User:Paulshannon/Sandbox/Clearview

Clearview is a township in central Ontario, Canada, west of Barrie and south of Collingwood and Wasaga Beach in Simcoe County.

History
Clearview Township was established on January 1, 1994 when the Town of Stayner, The Village of Creemore and the Townships of Nottawasaga and Sunnidale were amalgamated.

The Townships of Nottawasaga and Sunnidale were incorporated in 1851 and 1858 respectively. Stayner was incorporated as a village in 1872, and as a Town in 1888. The Village of Creemore was incorporated effective 20 November 1889.

Geography and Climate
The township comprises the communities of Avening, Batteaux, Brentwood, Cashtown Corners, Creemore, Dunedin, Duntroon, Glen Huron, Maple Valley, New Lowell, Nottawa, Singhampton, Smithdale, Stayner, Sunnidale, Sunnidale Corners and Websterville.

It borders on the following municipalities:
 * North Collingwood, Wasaga Beach
 * East Springwater, Essa
 * South Adjala-Tosorontio, Mulmur, Melancthon
 * West Grey Highlands, The Blue Mountains

Clearview (and Simcoe County in general) is part of Central Ontario as well as the Georgian Triangle. The climate in the area is classified as Humid Continental (Warm Summer Subtype).

Located in the Great Lakes lowlands, it has fertile soil quite suitable for farming. As a result of the proximity to the Great Lakes it does suffer from Lake Effect.

Economy
Compared to Ontario as a whole, Construction, Agriculture, and Manufacturing industries employ a greater than average percentage of the workforce (Business, Finance and Real Estate employ smaller than average ) as of 2006. The employment rate was 67.1% (62.8% for Ontario) and the unemployment rate was 4.5% (6.4% for Ontario). 40% of the workforce worked outside the municipality and 13% worked from home.

The well-known Creemore Springs Brewery is located in Creemore.

Government
The township is administered by a Town Council with one member from each of the seven (numbered) wards, a Mayor and Deputy-mayor.

The administration of the town is divided into the Departments of Finance, Planning and Development, Public Works, an Administration staff as well as the Public Library and Fire Department. All the main administrative buildings of Clearview are located in Stayner.

The 2008 budget for the township is $17,526,842 .

Education
Clearview township is served by the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDS). A number of schools, although located in other municipalities (specifically Collingwood and Wasaga Beach), have catchment areas that extend into Clearview.

While there is no post-secondary education in Clearview proper, the main campus of Georgian College is in nearby Barrie.

The Clearview Public Library maintains branches in Stayner, Creemore and New Lowell.

Infrastructure
Major roads in Clearview include Highway 26 (Ontario) and Airport Road, as well as County Roads 7, 9, 91 and 124. Despite it's name, Collingwood Airport is also located in Clearview.

Clearview is served by Collingwood General And Marine Hospital in Collingwood. Policing services are provided by the Huronia West detachment of the OPP out of Wasaga Beach. Fire protection is provided by volunteer fire stations located throughout the township.

There are 2 Arenas (Stayner, Creemore), 2 Baseball Parks (Nottawa, Stayner) and 3 Golf Courses (Duntroon Highlands, Ashton Meadow's Golf Course, Batteaux Creek Golf Club) in Clearview. Devil's Glen Provincial Park and Carruther's Memorial Conservation Area as well as the Mel McKean Memorial Park, Gowan Memorial Park, Ives Park, Kinsmen Participark, and Legion Park are also located there.