bruce Trail Reference Maps & Trail Guide.
Mountain biking
Bruce County is proud to be home to some of the best mountain biking trails in Ontario. Get ready for great riding at their four locations:
The mountain bike adventure park (Albermarle Tract) in Wiarton has approximately 20 km of trail with rock and technical riding. One special feature is the pump track, a continuous loop of packed dirt that can be ridden without pedalling using a series of rollers and berms, allowing riders to gain momentum and reach high speeds.
The Brant Tract in Paisley contains some spectacular single-track trails built using only hand tools. There is approximately 20 km of trail ranging from easy to difficult, and all trail intersections are marked.
The Carrick Tract in Mildmay is the best single-track in Bruce County. The soil and gravel-based trails provide great riding conditions that are dry almost all season long.
The Lindsay Tract at Miller Lake is the largest of the County forests with more than 8,000 acres. This diverse property contains sensitive habitat for the black bear and Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake. Construction on the mountain bike trails began in May of 2008, and new trails continue to be built.
Where can I find more information about trails in Grey & Bruce?
TrailForks lists trails for mountain biking, e-biking, hiking, trail running, horseback riding, observed time trials, ATV/ORV/OHVing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and skiing (downhill, backcountry, and nordic).
Grey County lists cycling routes and businesses and hiking routes and businesses.
Bruce County lists trails and routes for mountain biking, ATVing, hiking, canoeing/kayaking, horseback riding, winter, cycling, and community trails.
Grey Highlands lists hiking trails on their website.
Explore the Bruce lists hiking, mountain biking, and caving trails in Bruce County.
What is Aquaculture?
Today, about half of all our seafood comes from aquaculture. It is predicted that by 2030, that number will rise to 62%. As the human population grows and the world becomes more aware of the need to act more sustainably, what role does aquaculture play?
What is aquaculture?
Aquaculture is fish farming. It’s very similar to agriculture, but with fish instead of plants or livestock.
How does aquaculture work?
Aquaculture can be done in freshwater ponds and rivers, coastal ocean waters, or simply in tanks of water.
The methods of aquaculture can differ from species to species, but there are typically four stages:
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Fish are bred and eggs are hatched at a hatchery
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Once the fish are mature enough, they are moved to a farm where they grow to harvest size using feed produced at feed mills
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The fish go to a processing facility where they are packaged
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The packaged fish are sent to food retailers and grocery stores
Why is aquaculture important?
Our oceans are being overfished, and we need new sources of seafood to feed the planet’s growing population. Farming fish responsibly and sustainably is one way to provide healthy and environmentally friendly protein options. Aquaculture also has lower greenhouse gas emissions than other types of farming.
Aquaculture has the potential to improve the health of the planet, as well as human health. It is highly resource-efficient: it has the highest protein retention and the lowest feed conversion ratio compared to chicken, pork, and beef.
Where is aquaculture happening in Grey & Bruce counties?
There are a number of fish farms in our area: Blue Spring Trout Farms (Hanover), Camp Creek Trout Farm (south of Durham), Wilmer Trout Ponds (north of Durham), and Springhills Fish Farm. Springhills is a large Grey County operation with properties near Allan Park and Williamsford and is one of the biggest fully integrated trout farms in central Canada.
Most recently, there is a proposal by Georgian Bay Innovation Group to create a land-based recirculating aquaculture system near Colpoy’s Bay in Wiarton.
Should I Install Solar Panels On My Property?
“Solar energy isn’t a trend, it’s the future. One of the best things we can do is use it.”
—Mike Holmes, Canadian homebuilder and TV host
In the last decade, solar panel installations have gone up on many roofs around the world. Here in Ontario, the provincial government is encouraging residents to use solar and other forms of renewable energy to reduce their consumption of public electricity. Although Ontario plans to upgrade the public grid and add new power generation, the province considers self-generated power from solar to be a key way to meet future energy needs.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels work by capturing photons from sunlight and converting them into direct current (DC) electricity. When there is more direct sunlight, more photons hit the solar panels and more electricity can be generated.
Solar panels generate DC power, but the appliances in our homes need alternating current (AC) power. DC power must be changed to AC power with an inverter.
What are the initial costs of a solar panel system?
That depends on your roof orientation, how many panels will fit, and the best location to capture sunlight. Another consideration is whether to set up your system to feed into the electric grid or go “off-grid” by storing extra energy in large batteries. A solar installation company can help you think about all these factors.
For a typical 7,500 kW system, the average cost of a home solar power system in Canada is between $15,000 and $30,000. Rebates to offset the cost of installation are sometimes offered by the provincial government.
How can solar panels save me money?
In the recent past, Ontario offered to buy electricity generated by solar panels on private property. That program has ended but there are still financial incentives for installing solar power systems.
Currently, Ontario is running the Net Metering program. Power produced by solar panels is used in your home, but if there is extra energy, it’s exported to your electricity provider for a credit. You can use this credit your future power use for up to 12 months.
Because a solar panel system can produce anywhere from 20% to 100% of your home’s annual power needs, you may not need to pay anything for your hydro bill except the standard fee to remain connected to the grid (typically $30 to $40).
As electricity rates increase every so often, your solar electricity effectively gets cheaper.
A solar panel system generally gives you a 5-10% return on investment. Because solar panels last 30 years or more, this is a financial investment that is similar to taking out a long-term GIC.
How long will solar panels last?
Most solar panels are guaranteed to produce 80% of their original energy output when they are 25 years old and should keep running well for up to 30 or 40 years. During that time, they shouldn’t need a lot of maintenance.
You can typically clean solar panels just like you wash your windows. If you keep them clean and don’t allow dirt, etc., to settle on them for too long, you shouldn’t have any problems with your solar panels.
You can also install a monitoring system to keep track of the energy performance, which will alert you that electrical maintenance is needed.
What are some of the pros & cons of solar panels?
People choose to install solar for a variety of reasons. There are many financial, civic, and environmental benefits to renewable energy.
Pros
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100% renewable energy
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save money on monthly energy bills
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enhanced property value
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solar panels should last 30 to 40 years
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low maintenance
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5-10% return on investment
Cons
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initial investment may be unaffordable
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roof orientation may be inefficient for solar panels
Is HST Charged on Farm Sales?
As a general rule, farmland is taxable unless there is an exemption. If no exemptions apply, the buyer and seller may choose to decline the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) if certain conditions are met.
What is the CRA definition of farmland?
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) generally considers farmland to mean land that is regularly used to earn or produce income from a farming business. It can also include vacant land like bush or forest and any buildings that are not used directly for a farming business.
What are the HST exemptions for farmland?
The following three situations qualify for an HST exemption:
Selling or transferring a farm to a related person (or former spouse or common-law partner) for their individual use and enjoyment. The farmland must have been used for farming at some time prior to the transfer and not used for any other commercial activity immediately before the transfer.
A partnership, trust or corporation selling a farm to a partner, beneficiary, shareholder or relative for their personal use and enjoyment. Immediately before the transfer, 90% or more of the property should be used for farming. The partner, beneficiary, shareholder, spouse, or child of that individual should be actively engaged in the business of the partnership, trust, or corporation.
An individual or a trust selling or transferring personal use property. The exemption applies to farmland that has not been used primarily for farming but not for land held by corporations or partnerships. It also does not apply if the property has been previously subdivided or severed into more than two parts, unless these portions were sold to a related person or former spouse/common-law partner for their personal use and enjoyment.
When can sellers and buyers choose not to charge/pay HST on farmland?
There are two situations when HST payment can be declined:
Selling an ongoing farming business. The farmer and the purchaser may jointly choose to decline the HST payable by completing form GST44. The buyer must buy 90% or more of the property required to carry on the business. This choice is not available when the seller is registered for the HST, but the buyer is not.
Estates – the estate of a deceased individual and the beneficiary may decide together to have no HST payable if one of these conditions is met:
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the deceased used the farmland in a business right before death
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the estate is transferring the business assets according to the will or applicable laws to a beneficiary and an HST/GST registrant
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the farmland is used in a business by the beneficiary
How is HST collected on farmland sales?
Unless farmland is eligible for one of the exemptions or choices described above, the sale of farmland used primarily in a farming business will be taxable. However, the collection of the HST can occur in one of the two scenarios below.
What happens if you are selling farmland to a person who is registered for HST?
In this case, the seller is not required to collect HST. The buyer reports the HST payable and claims an offsetting input tax credit on their next HST return. Buyers who are using 90% or more of the farmland in a farming business can claim a full input tax credit.
In this kind of situation, it’s prudent for the seller to confirm if the buyer is registered for HST at the time of the sale.
What happens if you are selling farmland to a person who is not registered for the HST?
In this scenario, the seller is required to collect the HST and pay it to the CRA. If farmland will be used in a farming business, the purchaser can register for HST and claim an input tax credit to recover this amount. Normally, the CRA will backdate a registration for up to 30 days.
Is HST charged on houses on a farm?
When farmland is sold with a residence or house, the sale is considered to be two separate sales: (1) the portion including the house plus any land required for the use and enjoyment of the house, and (2) the rest of the land. The sales of used houses are generally exempt from HST.
Tax Benefits for Landowners through Ducks Unlimited
Are you completing a Managed Forest Plan for your southern Ontario property? Do you have an existing wetland on your property? Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) can help you save money.
How can I get a tax benefit from Ducks Unlimited?
We talked about the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) in our last blog post. Ontario landowners who qualify for the MFTIP and have a wetland that meets certain criteria are eligible for a 40% reimbursement (up to $600) from Ducks Unlimited Canada toward their approved Managed Forest Plan.
This is a pilot partnership under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s MFTIP program that includes DUC, the Ontario Woodlot Association, and forest landowners. This partnership is meant to help improve wetland stewardship in southern Ontario.
Is my wetland eligible for the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program?
To be eligible, landowners must:
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Complete a Managed Forest Plan through the MFTIP program (with a Managed Forest Plan Approver)
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Identify an existing wetland in their Managed Forest Plan, which is a minimum of 5 acres (2 hectares) and provides waterfowl habitat
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Be located within the southern Ontario eligibility area
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Commit to a 10-year Conservation Agreement with DUC
The MFTIP program cannot overlap with other DUC conservation programs such as livestock exclusion fencing or installing wood duck nest boxes.
For more information, visit Ducks Unlimited’s website or contact Ducks Unlimited to speak with a conservation specialist. In Ontario, call (705) 721-4444 (Barrie) or email du_barrie@ducks.ca.
Can I donate land for a tax benefit?
Ducks Unlimited Canada is one of the few charities that accept land donations, primarily land that is considered ecologically sensitive.
To encourage the preservation of ecologically sensitive land, the Canadian Government provides enhanced tax incentives for gifts of land and conservation easements to DUC. These gifts of land offer substantial tax savings and eliminate capital gains that would normally be due if lands were sold.
How do I get started with land donation?
For more information, visit Ducks Unlimited’s website or contact one of the national planned giving managers, or contact your legal, tax or financial advisor. In eastern Canada, contact Janice O’Dette.
What’s the Difference Between GMO and Organic Farming?
Are you confused about the difference between GMO and organic farming? Agriculture in Grey and Bruce counties uses both methods. Here’s a brief survey of the main differences between these two kinds of farming.
How is GMO food grown?
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered or modified in a way that would not happen naturally. In most cases, genetic engineering works by injecting an organism with genetic material from another species.
GMO seeds were introduced commercially in 1996 and are now very common for corn, soybeans, canola, and cotton.
GMO crops can be referred to as genetically engineered (GE), herbicide-tolerant (HT), or Bt crops. Herbicide-tolerant crops (“Roundup-ready crops”) are engineered to survive the use of one or more herbicide chemicals that would normally kill or severely stunt a crop. Bt crops are designed to produce toxins that kill certain insects.
GMO crops lower production costs for farmers and help crops resist plant diseases caused by insects or viruses.