Puslinch, Ontario

Puslinch
—  Township  —
Morriston
Coat of arms
Location of Puslinch within Wellington County
Coordinates: 43°27′N 80°10′W / 43.45°N 80.167°W / 43.45; -80.167Coordinates: 43°27′N 80°10′W / 43.45°N 80.167°W / 43.45; -80.167
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Wellington
Established
Incorporated	January 1, 1850
Government
– Type	Township
– Mayor	Dennis Lever
– Governing Body	Township of Puslinch Council
– MP	Mike Chong (Con)
– MPP	Ted Arnott (PC)
Area[1]
– Land	214.44 km2 (82.8 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
– Total	6,689
– Density	31.2/km2 (80.8/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span	N0B
Area code(s)	519, 226 and 905
Website	www.twp.puslinch.on.ca

Puslinch is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the County of Wellington south of Guelph. The area is rich in natural gas resources. The main source of production is agricultural, bottling and mining. Mining has been dominant throughout the county. About half of the township is forested, and a conservation area lies to the southwest. Near the western edge of the township, just outside of Cambridge, Ontario is Puslinch Lake, the largest kettle lake in North America.

The township was named after Puslinch House in Devon, England, where Elizabeth Yonge, the wife of Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada Sir John Colborne, was born.

Communities

The township includes the communities of Aberfoyle, Aikensville, Arkell, Badenoch, Barbers Beach, Corwhin, Crieff, Killean, Little Lake, Morriston and Puslinch.

Aberfoyle

Aberfoyle is the administrative centre for Puslinch Township and is home to the municipality's administrative offices and fire station. It is located at the headwaters of Mill Creek, approximately ten kilometres south of Guelph. Aberfoyle was first settled in the 1840s and is named for Aberfoyle, Scotland. It is famous for its spring water Aberfoyle Spring Water, which is bottled from Aberfoyle (formerly Aberfoyle Spring Water Company). Nestlé bought the company around 2002.

Other features include an elementary school (Aberfoyle Public School) and the Aberfoyle Mill, a popular restaurant.

Arkell

Arkell has a long relationship with beer brewing. Arkell was founded in 1830 by John Arkell, an Englishman who returned to the UK and founded Arkell's Brewery.^[2][3] Just north and east of the village runs the Arkell Spring Aquifer, renowned for its fresh spring water which has brought many beverage companies to the area, including Sleeman Breweries, Wellington Breweries, and F & M Breweries. Wellington Breweries named one of their most popular beers Arkell Best Bitter in honour of the prized water they use in their brewing. The Arkell Springs also provide much of the municipal water for the city of Guelph.

Arkell is a popular stopping point for cyclists and hikers to take a break when touring the country-side roads the surrounding city of Guelph, or the popular trails the Starkey Hill loop just east of the village, or the Arkell Springs trail which stretches along the Eramosa River from Watson Rd. It is home to many beautiful houses, and picturesque settings. Just north of Arkell, east to nearby Eden Mills near the Eden Mills outdoor education centre and south-east to Arkell Rd. at the Nassagaweya-Puslinch Townline Rd. intersection, opened in 1974 by the Guelph Hiking Club.^[4]

Demographics

Population trend:^[5]

• Population in 2006: 6689 (2001 to 2006 population change: 13.7 %)
• Population in 2001: 5885
• Population in 1996: 5416
• Population in 1991: 4943

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 2341 (total dwellings: 2396)

Transportation

The main thoroughfares in the area include:

• Highway 401
• Highway 6.

GO Bus Service

• GO Bus 29: to Mississauga,Cooksville GO Station, with connections to the Airport 40 and 40A to (Toronto Pearson International Airport (Terminal 1)) at Square One GO Bus Terminal
• GO Bus 48: to York University.

Attractions

• Starkey Hill Hiking Trail
• Puslinch Lake
• Antique Market
• Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant
• Ellis Chapel
• Junction Model Railway

Notable residents

• Supreme Court of Canada Justice John Idington
• Singer Tommy Hunter
• NHL centre John Cullen

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Puslinch community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3523001&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Puslinch&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-01-26. 
2. ^ Arkell's Brewery: Our History
3. ^ 162 Years of Arkell's history
4. ^ http://www.guelphhiking.com/history.html
5. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census

External links

• Puslinch Township
• Township of Puslinch
• Wellington Guelph Community Portal
• Ontario Plaques - The Settlement of Puslinch
• Puslinch Lake Conservation Association