Owen Sound's grain terminal: What it is, who runs it and what's next
The harbour grain elevator is run by Parrish & Heimbecker through Great Lakes Elevator Co. Ltd. The company says it will close on Dec. 18, 2026. Here's a quick guide.
By David Ellis · · 2 min read
The tall concrete elevator on Owen Sound's west harbour is a grain terminal. Ships unload grain there, and the grain is stored until it moves on. Here's what's known about it.
Who owns and runs it
The terminal is run by Parrish & Heimbecker (P&H), a family-owned agribusiness based in Winnipeg. The company says its roots go back to 1909. P&H operates the site through its subsidiary, Great Lakes Elevator Co. Ltd.
A City of Owen Sound map of harbour land ownership shows the elevator parcel as P&H land. The City told The Banner on Oct. 16 that the map is current. The harbour itself is owned and managed by the federal government, according to the City's Harbour & Downtown Urban Design / Master Plan Strategy.
Is it closing?
Yes. "P & H has decided to permanently close its Owen Sound terminal effective December 18, 2026," the company told Bayshore Broadcasting News on Oct. 14.
P&H told The Banner on Oct. 16 that "shipping and receiving activity leading up to the closure will be managed based on operational requirements across our grain network." The company said it is "working directly with affected customers on their individual requirements and next steps." Farmers or shippers with questions should contact P&H.
Asked about the future of the elevator and its land, P&H said: "No decisions have been made at this time." Read our full story on the closing.
A short history
The City's harbour plan says the Canadian Pacific Railway bought the local rail line in 1883 and built two large grain elevators. In 1925, the CPR built a new elevator to replace the one lost to fire in 1911. The City's plan describes it as a four-million-bushel elevator; other local histories say it opened at about one million bushels and was expanded to four million by about 1929.
According to the plan, Owen Sound was a key link between the Prairies and eastern markets, and the city "became for Canadian grain what Chicago had become for cattle."
Can you visit?
The terminal is a working industrial site, and we found no official public tours or visitor hours. The best views are from the public walkways and parkland along the harbour, which the City's plan describes on the west side of the inner harbour.
Your turn
Do you have photos or memories of the elevator? Send them to news@chatsworthbanner.ca.
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