Sights in Georgian Bay & Lakelands
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Tom Thomson Art Gallery
This gallery displays the work of Tom Thomson, a passionate outdoorsman and the granddaddy of modern Canadian landscape painting. His intimate and smoldering portrayal of nature is said to have inspired the formation of the Group of Seven painters. Thomson grew up in Leath, and many of his works were composed in nearby thickets of fall leaves. Rotating exhibits also include selections from the collection of contemporary Canadian art.
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Charles W Stockey Centre
The Charles W Stockey Centre incorporates the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. For the uninitiated, local legend Bobby Orr is one of hockey’s greatest heroes as he forever changed the role of defensemen with his awesome offensive prowess. At his huge modern shrine, fans can play air hockey, pretend to be a sports announcer or strap on goalie gear and confront an automated puck-firing machine.
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Martyrs’ Shrine
Midland’s biggest attraction is the Martyrs’ Shrine, a monument to six Jesuit missionaries who met their gruesome demise at the hands of the Huron. The compound includes a large green area strewn with crosses, and an imposing cathedral-like structure. Tens of thousands of pilgrims journey to the shrine every year to visit the bones of the martyred St Jean de Brébeuf. The pope showed up in 1984.
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Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, right beside the Ste-Marie site, provides boardwalks, trails and an observation deck over the marsh. The park features an array of unusual birdlife including the much-trumpeted trumpeter swans, back from the brink of extinction. Guided walks are included in the price, kids can feed the wildlife, and canoe tours through the marsh are an extra $5.
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Church of the Immaculate Conception
This center for worship was built in 1972, and encapsulates both aboriginal traditions and Catholic beliefs. Built in the round, the building represents a tepee, a fire pit and the circle of life. Colorful paintings by local artist Leland Bell beautifully depict the Stations of the Cross, while magnificent carvings represent both Christ and the Great Spirit Kitche Manitou.
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Leacock Museum
Orillia was the home of humorist Stephen Leacock, whose sequence of stories entitled Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town was a spoof about country life. In 1928 he built a lavish waterfront house that has since become the Leacock Museum. In July the museum hosts the Leacock Summer Festival, a well-regarded literary festival; tickets to readings cost $8 to $13.
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Grey Roots
Grey Roots, near Inglis Falls, highlights the rich pioneer history of the region through displays about early settlers and local heroes, and interactive presentations about the region’s natural resources, climate and topography. Colorful rotating attractions truly embrace the non sequitur: past exhibits have explored Albertan dinosaurs and the history of the toilet.
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Billy Bishop Heritage Museum
Hometown hero William Avery (‘Billy’) Bishop, Canada’s notorious flying ace in WWI, is honored at his childhood home, now the Billy Bishop Heritage Museum. A walk through the old Victorian manse reveals changing exhibits, such as ones highlighting local veterans or Canada’s aviation history.
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Huronia Museum & Huron-Ouendat Village
The Huronia Museum & Huron-Ouendat Village is a replica of a 500-year-old Huron-Ouendat settlement (from before the French Jesuits arrived on their soul-saving mission). With an active art program, the museum house a collection of nearly one million pieces, and an expansion is planned.
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Ste-Marie among the Hurons
Across the street from the Martyr’s Shrine lies Ste-Marie among the Hurons, a historic reconstruction of the 17th-century Jesuit mission. Costumed staff members dote on visitors, offering stories about hardship and torture with a cheerful smile.
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Ojibwe Cultural Foundation
The Ojibwe Cultural Foundation can be explored at one’s leisure (although guided tours of the museum are highly recommended). Rotating exhibits reflect a rich history of legends and skilled craftwork.
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Bruce County Museum
This museum has an extensive collection of artifacts relating to shipwrecks in the region. There are also rotating summer exhibits for kids.
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