If you’re looking at enjoying a Georgian Bay retirement, you might be thinking about Thornbury. Thornbury’s a great place and we’d never want to dis it, but the other day we were thinking about it. We realized that Meaford offers a lot of things that make it a better retirement choice. Here are our four great reasons to choose a Meaford retirement community.

Memorial Park

Meaford has a real hidden gem right in town. Memorial Park offers parks, trails, camping, and a beautiful sandy beach. We say hidden, because it’s hidden from the town proper. Thornbury does have some beautiful little areas of waterfront and beach access, but unless you’re willing to drive or cycle a few kilometres, nearby houses and roads make you feel like you’re in the middle of town.

Meaford’s green

About a decade ago, Meaford began a composting pick-up program. On visits to larger centres “down south”, we learned that we were well ahead of the curve on this one. You can put any compostable materials in your weekly pickup, including things like paper towel and food you might not want in your backyard composter, like meat and bones. And pickup’s free every week. Just last week, Meaford was recognized for their waste diversion efforts by Michael Scott, CEO of Waste Diversion Ontario. We’re number one in Ontario, with a 62.78 waste diversion rate – compared to the provincial average of 46.52 percent. (Thornbury, or Blue Mountains, doesn’t pick up compost – but you can buy a composter from them for $30.)

Central to area attractions and major centers, but with a small town feel

While both Thornbury and Meaford are pretty much between the two larger communities in the area – Owen Sound and Collingwood – in recent years Thornbury has, understandably, oriented more toward Collingwood… and all that entails. More crowding. The weekender rush. It can be exciting, but just 10 minutes down the road, your Meaford retirement neighbourhood retains a more homey small town feel. You’re also that much closer to all the additional attractions up the Bruce Peninsula.

Meaford’s more affordable

A Thornbury retirement is going to be a bit more expensive. The pressures moving west from Collingwood and Blue Mountain development have pushed house and condo prices up. But you can still get a bargain in Meaford! Just ask us about it.