Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area Located on Lower Rideau Lake near the resort community of Rideau Ferry this conservation area consists of ten acres of woodland, meadows and beach. Owned and maintained by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, this site provides public day use access to the historic Rideau Canal system, and contains a public boat launch, trail and beach (with a changing hut) as well as picnic facilities. for more information visit the rvca website: www.rvca.ca Beveridge Locks Forming part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site,these locks serve to connect the Town of Perth, through the Tay River, to the Rideau System. The original Tay Canal wa built along the length of the Tay ending with a series of locks near Port Elmsley. These were destroyed by logs in 1865, although traces remain. The new canal was finally completed in 1891connecting Perth to the Rideau System through a new canal ending at Beveridge Bay. The facility contains two locks as well as an on-site exhibit, boat launch and short trail. The scenic trip along the Tay is a popular day trip for Rideau Canal travelers for more information visit their website: www.rideauinfo.com/canal/history/locks Wild Life Reserve Located just south of the Town of Perth in the Tay Marsh, this 635 acre site is a naturalist’s haven with habitat for deer, wild turkeys, turtles, ducks, geese, bluebirds and many others. The site is owned and maintained as a wildlife management area by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and contains a variety of habitats including mature woodlands, plantations, natural meadows and the ecologically significant Tay Marsh wetland. Two nature trails (including interpretive signage) and a viewing tower provide a great opportunity for hiking and wildlife observation. for more information visit the following links: www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/perth-wildlife-reserve-trail www.rvca.ca/careas/perth or download the brochure: pwr_brochure.pdf Original Tay Canal, Port Elmsley Located at the confluence of the Tay and Rideau River systems was the site of the original Tay Canal, a system of five locks located between the Tay’s mouth and Jebb’s Creek which provided the first reliable water access between the military settlement of Perth and the Rideau Canal network. Built in the 1830’s, these locks were built of rubble masonry and wooden planking and while they were smaller than those on the Rideau they were indispensable helping move people to and from Perth, as road transportation was almost impossible at the time. This period was Port Elmsley’s golden era as tanneries, cheese factories and a graphite milling operation, not to mention churches, hotels, stores and a railway station. Some of these buildings have been fully restored. While the construction of a more durable canal system at Beveridge Bay moved the transportation corridor westward, the remains of these original locks remain and ready for exploration by those with sturdy boots. for more information visit their website www.rideaufriends.com Drummond/North Elmsley Trails Trans- Canada Trail: A national network of trails connecting every province and most major cities, the multi-purpose trails provide opportunities for hiking bicycling and snowmobiling and when complete, the network will become part of the longest trail in the world. This trail passes through Drummond Ward along Concession 8A, Prestonvale Road, Dunlop Side Road and up to Ferguson's Falls. for more information vist http://tctrail.ca/ Rideau Trail: A multipurpose trail connecting Ottawa and Kingston allowing hikers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers the opportunity to travel the length of the Rideau Canal. The trail, with a total length of 387 kilometres, is maintained by the Rideau Trail Association and passes through the southern portion of North Elmsley. The Association holds regular hikes for members and guests. for more information visit www.rideautrail.org Mississippi Lake Bird Sanctuary Located southwest of Innisville off Drummond Concession 10B, this National Wildlife Area is a haven for migrating waterfowl in the fall. Representing one of the largest natural areas left on Mississippi Lake, the Sanctuary centres around the wetlands of McEwan Bay where stands of wild rice, cattail and other plants provide habitat for spawning fish in the spring, some of the best habitat for bullfrogs in the summer and many different species of birds, mammals and invertebrates. Before September (when boating is prohibited so as not to disturb the migratory birds), a public boat launch is available as well as opportunities to hike. Lanark County Archives The Archives, located in the former Drummond Township office in the hamlet of Drummond Centre, is an independent non-profit organization which provides a wealth of vital information dating from the 1850’s including land deeds, cemetery listings, census records, records of baptisms and marriages and newspaper collections. Run by the Lanark County Genealogical Society, the Archives has proved an invaluable resource for patrons across North America researching family roots as well as local families, church groups, school children and genealogists. Archives Lanark 1920 Concession 7 Road, Drummond Centre, Perth, Ontario K7H 3K4 for more information visit http://www.globalgenealogy.com/ Ferguson's Falls Boat Launch The Township’s Public Works Department recently announced the installation of a public dock to allow canoe access to the Mississippi River at Ferguson's Falls Hall. This launch allows paddlers to travel upstream along the river with an opportunity to observe fish, herons, turtles, ducks and otters along undisturbed shoreline. Canada’s Historic Places Register Mary Jane Wilson House: Constructed 1858-61 the home is a unique representation of the Ontario cottage architectural style with a unique L-shaped design and inhabited by some of Lanark County’s most prominent citizens over the last 150 years. Port Elmsley School: Constructed in 1873 out of locally quarried stone, this building educated 100 years of North Elmsley students until it was eventually converted into apartments. For more historical information on school houses in Drummond/North Elmsley Please visit one room school houses McKinley House: Constructed in 1849 this Georgian-style stone house was home to some of the most prominent farmers of the area and is notable for its pillars and intricate hand carved finishing’s and is considered a landmark along the Scotch Line Road. .