Economic and Community Development

Economic and Community Development focuses on supporting a strong local economy and a healthy, connected community. This work includes planning for growth, supporting local businesses, attracting investment, and helping ensure Saugeen Shores remains a great place to live, work, and visit.

This page includes reports, plans, and resources related to Economic and Community Development that help guide decision‑making and support local business.

Saugeen Community Tourism Strategy

The Saugeen Community Tourism Strategy is a joint strategy which will serve as a shared roadmap guiding tourism development and collaboration over the next five years. The goal of the strategy is to support sustainable, year-round tourism while balancing the needs of residents, visitors, local businesses, and the natural environment. It also aims to strengthen partnerships, celebrate local identity and culture, and create meaningful experiences that connect people to the region.

View the Saugeen Community Tourism Strategy

Destination Development Plan (2025)

Destination development creates a thriving, sustainable tourism industry that benefits visitors, permanent residents, and the Town of Saugeen Shores.

View our Destination Development Plan.

Tourism Study (2025)

The Saugeen Shores Tourism Study provides comprehensive insights into visitor demographics, travel patterns, and spending behaviours, offering a valuable foundation for economic development programs and tourism strategies.

View the 2025 Tourism Study.

Community Toolkits

Community Toolkits showcase out communities, their unique identities and opportunities that if applied consistently, will provide the community with a revitalization plan focused on the core of our downtowns.

View Port Elgin Community Toolkit

View Southampton Community Toolkit

Visitor and Business Data Reports

Regular data collection and analysis have been conducted to support evidence-based tourism planning, business development, and community economic development initiatives in Saugeen Shores.

Reports include:

Shore Report Podcast

Want to know more about what's happening in the Town of Saugeen Shores?

Explore past episodes of the Shore Report podcast, which feature updates and in depth discussions on Town initiatives, Council decisions, and community topics from the time they were recorded

Episodes are hosted by members of the Town’s development team with conversations featuring elected officials, community members and other special guests. These episodes are archived and are no longer in active production.

You can listen and follow the Shore Report on Soundcloud, or listen and subscribe to the show on iTunes.

Episodes