Walkerton, Ontario
| Walkerton, Ontario | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Walkerton, Ontario | |
| Coordinates: 44°07′52″N 81°09′02″W / 44.13111°N 81.15056°WCoordinates: 44°07′52″N 81°09′02″W / 44.13111°N 81.15056°W | |
| Country |
 Canada |
| Province |
 Ontario |
| County | Bruce County |
| Municipality | Brockton |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 8.74 km2 (3.37 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,967 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal code span | N0G |
| Area code(s) | (519) and (226) |
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County. It is located on the Saugeen River, at the junction of King's Highway 9 and Route 4, and is 75 km southwest of Owen Sound.
The town was incorporated in 1871 and was named after Joseph Walker, who settled in this area in 1850. On January 1, 1999, it became part of the Municipality of Brockton.
2000 fatal water supply contamination
In May 2000, the water system in Walkerton became contaminated with the highly dangerous O157:H7 Escherichia coli bacteria strain. Nearly half the population fell ill, and seven people died as a result.[2]
Famous people From Walkerton
- Samuel Lewis Honey, VC, DCM, MM (9 February 1894 – 30 September 1918) was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces, during the First World War. Honey was a graduate of Walkerton District High School.
- David Milne, considered to be one of Canada's foremost painters, was a graduate of Walkerton District High School.
- William Bertram (January 19, 1880 – May 1, 1933) Hollywood actor and film director during the silent-film era
- Canadian National softball player and two-time Olympian Alison Bradley was almost a graduate of Walkerton District Secondary School.
- Singer-songwriter Esthero lived in Walkerton.
- Michael Adams, pollster and co-founder of the Environics Research Group
- Laryssa Biesenthal, Canadian rower
- Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967) was born in Walkerton to George and Margaret Rausch (nee Glinz). Around 1885, they moved to Detroit. Matilda would marry auto pioneer John Francis Dodge and become one of the wealthiest women in the world after his death. With her second husband, she built the National Historic Landmark Meadow Brook Hall in 1929 and founded Oakland University on her estate.
Education
Walkerton has two high schools: Walkerton District Community School (K-12), and Sacred Heart High School.
Minor Sports
Walkerton is home to a Junior C hockey team, the Walkerton Hawks, and a Senior A hockey team, the Walkerton Capitals.
Trivia
The town was rumoured to have been placed in the Guinness World Records for having a church on each corner of the jail and courthouse complex. This is proven, and it has been covered by Ripley's Believe It or Not!.[3]
Energizer's Canadian office is located in Walkerton.[4]
References
- 1 2 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and population centres, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
- ↑ "Inside Walkerton: Canada's worst-ever E. coli contamination". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Walkerton & District Chamber of Commerce: History". 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
- ↑ http://www.energizer.ca/contact-us
