Wasaga Beach Print Edtion Beach BOOSTER No. 76 December 8, 2013

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'. Wasaga Beach, Ontario CANADA - The longest freshwater beach in the world! 14 km of scenic beauty.

Skinny Dipping In Wasaga Beach

Not only do I want (dream) more public art, more trees, yards + yards filled with victory gardens and a centre for the arts in Wasaga Beach, I also long for a skinny dipping pier similar to the one in Denmark! We could do it. Read all about how this project impacted their economy in an extremely positive way. 

"Six years ago, the shoreline in Kastrup, Denmark was practically inaccessible, not that anyone wanted to go there: It was nothing but industrial buildings and rocky beaches. The parklike Copenhagen waterfront to the north was the envy of Kastrup residents, so in 2003, the city hired Swedish design firm White Arkitekter to clean up its coast. The result: the Kastrup Sea Bath. What was once considered the wrong side of the harbor is now a bustling hub of activity, a result of the recent extension of the Copenhagen Metro through Kastrup, the replacement of the beach’s rocks and stones with white sand, and the completion of the sea bath in 2005. Teenagers swarm the structure in the summer, jumping off the diving platforms. Even in the winter, when temperatures dip down to the 30s (Fahrenheit), hardy bathers still stop by for a quick dip or, more frequently, to soak up the sun on the built-in benches. From the beach, the bath’s 328-foot pier extends into the Øresund Strait toward Sweden and culminates in the 9,365-square-foot swimming, bathing, and diving structure." - Dwell

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

NEW Hwy 26 Opens Collingwood Wasaga Beach

Click Here for a larger map

10 minutes between Towns!

Skull Island Wasaga Beach Summer 2012

http://www.skullisland.ca/

Beach Bag of Coal or Sparkling Diamonds?

So I've been thinking. Our beach needs to be treated like a valued, cherished, velvet bag of sparkling diamonds. For goodness sake, it is the longest freshwater beach in the world. It is disrespected, dumpy, forgotten and trashy. In fact, if you travel outside of Wasaga Beach and ask others their opinion of our town, they will tell you it's scuzzy. Is this how we want our hometown to be viewed? Do you believe our town has the potential to be a global gem? I do. I have spoken about this before. I have heard the whispers and complaints of residents. Everyone loves it here, but it needs radical beautification and an economic wave.

I have shared some ideas here.

I published a book showcasing my love for Wasaga Beach. You may preview and purchase

it HERE.

Also here.

Ah! I was very vocal here.

Here are some ideas: (I suspect most of these would be poo-poo'd upon by the powers that be.)

1. Food Truck Festival

2. Pirate Weekend and Parade

3. Mermaid Weekend and Parade

4. Family Picnic Weekend (Beach Blanket)

5. Busker Evenings Every Thursday and Sunday night on the Beaches!

6. Live Free Theatre on the beach

7. Lifeguard Championships

8. Beach Boys Festival

9. Beach Fashion Show on The Beach

10. Food Truck Spots every day

11. Afforable, clean and classy lodging in winter in the beach with free shuttles to mountain

12. Public Art

13. Fountains, Statues

14. Gardens!

15. An art gallery

16. Town Wide Garage Sale 4x June, July, August and Sept. (NO PERMITS - they are ridiculous)

What ideas would you suggest?

Let's hear your positive ideas!

From an old post I penned:

1. Beach Beautification Committee - to make sure the beach is designed with specific period architecture to attract residents, businesses and visitors alike. (pick a style: West Palm Beach, Key West, Malibu, Coney Island, The Beaches in Toronto.) In keeping with this style, all decisions must first be approved by this town committee to ensure Wasaga Beach grows in a 'beautifully' branded way. Invite designers and forward thinkers from all over the world to participate.
2. Bicycle Paths - every where, every where, every where. We must become 'The Bicycle Capital of Canada'. Here are 28 Reasons to Bike.
3. Mandatory Rain barrels & Tree planting - reasons here. (you might freak out when you watch it.)
4. A sign. A wonderful, quaint, nostalgic, beach sign on either end to welcome guests. If you think it will stop tall loads, then make it high enough or make it have a swing mechanism.
5. A old-fashioned cinema with a cafe on the side. Years ago in Peterborough, I would frequent a hip little place that had 2 meal seatings per night and afternoon. You could watch the movie first and then eat or vice versa. It was the coolest meeting place in the city and it had such a sense of community and entertainment. You are going to love this. Andhey....A Beach Film Festival in October too! (we need to extend our tourism season)
6. A music hall with state-of-the-art acoustics for musical and theatrical performances. Sorry, but the RecPlex just doesn't cut it. (The old theatre in Lindsay, Ontario....now that's a music hall)
7. Legalize golf carts. Seniors love their golf carts. Allow them to go on separate paths beside the bicycle path.
8. An Arts & Culture centre. Gallery, Beach Gift Shop, Museum, halls, displays etc.
9. A really, really, really well-marketed and branded 'daily' farmers market. (slow food) And, a fabulous Night Market for Friday and Saturday nights. And, a Christmas Market like the one in Prague.
10. 'Beach Blue Pumpkin Festival' in the Fall. All residents spray paint their pumpkins beach blue and sprinkle silver sparkles all over it. You can actually grow blue pumpkins...did you know that! Let's make it a new by-law. Only blue pumpkins in the beach in the fall and at Hallowe'en. (festival like Meaford's Scarecrows)
11. Mermaid Parade and Mermaid Ball. Here is Coney Island's Parade. FAQ. Check out the Mermaid Ball website.
12. A Santa Claus parade that will bring in thousands....more bands please!!!

Protect Our Cottage Courts in Wasaga Beach!

If you believe like I do that the vintage cabins of Wasaga Beach should be protected by 'Heritage Building' status, then please contact our Town Council. Let's make sure part of our history never crumbles to the sandy ground. Natural disasters, neglect or demolition of historic buildings result in the erosion of our built heritage. The Heritage Canada Foundation lists endangered historic sites to alert citizens to the vulnerability of many of our heritage buildings and structures and to solicit aid for their preservation. Read more here and here.