Ontario’s Tiny Township is expanding its property portfolio. On March 7, the township’s council voted unanimously to acquire 8.26 acres of land on Georgian Bay from Municipal Investments Ltd., a corporation owned by the Axler family.
As part of the deal, the township will be taking ownership of two parcels of land, known as Block B and Block C of Registered Plan 1371. The two parcels, which include 207 metres of shoreline, are at the intersections of Champlain Road, Clearwater Crescent, and Sawlog Point Road, near Sawlog Bay, the northern most tip of Simcoe County.
The township will pay $4.5 million for Block B, while the Axler family is donating Block C to the municipality for a $538,000 tax receipt.
“One of the strategic priorities of council is preserving and increasing access to one of our greatest assets in Tiny, the shoreline of beautiful Georgian Bay,” said Mayor David Evans, in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to secure this waterfront property for the public as new recreational space for the whole community to enjoy this additional beach access.”
Photo Courtesy of Tiny Township
The Axler family decided to sell the land to Tiny after family patriarch, Joseph Axler, a prominent developer in the Sawlog Bay area, died in February 2024. Rather than sell to developers for more money, the family decided the township would be an ideal steward of the land, with a community space cementing the Axler family legacy in the area.
Council said that it will hold a dedication event in the name of Joseph Axler and his family in recognition of the donation.
The township has set up a 30-year amortization loan with TD Bank to pay for the land. But thanks to its value, Councilor Steffen Walma is optimistic that it will end up paying for itself. “We’ve looked at the high-level numbers. This is an opportunity for the municipality to gain valuable waterfront access for our community, but it could end up being potentially free at the end of this expedition or revenue positive,” he said during a special meeting of council on March 7.
Deputy Mayor Sean Miskimins agreed with Walma, pointing out that it’s not often the township has the opportunity to acquire lots with waterfront access to Georgian Bay. It’s been one of the township’s recent goals. Previously, it acquired the Goessman Lots in November 2024, a smaller beach property named after John Goessman who completed the original survey of Tiny in 1821 and 1822.
“I think this is something that can be emulated and duplicated as these opportunities arise throughout the township,” said Mayor Evans during the council meeting. “This hopefully could provide the starting point or a nest egg that we can use financially to be able to work with the public and develop increased access and protection of one of our most loved assets.”
The purchased land is currently wooded and undeveloped. Council intends to create long-term, permanent public access to the waterfront for generations to come. However, it has said that it may subdivide a portion of the property for future residential development to generate revenue that will offset the purchase price and provide a positive financial result for the township.
Township staff will present a report to council at a future meeting to determine the best use of the land.
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