Described as the 'sixth
Great Lake', the Georgian Bay is separated from Lake Huron by Manitoulin
Island and the Bruce Peninsula. Almost the size of Lake Ontario, the
Bay has a combination of terrains. The west shore is limestone, the northeastern
shores consist of rock from the Precambrian shield (some of the oldest rocks
in the world) and the south is an array of smooth, sandy beaches. It lies halfway
between Toronto and Sault
Ste. Marie.
Originally occupied by First
Nations communities, the Bay saw its first explorers, missionaries and traders
arrive around the 1600s. French explorer Samuel de Champlain charted the area,
with his maps lasting as reference to westbound explorers for nearly two centuries.
The next two centuries saw such newcomers as military personnel, fishermen,
loggers and homesteaders inhabiting the land. Slowly the area became spotted
with villages, many growing to town or city status.
Each group had its own trials
and tribulations: battling the land, waters, weather, or each other. Land roads
were inadequate or non-existent, and water routes were often blocked by ice
in the winter. The waters were often rough, with the only saving grace being
the existence of abundant natural harbours.
Today, many denizens proclaim
that the Georgian Bay area sparkles with the best recreational pursuits: skiing,
golfing, cruising, heritage sites, events and festivals. Roam the rim of the
Georgian Bay and see what brought many to its shores, and what lures the thousands
of vacationers who flock to the territory during all four of its distinct seasons.
DETAILS TO DISCOVER,
BEAUTY TO BEHOLD
The sights and stopovers
are countless in the Georgian Bay. Here is but a sample of where one can rove,
starting at the south of the Bay.
Owen Sound
The first to footprint the
sandy shores of Owen Sound,
a southern Georgian Bay location, was the Petun Indians, members of the Huron
association. The Iroquois engaged them in warfare for decades. Rather than face
genocide, the Hurons eventually retreated from the area. Later, the Ojibway
tribes of Lake Superior in turn ousted the Iroquois.
After Champlain mapped the
area in the 1600s, settlers began to arrive. It is highly likely that they took
moments from their toil to enjoy the scenery of what is now known as the Niagara
Escarpment. The Niagara Escarpment is an eco-system that supports hundreds
of plant and wildlife species, and has been deemed a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
(which entails the preservation of crucial ecological features even if the area
is developed).
One lad who later became
enthralled by the distinctive vegetation and turquoise waters was Tom Thomson.
Thomson influenced, and was influenced by, the famous Group of Seven. The Group
of Seven were an early 1920s Toronto-based group whose paintings expressed a
true love for the Canadian wilderness. His works, as well as several of his
contemporaries and modern painters, remain in the Tom
Thomson Art Gallery.
Scottish, Irish and English
first populated Owen Sound in the 1840s. A taste of their culture lives on through
the Owen
Sound Celtic Festival, held for three days each September. Dancing,
food and historical re-enactments are all part of the revelry.
Generation upon generation
thrived in Owen Sound. Amongst the population rose a young man who later became
a Canadian hero. William Avery 'Billy' Bishop, went on to be a World War I and
II fighting ace, and tangled with the dreaded Red Baron. A stop at the Billy
Bishop Museum will educate visitors of his life and other highlights
of Canadian aviation history.
Today, Owen Sound is the
largest town in the area, with a population of 21,000 permanent residents. Because
of the close proximity to Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay, the communities around
the Bay usually experience cooler temperatures in the summer and milder winter
temperatures. In Owen Sound the daily maximum temperature in the height of summer
is 22 C (72 F) and winter lows of no less than -12 C (10 F). However, as is
the case with most of Ontario's areas, be prepared for atypical weather conditions.
Collingwood
Proceeding east for 64 kms
(40 miles), one will come to the Town of Collingwood,
with a population of over 16,000 people.
Outside of town is evidence
of glacial ice, dating back millions of years. Explorers of the Scenic Caves
Nature Preserve can tread through the various limestone splits and caverns,
and even squeeze through the 14-inch-wide passage known as 'Fat Man's Misery'.
Between 1400 and 1600, the Huron Indian Village of Ekarenniondi stood at this
site. Visitors may still touch the worshipping rock of this tribe.
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While the Hurons lived in
long houses constructed of poles and elm bark, spending much of their time engrossed
in hunting, fishing and growing corn for their meals, the same cannot be said
for today's travellers and residents. Many people are drawn to the area for
its luxurious resorts and recreational activities. Blue
Mountain Resort is at the back door of Ontario's highest mountain, Blue
Mountain, and is populated by alpine ski enthusiasts in the winter. Golfing
at Cranberry
Golf Resort is prime, especially due to the resort's dedication to protecting
and enhancing wildlife in the area (Canada's only fully certified Audubon Sanctuary,
promoting ecology).
French explorer Samual de
Champlain surveyed Collingwood in the 1600s. These days, another man of infamy
strolls the town one weekend each July, and can be seen everywhere! The Collingwood
Elvis Festival brings both amateur and professional impersonators of
'The King' to the area for competitions, concerts and general hound-dogging.
In the early 1800s, many
black Americans slipped the shackles of slavery and escaped to such places as
Collingwood and its neighboring community of Owen Sound via the 'Underground
Railroad'. The railroad was a network of former slaves and sympathizers who
assisted the fugitives to gain freedom. The bittersweet stories of these early
settlers can be learned at the Sheffield
Park Black History and Cultural Museum.
Collingwood became a noteworthy
port and railhead, as it was the receiving point for grain from Thunder
Bay and the Prairies, as well as the departure point for Western settlers
and goods. Shipbuilding became quite industrious. Today, boaters hear the call
of the cool, enchanting waters and contentedly anchor at one of the Georgian
Bay's numerous marinas.
Wasaga Beach
What made the Wasaga
Beach area displeasing to early settlers - sandy land that was unsuitable
for farming - is today's biggest lure. The longest fresh water beach in the
world (a remarkable14 kms/9mils) entices many. Wasaga Beach's population hovers
slightly above 12,000 people, with a visitor count of approximately two million
each year. The end of the most popular season is appropriately marked with the
Memories
of Summer Fireworks during the Labour Day weekend.
The beach of this central
town is also historically significant, as it was the fly off location for the
first plane to make an overseas flight from Canada: the length of the beach
made it the perfect runway.
Rather than trying to tame
the terrain of Wasaga Beach as the early settlers did, visitors today embrace
its ruggedness, which provides many recreational pursuits. The trails in Wasaga
Beach Provincial Park are ideal for hiking, cross-country skiing and
cycling. A stop at the Blueberry
Nordic Centre can serve as a warm-up or as an information point. And
the Nottawasaga
River is perfect for fishing and canoeing.
While in the park, stop
at Nancy
Island, where the Americans sank the Schooner Nancy, the last British
ship on the Great Lakes, during a battle in 1814. The sunken hull formed an
obstruction in the river, which eventually formed the island. A museum on the
island contains other remnants of the Nancy as well as battle artifacts. Far
from the cries of combat, visitors to the island can now hear the alluring sounds
of live Big Band, Swing and Jazz bands. Jazz
in the Park is a series of 10 free concerts on scheduled evenings in
July.
Penetanguishene
Continuing north up the
Bay's shore is the small town of Penetanguishene
(population 5,000). Penetanguishene holds the title of the oldest town in Ontario,
when as early as 800 AD Aboriginals built semi-permanent villages in the area.
In 1793, the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe recognized
the military potential of the area, and began promoting development. It was
in the early 1800s that the British naval and military base
Discovery Harbour was built.
For a marine experience,
visitors may board the M.S.
Georgian Queen. A live commentator cites stories of the past while pointing
out the magnificent scenery of the day. Sailors of both private and rented vessels
will admire the Pentanguishene's lovely and protected harbours.
Midland
Approximately five km (three
miles) from Pentangushene is the town of Midland,
with a population of over 14,000 people. Samuel de Champlain brought the first
Jesuit missionaries to the Midland area in the 1600s, intent on saving Huron
souls. The mission Sainte-Marie among the Hurons became Ontario's first European
community, experiencing settlement, war, disease, and finally abandonment. The
site continues to attract tourists, as costumed interpreters give live history
lessons about the Sainte-Marie.
In the 1800s, the area
boomed with industry and railroad expansion. Those who were gifted tracts of
land for their government or military services also increased the number of
inhabitants. The town was dubbed the 'Chicago of the North', as it was thought
to be the place a fortune could be made. Millions weren't accumulated but nonetheless,
the area began to attract a wealth of artists and naturalists. The town is home
to over 30 outdoor murals, including North America's largest outdoor historic
mural, situated over Midland Harbour. Close to Midland is the Wye
Marsh Wildlife Centre, whose residents include a myriad of bird and
wildlife species, including trumpeter swans.
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The
Sun Sets over Georgian Bay |
Honey Harbour
From Honey
Harbour, many cottagers navigate by boat to their properties in the
30,000 Islands. The area also has an abundance of rental
cottages, resorts
and marinas
to serve as home base for exploring the waters. A water taxi service provides
transportation to Canada's only island park, the Georgian
Bay Islands National Park. Fishing and boating are popular summer activities,
while those who are more adventurous often snowshoe or cross-country ski over
the frozen water in winter.
Parry Sound
Progressing up to the northern
region of Ontario is Parry
Sound. This community has seen much toil and action in its colourful
past. Today it is a recreational hot spot. A myriad of water activities, cultural
sites and events and impressive parks beckons many to the area. Read WorldWeb
Travel Guide's article Parry
Sound Town & City Review.
Killarney
Hundreds of years ago, Canada's
voyageurs set up a fur trading post to ease their canoe journeys. Water travel
was the only method of transportation to Killarney,
as there was no road access until 1962 to this northern post, located almost
five hours away from Toronto. Both passengers and freight entered the "Shibaonaning',
the Ojibway name for 'canoe channel' by steamships.
Today, sailboats and power
yachts float the pristine waters, but for pleasure rather than necessity. The
small village of Killarney triples in size during the summer, as it boasts the
'crown jewel' of Ontario's parks - Killarney
Provincial Park. Sapphire lakes, ridges filled with jack pines, the
snow capped white quartzite La
Cloche Mountains and pink granite shorelines have captivated artists,
adventure seekers and nature appreciators.
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Kayaking
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30,000 Islands, including
Manitoulin Island
One of the most mentioned
highlights in the Georgian Bay is the 30,000 Islands, which includes Manitoulin
Island, the world's largest island contained within a freshwater lake.
Boaters find the area a paradise, as the picturesque islands with their numerous
secluded bays, inlets and coves, as well as the countless towns, marinas
and resorts,
provide the back drop and services required to make it in the ranks of top sailing
waters. After crossing the swing bridge of Little Current which links Manitoulin
Island to the mainland, travel to Bridal
Veil Falls. The hiking and cascading waterfall is well worth the trip.
