Accommodation for Newcomers in Hanover, Ontario

Hanover is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario with a population of about 7,650 residents. It is located in southwestern Grey County, bordering on Bruce County, west of Durham and east of Walkerton on Grey/Bruce Road 4. Hanover has a city hall, police department and the Hanover and District Hospital.

In 1850, pioneer Abraham Buck and his family established a farm and tavern on the Saugeen River in the region of modern-day Hanover. Many settlers, most originally German, arrived to the area; a townsite was laid out by 1855. It was earlier called Buck’s Crossing and then Adamstown, but was renamed Hanover. Records from 1867, indicate a gristmill, sawmill and carding mill, a foundry and a cabinet factory. Knechtel Furniture Company had opened around that time; the enterprise had been started in a barn by Daniel Knechtel who came from Waterloo County, Ontario. The company expanded over the years, becoming a large employer; it had locations in Southampton, Ontario and in Walkerton, Ontario and remained in operation until 1983. Other furniture companies also opened in the 1800s, including Sklar-Peppler. Hanover became an incorporated village in 1899 and a town in 1904.

The railway arrived in about 1880, a benefit to factories who now had a way to ship their goods across Canada. By the 1920s, Hanover was known as the Furniture Capital of the country. The town survived the depression and flourished after the Second World War manufacturing furniture, textiles, flour, processed food and kitchen cabinets. Manufacturing declined seriously between 1970 and 2000.

Important settlers included:

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Hanover had a population of 7,967 living in 3,445 of its 3,788 total private dwellings, a change of 3.6% from its 2016 population of 7,688. With a land area of 9.78 km (3.78 sq mi), it had a population density of 814.6/km² (2,109.9/sq mi) in 2021.

Mother tongue:

The first school was privately operated in the home of the teacher, Mrs. Campbell, on the eastern outskirts of the town (Campbell’s Corner). When it became overcrowded, classes were held in the Orange Hall.

A new school was opened in 1875, just north of the main street. This structure accommodated both elementary students and those studying the first and second years of secondary. Additions were added to the structure in 1884, 1891,1895, and 1905.

Finally, in 1912, a new six-room school was built on what is the current site of Hanover Heights Community School. James A. Magee, who had become principal of the previous school in 1905, remained principal for 46 years.

The high school was built in 1924, in the southwest corner of the town, on a site known as Bartrap’s Field.

Currently, there are three elementary schools:

There are two secondary schools John Diefenbaker Senior School, and Saugeen academy Waldorf highschool which has about 700 students drawn from Hanover and neighboring towns and villages.

There are many factories and farms, which are the two major employers of the residents. The annual Hanover Homecoming also provides a yearly boost to the local economy.

West Bros. Furniture is now Hanover’s only furniture manufacturer, supplying bedroom, dining room, occasional & accent furniture throughout North America, and to External Affairs Canada to furnish the Canadian Embassy residences worldwide. Beginning in 1992 the West Brothers, a family of Ontario furniture manufacturers created a new company located in Hanover.

Dickies Canada Co., formerly Buckeye Industries, originated in 1920 as Peerless Textiles of Toronto. The Company expanded its manufacturing base in 1956 by purchasing the existing factory in Hanover. Dickies Canada produces clothing for the work wear industry with traditional matched sets of work shirts and work pants. In addition, the production lines now include jeans and casual wear. Dickies Canada Co. also merchandises a complete outerwear line. Brand names include – Dickies, Kodiak and Terra. A factory outlet has been opened in Hanover. The Distribution Centre/Head Office is located in Toronto. Dickies Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williamson Dickie Manufacturing Co. of Fort Worth, Texas. Dickies Canada employs 140 local people. In December 2009, Dickies announced that it was closing their manufacturing subsidiary in Hanover, but continuing sales from the Hanover outlet.

Founded in 1970, Electrical Contacts Ltd. is a contact material manufacturer, servicing the needs of automobile, appliance and distribution industries. They currently export 80% of their shipments to markets in North America and Asia.

Hanover-Hearth Cabinets (formerly Hanover Kitchens Inc.) was officially founded on June 18, 1952, on the same site of the previously existing two adjacent factories in Hanover. All products were manufactured in the Hanover factories and were sold in Canada, the United States and Japan. Hanover-Hearth Cabinets closed their doors December 21, 2006.

Ontario’s twelfth slots-at-racetrack operation at Hanover Raceway, opened on February 19, 2001. Since opening, the facility has averaged more than 860 patrons daily.

Horizon Poultry has been located in Hanover since 1969. They employ approximately 750 people at their four locations, Hanover, St. Marys, Ayr and Kitchener. Hanover is the home of their hatchery and breeder farms. A division of J. M. Schneider Inc. and a division of Maple Leaf Foods, their products are distributed throughout Canada and also exported to many countries under the J. M. Schneider label.

Founded in 1978 to provide the Canadian marketplace with AC and DC electric motors. LEESON Canada operates its own specialized manufacturing plant in Hanover where they produce unusual multi-speed and high-efficiency motors through 350 HP for customers throughout North America.

New-Life Mills Limited is a modern automated flour mill. The original mill* in Hanover, constructed over a century ago, had a capacity to stone grind 10 metric tonnes of wheat per day. The present day mill, with its two milling units, grinds over 500 metric tonnes of wheat daily. Some of the wheat stocks are grown locally and the balance comes from western Canada. Flour from the Hanover mill is shipped to bakers, consumers and makers of cake mixes, pasta and other fast and convenience goods. Products are shipped through the provinces of Ontario and Quebec and various countries around the world. Owned by Parrish & Heimbecker.

P & H Foods, a division of Parrish & Heimbecker, operated a turkey processing and further processing plant. This facility has been located in Hanover since 1934 and has operated as a turkey processing plant since 1965. Exceldor Foods purchased and operates the facility as of 2014. Exceldor Foods employs 280 plus hourly people and a staff of 25 plus salaried management people. The Hanover Plant processes about 40 million pounds annually and daily volumes embrace about 16,000 turkeys. “Butterball” turkey products are produced at this facility, as well as raw product being supplied to the further processing industry. Exceldor Foods exports frozen whole and part turkeys worldwide.

Telesat operates the largest of its 4,000 earth stations at Allan Park, the nerve centre of its satellite communications network. Located just outside Hanover, this facility employs over 50 staff to provide technical support for its satellites and networks.

Hanover is serviced by major retailing chains such as Canadian Tire, Walmart, Food Basics, Independent Grocery, Rona, Inc., Home Hardware Building Center, The Source, Shoppers Drug Mart, LCBO, The Beer Store, Farm Supply, Mark’s Work Warehouse, etc. The former Zellers outlet now offers a Dollar Store and Giant Tiger.

The Paramount Theatre, located downtown, provides year-round entertainment with the latest movie releases. The Hanover Drive-In Theatre is located at the southeast edge of Hanover and offers summer entertainment for the entire family. Also the Hanover Drive in Theatre is one of only 23 remaining drive-in theatres in Ontario.

Hanover Civic Theatre, located downtown, attached to the Civic Centre and Library, provides live amateur and professional entertainment. The Grey Bruce Singers, Hanover Community Players and Back Porch Event Management make the theatre home. It also hosts recitals from three Hanover dance studios and various other events in its century old building that has been upgraded.

Located in the renovated Civic Centre complex in the centre of town, the library has something for everyone, from books to computers, and space to meet, read or study. Internet connected computers and WiFi are available for use by the public. The collection includes a large number of books for all ages, videos on DVD and Blu-ray, magazines and newspapers. Online resources include large collections of free downloadable ebooks, e-audiobooks, and magazines. Audiovisual equipment is available for rent. Library services include quick and in-depth reference; a local history collection including back issues of The Hanover Post (now published as The Post) and censuses of Grey and Bruce counties on microfilm; an online obituary lookup service; pre-school programmes; a shut-in material delivery service; French language books; large print and talking books and CNIB materials for loan. The library actively participates in the Southern Ontario Library Service giving patrons access to a large selection of audiovisual materials and books through inter-library loans.

Hanover Town Park and Campground is located on the banks of the Saugeen River and offers 40 fully serviced campsites. Very popular with town residents, the Hanover Park offers large picnic areas, fishing, a wide variety of playground equipment for children of all ages, and a covered picnic pavilion with kitchen facilities. Many community special events are held in the park providing entertainment and much fun for residents and visitors alike. Several smaller parks, playgrounds and baseball diamonds are located throughout the town.

Hanover is home to a Junior C hockey team, the Hanover Barons.

Hanover has its own community radio station, CFBW-FM 91.3 FM Bluewater Radio.

The Hanover Post was the local newspaper, first established in 1880 and operated until 2005 when it was merged with three other regional newspapers to form The Post.