| The West Parry Sound area is a place where the sublime beauty and ferocity of the Georgian Bay, and the strength and severity of the Canadian Shield converge. Here, for thousands of years, people have managed to carve out lives for themselves amidst the rocks. From the Anishinabek who followed the cycles of the seasons to sustain themselves, to the Free-Land Grant settlers who endlessly picked rocks from their fields, to the industrial powers whose products were developed to combat not only foreign enemies, but the Canadian Shield itself. |
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01. The Mortar: In 1870, off the shores of Trout Lake, a small boy named Nathaniel Little made a big discovery. His treasure: a 16 Kg, bronze French apothecary's mortar from 1636. The mysterious story of the mortar takes us back into West Parry Sound's past, a journey that includes Champlain's travels on Georgian Bay and the early Jesuit missionaries. This chapter discusses:
Champlain's Georgian Bay travels
The Jesuit Missionaries of the 1600's
The historical divisions of First Nations territory in the Great Lakes Region
The Anishinabek / Haudenosaunee WarsTheories regarding the mortar's origins and purpose |
02. The Caretakers: Visit the Great Turtle with elder Stewart King as we discuss:
The role given the Anishinabek by the Creator
The migration of the Anishinabek people
The Formation of the Precambrian Shield and it's spiritual importance to the Anishinabek people
Local Anishinabek place names and language
The traditional Anishinabek lifestyle
Native travel routes
First Nations contact with Europeans and Fur Traders
The Three Fires Confederacy
The Iroquoian Wars The Great Peace of Montreal |
03. Contact: After European contact, the travel routes traditionally used by the First Nations peoples began to see new explorers shooting their rapids. The movement of goods from the East to the West became a priority in the early days of colonization. In this chapter we discuss:
The quest for an overland route from the St. Lawrence to Lake Superior
Henry Bayfield and the hydrographic surveying of the Georgian Bay
Hydrographic survey methods of the 1800’s |
| 04. Anna Jameson: As author and early tourist Anna Jameson traveled amidst the shoals of the Georgian Bay, she couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by its stunning beauty. Her novel, Winter Studies and Summer Rambles, records her journey with classic Victorian flair. This chapter also discusses the Indian Removal Policy of United States President Andrew Jackson & the subsequent relocation of First Nations peoples; |
05. Rebellions and Treaties: David Gibson was exiled from the country for his role as a leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. He later returned to Canada and took a government position that would allow the Gibson family to leave their mark on Parry Sound. At the same time, Upper Canada’s Government was looking for a way to move settlers into Northern
territories. This chapter discusses:
David Gibson & The Rebellion of 1837Royal Proclamation of 1763Robinson-Huron TreatyGibson mill in Parry Sound |
06. The Beattys: When the Gibson mill failed, Parry Sound proved to be the perfect opportunity for the Beatty family. After their initial success in Parry Sound, two of the three Beattys moved on, while William remained to shape the growing village. In this chapter we discuss:
Beatty Family & the founding of Parry Sound Waubuno – the early daysBeatty Covenant & Parry HarbourThe purchase of the mortar |
07. Settling the North: With the Free Lands and Homestead Act of 1868, the rush was on to settle the Northern reaches of Ontario. Colonization roads were pushed through and settlers were offered hundreds of acres of free land – provided they could survive there for five years. In this chapter we discuss:
Free Lands and Homestead ActColonization Roads, the Parry Sound Road, & the Great North RoadFarming on the Canadian ShieldThe lumberman farmer & lumber campsBritt & Byng Inlet mills
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08. Opposite Directions: With the construction of a railroad from Toronto to North Bay, the Eastern side of the Parry Sound district would be granted direct access to the outside world and an easy route to the Western provinces. For those who stayed in the district, the steamboats that popped up on Lakes Ahmic and Cecebe provided settlers a much gentler ride than the Great North Road. In this chapter we discuss:
The Railway to North BaySteamboats on the inner lakesThe Parry Sound Colony |
09. The Deceptive Bay: On November 21st, 1879 the Waubuno began its final voyage - one that would end in tragedy on the rough waters of the Bay. In this chapter we discuss:
Dangers of steamship travelThe fate of the WaubunoThe wreck of the AsiaBolton’s hydrographic survey |
10. The Waterways: With the shoals and islands of the Georgian Bay numbering in the thousands, the fishermen of its waters have always had to be keenly aware of their environment. Through the years navigational aids have been developed to help fishermen, lumber boats, freighters and pleasure craft find their way. In this chapter we discuss:
The Pointe au Baril barrelCommercial fishing on the Bay & the Mink IslandsLumber booms on the water & lumber hookersThe Canadian Coast Guard in Parry Sound |
11. Depot Harbour and the Rail: When J.R. Booth decided to make the dream of a connection from the St. Lawrence to the Upper Great Lakes a reality, it would change the landscape of the Parry Sound area forever. However, Booth’s railway would not be the only one to cross the boundaries of Parry Sound, as both the CNR and CPR would make their way through the town in 1908. In this chapter we discuss:
Depot Harbour & J.R. BoothThe Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound RailwayAppropriation of First Nation landsCNR, CPR & the Parry Sound trestle bridge |
12. Ambo: When Frank Langford began buying up property North of Parry Sound, rumors of a new goat farm circulated widely. But the explosives plants that evolved instead would prove to have a much bigger impact on the area. In this chapter we discuss:
Canadian Explosives LimitedNobelWorld War ICorditeBritish Cordite Limited |
| 13. Francis Pegahmagabow: Born on the Shawanaga First Nation, Francis Pegahmagabow would become one of the most decorated snipers of World War I, and a fervent activist for native rights. In this chapter we discuss Francis' early days, his time as a sniper, and his time spent as Chief of the Wausauksing First Nation. |
| 14. WWII Boomo! With the beginning of WWII, Nobel experienced a renaissance of its explosive past. With the opening of Canadian Industries Limited and Defence Industries Limited, thousands were drawn to the Parry Sound area to find work in the munitions factories. In this chapter we discuss CIL & DIL's impact on the region and living and working conditions faced by the workers. |
15. Industrial Downfall: When Depot Harbour burnt to the ground and the explosives plants shut their doors, large-scale industrial endeavors in the Parry Sound area were nearly brought to an end. The shutdown of the Orenda Engines test facility at Nobel would prove to be the death knell of Parry Sound’s industrial age. In this chapter we discuss:
Depot Harbour fireThe decline of the Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound RailwayAvro Arrow & Orenda Engines |
16. The Welcoming Bay: As industries have come and gone in the Parry Sound District, the one constant economic driver has been tourism. Even when the lumber barons were logging out the interior, they found time to cottage amidst the islands with their families. In this chapter we discuss:
The early development of tourismThe Belvedere Hotel, the Rose Point Hotel, & the Ojibway HotelThe role of First Nations peoples in tourismCottagingBoat building |
17. Into the Wilderness: After World War I, the quest to define the Canadian identity turned towards the past and prompted Canadians to follow the routes of the European explorers, ‘into the wilderness.’ In this chapter we discuss:
Camp FranklinGroup of SevenHighway 69Killbear Provincial Park |
| 18. Cottage Industries: The influx of cottagers and tourists proved to be an economic boon for local builders, marinas and anyone else who could get in on the action. New modes of transportation, such as the "Scoot", evolved to help both locals and cottagers get around in the winter months. |
19. Indusrial Relics: As the economies surrounding the Bay become focused on its tourism potential, the remnants of the area’s industrial past remain to be dealt with. In this chapter we discuss:
The Oil spill in Parry SoundNobel industries decommissioningDepot Harbour clean up efforts |
20. Ineffable Loveliness: The unique beauty of the Georgian Bay has attracted people for thousands of years to its shores and now the people of Parry Sound strive to protect this precious resource. In this chapter we discuss:
Massasauga RattlesnakeGeorgian Bay Biosphere Reserve |
