Long before Europe discovered the new world, the native people of Central Ontario were utilizing the Nottawasaga River as a transportation route. The name Nottawasaga stems from the Ojibwas words “Nahdowa-(y)” and “Saga” meaning roughly “Iroquois Outlet”. The river valley was also extensively used as a place for hunting and fishing, camping and ritual burying of the dead. Then came the explorers, fur traders. missionaries, military suppliers and soldiers.

 

Later, when roads were established, lumbermen settled in the area using the Nottawasaga as a source of power and as a means to ship sawn timber to market. Once the timber resources had been depleted. woollen, flour and first mills became common. Much of the river valley had been cleared and converted into rich agricultural lands. Potato and sod farms are the most popular in this day and age.