Beachburg, Ontario

Beachburg Beachburg is one of the larger population centers in the Township of Whitewater Region, having a variety of stores and restaurants, an arena, several halls, a public elementary school and a public library. It was founded by and named after David Beach, and became a stop along the Canadian Northern Railway line with a station and grain elevators. Its industry included a flax mill, a cheese and butter factory and flour mills. In 1853, the entire village, except for two houses, was destroyed by fire. Beachburg was devastated by another fire in 1931, destroying the station, the grain elevators, the Main Hall and Dining Hall of the Exhibition Park. In 1959, the Village of Beachburg was separated from Westmeath Township and incorporated. Of additional historical significance is the fact that the idea of whitewater rafting in Canada was born here when, in 1974, local lawyer, Del O'Brien took a young Joe Kowalski on a sight-seeing flight over the neighbouring Roche-Fendu section of rapids. The very next year, Joe brought rafts and equipment used on the Grand Canyon to tackle the complex and large volume waves and currents with paying clients. His company, Wilderness Tours, has grown since 1975 to be not only Canada's largest but also the world's largest rafting/adventure company - employing over 120 staff and bringing an estimated 35,000 visitors to the region annually. On January 1, 2001, the municipality of Beachburg was amalgamated into the current Township of Whitewater Region, made up of the former municipalities of Beachburg, Cobden, Ross and Westmeath. Communities Nearby communities include Chenaux, Cobden, Finchley, Foresters Falls, Garden of Eden, The Glen, Grants Settlement, Haley Station, Kerr Line, La Passe, Ledgerwoods Corner, McLarens Settlement, Meath, Millars Corner, Pembroke, Perretton, Pleasant Valley, Queens Line, Rocher Fendu, Shields Crossing, Snake River and Westmeath.