Friday Harbour (Resort)
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Friday Harbour is a 600-acreRob Cooper
"Massive marina at Friday Harbour nearly complete"
''CTV News'', 4 August 2015
mixed-use development Mixed use is a type of urban development, urban design, urban planning and/or a zoning classification that blends multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment, into one space, where those functions ...
in
Innisfil Innisfil is a town in Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County, immediately south of Barrie and north of Toronto. It has historically been a rural area, but since it is geographically sandwiched between th ...
,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Canada, 70 km north of
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. Built by the Geranium Corporation, the development contains residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, including a marina and golf course. Situated on
Lake Simcoe Lake Simcoe is a lake in southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly within the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century, the lake was called ''Ouentir ...
's Big Bay Point, the resort's focal point is a 1000 slip in-land marina, the largest of its kind in Canada. Once construction is complete there will be 2600 residential units, a 400-room hotel, and a theatre. Envisioned as a
New Urbanist New Urbanism is an urban design movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighbourhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually in ...
village, Friday Harbour was designed to be an alternative to the traditional residential offerings of Ontario's
cottage country Cottage country is a common name in Ontario, New Brunswick, and other regions of Canada for areas that are popular locations for recreational properties such as cottages and summer homes. In the Greater Toronto Area, cottage country traffic r ...
, which are typically single-family homes located on or near a body of water. In this design, the connection to the water and nature would be maintained, but the dependence on driving over walking for daily necessities would be eliminated, or greatly reduced. DPZ CoDesign, the designers of
Seaside, Florida Seaside is an unincorporated master-planned community on the Florida Panhandle in Walton County, between Panama City Beach and Destin. One of the first communities in America designed on the principles of New Urbanism, which promotes walkabil ...
, a notable early example of a New Urbanist development in North America, were brought on to design Friday Harbour. Tracy Hanes
"Dream team designing Friday Harbour resort village on Lake Simcoe"
''The Toronto Star'', 27 August 2012
The first residents took occupancy in 2017, along with the opening of the first restaurants and shops on the pedestrian promenade.


History

Big Bay Point, where Friday Harbour is located, first saw the arrival tourists in the 1800s. Long an area known to local indigenous population, early settlers constructed the first resort in this location, the Robinson House, in the mid-1880s. This was soon followed by the sixty-room, luxury Peninsular Park Hotel. It become known as a popular destination for American tourists looking to experience the "wild" of the Canadian wilderness. The hotel burned down in 1955. An inland marina called Big Bay Marina would eventually open in the area. Earl Rumm, a local resident and president of the real estate developer Geranium Corporation, brought his boat to be repaired at the marina. While there, he saw a sketch of an unrealized real estate development for the site hanging on a wall. This inspired him to pursue his own development of the Big Bay Marina. The first formal proposal for a resort at Big Bay Point was in 2002. It faced large opposition from homeowners in the area, including lawsuits. After the development was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in 2007, construction did not begin until 2011.Laurie Watt

/ref> Phase 1, which included the marina, nature preserve, and residential units, was completed in 2018.


Promenade

The area surrounding the marina is a pedestrianized zone known as the promenade. It is made up of restaurants, shops, a homeowners clubhouse with a gym and restaurant, and a visitor centre where boaters can refuel, shower, and purchase supplies.


CIBC Pier

Extending outwards into the marina, CIBC Pier leads to an event space and bar where concerts and different community activities are held.


Activities

Friday Harbour Resort offers a variety of activities for all seasons.


Winter activities

* Snowshoeing * Cross country skiing * Marina Skating * Fat bike rentals * Promenade holiday market


Summer activities

* The Nest golf * Beach soccer * Basketball * Badminton * Canoeing * Kayaking * Stand up paddleboarding


Year-round activities

* Nature trails * Bike rentals


Golf course

Friday Harbour is home to The Nest Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course. The clubhouse features a pro shop and restaurant. During winter months, the course is open as a snowshoeing trail. In 2019, The Nest received gold signature sanctuary certification from
Audubon International Audubon International is a not for profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization based in Troy, New York. Established in 1987, the organization works with communities, developments, resorts, and golf courses in 36 countries to plan and ...
for the club's work protecting the course's natural setting.Audubon International
"Audubon International Certified Signature and Classic Sanctuaries, ''Audubon International''


References


External links

*{{Official website, http://www.fridayharbour.com/ Resorts in Canada