Behind the Headlines: Mayor Brian Smith Answers 14 Questions About Destination Wasaga
Town launches new series that puts residents behind the scenes with responses to questions from the Toronto Star
WASAGA BEACH, ON, Oct. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — When the Toronto Star recently approached Mayor Brian Smith with detailed questions about Destination Wasaga, the questions touched on many of the same topics residents have been asking: Why is redevelopment needed? How is this different from past beachfront plans or master plans? Who will pay for it? How will public access to the beach and sensitive Piping Plover habitat be protected? And what will success look like 10 years from now?
Rather than keeping those answers behind the scenes, the Town of Wasaga Beach is making the Mayor’s complete responses publicly available–and launching Behind the Headlines, a new series designed to give residents direct access to the information, answers and context shared by the Mayor and Town staff during media interviews and inquiries.
The new initiative is part of the Town’s ongoing commitment to transparency and public engagement around Destination Wasaga.
“Transparency builds trust. We want residents to have direct access to the information and context we share with the media, so they can explore the issues, understand the decisions being made, and see the work underway to shape the future of Wasaga Beach,” said Sandra Watts, General Manager, External Relations.
The first installment takes readers beyond the headlines to explore why Wasaga Beach developed differently from other Ontario communities, the history of the beachfront, the Town’s vision for a stronger four-season economy, provincial and private-sector investment, environmental stewardship, and how the community-shaped Destination Wasaga Master Plan will be funded and implemented over time.
Read the questions and answers provided to the Toronto Star.
Quick Facts
- Wasaga Beach is home to the world’s longest freshwater beach and one of Ontario’s most recognized tourism destinations, welcoming more than two million visitors annually.
- The Destination Wasaga Master Plan is the result of one of the most extensive public engagement exercises in the Town’s history. More than 16,000 residents, visitors, students, businesses, community organizations and stakeholders participated through public meetings, online surveys, comment boards, workshops, focus groups and webinars.
- The Master Plan presents a vision–a long-term framework. Individual initiatives and projects will evolve as approvals, funding discussions, technical work, environmental studies, Indigenous engagement and detailed designs proceed.
- The Master Plan proposes approximately 4.5 kilometres of new boardwalk and 3.2 kilometres of new bike paths, while enhancing 250 hectares of new and existing waterfront parkland.
- In May 2025, the Province of Ontario committed to $38 million to build Destination Wasaga, including $11 million to rebuild Beach Drive and $25 million to revitalize Nancy Island Historic Site.
Additional Resources
Read the Destination Wasaga Master Plan news release and backgrounder
Watch the Destination Wasaga Master Plan explainer video
Watch the Destination Wasaga Phase 1 Public Engagement wrap video
Watch the Destination Wasaga Phase 2 Public Engagement wrap video
Watch Premier Ford’s remarks from the Building Destination Wasaga announcement on May 15, 2025
Media Contact:
Karla Findlay
Team Lead, Communications, Customer Experience & Public Engagement
Email Karla
Sandra Watts
General Manager of External Relations | Director of Communications, Destination Marketing & Intergovernmental Affairs
Email Sandra
SOURCE Town of Wasaga Beach
