Memories of “up North”

St. Joseph Island, Canada

I’ve spent a lot of time in what has been referred to as “up north” in Ontario. I always chuckle at that moniker since our cottage “up north” is at latitude 46, and Vancouver is at latitude 49 and Winnipeg is at 50, both further from the equator than our cottage. Toronto is at 43 degrees. So now you know the term refers to it’s location relative to the centre of the universe. 🙂 Sorry Torontonians. 🙂 Couldn’t resist.

You saw a picture of the Big Nickel in yesterday’s blog, which I’m sure you identified as being in Sudbury. However among the pictures from today is another oversize coin. Any idea it’s association with this part of Canada?

I had an excellent day for touring around St. Joseph Island and the mainland around that part of the world. Sunny for the most part and cooler than it has been, which is just fine with me.

A huge thanks to Marilyn for spending the day driving and touring around, giving me a break from driving. It was so nice to have a chance to get caught up as well! We had a lovely lunch at a restaurant in Hilton Beach overlooking the marina. And we might have had a small cone of chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

St. Joseph Island (affectionally called “St. Joe”) is at the western end of a series of islands in the North Channel of Lake Huron with the more populated, larger and better known Manitoulin Island at the east. Historically, a fort on the southern tip of the island played an important role in the first victory for British North America in the War of 1812 and there is a National Historic Site on the site of the original Fort. (However, if you visit the US historic site on Mackinac Island they have a different perspective.) Geologically, it is part of the Canadian Shield but there is a stone that is unique to the area, and very abundant on the island referred to by locals as Puddingstone. It’s technical name is jasper conglomerate and the stone was produced by the ice retreating causing chunks jasper and quartz to get jumbled up into other kinds of stone, producing the look of rice pudding with raisins in it.

There used to be a ferry to get residents to and from the island but in 1972 a bridge was built and it was eventually named the Bernt Gilbertson St. Joseph Island Bridge in honour of Bernt Gilbertson, an island resident and Progressive Conservative member of the provincial legislature who had long advocated for a bridge. The Gilbertson’s still play a major role in the economy of the island. Marilyn informed me today that she had discovered that the locals born on the island, refer to those of us not fortunate enough to be born there, as “bridge trash”. Arriving on the island by the bridge for our summers spent there I always felt a peacefulness descend on me as I went over the bridge. As you’ll see from the pictures that feeling was aided by the beauty all around.

One of the interesting things about the mainland area around St. Joe is that more and more families of Mennonites from southern Ontario are moving into the area because of the available and relatively cheap land. They are industrious and productive farmers despite using only man and real horse power and their stands selling vegetables, honey, etc. are always hopping with area locals and summer residents.

I hope you enjoy visiting my old stomping grounds as much as I did.