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COLLINGWOOD SHIPYARDS
In 1900 the management at Collingwood Shipyards tried a
new technology and started building ships
of steel instead of lumber. The
change not only affected the lumber mills but also put carpenters out of
work
while opening new opportunity in trades working with steel. A new dry dock
was built in 1903 which allowed repair work to be done without affecting the
activities at the original launch basin and dry dock.
During World War Two Collingwood Shipyards contributed
to the production of Corvettes for the Royal
Canadian Navy. When operating
at full capacity it employed 1,000 people in a town of less than
5,000.
It was an encouragement for other industries to come to Collingwood and by 1983
it was known as the largest industrial employer in the region.
Until
1986, if you visited Collingwood you could usually see a large ship, military
vessel or freighter at the end of Hurontario Street; you may even be able to
view one being launched if you walk about a block east. It was always noisy and
the shipyard whistle blasting at the end of each workday could be heard all over
town. If you were in the area you would then see the men in hard hats and
carrying lunch boxes riding their bikes home.
The only way you can view any of this today is to visit the Collingwood
Museum. They have a collection of pictures, articles, and artifacts that depict
the history of Collingwood. They also show a film every 15 minutes that depicts
a “Ship Side launch”. The museum also has an archives and research facility if
you want to explore further.
The shipyards closed its doors in l986 costing 1,200 people their jobs and
the area remained untouched for about 15 years. At this time the road was
widened and new businesses, houses and several small parks began to appear.
Then, the
big changes began to occur. The area where the ships were built was cleaned up
and work began on building a new waterfront community. The contaminated soil
was removed and piled into a large hill, then covered with good soil and will be
used as a look out in summer and a toboggan slide in winter. This is only part
of a three-hectare park which also includes an outdoor summer amphitheatre. The
wood and steel was moved to another site and the concrete crushed and used to
create small islands off the edge of the park. A fish habitat will be created
around the islands. After testing the water supply the building of the condos
began. The planned community will have 720 low and mid-rise condominiums,
shops, service boutiques and a full range of fine dining and art facilities,
outdoor activities and a 70 kilometer sandy white beach on Georgian Bay.
It should be the ideal beach front, downtown community, and it’s just a short
distance from all the other activities at Blue Mountain.
Sources:
www.collingwoodliving.com/tc
http://dcnonl.com/article/id35786
http://www.town.collingwood.on.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collingwood,_Ontario
http://www.museevirtuel.ca/
http://www.thestar.com/article/696886
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