Goderich

Goderich is a town of 7600 people (2016) in Huron County, by the shore of Lake Huron. It is a service centre for the surrounding agricultural communities, and has one of the oldest salt mines in Ontario, dating to 1866. Also a beach community.

Understand


The town was founded by John Galt and William "Tiger" Dunlop of the Canada Company in 1827. The town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich who was the British prime minister at the time. The town was incorporated in 1850.

It is on the eastern shore of Lake Huron at the mouth of the Maitland River, and faces the lake to the west. It is celebrated for its sunsets.

The town participates yearly in the Communities in Bloom competition; and has won awards in many categories. In 2012, Goderich was a National Finalist in the competition, and was also part of the Circle of excellence.

The Sifto salt mine is 530 m (1,750 feet) below surface, extending 7 km² (2.7 sq mi) under Lake Huron – roughly the size of the town. It is the largest underground salt mine in the world.

Get in
Goderich is on highway 21 (Bluewater Highway), which runs by the shore, and at the end of highway 8 from the south-east.

The biggest town in West Ontario, London, with rail link, is some 100 km to the southsoutheast.

By plane
The nearest major airport is Toronto Pearson International Airport. A shuttle service can be booked for travel to Goderich.



See



 * Goderich's downtown has an octagonal traffic circle known as . The county courthouse stands in the middle of The Square. The Square was designed and developed between 1840 and the mid-1890s. The design of the square - a "radial composition" - is attributed to John Galt, inspired by ancient Roman city plans.

Do

 * Goderich's 3 public use beaches 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. 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. Due to poor signage, it is easy to be misled, but parking anywhere along the beach is not free! Pay at the machines or via mobile app.

Nearby