Assiginack, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Assiginack is a township
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
, located on Manitoulin Island
. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected on the grounds of the Assiginack Museum by the province to commemorate the Manitoulin Treaties' role in Ontario's heritage.
The principal community in the township is Manitowaning, which was founded in 1836 as a centre of the island's Aboriginal
education.
Manitowaning Bay is an excellent natural harbour, the community has a marina
with good docking facilities. From its early history, Manitowaning was a regular port of call
for schooner
s and steamboats from many points on the Great Lakes
. Manitowaning was the first and last scheduled stop on Manitoulin Island, for the ships of the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited
. The old steamboat wharf
is now part of the community's Museum Heritage Complex, home of the SS Norisle
. Cardwell Street in Manitowaning continues east of the community, becoming the primary access road to the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
.
Smaller communities in the township include Bass Creek, Bidwell, Clover Valley, Eagles Nest, Hilly Grove, The Slash, Squirrel Town and Vanzant's Point.
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, located on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and...
. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected on the grounds of the Assiginack Museum by the province to commemorate the Manitoulin Treaties' role in Ontario's heritage.
The principal community in the township is Manitowaning, which was founded in 1836 as a centre of the island's Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
education.
Manitowaning Bay is an excellent natural harbour, the community has a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
with good docking facilities. From its early history, Manitowaning was a regular port of call
Port of Call
-Synopsis:Berit, a young woman living in a working-class port town begins a relationship with Gösta, a sailor newly returned from overseas and intent upon staying on land...
for schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
s and steamboats from many points on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. Manitowaning was the first and last scheduled stop on Manitoulin Island, for the ships of the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited
Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited
This is an historical account of the Owen Sound Transportation Company, Limited , the forerunner of the enterprise that currently operates the vehicle and passenger ferry - M.S. Chi-Cheemaun - between Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. For updated...
. The old steamboat wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
is now part of the community's Museum Heritage Complex, home of the SS Norisle
SS Norisle
The SS Norisle was a Canadian steam-powered automobile ferry that sailed the route between Tobermory and South-Baymouth Manitoulin Island alongside her sister ships, the MS Norgoma and the MS Normac, owned by the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited.The name "Norisle" is derived from "Nor", a...
. Cardwell Street in Manitowaning continues east of the community, becoming the primary access road to the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve is an Indian reserve in the north-eastern section of Manitoulin Island in Manitoulin District, Ontario, Canada...
.
Smaller communities in the township include Bass Creek, Bidwell, Clover Valley, Eagles Nest, Hilly Grove, The Slash, Squirrel Town and Vanzant's Point.