From the Historical Review 1820-1950: A knowledge of the history of one’s community matters because learning about history teaches essential skills. It pushes individuals to view the world from a different perspective. It teaches critical thinking when researching, like understanding biases and juggling multiple perspectives.
Registry Office records indicate properties were surveyed about 1820 under the supervision of Gabriel Lount who meticulously calculated the lots and concessions which not only comprised the Township of Innisfil then but form the basis of our land measurements today.
In the immediate years to follow, immigrants largely from the British Isles, began taking up land in Innisfil. Of significant note are surnames like the first settler Soules who arrived in 1822, followed by Warnica from Denmark in 1825, Clement in 1828, Wice by way of Pennsylvania in 1833, while Adams emigrated from County Derry Ireland in 1837, Black from County Tyrone in 1847, Ralston from Scotland 1849. The settlements of Scottish and Irish are said to have each retained their original social and neighbourly features.
The influx of loyalist refugees (referring to colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown) resulted in the Province of Quebec's division into Lower Canada (present-day Quebec) and Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) in 1791. The Crown gave them land grants of one lot. One lot consisted of 200 acres (81 hectares) per person to encourage their resettlement, as the government wanted to develop the frontier of Upper Canada. As a result, many English speaking families were added to the Canadian population thus establishing a predominantly Anglo-Canadian population in the future Canada.
In 1842, the earliest official record of the township indicated the population was 762. By 1850, which marked the end of the Commissioners appointments, the population had increased to 1,807, and the first municipal council was established. Innisfil Reviews 1 and 2 thoroughly cover the families of the first 100 years.
By 1950, Innisfil was described as a predominately rural township with a land area of approximately 68,000 acres and 3,500 residents. Young men returning to post-Second World War Innisfil established their own farms and families with the assistance of VLA loans while the arrival of the Dutch augmented skilled tradespeople, horticulture, agriculture and many professional careers.
By 1967, the township numbers had increased to a permanent population of 7,280 while the summer population was estimated to be around 14,000 occupying 3,500 summer cottages of the nearly 5,600 dwellings.
Again a prediction from the 1951 Review: "With the development of the provincial speedway (Highway 400) under construction across the township from North to South, the very cosmopolitan lakeshore population with people of all races and creeds as ratepayers will make Innisfil one of the largest municipalities of Simcoe County."
Flash forward to Innisfil in 2016, when the most recent census results were compiled, confirming a population of 23,992 that year. Statistics clarified the languages spoken by current residents and how many spoke that language: Croatian (55), Filipino (115), Germanic (370), Greek (80), Indo-Iranian (105), Indo Aryan (70), Polish (260), Russian (430), Slavic (845), Tamil (60), Vietnamese (40), to name but a few. Our cosmopolitan flavour was well-established and thriving.
By 2020, with new subdivisions established in Alcona, Belle Ewart, Big Bay Point, Churchill, Cookstown, Lefroy, Nantyr and Sandy Cove, numbers were booming and closing in on 44,000 residents. Note that the bulk of the rapid growth and thus the schools needed to educate them, was linked to the shoreline areas.
Innisfil Historical Society (IHS), like our fine town, has endeavoured to keep its residents historically informed about the entrepreneurial folks who brought these remarkable changes about. In fact, our ever increasing membership attests to that success. Buy a copy of the 2020 Innisfil Review, celebrating 200 years of Innisfil’s progress, and you too can become familiar with the who, what, when and how of this story.
All are welcome to come to Knock School Heritage Site (7756 10th Sideroad) on Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. to hear our speaker, Loki Swain, president of the newly established Innisfil Indian Association.
Loki’s theme, Bridging both my worlds: My Personal Journey from India to Canada, is a narrative of an immigrant whose life’s tapestry weaves the rich hues of India into the vibrant mosaic of Canada. In this inspiring speech Loki will talk about his transformative journey from the lively Bangalore streets to the serene Canadians.
Just maybe you can be enticed with the promise of delectable Indian-spiced cookies and tea.
