Local Services

Shopping Centres & Department Stores
The downtown areas of the towns and villages in the area include a wide variety of stores, such as, retail, entertainment, dining and personal service facilities. The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has nationally recognized department and hardware stores. In Owen Sound (a 20 minute drive from Wiarton) there exists a complete downtown area for shopping as well as Heritage Place Mall Shopping Centre, which has many different shopping choices and is anchored by Food Basics, Sears, and Zellers. Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Home Building Centre and Canadian Tire are examples of other large department stores in Owen Sound.
 
Grocery Stores
Wiarton and Sauble Beach both have major grocery stores such as Valu-Mart and IGA Garden Market. In addition, Owen Sound offers a wide array of retail and wholesale grocery stores including Zehrs, No Frills, A&P, IGA and Food Basics.
 

EDUCATION
Primary & Secondary Schools
•      Amabel-Sauble Community School - Enrollment: 215 Students, JK - 8. Phone 519-422-3805
•      Hepworth Central Public School - Enrollment: 460 Students, JK - 8. Phone 519-935-2061
•      Peninsula Shores District School - Enrollment: 800 Students, JK - 12. Phone 519-534-2205
• NOTE: French and Private schools in Owen Sound.

 
Post Secondary Facilities
•      Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology in nearby Owen Sound offers an array of part-time and full-time educational studies as well as night courses on its campus. It employs, on average, 50 professional teachers at one time depending on the semester.
•      Creative Career Systems (CCS) is a training facility also located in Owen Sound. CCS offers job training diploma programs for a variety of different fields directed mainly to the computer technology field.
•      Academy Of Learning in Owen Sound is a Computer & Business Career College with a range of computer courses to help get a job or upgrade skills.
 
Separate Schools
There are no Separate Schools within the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The nearest private or separate primary and secondary educational facilities are located in Owen Sound, a short distance away.
 
Agriculture
The Bruce Peninsula's total area of agricultural land is 600,000 acres, most of which is within the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The number of farm operators is 3,750, with 63% of that number being family owned and operated.
 
Machining
Machine shops on the Bruce Peninsula are a large source of employment for residents of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. There is one machine shop in Park Head, one in Wiarton and as well, four in Northern Bruce Peninsula employing approximately 120 people. Many employed by these machining facilities are residents of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.
 
Logging & Sawmills
There are approximately five sawmills and/or logging companies in the Town of South Bruce
Peninsula, making this one of the region's larger industries.
 
COMMUNITY SERVICES
 
Wiarton Hospital
A new version of the Wiarton Hospital was built in 1994, which provides emergency and ambulance services. It is comprised of 22 beds.
 
Grey-Bruce Health Services/Owen Sound
The Grey-Bruce Health Services, located in Owen Sound, is the area's largest and most well-equipped facility. This regional hospital serves as a base educational and training hospital and offers services generally associated with hospitals situated in much larger centres.
 
General Practitioners
There are presently six General Practitioners available in Wiarton and two part time in Sauble Beach as well as a Nurse/Practitioner who joins these part time General Practitioners.
 
Dental Clinics
In the town of Wiarton there are three full-time Dental Practitioners available while Sauble
Beach has one part-time.
 
Nursing Services
Nursing Services for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula are available through VON (Victorian Order of Nurses), Para Med Home Health Care, Olsten Health Services, and Care Partners, which are all administrated in Owen Sound.
 
Nursing/Retirement Homes & Facilities
Within the municipality there is one new nursing facility, two retirement homes and two retirement apartment buildings, which are all located in Wiarton. Gateway Haven, the area's nursing facility, was rebuilt in 2002 and has 100 beds.  It has three floors with 80,000 sq. feet in total. New Horizons is a privately owned and operated institution with 18 beds. Limpert Lodge and Hillside Apartments together have a total of 82 apartment units.
 
Chiropractors
There is one Chiropractor in Sauble Beach and three in Wiarton.
 
Opticians & Optometrists
There is one Optician and one Optometrist in Wiarton.
 
Funeral Homes/Cemeteries
There is one funeral home in Hepworth, one in Sauble Beach and one in Wiarton. As well, there are nine cemeteries. 
 
Accommodations
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula offers a wide variety of motel, cottage, bed and breakfast and camping facilities. There are approximately 15 motels, 15-20 cottage facilities and 17 bed and breakfast accommodations within the municipality. There is also a selection of further accommodations outside the municipality.
 
Grey Bruce Bed & Breakfast Association
Owen Sound, Ontario
Marsha Barrow
371-0208
 
Tourist Information Booths:
•      Bluewater Park Information Centre (Train Station)
•      Wiarton, Ontario (519) 534-3111

•      Sauble Beach Information Centre
•      642 Main St. (519) 422-1262
 
Service Clubs/Groups
Kinsmen - Rotary Clubs - Propeller Club (The Meeting Place) - Royal Canadian Legions - Curling Clubs - Gateway Haven Auxiliary - Hospital Auxiliary - Bruce County Shrine Club - Oddfellows - Lion's Clubs - Anglers and Hunters
 
Recreational Clubs And Organizations
Minor Hockey Association - Minor Soccer Association - Minor Softball Association Δ Minor Lacrosse - Figure Skating Club - Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders, Commissioners - Beavers - Cubs - Scouts - Dance - Ballet - Jazz - Δ Aquatic Programs - Fitness Classes - Libraries (Wiarton, Sauble Beach and Hepworth) - Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen Association - Sauble Ski Trails - Junior C's Hockey - Men's Recreational Hockey - Sauble Anglers & Hunters
 
Seniors Recreational Clubs and Organizations
Steppers Square Dance Club - Fitness Classes - Lawn Bowling - Bide-a-Wee - Sandpipers - many clubs for seniors
 
Churches
There are many denominations of religions and churches in the area and there is a cenotaph in Colpoy's Bay.