The Town at the Center of Ontario

Hornepayne is the kind of place you might pass on a map and not think twice. But what if you found out it’s actually the geographic center of Ontario?In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Mayor Cheryl Fort shares how the town is leaning into that identity and turning it into something meaningful.She talks about Hornepayne’s railway roots, the challenges of being remote, and the pride that comes from building trails, drawing visitors, and putting your community back on the map.0:00 – Welcome to Hornepayne5:40 – What it means to be Ontario’s center12:00 – A town shaped by trains and history18:30 – Rebranding with trails and tourism25:00 – Why people stay and others come back31:45 – Looking ahead and dreaming big