REGIONAL INVESTMENT PROFILE GANANOQUE & THOUSAND ISLANDS Town of Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands Prepared by: Economic Development Shelley Hirstwood 30 King Street East, Ontario K7G 2T6 www.gananoque.ca shirstwood@gananoque.ca 613-382-2149 ext 127 March 2013 Ontario Canada
GANANOQUE AND THE THOUSAND ISLANDS The Town of and the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands are internationally recognized as Eastern Ontario s most stunning waterfront regions. It has truly developed into a worldclass destination for visitors, residents and businesses. Strategically located on the Hwy 401 corridor and near the U.S border, is centrally located between major urban centres including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Watertown. This rural region offers a variety of unique attractions including a scenic cycling path along Thousand Island Parkway, a captivating waterfront trail, beautiful beaches, a Heritage Museum, an OLG Charity Casino, outstanding performances at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, and one of the most prominent golf courses in Ontario, Smuggler s Glen. With its unbeatable quality of life and larger centres only minutes away, and the Thousand Islands is an ideal region to locate your business. géãçá{ Ñ Éy _xxwá &DCCC \áätçwá
QUICK FACTS TOWN OF GANANOQUE TOWNSHIP OF LEEDS AND THOUSAND ISLANDS REGION 50km RADIUS Population 5200 9300 220000 Number of Households 2453 4731 Land km 2 7 607 2500 Average Income $59,224 $67,366 $69,908 Commercial Tax Rate 0.0215 0.0235 Industrial Tax Rate 0.0298 0.0282 Local Labour Force 2750 5200 112000 Tourists per Year 500000 4, 250, 000 SOURCE: Statistic Canada 2011, 2006, Regional Tourist Area #9 Visitor Tracking and Performance Measures 2011 STRATEGIC & DEVELOPMENT ADVANTAGE UNBEATABLE QUALITY OF LIFE 15 km (9 mi) to the U.S Interstate-81 280 km (174 mi) to Toronto, ON 150 km (93 mi) to Ottawa, ON 250 km (155 mi) to Montreal, QC 30 km (18 mi) to Kingston, ON Located on the Highway 401 Detroit/Windsor-Montreal corridor Centre of 120 million consumers Over half of North American industry is within a day s travel 1000 Islands International Bridge connecting Hwy 401 to U.S. Interstate 81 Via Rail Station with scheduled stops at the station.
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION Progressive and Responsive Government Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands Municipal Council Town of Municipal Council Front Row: Deputy Mayor Heidi Conarroe; Mayor Frank Kinsella; Front Row: Councillor Jan Hayes; Mayor Erika Demchuk; Councillor Velma Kelsey Deputy Mayor Anne Warren Back Row: Councillor Brigitte Lesage-Tye; Councillor Harold Back Row: Councillor Joe Jansen; Councillor Bill Sheppard; Emmons; Councillor Wendy Merkley; Councillor Geraldine Dickson Councillor Roberta Abbott; Councillor Jeff Girling Services Delivered Emergency Services Police Services Fire Protection 911 Ambulance Municipal Services Waste Management Water Services Municipal Roads and Infrastructure Garbage Recycling& Landfill Health Services Family Medical Centres Nearby Hospitals Retirement Services Nursing Homes Dentists Chiropractors Optometrists Registered Massage Therapists Recreation Facilities Municipal Marina Municipal Parks/Beaches Boat Launches All Season Trails Arena Curling Club Soccer and Baseball Fields Recreation Clubs Skateboard Park BMX Public Services Schools Churches Libraries Service Clubs Chamber of Commerce
Experience our incredible backyard. From arts, heritage and culture to exquisite shopping and dining to our vast recreation opportunities. The thriving tourism industry is experiencing constant growth and presents a wealth of viable opportunities. Tourism spending per year in and Thousand Islands Visitors/Year 500000 66% Overnight Visitors 330000 Total Spent ($193/person) $64 million Visitors/Year 500 000 TOURISM SOURCE: Ministry of Tourism s Regional Tourism Profiles for Leeds & Grenville United Counties and for Regional Tourist Area #9 Visitor Tracking and Performancee Measures Percentagee of Tourists/Month September 12% 34% Day Visitors Total Spent ($117/person) 170000 $20 million Percentage of Tourists/Month October 6% Off Season 5% May 8% June 14% August 28% July 27% SOURCE: 1000 Islands Chamber of Commerce, Average of 2009, 2010 and 2011. 10000 Islands/Ivy Lea Bridge Traffic Report 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2, 053, 828 2, 121, 666 2,620,225 1,989,274 2,077,872 2,065,165 Regional visitation statistics Length of Stay Average Length 1.6 Party Size Average party size 2.7 Average adult party size 2.3 % of parties travelling with children 19% Visitation % first time % repeat visitation Residence Canada U.S. Overseas SOURCE: Ministry of Tourism s Regional Tourism Profiles for Leeds & Grenville United Counties and for Regional Tourist Area #9, 2011 72% 27% 62% 19% 19%
THE PERFECT SETTING and the Thousand Islands is the perfect four season location to locate your business. Breathe in the fresh air as you take in the beauty of the ninth geo-tourism site in the world. Discover the many talented artists, unique shops and restaurants, take in a play or step back in time with a historical walking tour, experiencing some of the most intriguing and charming heritage sites in eastern Ontario. Capture the opportunity to live, work and play in the world s finest backyard. Average Temperatures, ON Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average high -2.4 1.7 5.7 12.2 19.5 24.3 26.2 25.6 21.7 14.8 8.1 1.2 Average low -10.4-7.4-3.2 1.9 9 13.7 16.3 15.7 12.1 5.9 1.5-6 Average -6.4-2.8 1.3 7.1 14.3 19 21.3 20.7 17 10.4 4.8-2.4 Environment Canada 1981 2011
DEMOGRAPHICS Come and meet our progressive communities. The region is comprised of a diverse cross section including a dynamic mix of business people, entrepreneurs, families, youth and seniors. Population and Dwelling Counts Leeds and the Thousand Islands Population in 2011 5,194 9,277 Total private dwellings 2,493 4,731 Private dwellings occupied by usual residents 2,346 3,697 Land area (square km) 7.01 612.51 Statistics Canada, Census 2011 Age Characteristics Leeds and the Thousand Islands Total population by age groups 5,190 9,280 0 to 4 years 200 420 5 to 9 years 240 410 10 to 14 years 255 530 15 to 19 years 300 560 20 to 24 years 265 400 25 to 29 years 245 360 30 to 34 years 250 425 35 to 39 years 265 490 40 to 44 years 320 615 45 to 49 years 445 805 50 to 54 years 440 830 55 to 59 years 400 880 60 to 64 years 375 825 65 to 69 years 310 635 70 to 74 years 255 415 75 to 79 years 225 310 80 to 84 years 200 215 85 years and over 205 160 Median age of the population 48.1 47.7 % of the population aged 15 and over Statistics Canada, Census 2011 86.5 85.3
LABOUR FORCE The region has a variety of businesses and a strong labour force. The primary industrial sectors are light manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and services. Below indicates the largest employers for the private sector and public sector of the region. Largest Private Sector Employers Covidien Thousand Islands OLG Casino Home Hardware Canada Border Service Agency Glen House Resort and Smugglers Glen Golf Course Metro Boat Line Rockport Boat Lines *Data verified as of May 2011 # of Employees 450 419 127 120 120 100 95 80 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level University certificate, diploma or degree Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma College, CEGEP or other non-universitcertificate or diploma 53 High school certificate or equivalent 52 No certificate, diploma or degree 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Leeds and the Thousand Islands Statistics Canada, Census 2006
EMPLOYMENT SECTOR LABOUR FORCE BY OCCUPATION Primary industry Art, culture, recreation and sport Social science, education, government service and religion Natural and applied sciences Health occupations Processing, manufacturing and utilities Management Business, finance and administration Trades, transport and equipment operators Sales and service 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Leeds and the Thousand Islands Statistics Canada, Census 2006 TOP 10 SECTORS BY EMPLOYMENT Agriculture Wholesale trade Finance and real estate Educational services Construction Health care and social services Retail trade Manufacturing Business services Other services 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Leeds and the Thousand Islands Statistics Canada, Census 2006
LIFESTYLE Housing Leeds & Thousand Islands Detached House 1275 3391 Semi-Detached House 214 36 Row Houses 145 0 Apartments 587 91 Education Local Schools Intermediate Secondary School Linklater Public School St. Joseph Catholic School T.R. Leger School of Adult Learning and Continuing Education Thousand Islands Elementary School Sweets Corners Elementary School Post-Secondary Education Institutions University/College Distance (km) Royal Military College of Canada 27 Queens University 28 Trillium College 32 Jefferson Community College 42 Empire State College 42 St Lawrence College 54 Loyalist College 112 Carlton University 123 Ottawa University 127 Algonquin College 156
REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS We welcome you to our playground! Our picturesque region is world famous for its scenic boat tours, historical buildings, museums, parks, acclaimed live theatre, dining, winery, shopping, golf, accommodations, and our welcoming hospitality. We are also the place for adventure! and the Thousand Islands is a boater's paradise, a fisherman's playground, hiker's haven and part of Ontario's waterfront trail. We offer the opportunity to see the sites from above, exploree the biosphere on horseback, kayak, canoe, or dive into the world's best fresh water to experience over 200 shipwrecks preserved since the war of 1812. Shopping Dining Live Theatre Hiking & Cycling Museums Golf Provincial Parks Boating Kayaking Skydiving Scuba Diving Local Flavours Studio Tours
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS has access to Federal and Provincial programs designed to support business including commercial, retail and manufacturing. THOUSAND ISLANDS COMMUNITY FUTURES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION www.ticdc.ca The Thousand Islands Community Futures Development Corporation is dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses by providing resources, business counseling, advisory services and access to capital through loans, equity investment and loan guarantees. THE EASTERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (EODP) www.ticdc.ca/eodp.html The Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) is a multi-million dollar Government of Canada initiative announced in the summer of 2006 that will promote rural socioeconomic development in Eastern Ontario, lead to a more competitive and diversified regional economy, and contribute to the successful development of businesses, job opportunities and sustainable, self-reliant communities. The fund will support business development, skills development, retention and attraction of youth, and access to capital. Scientific Research and Experimental Development SR&ED www.cra-arc.gc.ca/txcrdt/sred-rsde/bts-eng.html The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program is a federal tax incentive program to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada that will lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products or processes. The SR&ED program is the largest single source of federal government support for industrial research and development. Claimants can apply for SR&ED investment tax credits for expenditures such as wages, materials, machinery, equipment, some overhead, and SR&ED contracts. & Township of Leeds and a Thousand Islands Economic Development Departments The Economic Development Department for the Town of and the Township of Leeds and a Thousand Islands will work with existing and new businesses to assist in whatever capacity is necessary.