The town of Beeton and a local business owners’ collective have proposed the town make efforts to shift its public image from “quaint town with drainage problems” to “Beeton, Ontario: The Venice of Simcoe County.”
“Sure it’s expensive and difficult to lift every business and home on stilts and then rework every piece of municipal, residential and commercial infrastructure to accommodate the new canal system,” an anonymous member of council noted. “But the current solution of fixing the drainage isn’t perfect either, so we’re looking into this.”
Consider an evening on the town: First, a stop at Mr Gigi’s for a dinner of tortellini and red wine. Then, why not paddle over to Henriette for a cafe espresso? Finally, gelato? Si, signore! Lickity Split is right down the street. Enjoy all this while sitting on the comfort of an elevated patio overlooking the slow-moving water of Strada Principale, formerly known as Main Street, now fully integrated with the Beeton Creek.
“This could really bring in tourists,” Paul Fleming, a proponent of the idea, told the Alliston Gerald. “I can just see the Toronto Star article after we complete the conversion: ‘Visit Beeton, Ontario: Watery European Jewel of Rural Canada."
While some believe the work involved in such a project is unrealistic, Fleming suggests this town is different than most towns.
“Beetonians aren’t afraid to put in a little elbow grease if it’ll put the Venice of Simcoe County on the map. Besides, a quick drive around town shows homeowners already have Venetian blinds in their windows and a few motor boats in driveways—We’re basically halfway there. ”
Current residential developers invested in the town were so enthusiastic about the idea they generously donated the funds required to purchase gondolas to be operated by singing gondola drivers—an initiative that could serve as a fundraiser for either the Beeton arena or furnishing the new administration building.
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