About Downtown Parry Sound
Parry Sound, located on the eastern shore of beautiful Georgian Bay, is the world’s deepest natural freshwater port. The town was named by “Captain Henry Bayfield” after Sir William Edward Parry, the Arctic Explorer.
The Town of Parry Sound has the benefit of being on Georgian Bay as well as near many surrounding lakes, both of which represent a huge draw, specifically in the summer months. Parry Sound is the major hub for a community which is made up of seven different municipalities. Although Parry Sound only has a population of approximately 6,500 residents when you include the surrounding area that number increases to about 19,000 full time residents and more than 80,000 part time residents/cottagers, and up to 50,000 visitors during the peak of summer.
There are several provincial parks in the Parry Sound area as well as numerous provincial conservation reserves. Parry Sound is part of the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, one of only 13 UNESCO sits in Canada. The eastern coast of Georgian Bay where Parry Sound is located is known as the 30,000 Islands and is considered the world’s largest freshwater archipelago.
Downtown Parry Sound is in the centre of Parry Sound and has access to Georgian Bay at the bottom of Bay Street. With many attractions on the waterfront this is the hub of Parry Sound, especially during the summer months. Downtown Parry Sound is a thriving business district with many distinctive shops and restaurants. Up the road from the waterfront is Market Square Park, located beside the Parry Sound Public Library and housing the local.

History of Parry Sound


What is a BIA / DBA?
The BIA also refers to the organization – the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association (Parry Sound DBA). All Downtown BIA’s have the same goal, to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase traffic and sales in their downtown business district. The BIA acts as a unifying body for its membership working to make Downtown Parry Sound a “destination” not only for retailers and restaurants but for its professionals as well. BIA’s function best through the co-operation of each and every business.
The goals of the Parry Sound DBA include revitalizing the downtown area through regular maintenance, streetscaping, special events and promotions and municipal partnerships. They are dedicated to ensuring the Downtown is a safe and desirable place to conduct business, live, work, play and enjoy through the cooperative efforts of its members and local government.
The Parry Sound DBA is a non-profit organization comprised of approximately 250 members who operate a business in a commercial or industrial assessed property within the DBA boundaries.
The BIA Board of Directors establishes a budget every year which is presented to the membership at the Annual General Meeting and then submitted to Town Council. A mill rate is calculated by the Treasury Department of the Town to realize that budget figure. The mill rate is then applied to the commercial property value calculated by MPAC. This assessment varies by the amount of the annual budget set by the Board. The money is collected through property taxes and allocated to the DBA. You are automatically a member of the Downtown Business Association when located within the BIA boundaries.
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