Goderich, Ontario

File:Plan of the town of Goderich Upper Canada founded by the Canada Company 1829.jpg

According to the historic plaques erected by the Province, the Canada Company acquired the vast amount of land called the Huron Tract in 1826 and in 1827, under Superintendent John Galt, established its base in what would become Goderich. Development was under way by 1829. In 1850, with a population of about 1,000, the community was incorporated as a town. In addition to Galt, another important individual was Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop who was Warden of the Forests for the Canada Company, and helped develop the Huron Tract and later, to found Goderich. Also noteworthy, Thomas Mercer Jones administered much of the million acre Tract and built a richly furnished mansion, Park House, in Goderich in about 1839.

Town records indicate that the Huron Tract had been acquired by the government from the Chippewa First Nation and that the location of the community was based on coastal surveys completed in 1824 by Captain Bayfield. A log cabin was erected, at the top of the hill overlooking the harbour in 1827; this building, the home of Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop, was later referred to as "The Castle".{{cite web |url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/townhall/goderichhistory.asp |title=The History of the Town of Goderich |author= |date=2015 |website=Goderich |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=9 March 2017 |quote=The Town of Goderich came into being as an indirect result of the war of 1812-14. During that war the settlers in the vicinity of Lakes Ontario and Erie had suffered much loss, both from the soldiers billeted on them and from invaders. In an attempt to recompense them, John Galt and a group of investors in England formed the Canada Company. The British government granted the company 1,100,000 acres of the land it had recently acquired from the Chippewa First Nation. The plan was that the land would be sold to settlers and part of the profits used to settle the war claims. As it turned out, the claimants received nothing. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324190916/http://www.goderich.ca/en/townhall/goderichhistory.asp |archive-date=24 March 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

An 1846 Gazette indicated that a harbour was operating, but the docks were not in a good state of repair. A light house was being erected. Roads were available to Wilmot Township, Ontario and to the town of London, Ontario. Shipbuilding was already underway. A fishing company had started but did not succeed and closed down. There were five churches in Goderich, four Protestant and one Roman Catholic.{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Wm. H. |date=1846 |title=Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respecting all Parts of The Upper Province, or Canada West |url=https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit |location=Toronto |publisher=H. & W. Rowsell |page=[https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit/page/64 64]-65}} By 1869 the population was 4,500; a railway station and steamship docks were in operation. Wheat was the primary crop shipped from this area.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/provinceontario00mcevgoog |title=The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory|publisher=Robertson & Cook |date=1869|first=Henry|last=McEvoy |page=[https://archive.org/details/provinceontario00mcevgoog/page/n206 174]|isbn=9780665094125 }}

Research by the University of Waterloo indicates that the Canada Company built piers to protect ships in the harbour between 1830 and 1850 and in 1872 the first modern harbour was created. The railway arrived in June 1858 and a grain elevator was erected in 1859. Harbour Hill was graded in 1850. Fishing became an important part of the community, and the pier was lined with fish shanties. A modern rail station was built near the harbour and the building still stands today. Goderich became a very busy rail shipping location by the 1940s and had a roadhouse and turntable until the 1960s. Salt mining, which eventually became a major industry, was started in 1866 when Samuel Platt began opening salt mines beside his flour mill on the Maitland River. The harbour at Goderich was also the home of large flour mills starting in the 1870s.{{cite web |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/heritage-resources-centre/sites/ca.heritage-resources-centre/files/uploads/files/9%20Goderich%20Harbour%20CHL%20Study%20-%20May%204,%202010%20-%20FINAL.pdf |title=Goderich Harbour Cultural Heritage Landscape Study |author= |date=4 May 2010 |website=U of W Heritage Resources |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=9 March 2017}}

The Smith's Canadian Gazetteer of 1846 describes Goderich as follows:

It was laid out in 1827 by Mr. Galt ... the town is rather exposed to north and north west winds from the lake, in consequence of which the weather is occasionally wintry, even in the middle of summer ... Owing to its remote situation ... Goderich has not increased as fast as many other places of the same age. A harbour has been constructed but the piers are now getting out of repair. This is the only harbour between Port Sarnia and the Saugeen Islands. A light house is just about being erected .... A steamboat and several schooners have been built here. Stages run twice a week from Goderich to London and Galt, and during the last season the steamboat Goderich called here on her weekly trips ... A fishing company was established here, some years since, but from some mismanagement did not succeed very-well, and is now broken up. Goderich contains five churches and chapels, ... there is also a stone jail and court house, and the Canada Company's offices... Post Office, post four times a week. Population, 659."

The Goderich lighthouse, the first on the Canadian side of Lake Huron, opened in 1847 with a tower and the keeper's house. After the 1913 storm it was remodelled. A severe storm on Lake Huron in November 1913 caused the loss of 19 ships and 244 lives. A great deal of wreckage floated to the Goderich area shore. The bodies of the sailors were identified and collected by a Lake Carriers' Association committee based at Goderich.{{cite web |url=http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Huron16.html |title=The Great Storm of 1913 |publisher=Alan L. Brown |website=OntarioPlaques.com |access-date=April 26, 2019}}

In 1866, four artesian wells began providing the town's water and also attracted tourists who had heard about the water's medicinal properties. The Ocean House Hotel, built in the 1850s, housed many tourists. From about 1910, the sandy beach near town were also used heavily by locals and by visitors who appreciated the shallow, warm water. In 1930, a "bathing house" was built with lockers, restrooms and a small store.

Early in World War II, what is now the Goderich Airport became the site of one of Canada's air training facilities; it opened in December 1939, at Sky Harbour. The school operated until March 1945. A Lancaster X airplane, FM 213, was donated in the 1960s by Branch 109 Royal Canadian Legion in honour of those who died or went missing during the war.

Goderich has many historically designated buildings, listed on a map published by the Town.

{{cite web |url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/Heritage/MapOfDesignatedSitesAndDistricts.asp |title=Heritage Map |author= |date=2015 |website=Goderich |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312044619/http://www.goderich.ca/en/Heritage/MapOfDesignatedSitesAndDistricts.asp |archive-date=12 March 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/Heritage/PropertyPhotosAndStatementsOfSignificance.asp |title=Heritage Property Photos |author= |date=2015 |website=Goderich |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326060838/http://www.goderich.ca/en/Heritage/PropertyPhotosAndStatementsOfSignificance.asp |archive-date=2017-03-26 |url-status=dead }}

In 2018, a strike involving over 350 salt mine workers broke out in Goderich, following labour disputes between the Unifor Local 16-0 union and the American-owned company Compass Minerals, which owns the mine, over a new contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/goderich-compass-minerals-strike-barricade-1.4734808|title='Unless they bring a tank down here, I ain't going anywhere,' vows striking miner {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/goderich-salt-mine-blocking-entrance-1.4734394|title=Striking workers at Goderich salt mine ramp up fight in week 10 {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-US}} The strike ended in July 2018 having lasted for 12 weeks.{{Cite news|url=https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/goderich-salt-workers-ratify-contract-end-strike|title='A huge toll': Goderich salt mine strike ends, but anger lingers {{!}} London Free Press|work=LFP|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en-US}}

On August 9 2022, the at-the-time Mayor, John Grace, died in a boating accident in Northwestern Ontario.{{cite news |last1=Trevithick |first1=Matthew |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Boating accident in northwestern Ontario claims life of Goderich, Ont. Mayor John Grace |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9050110/goderich-ont-mayor-john-grace-dies-in-boating-accident-in-northwestern-ontario/ |access-date=August 12, 2022}} The Deputy Mayor, Myles Murdock, took over as the acting Mayor for the remainder of the 2022 term of council. Myles Murdock was elected as the Mayor of Goderich for the 2022-2026 term of council during the 2022 Ontario Municipal Election.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=2022 Municipal Election Results: Huron County |url=https://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/2022/10/24/2022-municipal-election-results-huron-county/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=BlackburnNews.com |language=en-US}}

File:The Square, Goderich, Ontario (1941).jpg

File:County Courthouse-The Square-Goderich-Ontario-HPC7450-20220901.jpg

Goderich's downtown has an octagonal roundabout known as 'The Square'. The county courthouse stands in the middle of The Square. This is where, in 1959, Steven Truscott was convicted of murdering Lynne Harper. The conviction was overturned in 2007.CBC.ca, [http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/court-acquits-truscott-calling-conviction-miscarriage-of-justice-1.668524 Court acquits Truscott, calling conviction 'miscarriage of justice'], August 28, 2008

The Square was formally listed in the Register of Historic Place by the Government of Canada in May 2007. The Town had already recognized the value of the area in 1982, under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The Square was designed and developed between 1840 and the mid 1890s and in its early days, contained the main office of the Canada Company which helped to develop much of the county. The design of the square - a "radial composition" - is attributed to John Galt of the Company, inspired by ancient Roman city plans. Over the years it was called "Market Square", "The Square" or "Courthouse Square" by locals. The original courthouse was located here but was destroyed in a fire and replaced by a modern structure in the 1950s.{{cite web |url=http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7450 |title=The Square |author= |date=2011 |website=Historic Places |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=9 March 2017 |quote=Sources: Town of Goderich by-law 1982-02, 1993-26; The Square, Goderich: A Heritage Conservation District Plan (Nicholas Hill, 1977)}}

Contrary to a popularly held belief, plans for The Square were not intended for Guelph. It is thought this rumour started when Goderich was founded, as town planners the Canada Company originally wanted their community to be called Guelph after the Royal Family; the Company eventually resigned to accepting the decisions of Superintendent John Galt to keep the name Goderich.[http://www.goderich.ca/heritage/districts.html Heritage Goderich] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060202080710/http://www.goderich.ca/heritage/districts.html |date=February 2, 2006 }}

File:Hotel_Bedford.jpg

File:Damage in Goderich after a tornado, August 2011.jpg

{{Main|2011 Goderich, Ontario tornado}}

On the afternoon of 21 August 2011, an F3{{cite news|last=Pope|first=Alexandra|title=F3 tornado aftermath in Goderich: Like a war zone|url=http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at201109.html|access-date=23 August 2011|newspaper=The Weather Network News|date=August 23, 2011|author2=Andrea Stockton}} tornado touched down in the area, after coming ashore as a waterspout, with the mesocyclone thunderstorm cell moving across Lake Huron. It was the strongest tornado that had hit Ontario since the Arthur, Ontario tornado of April 20, 1996, though on average, F3 tornadoes occur in Ontario every eight years. The devastating storm downed power lines, tore roofs from houses, and left cars and trees scattered along city streets. Hundred-year-old trees surrounding the Goderich Courthouse were uprooted in seconds. The tornado killed one person: Norman Laberge, 61, of Lucknow, who was working on a dock associated with a salt mine on the coast of Lake Huron when the storm hit. 37 people were injured. The Environment Canada weather forecast office in Toronto issued a tornado warning for Goderich and southern Huron County 12 minutes before the tornado struck.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/goderich-residents-had-12-minutes-warning-before-tornado-struck/article2137119/ |location=Toronto |work=The Globe and Mail |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822171612/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/goderich-residents-had-12-minutes-warning-before-tornado-struck/article2137119/ |title=Goderich residents had 12 minutes warning before tornado struck |archive-date=August 22, 2011 }} The town did not have a tornado siren unlike some other Ontario cities.

News reports later indicated that one hundred houses, 25 buildings and thousands of 150-plus-year-old trees were seriously damaged or destroyed.{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Joe |date=6 April 2012 |title=Goderich: The town Queen Elizabeth once described as the prettiest in Canada weathers on after devastating tornado |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/goderich-the-town-queen-elizabeth-once-described-as-the-prettiest-in-canada-weathers-on-after-devastating-tornado | work=National Post |location=Toronto |access-date=9 March 2017}}

After the tornado, the roofs of several buildings around the square had been destroyed, and the trees in the green space around the courthouse had been damaged or uprooted.{{cite news |last=Miner |first=John |date=22 August 2011 |title=Tornado slams Goderich |url=http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2011/08/22/tornado-slams-goderich |work=Sun Times |location=Owen Sound |access-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312051837/http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2011/08/22/tornado-slams-goderich |archive-date=12 March 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

A year later, 152 of the 170 downtown businesses had reopened but reconstruction of the courthouse, some historic buildings and the trees in the area took much longer.

By 2015, the park had re-opened with a new band shell. New trees, greenery, a statue and a water feature had been installed in front of the court house.

Much of the area around the park had been reconstructed including commercial building on Kingston Street and The Square. The last work to be completed was the Kingston block of commercial buildings on Kingston Street and The Square. Although the farmers' market and flea market had closed before the tornado, it re-opened.{{cite web |url=http://www.northhuron.on.ca/goderich-s-downtown-gets-new-features-after-tornado-damage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312061834/http://www.northhuron.on.ca/goderich-s-downtown-gets-new-features-after-tornado-damage |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-03-12 |title=A whole new look - Goderich's downtown gets new features after tornado damage |author= |date=April 2015 |website=North Huron |access-date=8 March 2017 }}

{{Weather box

|location = Goderich, Ontario (Goderich Airport) 1991–2020, extremes 1866–present{{refn|group=note|name=Records|Long term records have been recorded at various climate stations in or nearby Goderich since 1866}}

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan record high C = 17.2

|Feb record high C = 18.5

|Mar record high C = 25.1

|Apr record high C = 28.9

|May record high C = 32.0

|Jun record high C = 35.0

|Jul record high C = 37.2

|Aug record high C = 37.2

|Sep record high C = 35.0

|Oct record high C = 28.9

|Nov record high C = 23.1

|Dec record high C = 16.7

|year record high C = 37.2

|Jan high C = −1.3

|Feb high C = -0.6

|Mar high C = 3.8

|Apr high C = 10.6

|May high C = 17.4

|Jun high C = 22.4

|Jul high C = 24.4

|Aug high C = 24.0

|Sep high C = 21.0

|Oct high C = 14.3

|Nov high C = 7.3

|Dec high C = 1.7

|year high C = 12.1

|Jan mean C = −4.6

|Feb mean C = −4.3

|Mar mean C = -0.3

|Apr mean C = 5.9

|May mean C = 12.3

|Jun mean C = 17.4

|Jul mean C = 19.6

|Aug mean C = 19.3

|Sep mean C = 16.1

|Oct mean C = 10.2

|Nov mean C = 4.1

|Dec mean C = −1.1

|year mean C = 7.9

|Jan low C = −7.8

|Feb low C = −8.0

|Mar low C = −4.4

|Apr low C = 1.1

|May low C = 7.1

|Jun low C = 12.4

|Jul low C = 14.8

|Aug low C = 14.5

|Sep low C = 11.2

|Oct low C = 6.0

|Nov low C = 0.8

|Dec low C = −3.9

|year low C = 3.7

|Jan record low C = −29.4

|Feb record low C = −32.8

|Mar record low C = −26.1

|Apr record low C = −17.8

|May record low C = −7.8

|Jun record low C = -5.0

|Jul record low C = 1.1

|Aug record low C = 1.1

|Sep record low C = -3.9

|Oct record low C = −11.1

|Nov record low C = −24.4

|Dec record low C = −27.8

|year record low C = −32.8

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 72.2

|Feb precipitation mm = 54.9

|Mar precipitation mm = 74.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 77.4

|May precipitation mm = 65.2

|Jun precipitation mm = 76.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 65.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 80.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 90.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 80.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 87.4

|Dec precipitation mm = 101.4

|year precipitation mm = 925.7

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 17.9

|Feb rain mm = 20.8

|Mar rain mm = 36.6

|Apr rain mm = 67.1

|May rain mm = 64.8

|Jun rain mm = 76.4

|Jul rain mm = 65.1

|Aug rain mm = 80.9

|Sep rain mm = 90.7

|Oct rain mm = 74.5

|Nov rain mm = 61.9

|Dec rain mm = 41.3

|year rain mm = 698.0

|Jan snow cm = 65.4

|Feb snow cm = 48.6

|Mar snow cm = 41.1

|Apr snow cm = 11.8

|May snow cm = 0.2

|Jun snow cm = 0.0

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.0

|Sep snow cm = 0.0

|Oct snow cm = 9.2

|Nov snow cm = 28.6

|Dec snow cm = 72.3

|year snow cm = 277.2

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 19

|Feb precipitation days = 15

|Mar precipitation days = 16

|Apr precipitation days = 13

|May precipitation days = 12

|Jun precipitation days = 11

|Jul precipitation days = 10

|Aug precipitation days = 10

|Sep precipitation days = 12

|Oct precipitation days = 13

|Nov precipitation days = 17

|Dec precipitation days = 20

|year precipitation days = 168

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm

|Jan rain days = 5

|Feb rain days = 4

|Mar rain days = 7

|Apr rain days = 11

|May rain days = 11

|Jun rain days = 11

|Jul rain days = 10

|Aug rain days = 10

|Sep rain days = 12

|Oct rain days = 12

|Nov rain days = 11

|Dec rain days = 8

|year rain days = 112

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days = 17

|Feb snow days = 14

|Mar snow days = 11

|Apr snow days = 5

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 4

|Nov snow days = 8

|Dec snow days = 16

|year snow days = 75

|source 1 = Environment Canada (precipitation/rainfall/snowfall 1951–1980){{cite web

| url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=171000000&dispBack=0

| title = Goderich, Ontario

| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada

| access-date = Sep 11, 2024}}

{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

| url = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OLqRySaAdJSpajkEGmOAHd7zKR2FW72s/view

| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 2: Temperature

| access-date = September 22, 2020}}

{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

| url = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nujco00lfiT0aBZHfW1Gs2P4MLFguxHR/view

| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 3: Precipitation

| access-date = September 22, 2020}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211110161659/https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/ltce-temperature/items?VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID=VSON160&sortby=VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID%2CLOCAL_MONTH%2CLOCAL_DAY&f=csv&limit=150000&startindex=0

| archive-date = November 10, 2021

| url = https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/ltce-temperature/items?VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID=VSON160&sortby=VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID,LOCAL_MONTH,LOCAL_DAY&f=csv&limit=150000&startindex=0

| title = Long Term Climate Extremes for Goderich Area (Virtual Station ID: VSON160)

| work = Daily climate records (LTCE)

| publisher = Environment Canada

| access-date = November 10, 2021}}

}}

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical populations

|type = Canada

|align = right

|width =

|state =

|shading =

|percentages =

|footnote =

|1841|659

|1871|3954

|1881|4564

|1891|3839

|1901|4158

|1911|4522

|1921|4107

|1931|4491

|1941|4557

|1951|4934

|1961|6411

|1971|6813

|1981|7322

|1991|7452

|2001|7604

|2006|7563

|2011|7521

|2016|7628

|2021|7881

}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Goderich had a population of {{val|7881|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|3667|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|3899|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:7881-7628}}|7628|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|7628|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|8.54|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|7881|8.54|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=March 30, 2022}}

File:2018-07-14 45 Sifto Salt Mine, Goderich ON Canada.jpg is an important economic activity in Goderich.]]

Goderich is in Huron County which is primarily agricultural. In fact, the Official Plan indicates that "Huron leads all counties and regions in Ontario in total value of production; and it also exceeds the production totals of several provinces."{{cite web |url=https://www.huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Huron_Official-Plan_2015.pdf |title=Official Plan |author= |date=2015 |website=Huron County |access-date=9 March 2017 |archive-date=12 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312041420/https://www.huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Huron_Official-Plan_2015.pdf |url-status=dead }} However, the town does have some manufacturing with companies such as Compass Minerals and Vestas.

{{cite web |url=http://rediscovergoderich.com/prosper/economic-overview |title=2016 Economic Overview |author= |date=2016 |website=Goderich |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=9 March 2017}}

The salt mining industry in Goderich is one of the oldest in Ontario. In 1866, petroleum exploration crews found a massive ancient salt deposit about {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=off}} under the surface.{{cite news|last=CBC-TV|first=Canada|title=The Great Lakes: Goderich, Ontario|url=http://www.cbc.ca/geologic/field_guide/gl_goderich.html?dataPath=/photogallery/documentaries/gallery_641/xml/gallery_641.xml|work=CBC Radio Canada|publisher=Geologic Journey|access-date=14 December 2012}}

To date, 150 million tons of salt has been produced from the mine and by 2012, after recent investments, it will be able to produce 9 million tons a year{{cite news|last=Boa|first=Heather|title=Feature: Goderich's salt mine positioned for the future|url=http://huron.bulletnewscanada.ca/2012/10/23/feature-goderichs-salt-mine-positioned-for-the-future/|access-date=14 December 2012|newspaper=Huron News Now|date=October 23, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115090702/http://huron.bulletnewscanada.ca/2012/10/23/feature-goderichs-salt-mine-positioned-for-the-future/|archive-date=15 January 2013}} This all started in 1866 when prospector Sam Platt was searching for oil and instead discovered rock salt 300 metres beneath Goderich Harbour. Just over 50 years ago harvesting of the salt began, and continues today by Sifto Canada. The mine is {{convert|1750|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=off}} below surface,{{cite web|title=Sifto's Goderich Mine|url=http://www.siftocanada.com/en/about-us/salt-canada/siftos-goderich-mine/|publisher=Sifto Canada Corp.|access-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928035819/http://www.siftocanada.com/en/about-us/salt-canada/siftos-goderich-mine/|archive-date=28 September 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} extending {{convert|7|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} under Lake Huron - roughly the size of the town. It is the largest underground salt mine in the world.

The salt deposits at Goderich are from an ancient sea bed of Silurian age, part of the Salina Formation. The halite rock salt is also found in Windsor, Ontario, both located on the eastern periphery of the Michigan Basin, on the southeastern shores of Lake Huron.{{cite web|last=Geology Ontario|first=MNDMF|title=Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 6029. Mines and Wines: Industrial Minerals, Geology and Wineries of the Niagara Region - Field Trip Guidebook|url=http://www.geologyontario.mndmf.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/OFR6029/OFR6029.pdf|work=Queen's Printer for Ontario|publisher=Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines|access-date=20 October 2012|page=22|year=2000}}

The Town currently lists Canadian Salt Co./ Windsor Salt Warehouse and the Compass Minerals Evaporator and its Goderich Mine as businesses involved in this industry.{{cite web |url=https://www.goderich.ca/en/doing-business/business-directory.aspx#Industries |title=Industries in Goderich |date=2019 |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=April 26, 2019}}

Volvo once operated a road grader manufacturing plant in Goderich. The plant, originally operated by locally-owned Champion Road Machinery, was one of the world's oldest manufacturers of road equipment. It was acquired by Volvo in 1997.{{cite web|work=Volvo Construction Equipment - North American|url=http://www.volvo.com/constructionequipment/na/en-us/Applications/ContactUs/North+America.htm|title=Get in touch with us|access-date=2008-03-25}}

In September 2008, Volvo announced plans to close all operations in Goderich and move operations to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/volvo-grader/volvo-says-to-move-grader-business-cost-45-mln-idUSSAT00561120080930 | title=Volvo says to move grader business, cost $45 mln | publisher=Reuters | date=2008-09-30|access-date=April 26, 2019 }} Production in Goderich ceased in 2009.

File:Huron Historic Gaol-Huron County Gaol- Goderich-Ontario-12027-20220901.jpg

Tourism is also significant because many visitors spend time on the Lake Huron shore, including three beaches near Goderich, and may shop or stay overnight in town. Goderich has festivals and events each year that appeal to some visitors as well as local attractions.{{cite web |url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/visitors/festivals.asp |title=Festivals & Events |author= |date=2016 |website=Goderich |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407021444/http://www.goderich.ca/en/visitors/festivals.asp |archive-date=7 April 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/visitors/attractions.asp |title=Attractions |author= |date=2016 |website=Goderich |publisher=Town of Goderich |access-date=9 March 2017}}

The Huron Historic Gaol is a National Historic Site of Canada. It served as the region's gaol (old English form of jail) from its opening in 1842 until 1972.{{cite web | url=https://www.huroncountymuseum.ca/huron-historic-gaol/ | access-date=April 26, 2019 | title=Welcome to the Huron Historic Gaol | publisher=Huron County Museum}} It is open to the public between April and October. This is the site of the last public hanging in Canada. James Donnelly Sr. of the Black Donnellys also spent time here before his trial. As well, Steven Truscott was held here for some time.

File:HuronCountyMuseum.JPG

The Huron County Museum is a community museum which offers modern exhibition galleries. Permanent exhibits depict the early settlement and development of Huron County, including a full-size locomotive, a World War II Sherman tank, an extensive military collection, and an exhibit related to salt mining in the area. The museum also collects and maintains the Huron County Archives.

Goderich features three public-use beaches which can be reached by car following signage in town to the beach hill, also known as West Street. After parking, beach users can also walk along a wooden boardwalk over a mile in length (in late 2019, the boardwalk was damaged by strong waves, and it has been under repairs through 2020{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Kathleen |title=Significant damage to the boardwalk |url=https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/significant-damage-to-the-boardwalk/wcm/0fbb61e3-5a84-4b97-91f9-340f452dcf89 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |publisher=The Brantford Expositor |date=October 18, 2019}}). The main beach, at the north end of the walkway is a sand and fine gravel beach where swimmers and sunbathers can watch lake freighters loading up with salt on the other side of the pier. Further south is St. Christopher's beach and at the far end of the boardwalk is "Rotary Cove", a family-friendly sand beach with lifeguards and playground equipment. Of interest as well, are the man-made groynes along the beach, put in place to control sand migration from the action of water currents.

Aside from annual festivals and events, Goderich hosts occasional special events, such as during Goderich's 150 year celebration - Jubilee 3 - there was a Skydiving Jamboree at the Goderich Airport. This event attracted hundreds of parachutists from all over the United States and Canada.

Goderich has its own official flag, which was adopted in 1977 for the town's 150th birthday celebration.{{cite web|url=http://flagspot.net/flags/ca-on-go.html|title=Goderich, Ontario (Canada)|website=flagspot.net}} A contest was held, open to all Goderich schools and residents. It was won by Goderich resident Judge Carter from St. Vincent St. The flag shows the royal crown centred in an octagon (representing the 1/4 mile octagonal 3-lane town square) with 3 waves at the bottom on a blue background representing Lake Huron and the Port of Goderich.{{cite web|url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/townhall/goderichflag.asp|title=Goderich Flag|website=www.goderich.ca|access-date=2010-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007015238/http://goderich.ca/en/townhall/goderichflag.asp|archive-date=2010-10-07|url-status=dead}}

The Town also has a full town crest.{{cite web|url=http://www.goderich.ca/en/townhall/townofgoderichcrest.asp|title=Town of Goderich Crest - Goderich|website=www.goderich.ca|access-date=2010-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006234051/http://goderich.ca/en/townhall/townofgoderichcrest.asp|archive-date=2010-10-06|url-status=dead}}

Besides school teams, during the winter season, hockey is prevalent in most Canadian small towns, Goderich being no exception. The town supports the Jr. C Goderich Flyers, much of the talent on the Flyers being of local origin.

The Goderich municipal council includes a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and five Councillors. The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor are also members of the County Council.

The Huron County Council consists of fifteen members from the nine area municipalities. Each is represented on this Council. Each year, a Warden is elected from the group and chairs meetings and represents the County at various functions. In 2022, the Warden was Glen McNeil, also Reeve of Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh Township.{{cite web |url=https://www.huroncounty.ca/county-council/ |title=Council |author= |date=2017 |publisher=Huron County |access-date=March 9, 2017}}

File:GoderichPortHarbour.JPG

Goderich Airport (known unofficially as Sky Harbour Airport){{cite web | url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2CG7 | access-date=2008-05-05 | title=The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan | publisher=Waymarking.com }} is a community airport with three runways: two are paved, with runway lighting, and one is grass.{{cite web | url=http://www.navcanada.ca/NavCanada.asp?Language=en&Content=ContentDefinitionFiles/default.xml | access-date=2008-05-05 | title=entry on Nav Canada site | publisher=Nav Canada | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411042946/http://www.navcanada.ca/NavCanada.asp?Language=en&Content=ContentDefinitionFiles%2Fdefault.xml | archive-date=2008-04-11 }} It is located directly north of the town, and is accessible via the Bluewater Highway north of the community. During WWII, The airport was the site of an Elementary Flying Training School as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In addition to flight services, several industries are located in the immediate area of the airport to provide the full range of services that aviation requires, including interior and exterior re-finishing, and mechanical repairs.

Goderich Harbour is owned by the town, but is operated under contract by Goderich Port Management Corporation.{{cite web | url=http://www.goderich.ca/statistics.html | access-date=2008-05-05 | title=Statistics about Goderich | publisher=Town of Goderich site | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430134318/http://www.goderich.ca/statistics.html | archive-date=2008-04-30 }} It is an industrial harbour, used primarily to load salt from the Sifto salt mines onto lake and ocean freighters.

Snug Harbour is a marina located within the industrial harbour basin; Maitland Valley Marina is also located near Goderich.

File:GoderichCPRStation.jpg

The Goderich-Exeter Railway currently operates freight service to Goderich.

The line was built by the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway in 1859.

{{cite web

|url = http://home.primus.ca/~robkath/railbuf.htm

|title = The B&LHR

|access-date = 2007-04-24

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070517150302/http://home.primus.ca/~robkath/railbuf.htm

|archive-date = 2007-05-17

}} The railway was soon taken over by the Grand Trunk Railway, later CN. In 1992, the line was sold to the GEXR.

The Canadian Pacific Railway built its own line, the Guelph and Goderich Railway, into Goderich in 1907.

{{cite web

|url = http://www.stopsalonglakehuron.com/menesetung.htm

|title = Stops along Lake Huron

|access-date = 2007-04-24

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061219163242/http://www.stopsalonglakehuron.com/menesetung.htm

|archive-date = 2006-12-19

}} Passenger service ran until the 1960s. The entire line was abandoned in 1989.Informational plaque along the Goderich to Auburn Rail Trail. The trestle crossing over the Maitland River was converted through public fund-raising into a public walkway, offering views of the harbour, Maitland Valley golf course and the river valley itself. The Ontario West Shore Railway started to build a railway from Goderich to Kincardine in 1909, but it was never completely opened.The Signal (Goderich), January 4, 1912.

Public education in Goderich is managed by the Avon Maitland District School Board, with Goderich District Collegiate Institute (GDCI) and Goderich Public School (grades from junior Kindergarten to grade 6) in the town. GDCI was founded in 1841, and stood at the corner of Waterloo St. and Britannia Road, until the present building was completed.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} Goderich Public School is an amalgamation of Victoria Public School and Robertson Memorial Public School.{{cite web|last=Howe|first=Steve|title=Goderich Public School Celebrates Official Opening|url=http://yourschools.ca/2010/09/10/goderich-public-school-celebrates-official-opening/|publisher=iAM Education|access-date=30 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226011529/http://yourschools.ca/2010/09/10/goderich-public-school-celebrates-official-opening/|archive-date=26 December 2012}}

Catholic schools are managed by the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, which has St. Mary's Catholic School in town. The nearest Catholic high school is located in Clinton.

• The local newspaper is the Goderich Signal Star, owned by Quebecor/Sun Media Corporation through Bowes Publishers.

• CIYN-FM-1 99.7 "Oldies" - classic hits
• CHWC-FM 104.9 "Today's Best Country" - local news and country music
• CKNX-FM 101.7 "The One" - local, regional and national news and adult contemporary music
• CIBU-FM 94.5/91.7 "Cool 94.5" - local, regional and national news and classic rock music

• Albert Dewsbury (1926–2006) former NHL defenceman
• Gary Doak (1946-2017) former NHL defenceman
• William "Tiger" Dunlop (1792–1846) Founding father of Goderich associated with Canada Company
• Brock Dykxhoorn (born 1994) Professional baseball player, inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2015 Pan American Games gold medal winning baseball team
• Brenda Elliott (born 1950) Former Ontario cabinet minister
• Larry Jeffrey (1940 - 2022) former NHL forward, won the Stanley Cup in 1967 with the Toronto Maple Leafs
• C. E. McIntosh member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Ted Nasmith fantasy illustrator, best known for his illustrations of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
• Jack Price (1932–2011) former NHL defenceman
• Jennifer Robinson (born 1976) former six-time Canadian national figure skating champion
• Tim Sale (born 1942), retired cabinet Minister in the province of Manitoba, Canada
• Dick Treleaven (born 1934) Ontario politician
• Steven Truscott, wrongfully convicted of murder in 1959 and sentenced to hang but sentence was commuted to life in prison. Released in 1969.
• Ron Van Horne (1932–2017) Ontario politician

{{Portal|Ontario}}

• Kingsbridge Wind Farm
• List of shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm
• List of towns in Ontario
• List of population centres in Ontario

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite magazine |last=Hooton |first=David |date=June 2008 |title=The Sesquicentennial of Train Service to Goderich, Ontario |magazine=Branchline |publisher=Bytown Railway Society |editor-first=Earl W. |editor-last=Roberts |volume=47 |number=6 |issn=0824-233X |pages=3–8}} An overview of the town's railway history.

{{Wikivoyage|Goderich}}

{{Commons category|Goderich, Ontario}}

• {{Official website|http://www.town.goderich.on.ca/}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Goderich

| North = Ashfield–Colborne–Wawanosh

| East = Central Huron

| South = Central Huron

| West = Lake Huron

}}

{{Huron County, Ontario}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario

Category:Populated places established in 1827

Category:Port settlements in Ontario

Category:Towns in Ontario

Category:1827 establishments in Upper Canada

Category:F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich

Category:Populated places on Lake Huron in Canada