Waterfront Property Owners as Economic Development Contributors in Rural Ontario

Within Ontario, it is estimated that as much as 10% of the population owns or has access to a cottage. This research, in partnership with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA), aims to change the conversation about waterfront property owners (WPO) from “tourists” to partners in rural economic development in Eastern Ontario. This study is using a multifaceted approach, which includes an online survey of WPO in Eastern Ontario to identify challenges and opportunities for working remotely or permanently relocating to, the cottage; key informant interviews with several individuals who have made the move to work remotely from their cottage or to permanently relocate and open a business in their rural communities. The last phase of the project aims to connect with the Eastern Ontario economic development community to share the findings of study and to determine how municipalities are engaging WPO in economic development strategies.