Goderich Bicentennial: Celebrating 200 years of Canada’s Prettiest Little Town

The Bicentennial Committee (Top to bottom, L-R): Laura Herman, Event Planning/Logistics, Lori Rounds, Sponsorship and Fundraising, Susan O’Brien, History and Culture, Nancy Hughes, Municipal and Marine Heritage Rep, Marion Goodman, History and Culture, Faith Wilson, Social Media and Logistics, Liz Petrie, Chair, Chris Garnier, Volunteer. (Missing): Claire Day, BIA Rep, Garry LaRose, Merchandising/Advertising, and Vlorat Vitija, Volunteer.

While Goderich’s bicentennial approaches, it’s hard to believe that we are one year away from celebrating such a huge milestone. Two-hundred years since the founding, and not many communities have the bragging right to say that.

Mark Thursday, June 24 to Sunday, June 27 in your calendars, on your fridge and in your phones right now. You will not want to miss this celebration of the history of Goderich and its future.

Our Bicentennial Committee is working extremely hard on pulling together a weekend that will be one for the books.

The committee holds monthly meetings, open to the public, and as we get closer to the 200th celebrations, we will be hosting a Volunteer Event so you can come out and see where help is needed and help in anyway you can.

We know that any event that happens in Goderich is a success because of our volunteers.

Goderich’s Bicentennial in 2027, marking 200 years since its founding in 1827, is poised to have a significant impact on the community by fostering local pride, boosting the tourism-driven economy, and establishing lasting legacies.

With the theme ‘Making Waves Since 1827’, the celebration focuses on commemorating the town’s history while driving community momentum into the future.

The Town of Goderich will honour its heritage by recognising the founding by John Galt and the famous William ‘Tiger’ Dunlop of the Canada Company.

Celebrations will also recognise the town’s evolution, its unique octagon-shaped downtown (which will be newly revitalised), and promote our vital port to showcase its growth and resilience.

The celebrations will share our identity, connect our generations, and showcase our resilience.

Bicentennial celebrations will focus on building community momentum through shared celebrations and fostering pride for all ages and demographics. The event will also focus on inspiring the future by honouring the past and looking ahead with extreme pride.

To build excitement for all, the Bicentennial Committee will honour the vibrant legacy and stories that shaped the Town of Goderich by launching a podcast entitled ‘Goderich 200’ by our local celebrity Phil Main.

Each month from June 29, 2026, until the celebration, there will be a new podcast that will host many people who have made a difference in shaping our community.

We have been honoured to create conversations with our local service groups, the BIA and others to create an event that will be the envy of all.

We will tap into programs that already exist to promote our history and our pride.

Dances, music, theatre, children’s events, walking tours, parades, and perhaps reunions just to mention a few of the events being pulled together.

It is not a small task as conversations must happen; agreements put in place and logistics of locations all worked out.

So, stay tuned for now as we continue to prepare the schedule of events that we hope to release in the very near future. We will also be popping up at some of our markets with our merchandise that will be a tribute to our beautiful town and be a keepsake for years to come.

As Chair of the Town of Goderich 2027 Bicentennial Committee, I am proud of the men and women who join me at the table to create an event for all to remember.

It is not easy work, especially when each one of these amazing people are volunteers.

Some of our committee chairs have jobs, but each one still shows up because of their love for this community.

If you see any of the committee members out in the community, please give them a big smile and even bigger thank you.

Any event that is held in our community cannot be done or be successful without the volunteers and a huge thank you must go to the Town of Goderich Staff who are working behind the scenes keeping us on track for permits, finances, and many other items.

We are all working together to promote the Town of Goderich.

Look for upcoming articles in the Goderich Sun in each publication moving forward, to tell the stories of our town’s history and uniqueness.

Events will also be published as we roll out the schedule, so you can plan for the bicentennial.

Liz Petrie is the Chair of the Town of Goderich 2027 Bicentennial Committee