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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Canada Notes

Stayner

Stayner is a village in Clearview Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Stayner is a village in Clearview Township, Simcoe County, Ontario. It serves as the commercial centre of the township, located west of Barrie and south of Collingwood.

What it is

Stayner is a small community in south Simcoe County, about 15 minutes south of Collingwood and 30 minutes west of Barrie. It developed around a railway station in the 1850s and grew as an agricultural and lumbering centre. Today it functions as the local commercial hub for Clearview Township, with a population of roughly 5,000.

How it developed

The settlement began in 1854 with the arrival of the Toronto, Simcoe and Lake Huron Union Railroad. First called Nottawasaga Station, it was renamed Stayner in 1864. It incorporated as a village in 1872, became a town in 1888, and later amalgamated into Clearview Township in 1994.

Key details

Stayner’s heritage is preserved by the Stayner Heritage Society. Community life includes events like July 1 celebrations, Santa Claus Parades, and Music in the Park. Main Street and Highway 26 host local businesses, and nearby outdoor attractions in Simcoe County draw visitors.

In short

  • Founded as Nottawasaga Station in the 1850s, renamed Stayner in 1864.
  • Serves as the commercial centre of Clearview Township.
  • Population around 5,000; located west of Barrie and south of Collingwood.
  • Amalgamated into Clearview Township in 1994.
Canadian angle

Stayner is a small Ontario community in Simcoe County and an example of a railway-founded settlement that evolved into a township commercial centre in rural Canada.

Quick questions

Where is Stayner, Ontario?
Stayner is in Clearview Township, Simcoe County, in south-central Ontario, west of Barrie and south of Collingwood.
What is Stayner known for?
Stayner is known as the commercial centre of Clearview Township and for its railway-era history, agricultural roots, and heritage community events.
What is the history of Stayner?
Stayner began as Nottawasaga Station in the 1850s when the railway arrived. It was renamed Stayner in 1864, incorporated as a village in 1872, became a town in 1888, and was amalgamated into Clearview Township in 1994.

Sources

  1. Welcome Here — https://welcomehere.ca/community/stayner
    Supports: Location in south Simcoe County, relation to Collingwood and Barrie, and approximate community size.
  2. Ontario Heritage Trust — https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/plaques/founding-of-stayner
    Supports: Founding history, railway arrival in 1854, early development, and incorporation timeline.
  3. Simcoe County Community Information — https://simcoecounty.cioc.ca/record/CWD0558
    Supports: Stayner Heritage Society activities and community heritage programming.
  4. MapQuest — https://www.mapquest.com/ca/ontario/stayner-282177596
    Supports: Population figure used in search results and basic location context.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearview,_Ontario
    Supports: Clearview Township context, amalgamation in 1994, and census population for the municipality.
  6. Rural Routes Ontario — https://www.ruralroutes.com/6675.html
    Supports: Historical naming, incorporation milestones, and older population figure in the search results.