Tag: History

My cousin is a birder and photographer with back woods knowledge I don’t have, which is why I rely on him for these kind of pieces. The Blue Winged Warbler you see before you is from Backus Woods, part of the Backus Heritage Conservation area.  This is about a 30-minute drive from Tillsonburg. Backus Heritage Conservation Area has historical and natural offerings and is part of the larger Long Point Region Conservation Authority. Bring binoculars or a long lens!

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A recent visit to Ontario required time in Ajax, which is one of Toronto’s eastern bedroom communities. I’m afraid like most North American cities, small towns that are near major centres tend to expand with subdivisions creating new suburbs. In Toronto’s case, North York and Scarborough used to be suburbs. Now they are part of Toronto and towns like Ajax, which used to be way out of town forty years ago, are now taking on the new role of suburb. Sadly continent-wide there is a lot more sameness in architecture and style of subdivision design that tends to make you […]

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There’s a place in Toronto that’s now quite inconspicuous and easy to miss from the street, yet it’s where the city of Toronto began in the year 1793. This place is Fort York and it’s situated just west of downtown Toronto, beneath the elevated Gardiner Expressway, in a location that was once, believe it or not, the lakefront! Today several hundred metres separate Fort York from Lake Ontario thanks to land reclamation, and that’s why this important historic site seems to be in such an odd location! History of Fort York The famous Lieutenant Governor, John Graves Simcoe, gave the […]

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In Peterborough and the surrounding area, you’ll find enough attractions to keep you busy for weeks, or even months, on end. With splendid natural features, plenty of cultural activities, and wonderful dining and entertainment opportunities, the region offers something for everyone. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the many destinations around Peterborough. Lang Pioneer Village What better way to learn more about a place, than by stepping right into its history? Lang Pioneer Village, located a quick 10 km east of Peterborough, offers a trip back in time to the 19th century. Created as an interactive […]

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The Kitchener–Waterloo area offers an abundance of fantastic opportunities for fun and relaxation. While you might know that the region is a great place for skiing and snowboarding, you might not be aware of some of the lesser-known attractions the area has to offer. Here are just a few to whet your appetite for adventure. Woodside National Historic Site The boyhood home of Canada’s longest serving Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Woodside National Historic Site features a beautiful 1853 home which has been completely restored to its 1890’s Victorian state, as well as beautiful grounds that were saved […]

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The Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre, which is also known as the Manitou Mounds, is a place of outstanding natural beauty as well as a place of rich cultural and historical significance. It is located on Shaw Rd, near Stratten Ontario. This is about 65 km west of Fort Frances and about 32 km from Rainy River, which is the end of Highway 11 at the Minnesota border. Normally people driving across Canada head up Highway 71 toward Kenora. This site is worth the detour. Inhabited continually for more than eight thousand years, this national historic site is staffed by members of […]

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Toronto is a great city for walking, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to explore urban spaces. Here’s a suggestion for a leisurely exploration of some of the more interesting parts of the Toronto‘s eastern downtown, combined with a look at some of the up and coming transitional parts of the city. (Although Toronto is generally a very safe city, you will probably feel more comfortable on some parts of this walk during daylight hours.) You can start anywhere and end anywhere, but for ease of reference I’m going to start at Union Station right downtown, and […]

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In Part I of this article, I took you from Union Station through the St. Lawrence neighbourhood to Toronto‘s Distillery District. Now that you’ve had your refreshments at the Distillery District, you’re ready for Part II. From the Distillery District, walk north up Trinity Street to King St. E. Now you’re right in the middle of Toronto‘s old Irish Corktown neighbourhood, one of Toronto‘s oldest neighbourhoods and now one of the interesting transitional neighbourhoods. It’s now in a sort of process of re-gentrification, as old workers’ cottages on side streets become converted into highly desirable small urban abodes. As you […]

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Visit the quaint little town of Manitowaning where the people are friendly and always have a knack for remembering your name after your first introduction. Take a moment to wander down to the waterfront to see the old Ferry boat that once traveled between South Baymouth and Tobermory or stop in at the local museum to see the wonderful history that once was classed as everyday life. Although you would think it has nothing to offer, its gift selection located in the local drug store has just what you need for those special occasions or last minute necessities. The Nappa, […]

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Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, is known mostly for the politicians and bureaucrats these days. I bet there are few residents and even fewer visitors that know the history of how Ottawa come to be the capital city. As it turns out, Ottawa‘s history isn’t the dry expect tale of politicians and typical political jargon. In fact, it’s a little known gem of interest in Canadian history. Lieutenant-Colonel John By founded Bytown in the early 1800s. As retired military official, he was given the responsibility of settling the remote area surrounding the Ontario River. He built the famous Rideau Canal that […]

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