Collingwood Economy

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Economy

Collingwood's industrial base, which includes Pilkington Glass of Canada, Alcoa Wheel Products, Goodyear Canada Inc., Goodall Rubber Company - Canada ULC, and VOAC Inc, and which are among the community’s largest employers, has begun to erode. Several industries in the area have closed in recent years, including Nacan Products (2004), Backyard Products (2004), Kaufman of Collingwood (2006), and the internationally-famous Blue Mountain Pottery (2004). In June, 2007, it was announced that Goodyear would be closing its doors by the end of the year. Collingwood does however have a growing knowledge-based economy, and is home to five engineering firms. Collingwood is also home to the distillery where Canadian Mist Whiskey is produced.


Collingwood has focused on establishing itself as a four-season tourist area. Nestled on the southern shores of Georgian Bay and located in proximity to Blue Mountain, a promontory of the Niagara Escarpment, the Town has become the major recreation area for the southern part of the province. Blue Mountain itself is noted for skiing, and also for the Scenic Caves. The town is also a short distance from the popular Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, an attractive destination that received the title of Biosphere Reserve in 2004, and is the world's largest freshwater beach.


Blue Mountain Ski Resort's association with international resort developer Intrawest Corporation began in 1986. In 1999 Intrawest purchased 50% ownership of the resort from the family of late Blue Mountain founder Jozo Weider. Together, Intrawest and the Weider family have accelerated development at the mountain, and the cultural and economic focus of Collingwood has increasingly shifted towards providing services for the resort trade.