Gananoque, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Gananoque is a town in Leeds and Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. The town had a population of 5,287 year-round residents in the Canada 2006 Census
, as well as summer residents sometimes referred to as "Islanders" because of the Thousand Islands
in the St. Lawrence River
, Gananoque's most important tourist attraction.
The Gananoque River
flows through the town, and the St. Lawrence River is the southern boundary of the town. The local industry is an ECG electrode
manufacturer, Covidien.
name which means "town on two rivers". The town's name rhymes with the placename Cataraqui, which appears in the Cataraqui River
, the Little Cataraqui Creek
, and the Cataraqui Cemetery
in nearby Kingston, Ontario
. One way to remember its pronunciation is "The right way, the wrong way, and the Gananoque". In Eastern Ontario speech, the town name is often abbreviated to Gan (rhymes with can), though it is rarely written that way.
Colonel Joel Stone
, who served with Loyalist militia during the American Revolutionary War
, established a settlement on this site in 1789. Land was granted to Col. Stone for use as a mill
site.
During the War of 1812
, American
forces raided the government depot in the town to disrupt the flow of British supplies between Kingston and Montreal. The stores seized consisted of half an ox, a few straw ticks, and a few blankets. The raiders seized the supplies they found and burned the depot.
Mrs. Stone reportedly protected her jewels from the invaders by hiding them in the flour
at the mill.
Within a month of the raid construction of the Gananoque Blockhouse
was begun, with completion in 1813. It had an octagonal log parapet
containing five guns. The blockhouse was abandoned after the War of 1812
and given to a private landowner.
main line, and the St. Lawrence Seaway
. It is also home to a rich provincial highway heritage, being home to the remaining stretch of Highway 2
. It is also the western terminus of the Thousand Islands Parkway
, and a short drive from the Thousand Islands Bridge
, which crosses into the United States. Gananoque is served by the Gananoque Airport
for general aviation
.
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 2314 (total: 2453)
Gananoque Police Service is a small law enforcement agency in the Eastern Ontario
community of Gananoque, Ontario. Unlike many small towns and villages in Ontario who have disbanded their municipal police forces in favour of contracting with the Ontario Provincial Police
, the Gananoque Police Service continues to grow.
The current Chief of Police
is Kai Liu, formerly an inspector with the Ottawa Police Service
.
," which lie next to it in the St. Lawrence River. Local attractions include boat
cruise
s to the Thousand Islands and Boldt Castle
, NY, live theatre
, the summer theatre festival of The Thousand Islands Playhouse
, the Arthur Child Heritage Museum of the 1000 Islands and the OLG Casino Thousand Islands. The theatre company in Gananoque is The Thousand Islands Playhouse
which operates two theatre spaces: The Springer Theatre, and the Firehall Theatre, attracting international attention since 1982.
The Thousand Islands – Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
, designated in November 2002, is the 3rd in Ontario, the 12th in Canada, and one of over 400 around the world, and is part of UNESCO
’s Programme on Man and the Biosphere.
Gananoque is also well known around the world for being home of the ledengary "Johnny Sly".
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, as well as summer residents sometimes referred to as "Islanders" because of the Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
in the St. Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, Gananoque's most important tourist attraction.
The Gananoque River
Gananoque River
The Gananoque River is a river in Leeds and Grenville County, Ontario which flows from Gananoque Lake near Delta, Ontario and empties into the Saint Lawrence River at Gananoque, Ontario in the Thousand Islands region....
flows through the town, and the St. Lawrence River is the southern boundary of the town. The local industry is an ECG electrode
Electrode
An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit...
manufacturer, Covidien.
Pronunciation
The town's name is an aboriginalFirst Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
name which means "town on two rivers". The town's name rhymes with the placename Cataraqui, which appears in the Cataraqui River
Cataraqui River
The Cataraqui River forms the lower portion of the Rideau Canal and drains into Lake Ontario at Kingston, Ontario. It is also known as the Great Cataraqui River or the Greater Cataraqui River to distinguish it from the smaller Little Cataraqui Creek, 4.5 km to the west...
, the Little Cataraqui Creek
Little Cataraqui Creek
The Little Cataraqui Creek is a watercourse, much of which is a semi-urban wetland, that empties into Lake Ontario within the municipality of Kingston, Ontario, Canada...
, and the Cataraqui Cemetery
Cataraqui Cemetery
The Cataraqui Cemetery, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is the city's largest with over 46,000 interments and growing. The Cemetery is most noted as being the burial site of Canada's first prime minister and a Father of Confederation, Sir John A. Macdonald...
in nearby Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. One way to remember its pronunciation is "The right way, the wrong way, and the Gananoque". In Eastern Ontario speech, the town name is often abbreviated to Gan (rhymes with can), though it is rarely written that way.
History
Colonel Joel Stone
Joel Stone
Colonel Joel Stone was a United Empire Loyalist, and the founder of Gananoque, Ontario.-Background and early life:Joel Stone was born in Guilford, Connecticut to Stephen Stone and Rebecca Bishop. When he was two, his family moved to the growing town of Litchfield, Connecticut...
, who served with Loyalist militia during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, established a settlement on this site in 1789. Land was granted to Col. Stone for use as a mill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
site.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces raided the government depot in the town to disrupt the flow of British supplies between Kingston and Montreal. The stores seized consisted of half an ox, a few straw ticks, and a few blankets. The raiders seized the supplies they found and burned the depot.
Mrs. Stone reportedly protected her jewels from the invaders by hiding them in the flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
at the mill.
Within a month of the raid construction of the Gananoque Blockhouse
Gananoque Blockhouse
Gananoque Blockhouse was a fortification located near present-day Gananoque, Ontario. Within a month of the Raid on Gananoque construction of a blockhouse was begun, with completion in 1813. It had an octagonal log parapet containing five guns...
was begun, with completion in 1813. It had an octagonal log parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
containing five guns. The blockhouse was abandoned after the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and given to a private landowner.
Transportation
Gananoque lies directly on three of Canada's busiest transportation routes: the four-lane Highway 401, the double-track Canadian National RailwayCanadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
main line, and the St. Lawrence Seaway
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
. It is also home to a rich provincial highway heritage, being home to the remaining stretch of Highway 2
Ontario Highway 2
King's Highway 2, usually referred to simply as Highway 2 is a provincially maintained highway in Ontario. Once the primary east–west route across the southern end of the province, Highway 2 became mostly redundant in the 1960s following the completion of Highway 401, which more or less...
. It is also the western terminus of the Thousand Islands Parkway
Thousand Islands Parkway
The Thousand Islands Parkway is a parkway in the Canadian province of Ontario, which extends easterly from an interchange with Highway 401 in Gananoque for approximately to the community of Butternut Bay, in Elizabethtown-Kitley, west of Brockville....
, and a short drive from the Thousand Islands Bridge
Thousand Islands Bridge
The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Constructed in 1937, with additions in 1959, the bridges span the United States-Canada border in the middle of the...
, which crosses into the United States. Gananoque is served by the Gananoque Airport
Gananoque Airport
Gananoque Airport, , is located northwest of the town of Gananoque, Ontario, Canada, in Canada's busy Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is currently a major centre for skydiving, as well as one of the three Canadian airports serving the Thousand Islands .-History:The Gananoque Airport...
for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
.
Demographics
Religious denominations
- 52.9% Protestant
- 31.9% CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
- 0.5% other ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
- 0.9% other religion
- 13.8% no religion
Population
- Population in 2006: 5285
- 2001 to 2006 population change: 2.3 %
- Population in 2001: 5167
- Population in 1996: 5219 (or 5217 when adjusted for boundary changes)
- Population in 1991: 5209
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 2314 (total: 2453)
Mother tongue
- English as first language: 94.2 %
- French as first language: 1.3 %
- English and French as first language: 0.4 %
- Other as first language: 4.1 %
Gananoque Police Service
Gananoque Police Service is a small law enforcement agency in the Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
community of Gananoque, Ontario. Unlike many small towns and villages in Ontario who have disbanded their municipal police forces in favour of contracting with the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
, the Gananoque Police Service continues to grow.
The current Chief of Police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
is Kai Liu, formerly an inspector with the Ottawa Police Service
Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service serves the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.-History:The OPS roots come from the formation of the "Bytown Association" in 1847. In 1855 Roderick Ross was the first Chief Constable for the newly formed City of Ottawa...
.
Local attractions
Gananoque is referred to as the "Gateway to the Thousand IslandsThousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
," which lie next to it in the St. Lawrence River. Local attractions include boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
cruise
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
s to the Thousand Islands and Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle, located on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands of the Saint Lawrence River, along the northern border of New York State, is a major landmark and tourist attraction in its region.-History:...
, NY, live theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, the summer theatre festival of The Thousand Islands Playhouse
The Thousand Islands Playhouse
The Thousand Islands Playhouse is a highly successful summer theatre company located in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada.The Thousand Islands Playhouse was founded in 1981 by Greg Wanless and a collection of local actors and graduates from Queen's University including Timm Hughes, Joan Gardiner, Mo Bock,...
, the Arthur Child Heritage Museum of the 1000 Islands and the OLG Casino Thousand Islands. The theatre company in Gananoque is The Thousand Islands Playhouse
The Thousand Islands Playhouse
The Thousand Islands Playhouse is a highly successful summer theatre company located in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada.The Thousand Islands Playhouse was founded in 1981 by Greg Wanless and a collection of local actors and graduates from Queen's University including Timm Hughes, Joan Gardiner, Mo Bock,...
which operates two theatre spaces: The Springer Theatre, and the Firehall Theatre, attracting international attention since 1982.
The Thousand Islands – Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
, designated in November 2002, is the 3rd in Ontario, the 12th in Canada, and one of over 400 around the world, and is part of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
’s Programme on Man and the Biosphere.
Gananoque is also well known around the world for being home of the ledengary "Johnny Sly".