Although every profile item is included on this page individually several have requested a full compilation. Please remember several important thing:

1. This is formatted for the web and will look very different when the hard copy is made
2. It is a draft proposal with all errors, editing and revisions still to be made.

Hugging the shores of Georgian Bay, the Town of Parry Sound is the world renowned jewel of the 30,000 Islands of Georgian Bay. Located approximately 2 hours north of Toronto, and forty-five minutes away by air, Parry Sound is the commercial hub servicing a year-round population of 18,000 and a seasonal population of 60,000 plus. Parry Sound is rich in arts, culture and heritage. The Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts and Bobby Orr Hall of Fame is home to the international chamber summer music festival, the Festival of the Sound. The Hall of Fame pays tribute to our home-town hockey hero, Bobby Orr.

Education and Children Support Services:

1. Canadore College's Parry Sound Campus opens September 2011
2. Parry Sound District High School serves most of the District of West Parry Sound
3. William Beatty and Victory Public Schools serves the immediate vicinity and a new school is slated for 2013
4. Three day-care centres: First Nations Parry Sound/Muskoka, Early Years, Best Start for Children 0 to 6 years.
5. Integration Support Services: an early intervention program for preschoolers with special needs
6. One Kid's Palce: Physiotherapy and speech theraphy
7. The Family Help Network: Infant and child development services

Medical

The West Parry Sound Regional Health Centre is a new, sate of the art facility, witha 24 hour staffed emergency unit. It is supported by four nursing stations with nurse practitioners, 18 doctors and a nurse pratitioner in three clinics. There are nine specialists on staff at the hospital. A full list of doctors associated with the hospital is avaiable here.

Recreational

1. We have six Provincial Parks within an hour's drive and many hiking, ski and snowmobile trails. There are recreational opportunities for every taste.
2. Four town beaches with swimming programs
3. Sport Park with baseball and arena facilities
4. YMCA (no pool)
5. Bobby Orr Community Centre: arena and hall
6. West Parry Sound District Museum

Social Support

1. Salvation Army Food Bank
2. Harvest Share Food Bank
3. St Andrew's hosts Friendship Suppers monthly, October through May, for the disadvantaged and lonely.
4. The Boutique: An ecumenical clothing bank open Tuesdays operated by four local churches.
5. Salvation Army Thrift Store

Housing

1. Affordable and senior housing is a major need in the area.
2. Three condominium projects are under construction
3. There is an active real eastate market with many listings

Demographics

There are eight first nations groups in our area:

1. Wasauksing (Parry Island)
2. Pickerel River
3. Shawanaga
4. Henvey
5. Magnetewan
6. French River
7. Moose Point
8. Wahata Gibson

Ethnic groups include 1% East Indian, 1% people of colour, 1% Asian

St. Andrew's is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada under the authority of the Presbytery of Barrie. It is one of the outlying congregations of the Presbytery and somewhat isolated as a result.

• St. Andrew's is currently increasing its involvement by ensuring that it is represented at all meetings of the Presbytery of Barrie. The Clerk of Session and an alternate representative elder are charged with that responsibility.
• St. Andrew's supports Presbyterian Sharing but also makes a significant mission contribution directly to the mission deignated. This year's combined allocation exceeds ,000
• Five elders attended a Presbytery  workshop in May 2011
• St. Andrew's recently sponsored Dr. Robert Kennedy as a candidate for ministry providing him time from his duties at St. Andrew's and extensive financial support. Dr. Kennedy accepted a call to Port Perry and is to be ordained and inducted in September.{jcomments on}

The history of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church starts around 1857 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Calder as one of the first meeting places for Sunday services for the Scottish Presbyterian immigrants to this area. Services were later moved to a schoolhouse, and then in 1871 to the court house, before a permanent church was built.

In 1877 the Zion Presbyterian Church was built on the south side of Seguin Street on land donated by Thomas McGown. During the period from 1875 to 1883, the congregation was supplied with religious services by students. In 1882 an application was made to the Presbytery for an ordained missionary, and in 1883, the Reverend Andrew Hudson, with his family of four, came as missionary. In 1884 he was given a unanimous call and became the first regularly inducted pastor.

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church built in 1900 with the dedication services on August 4, 1901, is a brick building on a stone foundation. The interior is octagonal in shape and has a gallery around five sides, with seating capacity of three hundred and sixty. It is said that lighting, ventilation, and acoustics are nearly perfect. In 1912 a new pipe organ was installed, andduring the 1950's it was revamped into the modern pipe organ which is still in use today. In 1917 concrete steps and walk way were built, as well as indoor plumbing was installed. The vestry and choir room extensions were built in 1922. It was decided in 1937 to have the church basement repaired and made frost proof this included a new floor, posts, a kitchen, and steam heating. A set of carillon bells was presented to ST. Andrew's in 1955. Perhaps the largest single improvement was made in 1961, when the new Fellowship Center was built. The Center contains two floors, with a large area, classrooms, storage, showers and two washrooms downstairs. The upstairs boasts a large gymnasium with storage, a spacious kitchen, two washrooms, and a minister's study connected to the sanctuary by a large entryway. During the past fifteen years St. Andrew's has under gone a wide variety of additions and upgrades; in the sanctuary there is a complete sound system with video and wireless mikes, a new two tier stage with a baby grand piano, in the upstairs kitchen new fluorescent lighting, gas stoves, and dishwasher, in the basement the main electrical feed was brought up to code which included four new panels, wiring, switches, and receptacles.

St. Andrew's serves the greater part of the District of West Parry Sound. The town, with a ppoulation of 6,500 is the District Seat.

The area of West Parry Sound is 7700 square kilometers and the full time population is approximately 20000. The summer months sees a significant population increase.The median income is ,104

1. Town of Parry Sound
   • 52 Seguin Street, Parry Sound, ON P2A 1B4
   • Phone: 705-746-2101
   • Fax: 705-746-7461
   • http://www.townofparrysound.com
2. Township of the Archipelago
   • 9 James Street, Parry Sound, ON P2A 1T4
   • Phone: 705-746-4243
   • Fax: 705-746-7301
   • http://www.thearchipelago.on.ca
3. Municipality of Whitestone
   • General Delivery, 21 Church St., Dunchurch, ON P0A 1G0
   • Phone: 705-389-2466
   • Fax: 705-389-1855
   • http://www.whitestone.ca
4. Township of Carling
   • R.R.#1
   • Nobel, ON P0G 1G0
   • Phone: 705-342-5856
   • Fax: 705-342-9527
   • http://www.carlingtownship.ca
5. Township of McKellar
   • Box 69
   • McKellar, ON P0G 1C0
   • Phone: 705-389-2842
   • Fax: 705-389-1244
   • http://www.township.mckellar.on.ca
6. Township of Seguin
   • R.R.#2
   • Parry Sound, ON P2A 2W 8
   • Phone: 705-732-4300
   • Fax: 705-732-6347
   • http://www.twp.seguin.on.ca
7. Municipality of McDougall
   • #5 Fire Route 113, R.R.#3
   • Parry Sound, ON P2A 2W9
   • Phone: 705-342-5252
   • Fax: 705-342-5573
   • http://municipalityofmcdougall.com
8. Municipality of Magnetawan
   • P.O. Box 70, 4304 Hwy. 520
   • Magnetawan, ON P0A 1P0
   • Phone: 705-387-3947
   • Fax: 705-387-4875
   • http://www.magnetawan.on.ca
9. Wasauksing First Nation
   • P.O. Box 253
   • Parry Sound, ON P2A 2X2
   • Phone: 705-746-2531
   • Fax: 705-746-5984
   {jcomments on}

For the past several years we have had a single worship service at 10:30 AM Sunday. The service format is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Pre-service music is provided by the organist and pianist, who also accompany the singing of hymns and provide offertory music.

The service usually consists of any special announcements, an opening reading from scripture, a brief time of personal prayer, a traditional hymn, 3 or 4 contemporary worship songs lead by a praise team with accompaniment by guitar and frequently drums, a gathering of the children at the front of the sanctuary following which they leave for their Sunday School activities, pastoral prayer, collection of the offerings, the message from God's word, a closing traditional hymn and benediction.

The minister leads the service and brings the message most Sundays. In his absence a member of Session leads the service and a guest speaker brings the message.  The choir sings approximately 12 Sundays each year.

Sunday school is held for children from ages 4 to 12.

On occasion there is a presentation by the children's drama group, frequently with a theme that connects with the minister's message for that week.

Following the service there is a time of fellowship and refreshment in the fellowship hall/gymnasium.

The Presbyterian Church In Canada Ministry And Church Vocations
50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1J7

Congregational Profile Form

Church Information

• Average Weekly Attendance
  • Sunday Worship - 200
  • Church School - 20
• Other Services
  • Christmas Eve - 250
  • Good Friday - 200

Christian Education

Financial Statement for last year (2010)

• Approved Budget for the current year (2011)
  • 3,481
• "Presbyterian Sharing" Allocation for current year (2011)
  • Requested$ 50,391
  • Accepted$ 14,000
  • Other Missions , 000 (Paid directly) to missions

Congregation And Community

Demographics