About Us

Early Beginnings

The history of Downtown Grimsby begins long before its main street or storefronts existed. The land surrounding Forty Mile Creek lies within the traditional territory of the Neutral Confederacy (also known as the Attawandaron), an Iroquoian-speaking people who lived throughout the Niagara Peninsula and surrounding regions for thousands of years. Their stewardship of the land is an essential part of Grimsby’s story and continues to be acknowledged today.

In the late 1780s and early 1790s, United Empire Loyalists settled in the area and established what was then known as “The Forty,” named after the creek that flows through the community. On April 5, 1790, this settlement became the site of the first recorded municipal meeting in what would become Upper Canada — marking the beginnings of civic governance in the province.

As the community grew, it adopted the name Grimsby, inspired by a coastal town in Lincolnshire, England.

Growth & Heritage

By the mid-1800s, Grimsby had transformed into a lively and growing hub, shaped by its location between the lake and the escarpment, its fertile agricultural land, and access to transportation and trade routes. The area played a role during the War of 1812, with a brief skirmish known as the Engagement at the Forty taking place near the creek.

Grimsby officially became a village in 1876 and later a town in 1922. Today, one of its defining features is the remarkable preservation of its built heritage — with a significant number of pre-1939 buildings still standing, giving Downtown Grimsby its charming and historic character.

The Downtown Core & Its Character

Downtown Grimsby’s main corridor — once called Ontario Street — naturally grew into the heart of local life. It became a place for commerce, community, and connection, shaped by the area’s thriving fruit-growing industry, especially peaches, and later by the arrival of rail lines and interurban connections.

This mix of agriculture, commerce, and transportation helped create the small-town, lakeside identity that continues to define downtown today.

Today & Looking Forward

Today, Downtown Grimsby blends its rich heritage with a renewed sense of creativity and energy. Its historic streets, walkability, and warm, small-town feel remain at the core of the community, while new events, businesses, public spaces, and cultural experiences breathe fresh life into the district.

The downtown continues to evolve as a vibrant gathering place — a welcoming destination where the community’s past, present, and future come together.