Bracebridge, Ontario

This article is about Bracebridge in Ontario, Canada. See Bracebridge Heath for the Bracebridge in Lincolnshire, England. Bracebridge is also a suburb of Lincoln (also in Lincolnshire, England).

Bracebridge (2006 population 15,682) is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada.

The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls (Wilson's Falls, High Falls, etc). It was first incorporated in 1875. It was named after a book, Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving, that the postmaster in charge of naming towns was reading at the time. The same novel also provided the name for nearby Gravenhurst.

The town is the seat of the district government, a centre of tourism for the Muskoka area, and home to several historical sites, such as the Inn at the Falls, Woodchester Villa, and the Silver Bridge, which joins Manitoba Street with Ecclestone Drive. The Silver Bridge was repaired in 2002. Bracebridge is also the home of the Muskoka Cottage Brewery.

As of the municipal elections in November, 2006, Don Coates is the current mayor.

Sports

Bracebridge is home to many various sports teams. Bracebridge minor hockey teams are called the Bears. Bracebridge has a soccer club called the Bracebridge Storm.

The town of Bracebridge built a state of the art Sportsplex in 2006 which contains a rock climbing wall, indoor track, eight-lane swimming pool and fitness studio. The Town partnered with the Muskoka Limberettes Gymnastics Club to create a gymnastics facility in the same building. The Sportsplex is part of the same complex including the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.

Attractions and venues

View of central Bracebridge along Manitoba Street

Bracebridge is the home of Santa's Village, a Christmas theme park, established in 1955, inspired by the town’s location at 45 degrees latitude, halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

Education

Bracebridge is served by several elementary schools, and two high schools: Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School, and St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School.

Nipissing University and Georgian College have a shared satellite campus in the town. Both Georgian College and Nipissing University are expanding their campuses (2007). Georgian will move into the former Town swimming pool/recreation centre on Wellington Street. It is currently under renovation and their grand opening date is September 11, 2007. Nipissing University will construct a new academic building and plan to open in 2008.

Media

Bracebridge is served by the local radio station, CFBG 99.5FM, which is a hot adult contemporary format that uses the on-air brand "Moose FM" owned by the Haliburton Broadcasting Group. Local newspapers include Bracebridge Examiner [1], District Weekender, Muskoka Sun and Muskoka Advance.

The Bracebridge Towne Express ‘trolley’, sponsored by Santa’s Village, provides the town with local public transport.

New Services

On May 13, 2008, the CRTC announces that it has received an application for a broadcasting licence to provide a commercial radio service to serve Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, Ontario. Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-42

Notable people of Bracebridge

• Irvin "Ace" Bailey, Hockey Hall of Famer
• Patrick Boyer (born 1945), politician - born in Bracebridge
• Roger Crozier, former NHL hockey goalie
• Kris King, former NHL player
• Frank Carson, former NHL player
• Martin Avery, Canadian author
• Karen Hood-Caddy, Canadian author
• Christina Kilbourne, Canadian author
• Deric Ruttan, Canadian country music singer/songwriter
• Liisa Savijarvi, downhill skiier who competed at the 1984 Olympics

External links

• Town of Bracebridge
• Bracebridge Fire Department
• TheHeartofMuskoka.com Your on-line guide to everything Bracebridge, managed by the Town of Bracebridge and partners
• Bracebridge examiner
• Muskoka Newspapers Your gateway to what's going on in the Muskokas.
• CFBG Radio

45°02′N 79°18′W