Back to Search"The Town of Wasaga Beach takes all resident and visitor feedback seriously. However, we reject the premise of complaints that lack evidence and promote misinformation. While the Town cannot speak for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Ontario Parks, who operates, patrols, and manages all the beach areas within Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, we can speak to the facts:
The Town of Wasaga Beach is proud to be home to the world's longest freshwater beach — one of the cleanest, safest, and most beautiful beaches in the world.
On any given day, when beaches across the province are closed due to bacteria or other issues, you will find that our beach is clean and open – full of kids and families having fun.
Both the Town of Wasaga Beach and Ontario Parks operate public washrooms along the beach. This includes 11 comfort stations within Beach Areas 1-6 and 4 Mini Comfort Stations in Allenwood and New Wasaga that provide washroom facilities to visitors. They are located strategically in areas of high use and are very visible to the public from the beachfront.
The Town has received no evidence – from residents, visitors or the Ontario government – to verify that any undesirable, unsanitary behaviour has occurred on the beach areas that make up Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. If any evidence comes to light, I assure you that we will be quick to act.
A significant amount of tourism across the region, and thousands of families and livelihoods in our community, depend on how well the Ontario government maintains Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. That’s why our Town and Council regularly advocates on matters at the provincial level – including:
- improved guest experiences at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park,
- more funding for more park wardens patrolling all beach areas,
- structural repairs and a fresh coat of paint for Nancy Island historic site,
- modern, accessible washroom facilities at each of the beach areas.
In 2018, the Town of Wasaga Beach took action to prohibit the use of four-sided, enclosed tents on municipal property, to ensure as many people as possible have an unobstructed view of our famous shoreline and sunsets during their stay. For this reason alone, we encourage the Ontario government to adopt a similar approach to tents on beach areas that are a part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.
Wasaga Beach is unique – it is the first and only small urban Ontario municipality with a provincial park fully embedded within its downtown. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park makes up 25% of our municipal land area and it fuels local tourism – our town's main industry.
Right now, tourism is at its highest levels in almost a decade. In 2023, the Town of Wasaga Beach welcomed nearly 2 million visitors to our community to enjoy the beach, our small-town charm, local businesses, spectacular sunsets, and live music events and festivals.
As we work and invest to grow tourism in our community and region, more visitors means more provincial investment is needed.
We continue to advocate for more resources for Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to ensure that our precious beach continues to be protected and enjoyed by our full-time residents and the millions of tourists and families who come to make memories in Wasaga Beach each year.
We meet regularly with and rely on our local MPP, Brian Saunderson, to ensure our issues are heard at Queens Park.
You can support the Town’s advocacy efforts and help keep our beach beautiful and clean.
Contact the Ontario Parks office, our local MPP and the Minister’s office with any evidence of issues, or concerns, about beach operations or maintenance at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park:
Hon. Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks – and MPP for Barrie-Innisfil
416-314-6790 / minister.mecp@ontario.ca
705-722-0575 / andrea.khanjin@pc.ola.org
Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey
705-428-2134 / 705-435-4087 / Brian.Saunderson@pc.ola.org
John Fisher | Superintendent | Wasaga Beach and Craigleith – Ontario Parks
11-22nd Street North, Wasaga Beach, ON, L9Z 2V9
705-429-2516 / John.Fisher@ontario.ca
Please don’t forget to cc: me, Brian Smith, Mayor of the Town of Wasaga Beach, so we can ensure your concerns are heard.
Mayor Brian Smith, Town of Wasaga Beach / mayor@wasagabeach.com
Working together, we can ensure that Wasaga Beach continues to be one of the cleanest, safest, most beautiful beaches in the world – driving tourism in south-central Ontario, creating jobs, and benefitting our full-time residents for generations to come."
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