Township Of Gillies

Balanced living starts here!

With the city of Thunder Bay just 35 km away by well-maintained highways, Gillies Township is a convenient bedroom community for people who want to work in Thunder Bay but live in a country setting.

Gillies Township is characterized by a patchwork of agricultural lands and boreal forests that are home to a variety of local wildlife. The Whitefish River flows through the township, along with an amazing number of small creeks and lakes. This clean, natural environment feels far removed from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city.

Living Well…

Gillies Township is known for its affordable housing, larger than average lot sizes – measured in acres, not square feet - and low property taxes. For some residents, this means that a lower percentage of their household income is devoted to housing costs, freeing up extra income for lifestyle purchases, travel and retirement. For others, it provides the opportunity to work less hours, allowing more time for family life. For all residents, it means a safe place to call home and live well.

Gillies Township is also one of the keystones of the Northwestern Ontario local foods movement. Many of the area farms offer farm-gate sales of fresh produce and meats; providing residents the opportunity to see their food grown by friends and neighbours they can trust. Ethically-raised beef, lamb, chicken and eggs are widely available and a Farmer’s Market operates out of the Community Centre throughout the growing season.

A Sense of Community…

Newcomers to Gillies Township will be invited into a welcoming and active community. The Gillies Township Welcoming Committee, a revolving group of friendly volunteers, greet newcomers with useful local information, an initial welcome visit and an open invitation to the next community event at the Gillies Community Centre. However, unlike many small communities, we do respect and safeguard every family’s privacy. As rural residents, the people of Gillies Township understand that the area attracts individuals looking for a quiet retreat and will tread carefully to avoid imposing upon new neighbours.

Safe Living

This far from the big city means that crime is virtually nonexistent. In 2009, the police responded to only nine calls in the Gillies Township area. We are truly a place where parents can let their children play freely without worrying about dangerous strangers.

Traffic tends to be limited to locals and the occasional hauling vehicle on the main roads of the Township. Bicyclists and horseback riders make good and safe use of the roadways, which are well-maintained all year round.

Supplementary emergency services in the community are provided by Gillies Emergency Services, a volunteer-run organization which covers first-response fire and emergency medical services.

Local Services & Amenities

Elementary School – Gillies Township is home to Whitefish Valley School, which serves area students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and has an enrolment of approximately 180 students. Whitefish Valley is a member of the Lakehead District School Board.

Busing to Thunder Bay High Schools – Students of Whitefish Valley generally attend Westgate Collegiate in Thunder Bay for high school, which is approximately 35 minutes away. Bus service in most areas is to the end of the child’s driveway.

Child Care – after-school child care is available at Whitefish Valley School, provided by Little Lions Waldorf Day Care. In addition, the Rural Best Start Hub operates a Monday drop-in play group for preschool-aged children.

Postal Outlet – a full-service postal outlet is available in the township.

Telecommunications – Tbaytel and Bell Telephone provide land-line access throughout the township. High-speed Internet access is available in most locations through these service providers, and Tbaytel provides excellent cell service throughout the area.

Business Association – the Gillies and Area Business Association is an active network of business owners committed to mutual promotion, information sharing and lobbying at all levels of government. New business startups are welcome to contact the GAABA for assistance and a warm welcome.

Gillies Township is home to a store, a gas station and within quick access to a Laundromat and several restaurants. The nearby village of Kakabeka Falls offers a grocery store, car wash and banking services, making it possible to perform day-to-day activities within a half-hour drive of one’s home.

A Progressive Community

Gillies Township was settled in the 1800s when silver deposits were discovered in the area.  Since then, the local economy of Gillies Township has diversified significantly to include forestry, farming, manufacturing, construction and various service businesses.

Gillies Township currently supports a number of thriving businesses, including the Rose Valley Lodge and Dreamfields Riding Centre.  Other businesses, like Green Acre Variety Store and Gas Station, and Mitchell’s Autobody, service mainly area residents.  Thanks to the arrival of high-speed internet, many home-based businesses are now also filling niches such as market-garden farms, a stone-oven bakery, a web design firm and an alternative energy systems supplier, among numerous others.

Elementary School

Gillies Township is home to Whitefish Valley School, which serves area students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and has an enrolment of approximately 180 students.  Whitefish Valley is a member of the Lakehead District School Board.

Busing to Thunder Bay High Schools

Students of Whitefish Valley generally attend Westgate Collegiate in Thunder Bay for high school, which is approximately 35 minutes away. Bus service in most areas is to the end of the child’s driveway.

Child Care

After-school child care is available at Whitefish Valley School, provided by Little Lions Waldorf Day Care. In addition, the Rural Best Start Hub operates a Monday drop-in play group for preschool-aged children.

Gillies Township offers many benefits as a potential location for business investment. Commercial and industrial taxes are the lowest in the region. The Township and the surrounding area are home to skilled trades people and a steady supply of post-secondary graduates. Close to the geographic centre of Canada and the US border, and accessible by rail, air, the Trans-Canada Highway and the Lake Superior shipping lanes, Gillies Township presents a great opportunity for investors and has been identified as a prime location for the manufacturing of value-added wood products.

The Reeve and Council of Gillies Township are dedicated to growing their community. New programs are in place to assist individuals wishing to start their own businesses and businesses wishing to expand. The Gillies and Area Business Association works closely with the Township, providing a networking forum, supporting new business and lobbying at all levels of government on behalf of their constituents. Contact us today to learn more.

Business Association

The Gillies and Area Business Association is an active network of business owners committed to mutual promotion, information sharing and lobbying at all levels of government. New business startups are welcome to contact the GAABA for assistance and a warm welcome.

Year-Round Sport, Recreation And Entertainment.

Gillies Community Centre

The Gillies Community Centre is a busy place, housing various community groups and offering a variety of activities from card nights and quilting bees to teen dances and stage productions by the local drama group. The hall is also available for private bookings and offers a great spot for celebratory events and meetings.

Hunting and Fishing

The local wildlife includes small game, deer, moose and black bears, providing hunters with nearly year-round access to wild game. There is a shooting range just outside the township for avid marksmen.

A complex watershed makes the Township a wonderful spot for inland fishing. Creeks run with Speckled and Steelhead Trout and small lakes offer Northern Pike, Walleye and Small-mouth Bass.Lake Superior is within an hour’s drive for fishermen looking for deep-water fishing.

Summer Recreation

Within the Township there are endless opportunities for outdoor fun in the summer. We’ve got wilderness activities like hiking, swimming, horseback riding and canoeing to motorized boating activities, motor cross racing and even golf at nearby St. Urho’s Golf Course. Various community events are also hosted every year, like the Canada Day Celebration and Hymers Fall Fair, which attracts more than 10,000 people over two days.

The Thunder Bay area offers a wide range of outdoor activities during the summer. Gillies residents enjoy the opportunity to attend a long list of music festivals and fairs in the district and have access within an hour’s drive to sailing, rock-climbing, 9- and 18-hole golf courses and numerous Provincial Parks and conservation areas.

Winter Recreation

The Trans-Canada Snowmobile Trail passes near the Township limits and is accessible through well-used trails that accommodate ATVs through the summer months and snowmobiles all winter. Winter hiking, ice-fishing, snowshoeing, skating, pond-hockey and cross-country skiing are favourites with residents and are accessible within the Township.

Entertainment

In addition to the activities and events provided by the Community Centre and a busy social network, residents of Gillies Township enjoy many options for entertainment.Fine dining restaurants, movies, a symphony orchestra and a full-service community auditorium are less than an hour from their doorsteps in the City of Thunder Bay.

A Progressive Community

Gillies Township was settled in the 1800s when silver deposits were discovered in the area.  Since then, the local economy of Gillies Township has diversified significantly to include forestry, farming, manufacturing, construction and various service businesses.

Gillies Township currently supports a number of thriving businesses, including the Rose Valley Lodge, Dreamfields Riding Centre and St. Urho’s Golf Course. Other businesses, like Green Acre Variety Store and Gas Station, the Farmers’ Mercantile and Gift Gallery and Mitchell’s Autobody, service mainly area residents.Thanks to the arrival of high-speed internet, many home-based businesses are now also filling niches such as market-garden farms, a stone-oven bakery, a web design firm and an alternative energy systems supplier, among numerous others.

Gillies Township offers many benefits as a potential location for business investment. Commercial and industrial taxes are the lowest in the region. The Township and the surrounding area are home to skilled trades people and a steady supply of post-secondary graduates. Close to the geographic centre of Canada and the US border, and accessible by rail, air, the Trans-Canada Highway and the Lake Superior shipping lanes, Gillies Township presents a great opportunity for investors and has been identified as a prime location for the manufacturing of value-added wood products.

The Reeve and Council of Gillies Township are dedicated to growing their community.New programs are in place to assist individuals wishing to start their own businesses and businesses wishing to expand. The Gillies and Area Business Association works closely with the Township, providing a networking forum, supporting new business and lobbying at all levels of government on behalf of their constituents. Contact us today to learn more.

Markus Hofman, Swiss Hotelier

Markus Hofman has owned and operated Rose Valley Lodge & Restaurant in the heart of Gillies Township for more than a decade. Hofman left his hometown in Switzerland 11 years ago with a strong desire to relocate and open a lodge in Northwestern Ontario.      Rose Valley Lodge & Restaurant offers many services including a Bed & Breakfast, catering and plays host to weddings. The facility also provides unique scenery, creating a very peaceful experience for its guests. The Gillies Township provided Hofman with guidelines and information for starting up his business, along with endless support from community residents. “The space, freedom and contrasts of scenery are of great value and pleasure to me,” says Hofman. “Through my involvement with the Gillies Community Centre, I also got included in the great social network the township has to offer. The locals don’t realize the gem they have here.“

 Jeff Berglund

The Berglund family cannot get enough of Gillies Township. Moving away from the township years ago, the Berglund family found themselves longing to return to the community that once provided friendship, breath taking scenery and a sense of privacy. Jeff Burglund says “Gillies Township has a gem that not many other small communities can boast about. The Gillies Community Centre hosts organized activities for all, providing the perfect opportunity for neighbours to get to know one another while gaining a sense of community pride.”  Jeff and his wife now enjoy the close proximity to Thunder Bay, while taking in the great outdoors that comes with life in Gillies Township.

Margaret Jackson

Looking to flee the busy city streets of Southern Ontario, the Jackson family found peace of mind in Gillies Township. Margaret Jackson and her family moved to Gillies from Barrie Ontario, looking for a home close to school and in an area that would provide land for her kids to learn and explore. “Gillies is one of the few rural townships within proximity to Thunder Bay that has an elementary school on-site.  Rural elementary schools provide children with the unique opportunity of being a part of an extended school family… a place where lifelong friends are made.”   Gillies Township has also provided social opportunities for Margaret’s husband Nigel.  Nigel now serves as a member of the Gillies Community Centre Board and the Mile Hill Melodrama Group.