You can help Terrace Bay shine on national TV!
HGTV is looking for small towns to feature in their new series, Home Town Takeover Canada, and today, Council approved the report for Terrace Bay to submit an application, passing a resolution of support for this initiative.
We need your stories, photos, and videos to show why Terrace Bay is special! Share your favourite trails, parks, community spaces, local businesses, or memorable moments in town. Every submission strengthens our application.
Submit your nomination directly at hometowntakeover.ca
it only takes a few minutes, and your contribution makes a difference!
Resources & Submission Materials
Here you’ll find:
Copies of our draft responses to the application questions
Videos showcasing Terrace Bay’s natural beauty and community spirit
- Photos of community spaces, Simcoe Plaza (Main Street), and tourism attractions
Use these as-is, or adapt them for your own submission. Every contribution helps!
Let’s show Canada the pride, resilience, and spirit that make Terrace Bay an extraordinary place to live, work, and visit. Submit today!
Draft Response Examples
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Town's Social Media Handles
Facebook Community Page: www.facebook.com/yourterracebay
Facebook Visit Terrace Bay: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556296990791
Instagram Community Page: www.instagram.com/yourterracebay
Instagram Visit Terrace Bay: www.instagram.com/visitterracebay
Community Website: www.terracebay.ca
Visit Terrace Bay Website: www.visitterracebay.ca
List Most Recent Census Numbers
Population 2021: 1,528
Tell us more about all the things that make your town special
Terrace Bay is a resilient, proud community on the northern shore of Lake Superior, where natural beauty, community spirit, and determination meet. Despite facing economic challenges, including the closure of our local mill, which affected not only Terrace Bay but the surrounding region, our town has shown remarkable resilience, creativity, and neighbourly spirit.
Our community is active, engaged, and deeply connected to our environment. Residents embrace a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, supported by our network of hiking trails, including the Casque Isles Trails, Red Chair Trail, and Terrace Bay Lookout, as well as the Black Path walking trail that threads through town. These trails, alongside our beaches and parks, provide spaces for fitness, relaxation, and connection with nature.
Terrace Bay has regional, national, and international significance. Our beach pavilion hosts Parks Canada staff next to the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, highlighting environmental stewardship. The beach also welcomes cruise ships, bringing visitors from around the world. Nearby, Slate Islands Provincial Park offers spectacular natural beauty and wildlife, attracting tourists and adventure seekers.
Our community also embraces sustainability and green initiatives. Volunteer-led conservation projects, community gardens, and trail maintenance reflect our commitment to caring for the environment and building a vibrant, walkable, and welcoming town.
Terrace Bay is more than just a place to live, it is a community of neighbours who care for one another, embrace opportunities, and celebrate the beauty and potential of our surroundings. With Home Town Takeover Canada, we could enhance our main streets, parks, trails, and gathering spaces, creating lasting improvements that reflect the pride, resilience, and heart of our town.
Tell us more about all the challenges your town faces
Terrace Bay is a resilient community that has faced several challenges in recent years. The closure of our local mill significantly impacted the town and surrounding region, leading to economic uncertainty and the underutilization of some Simcoe Plaza (Main Street) buildings and other key community spaces.
Like many small towns, we experience population shifts, as some young people leave to pursue education or careers elsewhere. While this presents challenges for maintaining services and local programs, it also motivates us to create a vibrant, welcoming town that attracts residents, visitors, and new families.
Maintaining and enhancing public spaces is another ongoing challenge. Terrace Bay has incredible natural assets (beaches, hiking trails, and parks) but revitalizing Simcoe Plaza (Main Street) and other gathering spaces to match the energy and pride of the community is a key priority. With reduced infrastructure grant funding available, investment in these community spaces can be challenging, but the town has diversified into promoting tourism and believes these improvements are important and worth the effort.
Despite these hurdles, Terrace Bay continues to thrive thanks to the creativity, initiative, and spirit of its residents. We embrace sustainability and green initiatives, maintaining trails, parks, and volunteer-led projects. We are part of a region with national and international significance, including the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area and nearby Slate Islands Provincial Park, which help bring attention and tourism to our town.
Through collaborative efforts, community pride, and a commitment to improvement, Terrace Bay is ready to meet these challenges head-on and continue building a resilient, vibrant, and welcoming community.
What is the most beautiful thing about your town and why?
The most beautiful thing about Terrace Bay is the unique combination of its people, natural surroundings, and open, welcoming spaces. Our residents embody neighbourly spirit, resilience, and pride, creating a community that is warm, inclusive, and supportive. Visitors often comment on the friendliness of our people, noting how genuine and welcoming everyone is. Local artisans also showcase the town’s creativity and connection to the region, such as Slate Island Brewery on Simcoe Plaza, crafting beer with water from Lake Superior.
Terrace Bay’s natural beauty is unparalleled. Nestled on the northern shore of Lake Superior, the town is surrounded by pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, and lush forests. Our network of hiking trails, including the Casque Isles Trails, Red Chair Trail, Terrace Bay Lookout, and the Black Path walking trail, allows residents and visitors to connect with nature in every season. Nearby Slate Islands Provincial Park and the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area provide spectacular wildlife, scenic vistas, and opportunities for adventure, making the region a draw for tourists from across Canada and around the world.
What sets Terrace Bay apart is the sense of space and calm that permeates the town. Unlike the crowded streets of larger cities, our community offers wide open skies, quiet beaches, and trails that feel peaceful even during peak tourist season. This combination of vibrant community spirit, breathtaking natural surroundings, and serene, spacious environments makes Terrace Bay a place where people feel connected, inspired, and at home.
Is there a historical moment that makes your town stand out?
Terrace Bay’s most historical feature is the Slate Islands, a small archipelago in Lake Superior, approximately 12 km south of the town. These islands are said to be the remnants of a massive meteorite impact that occurred around 450 million years ago, forming a 32 km-wide crater. Today, the Slate Islands are renowned for their geological significance and ecological importance.
The islands are home to one of Ontario’s few remaining woodland caribou populations. These caribou are a classic example of island biogeography in action; they arrived on the islands in the early 1900s and have since thrived in the absence of predators. However, in recent years, the population faced challenges due to a decline in numbers and the absence of females. In response, conservation efforts have been made to reintroduce caribou to the region.
The Slate Islands’ unique combination of geological history and ecological significance makes them a remarkable feature of Terrace Bay, highlighting the town’s deep connection to both Earth’s ancient past and ongoing conservation efforts.
What year was your town founded?
1947
Is there a community service that your town provides that makes it stand out?
Terrace Bay stands out as a vital service and tourism hub along Trans-Canada Highway 17, centrally located between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Recognized for its strategic position, Terrace Bay will be home to the new consolidated EMS base serving both Terrace Bay and Schreiber, improving regional emergency response and supporting the broader North Shore. The community also provides waste management services for both towns, further demonstrating its role as a shared service leader.
Beyond essential services, Terrace Bay leads with heart. The Tourist Information Centre, one of the only centres along Lake Superior’s North Shore that remains open through the season, and proudly the only one who displays the 2SLGBTQIA+ flag throughout the tourism months, a symbol of welcome, inclusion, and pride. Whether offering care, connection, or kindness, Terrace Bay exemplifies what it means to serve its people and its region.
List the town leaders who are involved in the revitalization of your town
Office phone number: 807 825 3315
CAO: Jon Hall
Email: cao@terracebay.ca
Ext: 7108
Treasurer: Danny Mulligan
Email: treasurer@terracebay.ca
Ext: 7107
Operations Manager: Ryan Falzetta
Email: publicworks@terracebay.ca
Ext: 7601
Community Development Manager: Katie Freeman
Email: cdm@terracebay.ca
Ext: 7105
Special Projects Coordinator: Stacy Moffat
Email: spc@terracebay.ca
Ext: 7106
Mayor: Paul Malashewski
Email: mayor@terracebay.ca
Councillor: Rick St. Louis
Email: r.stlouis@terracebay.ca
Councillor: Chris Dube
Email: c.dube@terracebay.ca
Councillor: Gary Adduono
Email: g.adduono@terracebay.ca
Councillor: Billy Webb
Email: b.webb@terracebay.ca
List Change Makers in your community
Our volunteers and community organizations are the true champions. They include but are not limited to:
United for Literacy – Adult Learning: Offers adult education and literacy programs.
Aguasabon Boaters Association: Supports boating activities and community around Lake Superior.
Aguasabon Golf Club: A volunteer-run golf club, offering recreation and tourism appeal.
Brass Bell Family Resource Centre: Provides family resource/support services.
Casque Isles Hiking Club: Maintains/organizes hiking and trail use (Casque Isles Trails) for locals and visitors.
Catholic Women’s League: Community service, support, faith-based events.
Club francophone du lac Supérieur: Francophone cultural & community activities.
Superior Cross Country Ski Club: Operates ski programming and supports recreation in winter.
Superior Seniors Club: Supports senior residents, likely with social, recreational, and support services.
Trestle Ridge Downhill Ski Club: Volunteer-run ski hill, offering downhill skiing, contributing to winter tourism & recreation.
Superior North Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC): Economic development, small business support, regional projects
Superior Classics Car Club: Organizes Terrace Bay Dragfest, volunteer-run car show and racing event, raises funds for local charities and community initiatives.
Terrace Bay Public Library: Community hub for learning, workshops, events, and gathering space for all ages.
Describe your town's identity
Terrace Bay is a resilient and close knit community on the northern shore of Lake Superior, where people, nature, and small town spirit meet. Once built on forestry, the town has adapted with creativity and determination, embracing tourism, sustainability, and local craftsmanship. Residents take pride in their active, outdoor lifestyle and their commitment to caring for the environment through trail stewardship, green initiatives, and community volunteerism.
Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, from the Casque Isles Trails and Black Path to the beaches and nearby Slate Islands, Terrace Bay offers space, quiet, and connection that city life can’t match. Visitors often remark on the calm, uncrowded atmosphere and the genuine warmth of the people who call it home.
Terrace Bay’s identity is rooted in leadership, resilience, pride, and the belief that small communities can achieve big things together.
Explain why your town would benefit from a Home Town Takeover
Terrace Bay is a resilient small town with a big heart, nestled along the Trans-Canada Highway on the northern shore of Lake Superior. Built on forestry and hard work, the town has faced economic challenges, including the closure of its paper mill, which affected not only local families but the wider region. Yet through every challenge, Terrace Bay has adapted, re-imagining itself as a hub for tourism, sustainability, and regional collaboration.
With strong and forward-thinking leadership, Terrace Bay’s Mayor, Council, and Administration continue to plan boldly for the future. Administration has engaged Council and received a resolution of support to submit this application, demonstrating shared commitment and enthusiasm for revitalization. As a central service point between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, Terrace Bay provides vital shared services, including the area’s hospital, waste management with Schreiber, and the soon-to-be-built consolidated EMS base.
A Home Town Takeover would bring fresh energy, national attention, and lasting renewal to a community that continues to lead by example. It would help revitalize Simcoe Plaza (Main Street), enhance gathering spaces, and highlight the natural beauty and inclusivity that define Terrace Bay, from our welcoming trails and beach pavilion to our proud display of the 2SLGBTQIA+ flag at our Tourism Centre.
Terrace Bay is ready to shine, a community led by vision, united by pride, and built to last.
Videos
Link can be provided to all tourism based videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN10gYMYHOk&list=PL6mJvtpTIqfprXzNWRmww5ngEJRvTCIV4
Photos
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- Public Pool
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- Community Centre
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- Parks Canada Red Chairs and Cruise Ship
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- Public Library
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- Terrace Bay Beach Pavillion
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- Simcoe Plaza
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- Terrace Bay Lighthouse
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- Aguasabon Falls and Gorge
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- Emergency Services
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- Tourist Information Centre
