Ontar-i-O!

THUR, JUNE 7:

Discover Whyte Bird Sanctuary.  It's a perfect morning to wander in this green marsh preserve. We hear many bird songs, but actually only see a few we can identify - geese, ducks, swallow, wrens and a bright yellow thrush. A peaceful respite from the busy, constant noise of downtown Winnipeg.

We weave our way through what used to be a small farming area outside of St Boniface, to find the little house where Louis Riel was a born and raised, along with 10 siblings.  Like all Metis families of the time, the lot had river access and shaped back from the water in long rectangles.  This gave the family a water source for travel, irrigation and personal use, as well as land for gardens and farming.

 Next stop, we revisit the Manitoba Museum, under destruction/reconstruction.  From the confusion of accessing the galleries, it is hard to tell which stage is primary at this point.  We have been here a few times, so make a relatively quick pass for review.  Of course, we must seek out and board the replica of the  Nonesuch.  The original little sailing ship was used in the mid 1600's by Radisson and Groselliers, two French explorers, who saw the wealth of Canada weighed in beaver pelts. When they couldn't convince the King of France to finance an exploratory tour, they went to England.  King Charles I, was more forward looking and went for the idea.  And thus, the beginning of the Hudson Bay Trading Company and the near end of Canadian beavers.  Luckily for the beavers, fashionable British decided on silk hats after acquiring access to Chinese markets. Unluckily for the present day Hudson Bay Company, nobody wanted their hats, or anything else...neither beaver, silk or polyester. And such is history's roller coaster of  enterprise.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27

Our last day in Winnipeg we spend the morning doing laundry, and restocking supplies.

Visit the Forks, a spot where people have gathered for thousands of years.  At this juncture of the Red and Athabasca Rivers, First Nations used to gather.  Fort Garry once was located here when the Colonists arrived.  Nearby is the Union Station, a grand building with vaulted ceilings, this was the hub for the North and west areas of Canada.  Via rail operates it now and trains will take you east or west at regular intervals.  However, a lot more freight than passengers move along the lines today.  

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

It's honking hot and humid...must be Ontario!  The landscape changes from flat lush farmland with scattered groves of deciduous trees, to rocky Canadian Shield outcrops situated between numerous small deep blue lakes surrounded by dark green pine forests. It's visually spectacular, and once again, we appreciate the diverse natural beauty of Canada.

Downtown Kenora assume heritage buildings we check out.  This pretty little city, situated on the Lake of the Woods, once had steamship connections along and across the lake.  For a while Kenora sat on disputed territory, with both Manitoba and Ontario claiming it.  Apparently there were 2 jails on Main Street, each serving one of the provinces.  Arrests were routinely made just for amusement, while governments farther away decided on the towns eventual destiny.  Manitoba actually requested their boundary should go as far as North Bay area, but, perhaps, because so many "trouble causing Metis and Indians" lived there, the WASPS of Ontario won.  So Kenora is firmly in Ontario. 

Our night stop is at a little provincial park called Aaron, reminiscent of our son's name.  Surrounded by pines, and wild flowers, agreeable resting place.  

SUNDAY, June 29:  Squirrel Saboteur 

The morning is pleasantly cool, so we decide to sit outdoors at a picnic table for breakfast. We haven't sat for more than a couple moments, when we hear a Squirrel chittering at us from an over hanging tree.  Then, dry little pine cones begin falling nearby, getting closer with each one.  We realize the Squirrel is strategically bombing us to get us away from his tree.  The Squirrel wins when pinecone narrowly misses my head.  Guess he just wasn't up for early morning visitors.

Highlight for the day, thunderous, foamy Kakabeka Falls.  This was one of the more challenging Portage places for voyager coming to Fort Williams, as there are steep treed hills on both sides of the river.

Chippawa Park in Thunder Bay will be our night for 2 nights. A beautiful campsite on the Whiskey Jack Creek, which feeds into adjacent Lake Superior. An evening thunder shower cools everything for comfortable sleeping.  This large park includes a lovingly restored 110 year old  carousel.

MONDAY, June 30: 

Fort William is a reproduction of a 1915 North West Trading Company rendezvous site.  

The NWT was founded by Scots.it served the vast outlying areas, from Montréal to the whole Athabasca watershed.  In the summer months, as many as 1000 people would locate in the fort or surrounds.  Since NWT had a vast trading area, they needed to make it so their voyagers wouldn't have to winter somewhere in the wilderness.  They set up the trading fort halfway between their farthest outpost  and  Montréal, the shipping point.  Only clerks, guides, craftsmen, and governor/partners of the company were allowed inside the fort at night.  Based on a class system, voyagers and First Nations, although vital to the success of their business, couldn't mix socially with the upper crust inside.

We take a guided tour with well informed costumed guides and learn about this time in history.  By 1819, due to growing violence between the rivals, NWT merged with HBC.

Canada Day 2025

What could be better than driving through amazing Canadian scenery as we celebrate another Canada Day?  Mother Nature is so diverse, from lupines to waterfalls.  A wonderful day of appreciating being Canadian, pondering my freedoms and responsibilities, and our many blessings such as family, friends and shared memories.  

Aguasabon River Gorge

Here's to Canada!