In The News
New Georgian Bay 20 km. Paved Trail for Cyclists
and Hikers
Explores Historic Huronia and Southern Georgian Bay
 Tay
Township, Ontario…………………April
4, 2008. Cyclists and hikers who are amateur or avid
history buffs may want to consider heading back in time to
the early 1600’s where they can re-discover the shores
of Historic Georgian Bay and the life in New France between
1639 and 1649. Starting in Waubaushene just off Highway 400
at Highway 12 is the newly paved Tay
Shore Trail which runs to the Wye River and Midland. For
20 km. the new trail completed in 2007 will take you through
the heart of Southern Georgian Bay shorelines, rural Simcoe
County country side, the towns of Waubaushene, Victoria Harbour,
Port McNicoll eventually leading to Wye River and the town
of Midland.
Ontario’s earliest recreation of the Huron-Jesuit mission
1639-1649, Sainte-Marie
among the Hurons is one of Canada’s treasures sought
out by visitors from around the world. The story of Sainte-Marie
is of historic proportions as the foundations of Christianity
in North America begin with this inland mission settlement.
Today, Sainte-Marie presents living history in an entertaining
and informative format that is exciting for families and adults.
Right next door to the “Old Fort Sainte-Marie”
as it was once known, stands the Martyrs’
Shrine, a tribute to the French Jesuits who were martyred
during the Huron-Iroquois wars.
Tay Township Mayor Scott Warnock was quoted as saying “the
successful completion of the Tay Shore Trail in 2007 was the
culmination of over a decade's worth of effort by Tay Township
council, staff and residents. The securing of the abandoned
CN Rail
corridor and its eventual development into a multi-use trail
dates back to the mid 1990's.”
Mayor Warnock looks forward to the linking of the Tay Shore
Trail with
the Town of Midland in 2008.
The Township of Tay has created a lanyard containing historical
area information, suggested historic walking tours, beaches
and parks along with and a detailed breakdown of specific
shorter sections easily navigable for families with young
children. The route is divided into six suggested cycling
or walking (hiking) routes including:
Wye River to Trestle Park: 4.51 km.
Trestle Trail to Port McNicoll: 1.37 km
Trestle Park to Victoria Harbour 3.70 km
Victoria Harbour to Caswell Road: 3.25 km.
Caswell Road to Tanners Road: 3.16 km
Tanners Road to Coldwater Road 3.30 km.
Lanyards can be picked up at the Tay Township Municipal Offices
located at 450 Park Street in Victoria Harbour, or at the
Libraries in Victoria Harbour, and Waubaushene, or at the
Southern
Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce office on the Lakeshore
in downtown Midland
A variety of accommodation and getaway vacation packages
can be found at the Georgian
Bay Tourism website.
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For additional Information Contact Jeanine at Southern Georgian
Bay Chamber of Commerce 1-800-263-7745, or Tay Township Offices
at 705-534-7248 |
