Port Elgin is a community in Bruce County located on the shore of Lake Huron. The community was originally named Normanton however in 1873 the village name was changed to Port Elgin after James Bruce, 8 th Earl of Elgin, a former Governor General of Canada in 1873. Port Elgin’s development began when Benjamin Shantz, an early settler purchased a sawmill on Mill Creek from George Butchart around 1854. Within a few short years a fine community had developed around this mill and by 1857 a village plot had been surveyed and laid out and given the name Port Elgin. The arrival of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway in 1872 further enhanced the community’s prosperiety and in 1874 with a population close to 1000 the community was incorporated into a village.

Port Elgin is well known for its beautiful sunsets. The town is close to MacGregor Provincial Park. Every fall in October the local residents celebrate Pumpkinfest which features more then 40 events as well as the world weigh off competition. The world’s record was set here in 2004 with a 656 kg pumpkin being the largest on record.