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Five Places You Have To Go Swimming In Brockville

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Located on the St.Lawrence River, Brockville has many great places to go swimming to cool off through the summer. Some of them are well known, while others are more off the beaten path and not as easy to find. Check out some of the popular locations to swim for locals in Brockville.

Brockville Visitor's Guide

Centeen Park

Centeen Park is a great place to go swimming if you’re a stronger swimmer. The water gets deep quickly, and the sea wall at the edge of the park makes getting in the water pretty adventurous if you’re feeling it. We love going to Centeen to swim so much, we made jumping off the sea wall into the river our cover for the 2020 Brockville Visitors’ Guide! It’s an experience that everyone growing up in the area will be familiar with. We want to make sure that our visitors know about this location as well. 

Swimmers, take note – on top of being a great swimming spot, Centeen Park is also very popular with scuba divers, so be sure to look before you leap! The St.Lawrence River is filled with amazing shipwrecks to explore. If you’re a new or inexperienced diver, you might need some practice with the currents. That’s where the Brockville Underwater Sculpture Park can help! You can explore underwater sculptures that were created by local artists and students and placed by Save Ontario Shipwrecks (SOS) while you practice scuba diving in the St.Lawrence River.

St. Lawrence Park

On the other side of town, you will find another very popular swimming location – St.Lawrence Park. There’s no mistaking that you’re in the entrance to the 1000 Islands at St.Lawrence Park – you can see the islands begin as you sit on the beach.  This park’s sandy beach is perfect for spending the day relaxing with the kids. The water is shallow and protected from the main currents of the St.Lawrence River by being a little bit more inland. A dock marks the boundaries of the swimming area. If you go past it, be prepared! There is a very strong river current going just outside of the marked area.

Cunningham Park

This quiet little park is a little further off the beaten path. Nestled inside of a residential area in the west of Brockville is Cunningham Park. Just like Centeen Park, Cunningham has a seawall to jump off of, but the only way out of the water is the ladder. Never the less, this swimming location is popular with locals in Brockville. Out of all the swimming spots in Brockville, Cunningham Park perhaps requires the strongest swimming skills, as the currents are not too far from the edge of the river.

Lyn Valley Conservation Area (Lyn Pit)

If you’re looking for a swimming spot that might be a little warmer and a little more sheltered, Lyn Valley Conservation Area (locally known as Lyn Pit)  might be your best bet! This swimming hole can be found just outside of Brockville. The water in this spring-fed lake is calm and quiet. The water is usually a bit warmer than the river itself too. This swimming location is so popular, there are swimming lessons throughout the summer through the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley.

Brown’s Bay Beach and Picnic Area

Brown’s Bay has a long history in the area. It continues to be a great stopping point for people during the drive between Toronto and Montreal. Just west of Brockville on the 1000 Islands Parkway, Brown’s Bay is a part of the Parks of the St.Lawrence. It does have a daily fee, which can be found here. This beach and picnic area is a great place to spend the day with the kids. There is also a playground and space to play sports.

Brockville has some great swimming locations in our area. However, outdoor swimming can be unpredictable and is affected by the elements. Be sure to check out the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit’s weekly Beach Results to make sure the water is safe to swim in.

Bonus: Brockville Rotary Park and Splash Pad

Looking for somewhere for the really little ones to have a great time and cool down? The splash pad at the Rotary Park is perfect for children to go and cool down without having to know how to swim.

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What’s New at Brockville Tourism – July 3rd, 2020

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As the city begins to reopen, as does the Brockville Tourism office! We’ve been hard at work to make sure that tourists visiting Brockville will have a great time, and this week we were able to make two big announcements involving Prudence Heward and new funding received!

Brockville Tourism Now Selling Prudence Heward Beaver Hall Group books for Brockville Museum

Prudence Heward books sit in front of display at Brockville Museum

Can’t wait for the Brockville Museum’s “Painting Picnic with Prudence Heward” exhibit to open? Good news! Brockville and 1000 Islands Tourism has partnered with the Friends of the Brockville Museum to make two books about the Beaver Hall Group available for purchase locally: “The Beaver Hall Group and Its Legacy” and “The Women of Beaver Hall”.  Both image-rich, hardcover books feature works by Prudence Heward are available through Brockville and 1000 Islands Tourism for the $60 list price each.

Proceeds from the sale of the books support the Friends of the Brockville Museum, a registered non-profit volunteer organization that supports museum programming and exhibition initiatives.  For more information about the Friends, including ways to support them, please visit: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/friends-of-the-brockville-museum

Both books are written by Evelyn Walters, who was a tremendous asset in helping the Brockville Museum assemble their exhibit, including making the donation of a work by Fernbank neighbour to the Hewards, Ruth Eliot, who exhibited alongside Heward, the Beaver Hall Group, and the Group of Seven.

The Brockville Museum’s “Painting Picnic with Prudence Heward” brings together for the first time, works by Heward (1896-1947) which exclusively feature Brockville and area scenes.  An associate of the Beaver Hall Group of painters, a Montreal group of both female and male artists active primarily in the 1920s. Heward spent her summers at the family’s cottage at Fernbank.  There she was known to host “painting picnics” with her friends and colleagues including A.Y. Jackson and Sarah Robertson.  As a result of these gatherings, a number of lesser-known works by these well-recognized artists were created depicting the Brockville area.  The exhibit, which includes loans from a dozen private collections and institutions, was set to open March 31st.  Although opening has been delayed due to the pandemic, a scaled down version of the exhibition is available online: https://brockvillemuseum.wixsite.com/digitalmuseum/painting-picnic-with-prudence-hewar

From the publisher (Dundurn):

THE WOMEN OF BEAVER HALL

This beautifully produced book portrays the life and work of Emily Coonan, Nora Collyer, Prudence Heward, Mabel Lockerby, Mabel May, Sarah Robertson, Anne Savage, and Ethel Seath. Long-lost catalogues, old newspaper reviews, and personal papers document their story, and more than 60 reproductions bring to light paintings that have lain hidden for more than fifty years.

THE BEAVER HALL GROUP AND ITS LEGACY

(a follow-up to The Women of Beaver Hall) Delves into the engrossing life stories of the twenty-five artists who belonged to the Beaver Hall Group and the Women of Beaver Hall. Over seventy-five images gleaned from museums and private collections highlight the work of these pioneering artists who changed the course of Canadian art. Written for student and scholar alike, The Beaver Hall Group and Its Legacy is a must for every art lover’s library.  (Includes one of the local works featured in the Brockville Museum exhibit).

Brockville Tourism receives $98,000 RRRF Grant

Brockville & 1000 Islands, ON 2 July 2020 —The Brockville Chamber of Commerce Tourism Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) is delighted to announce it has been awarded funding from the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) from TIAO (Tourism Industry Association of Ontario). The RRRF represents 30 million dollars injected into the province of Ontario by FedDev Ontario to support DMO’s. The Brockville DMO has been awarded $98,000 from the fund that was approved to create new tourism experiences and market our destination. 

“We are very grateful to have access to this funding. These past few months have been very difficult for our industry and even harder on our tourism attractions and business owners,” said Katherine Hobbs, Tourism Manager for Brockville. “The funds will allow support for those businesses and visibility for our destination.” 
 
The Brockville DMO’s goal at this time is to provide safe experiences for the community and also for travellers.  As Brockville Tourism looks forward to the next year and beyond we intend to showcase our communities’ outdoor attributes, attractions and businesses that rely on traveller spending to survive; notably our restaurants, retail shops and accommodations. This also includes supporting local artists, musicians and videographers.  

A mural on the north wall of the Tourism building is planned in partnership with the Brockville Walls Project, pending Council approval, to showcase the attributes of our beautiful City. The mural is intended to engage and support local artists, pique interest in public art, and ultimately promote our City via photos posted from both locals and travelers. The mural will contribute to the heritage, beauty and culture of our community.   

Additionally, planning is underway for a “hyperlocal” campaign to help directly support our business and attractions. “The tourism staff are working on the details of a Safe Experience Campaign to assist local businesses in the near future. Details are to be unveiled by the end of July,” said Hobbs.  

 “The funding we have received will contribute to a long-awaited recovery for our businesses.  It gives us a chance to promote all we have here in Brockville and the 1000 Islands while still respecting social distancing,” said Pamela Robertson, Executive Director of the Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce.

According to recent studies by the Ontario Government, full recovery of the tourism sector is expected to take until 2024. The RRRF funding will complement the $350,000 in funding announced by Minister Lisa MacLeod during her visit to Brockville on June 13, 2020.  That funding is intended to market the 1000 Island Region and will be awarded to the South Eastern Ontario Regional Tourism Organization, RTO9, in the fall of 2020.  Details on how that funding will be used by RTO9 to help us in our region during the recovery years will be announced later this year.

About the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce: The Brockville Chamber is part of a network of Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade that exist in every community across Ontario and Canada. The Chamber network consists of 65,000 businesses provincially and 170,000 businesses nationally. Locally, the Chamber has over 400 members and is recognized as this area’s official “Voice of Business” since 1906. This voice is an effective force in influencing issues and legislation affecting your business and our community. It is a membership-based and not-for-profit association that is led by an elected volunteer Board of Directors. The Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce manages the Destination Marketing Organization for the tourism industry in Brockville. 

For further information please contact:  
Katherine Hobbs, Tourism Manager  
613-325-8927 
Katherine@brockvilletourism.com

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Canada Day 2020 – Celebrating During COVID-19

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It’s no surprise that after the year we’ve had so far (can you believe it’s only June?!) that Canada Day 2020 is going to look a little different this year. We’re physically distancing, we’re wearing masks, but we’re still going to celebrate. After all, it is the Canadian national anthem’s 40th birthday, and our flag’s 55th birthday! COVID-19 can’t stop us from celebrating safely!

Brockville Tourism is working together with the City of Brockville and other local organizations to make sure this Canada Day is fun and safe for everyone.

Canada Day Painted Rock

Week Before Canada Day: Let’s Decorate!

Brockville Tourism is decorating outside our visitor centre leading up to the big day, and we’re asking everyone to join in!

Throughout our physical distancing, painted rocks have been popping up along the Brock Trail with inspirational messages of hope. The young and young at heart are invited to paint a red and white rock with their own inspirational messages on them and leave them in our boat facing Water Street! We will be painting the boat red for the occasion, and want to have a full rock garden of messages from locals, so feel free to join us today!

June 29th – July 1st: Canada, Let’s Get Together!

The national celebration of Canada Day starts early online! Visit the Canadian Heritage website starting June 29th to take part in online activities including cooking challenges, sports challenges, innovation challenges and discovering the hidden treasures of digital Canada! Take part on social media and rise to the challenge!

All Day: Show Us How You’re Celebrating Canada Day 2020 Photo Contest

Brockville, we know that this year is going to be a little different from how we celebrate Canada Day. Maybe you’ll dress in your favourite red and white, or maybe you’ll bake a Canada Day dessert. Perhaps Canada Day is always celebrated with a big barbecue, or a jump in the St. Lawrence River. However you celebrate Canada Day, Brockville Tourism wants to see how you’re celebrating! Take photos or videos of how you are celebrating throughout the day, and there will be two ways to enter:

  1. Use the hashtag #ClearlyBrockville AND #CanadaDay on either Instagram or Twitter to be entered before 11:59 pm on July 2nd.
  2. Email your photos to contest@brockvilletourism.com before 11:59 pm on July 2nd.

The winner will be chosen at random and will win a family dinner prize pack from Cowan’s Dairy!!

All Day: National Celebration Celebration Kit

The Canadian Heritage website has set up a full day of activities packs for the entire family. Learn more about the maple leaf through the Arts And Culture activity pack, discover the Peace Tower through the History, Symbols and Traditions activity pack, explore the outdoors and enjoy physical activity with the Beaver activity pack, and cook up a culinary storm with the O Canada activity pack.

9 am – 12 pm: MS Teddy Bear Picnic Goes Virtual

This is an event the whole family can enjoy! Families are encouraged to host their own teddy bear picnics at home and share their photos with ont-leeds@mssociety.ca. You can learn more about this festival on the MS Society’s Teddybear Festival Facebook Page.

9:30 am: InstaChoir Canada Performs

InstaChoir Canada will be broadcasting a performance at around 9:30 am on Canada Day. There will be a few local voices, and this can be watched through Facebook, Youtube or the InstaChoir website.

10 am: Brockville Road Runners 5K Run/Walk From Home – Together Individually

This Canada Day tradition will continue no matter what! Join the Brockville Road Runners in their annual fundraising event for the Brockville and Area Food Bank.

To take part, register online through Trackie and make a donation. Donations of $20 or more will receive a tax receipt from the Food Bank at the end of the year. Then on Wednesday, July 1st, wear your best Canada Day colours, step out your front door, turn left and GO. Keeping with tradition, 5km is the distance, however, if a 1km walk or run is more suited for your age or ability, feel free to join in that way! What is important is that you’re participating and having fun. Together Individually is the title this year, so make sure you’re following all the COVID-19 guidelines while taking part. You can also feel like you’re running together by joining the Brockville Road Runners Club Facebook Group!

11 am: O’Canada – The Brockville Remix

Join us on Facebook at 11am for a special treat – sing O Canada with local dignitaries, Brockville City Council and community members!

1 pm – 2 pm: Canada Day Across the Country

For the afternoon, we’ll be taking part in the national ceremonies happening online and on CBC! There will be a daytime show, Canada Day Across the Country hosted by Serena Ryder and Pierre-Yves Lord. Watch Sudbury, Montréal, Québec, Moncton, Winnipeg, Yellowknife and Calgary.

8pm – 10pm: Canada Day Together

We will continue to take part in the national ceremonies by tuning in to the evening show, Canada Day Together on CBC or online. Serena Ryder and Pierre-Yves Lord will be hosting once again, and there will be a collection of great performers from coast to coast to coast! You can see the full lineup on the Canadian Heritage website.

Business Support Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

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If you are a business owner of any kind, we know that this period of uncertainty is very difficult. During this time, we want to provide some information for things you can do to both help and receive help over the coming weeks and months.

How to Help

Offer Your Supplies and Services to Those In Need

If you are a business that has the following items in your supplies, please consider taking part in the Canadian Government’s request to help Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

N95 Mask needed during COVID-19 Pandemic

The government is looking for surplus stock of the following items:

  • Disposable N95 masks
  • Disposable surgical masks
  • Nitrile gloves
  • Vinyl gloves
  • Gowns
  • Bottles of hand sanitizer
  • Other prevention products

They are also looking for people who can provide the following services:

  • Guard / security services
  • Nursing services
  • Food services
  • Laundry services
  • Accommodation maintenance services
  • Personal services
  • IT support services
  • Other services

If your business can help during this time, please consider filling out this submission form with how you can help. Please contact your local Provincial Senior Business Advisor or Strategic Account Manager if you have any further questions.

If Help Is Needed

Gift Certificate Support Through AttractionsOntario

People are being actively encouraged to purchase gift certificates right now to help companies in the future. Buying a gift certificate brings in income right now, and also ensures people will come into your store again once the emergency measures are lifted.

If you are a tourism attraction or business and offering gift certificates, please contact AttractionsON to let them know about your online gift certificate sales. They have a page dedicated to these gift certificates, and they will be promoting these offers on social media as well.

For more information, or to submit your business, please reach out to:

Tine Elgsaether
Membership Coordinator
tine@attractionsontario.ca

RDA Funding

Your local RDA (Regional Development Agency) is here to help businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

These RDAs are on the front line of economic development in Canada, and can help to address key challenges that businesses are facing economically. They are monitoring the current COVID-19 situation closely, and watching the impact it has on our local economies.

If you are a tourism operator or small- or medium- sized business or organization and have received RDA funding and COVID-19 is affecting your operations, you are encouraged to contact your local RDA office. Your local RDA office can review your situation and provide guidance.

  • You may be eligible to receive additional funding and/or flexible arrangements.
  • Further support will be determined on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves.

If you are a tourism operator or small- or medium- sized business or organization impacted by the sudden shifts in the economy and need pressing assistance, the RDAs could assist you with:

  • Access to federal funding to help you stay in business.
  • Advice and pathfinding services to other federal programs and services available.

For further information, please contact FedDev Ontario.

These programs are being run through their individual organizations, so please be sure to reach out to the individual programs for further information.

Begin December 2019 With A Bang!

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The countdown is on – we are now within one month until Christmas! This coming weekend, Brockville is going to really pull out all the stops. There will be a lot to see and do, and it all starts on Friday.

Friday, November 29th

Black Friday

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The American tradition is now firmly engrained in Canadian shopping culture, and downtown Brockville is going to embrace it – including Brockville Tourism! Many of the stores in Brockville will have their own Black Friday sales, including along King Street. To find out specifics for individual stores, we recommend checking the Downtown Brockville website, flyers or social media to find out what kind of deals they will be offering. It’s a great opportunity to keep your money local during the holidays while still getting a great deal.

We CAN tell you though that the sales at Brockville Tourism are going to be fantastic. All regular priced items in store will be 30% off, not including consignment and food items. There also will be an hourly giveaway for Island Breakfast 2020 tickets, so shop early and often for your best chance to win!

Downtown Tree Lighting – 7pm

Once you’re finished shopping, head down to the bottom of Courthouse at the fountain to see the lighting of the new mega tree! This is going to be Brockville’s biggest and best tree yet, so you’ll definitely want to come watch the official lighting of it. The Winter Classic crew will also be on hand to keep everyone warm with hot chocolate, and there will be food donation boxes available to help the Brockville Foot Bank.

Saturday, November 30th

Breakfast with Santa – 8:30am (Sold Out)

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That’s right – it’s week two of Breakfast with Santa, and this one is going to be the most unique one ever! Hosted at the giant igloo at the Brockville Christmas Market, kids of all ages will get to meet with Santa. Make sure you bring your camera for some photos, and your letter for Santa as well!

If you were unable to book tickets to the Breakfast with Santa, don’t worry! There will be one more on December 7th at Brimstone Wood-Fired Pizza, and tickets are available through Eventbrite.

Christmas Market – 10am to 5pm

The first edition of the Brockville Christmas Market will take place on the weekend of November 30 – December 1, 2019. This is an outdoor market, and will take place rain or shine, so make sure you’re dressed for the weather! The Christmas Market will take place at the Tunnel Plaza (not in the tunnel, but the south exit at Blockhouse.)

There’s going to be a lot to see and do, including music and children’s activities! There will be a climbing wall, a bouncy castle and a gigantic 50′ slide. It’s not all kids events though – in the evening, there will be the Rock the Block Dinner and Igloo party. This 19+ event will be filled with great music from Johnny Pandora, a Japanese rockabilly group. If you enjoyed the Red Hot and Blue festival this summer, you’ll love the music in the igloo! Tickets are $75 for both the dinner (Starting at 6pm) and party, or $10 I(In advance, $20 at the door) for the party beginning at 8pm. Capacity is 100 people, so don’t wait!

Brockville Rotary Santa Claus Parade – 5pm to 8pm

It’s going to be a “Dickens of a Christmas” this year in Brockville during our annual Santa Claus Parade. The parade will begin at the corner of Pearl Street East and North Augusta Road at 5pm. It will go south on North Augusta Road to King Street East, and then turn right onto King Street East. The parade will run along King Street and will finish at the Metro and Old Leons lot.

River of Lights Opening Night – 8pm

It started with the tree of lights on Blockhouse Island. This year, it has spread to all of Blockhouse Island! Come and see the River of Lights, starting on November 30th. It will run right through December and will wrap up on January 2nd.

After the Santa Claus Parade, make your way down to the Tunnel Plaza. There will be a few speeches after the parade, and then the switch will be flipped to turn on the River of Lights display. On the opening night, Blockhouse Island will only be open to foot traffic, so make sure you’re dressed for the weather.

Sunday, December 1st

The Christmas Market will continue to run through December 1st, from 10am to 4pm. Once the Christmas Market is closed, the River of Lights display will run from 4pm to 11pm. From 4-5pm and from 10-11pm, the lights will be a static light show. Between 5-10pm, the lights will run as a sound and light show that you can listen to from the speakers outside or through your car radio! Keep an eye on the River of Lights Facebook event to find out the dial number.

Otter Build a Snack – 1pm to 3pm

If you’re worried about Brockville’s resident otters not getting Christmas gifts, don’t worry! The Aquatarium will be running their Otter Build a Snack program every Sunday in December from 1-3pm. For $5, you will be able to choose the shape of your snack, make it, personalize a gift tag for the otters, and will receive a picture of the snack and the Aquarist giving the treat to the otters through email. This event will run first come first serve while supplies last per date.

Throughout the first week of December…

To keep on top of everything happening in Brockville, both through the holiday season and throughout the year, make sure you’re on our mailing list! We send a schedule out of events happening throughout the next seven days every Thursday.

Get Ready for Halloween 2019

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We are less than two weeks away from Halloween, and all along the St.Lawrence, people are getting ready to be scared!

Tunnel of Terror – Brockville Railway Tunnel

Returning to the Brockville Railway Tunnel is the Tunnel of Terror! This half kilometre walk is different to any other walk through the tunnel – filled with your darkest nightmares, the scariest creatures, and other things that go bump in the night. Tickets are $10 each, and it runs from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. The evening Tunnel of Terror walks are NOT recommended for children!

Not brave enough for the evening Tunnel of Terror? Looking for something a bit more family friendly? The Kids Tunnel of Terror should be right up your alley! On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, between 1 and 3pm, children 10 and under will be able to go through a tamed down version of the Tunnel of Terror for $5 each. Parents will be able to attend with their child for $10 and will then receive a bracelet that will give them admission to a nighttime Tunnel of Terror as well.

The proceeds from the Tunnel of Terror event will go towards the Senior Support Services – CPHC and the Brockville Railway Tunnel.

Prescott Zombie Walk – Downtown Prescott

The town of Prescott takes their Halloween celebrations VERY seriously. On Saturday, October 19th from 1 to 6pm, there will be the 4th annual Zombie Walk! Face-painting and trick or treating will be happening on King Street West. There also will be a spooky talent show from 1:30-3:30pm, as well as zombie yoga, a zombie market, and the zombie walk! The Zombie Walk will depart from the Zombie Central (the clock tower) at 4pm, so make sure you’re there with time to spare. All these events will be collecting for the South Grenville Food Bank, so help the undead take a bite out of hunger and get ready for Halloween.

Prescott Town Hall Terror – 360 Dibble St W

While you’re in Prescott, it’s worth sticking around for the Prescott Town Hall Terror! Running on October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th from 7pm to 10pm, this spooky walk through the very haunted second floor of the town hall will definitely scare you and get you in the spooky spirit.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children, and donations will also be accepted for the Food Bank to get entered for door prizes.

Pumpkinferno – Upper Canada Village

Pumpkinferno is a great, family friendly event happening every weekend through October at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg. Over 7000 hand carved pumpkins take over the village, making it feel warm with that eerie Halloween light from the jack-o-lanterns. To learn more about Pumpkinferno, check out our review from the event this year here!

Fort Fright – Fort Henry, Kingston

Fort Henry is entering it’s 12th year of scares with their Fort Fright. Visitors will be horrified as they make their way through the dry-ditch and inner walls of the fort. Admission includes the Fort Fright scares, a coffin ride, the haunted carnival, and then experiences from Haunted Walks, Improbably Escapes and more! Follow the story of Mindset Research as they deal with the aftermath of a failed research project. Researchers conducted tests to see how radiation and technology affect all living things over time. By increasing these levels dramatically, devastating outcomes are witnessed and the project is shut down. However, some of the test subjects have gone missing…

Tickets can be bought online, and general admission is $25 each.

All Hallows Hoedown – Brockville Legion

Looking to combine your love for Halloween with your love for country music? Check out the Brockville Legion on October 25th for the All Hallows Hoedown Halloween Party! Enjoy performances from Country Rocks and Dirty Alibi. There will also be costume contests, red neck games and more! Don’t wait on this one – book your tickets online at 1000 Islands Snapd, or buy your tickets through band members. This party WILL sell out!

Halloween Hullabaloo – Brockville Legion

Back for year six, the Halloween Hullabaloo is back on October 26th! This party is for Halloween lovers, done by Halloween lovers. The organizers go to great lengths to make sure they throw the best party, have the best decorations, and the best music. And of course, there will be a tons of costume prizes and loads of fun.

There will be two great photo ops to make sure your great costume gets the photographic justice it deserves. Ryan James will start off the evening with live music. Abandon Eden will then really kick things into full gear with music from the 60’s to the present. Ohm’s Law will round out the evening with music from the 90s.

Tickets are $15 each, and are available from the Legion, band members, or directly through the Facebook event page.

Thriller: Brownman Ali – Court House Lodge

Jazz and Hip-hop trumpet player Brownman Ali will be leading an all-star quartet through his annual Thriller concert on October 26. Experience the entire “Thriller” recording by Michael Jackson, interpreted and re-worked in a jazz fashion. Costumes and Thriller dance moves are encouraged! Tickets can be bought through Eventbrite or at the venue.

Halloween Activities – Downtown Brockville

Looking for somewhere fun and familiar to go trick-or-treating on Halloween? Downtown Brockville is the place to be! Many of the downtown Brockville shops will be handing out treats, and there will also be a Treat Trunk event where other members of the community will be able to register to give out candies and decorate their vehicles. For more information about the Downtown Brockville Halloween events, check out their website or Facebook Event page.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Brockville Arts Centre

The cult classic is coming to the Brockville Arts Centre on October 31st! Come in costume and be prepared to have a lot of fun.

For those unfamiliar, the Rocky Horror Picture Show is a movie about a newly engaged couple who break down in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr.Frank-N-Furter.

Rule 1: Please be advised, only the following items are allowed in the theatre:

  • Newspaper
  • Flashlight or glowsticks
  • noise makers
  • rubber gloves
  • bell
  • party hat

Rule 2: DO NOT BRING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING INTO THE THEATRE (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:)

  • eggs
  • rice
  • dry toast
  • squirt gun
  • prunes
  • hot dogs
  • ANY FOOD PRODUCT
  • rolls of toilet paper
  • lighters / open flames
  • confetti
  • playing cards
  • super soakers
  • …and anything else not mentioned in the approved list.

Rule 3: All purses, bags, jackets, and pockets may be searched before entering the theatre. Please leave anything not allowed in your car.

Rule 4: No cameras or recording devices are allowed into the theatre. You may take as many photos as you like before and after the show, but while the film is running, all photography is forbidden.

The theatre reserves the right to confiscate props. Failure to comply will result in ejection from the theatre without a refund.

Tickets can be bought on the Brockville Arts Centre website, and are $10 a person.

Brockville Tourism Summit 2019

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If you work in the tourism industry, be sure to check a tourism summit being hosted by Brockville Tourism. These tourism summits, taking place on September 24 and 25th, we will be covering two very important topics in terms of tourism – culinary tourism and social media management. We will also discuss how we can make sure that Brockville’s tourism industry continues to develop and grow.

Brockville’s Tourism Summit – September 24th

From Field to Fork: Redefining Brockville's Food Culture Tourism Summit.

From Field to Fork: Redefining Brockville’s Food Culture

People living in South Eastern Ontario are very lucky. They have an attachment to their food and where it comes from. Many people who live in the city don’t see farms or farm animals until they’re much older. Mny of our restaurants are able to benefit from this connection. It’s time we start to be proud of the fact we can see our food actually go from field to fork, either through our markets or restaurants.

Join Agatha Podgorski, Director of Community Engagement at the Culinary Tourism Alliance, to explore easy ways you can attract new visitors to your business. In this two hour session, we’ll dive into why food and drink experiences are top of mind for today’s traveller and how to get their attention. You’ll learn how to meet customer expectations, how to increase your sales through storytelling – both in person and online – and a few ways the area, collectively, can grow food tourism.

If you are interested in attending this free morning of food tourism storytelling, register for a ticket on our Eventbrite page!

  • 9am – Registration
  • 9:30am – Welcome remarks from the Brockville Tourism team
  • 9:35am – Telling Your Food Story (and Making Sure People Listen)
    • Led by Agatha Podgorski, Director of Community Engagement at Culinary Tourism Alliance
    • We’ll cover food tourism basics like why people are travelling for food and what they’re expecting, then dig into some easy, inexpensive ways you can grab their attention. We’ll talk a bit about successful partnerships and some tools you can be using to better work with your Destination Marketing Organization and other groups looking to put on you on the food map in Ontario and beyond.
  • 11:30am – FeastOn: Brockville Introduction
  • 12:00pm – Wrap-up

Brockville’s Tourism Summit – September 25th

Let's Get Social - The Power of Social Media In Tourism Today Tourism Summit

Let’s Get Social: The Power of Social Media in Tourism Today

If you’re not on social media, you’re not where your customers are. Advertising, feedback and reviews can all be found across the internet. If you’re not in control of your social presence, you’re not listening properly.

Brockville Tourism will be focusing on social media and gaining control of your social presence through the three major forms of media – paid, owned and earned media. We will also be introducing our 2020 media kit, with all the different opportunities to advertise next year through Brockville Tourism.

This full day of tourism and social media will help you get ready for the 2020 tourism season. It will also prepare for your business in the long run digitally. There will be opportunities to network with other companies, as well as learn from from various talks.

Tickets are $15 and include your lunch. If you are looking to promote your own business to other tourism businesses in the area, we encourage you to book a table as well for an additional $15. Your business will be on display throughout the day around the summit, and people will be able to come and learn more about what you do.

  • 8:30am – Registration
  • 8:30-9:30am – Networking
  • 9:30am – Opening Remarks
  • 9:45am – Keynote Address: Establishing Your Owned Media
  • 11:15am – FeastOn: Brockville Introduction
  • 11:45am – 2019 Statistics Overview
  • 12:00pm – Lunch
  • 1:00pm – Maps and Visitor Guide talk
  • 1:15pm – Panel: Earned Media and Micro-Influencers
  • 2:30pm – Wrap-up

To buy your tickets to the tourism summit, be sure to check out our EventBrite page. You also can come into the Brockville Tourism office to fill out a registration form and pay in store.

Big River Festival – A Complete Guide

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It is the inaugural year for Brockville’s Big River Festival! For those who might not know what’s going on throughout the end of August, or haven’t heard of Big River Festival yet, this post is for you! We’re going to break down the next week to make sure you’re ready for days of fun right up to the Labour Day Weekend!

Friday, August 23rd

Canadian Dock Jumping Championships – Hardy Park

We start the Big River Festival with the Canadian Dock Jumping Championships. This is a national competition for dogs and their owners that happens every year. Regional events have happened throughout the summer for dogs to qualify, and the best of the best will be competing for the title of champion in Canada.

Brockville Museum Walking Tours – Brockville Museum

The beginning of Big River Festival will mark the end of Brockville Museum’s walking tours throughout downtown Brockville. At 3pm, the Historic Waterfront Walking Tour will explore the waterfront and tell stories about Brockville’s history. Then at 7pm, Brockville’s Criminal Past Walking tour will tell the tales of Brockville’s past, including stories of one of the largest bank heists in Canadian history. Tickets can be bought in advance on Snapd 1000 Islands, or at the Brockville Museum for $8 a person.

Saturday, August 24th

Brockville Farmers’ Market – Market Street West

Enjoy walking along Market Street West as vendors sell their locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as baked goods, preserves, maple syrup, arts and crafts and more!

Canadian Dock Jumping Championships – Hardy Park

Saturday is going to be a great day to check out the dock jumping, since it will be a good mix of practices and competition. It’s also the day where you can bring your dog down to Hardy Park to try it themselves! The full schedule of events can be found on the Canadian Championships website.

Sunday, August 25th

Canadian Dock Jumping Championships – Hardy Park

The final day of dock jumping! Make sure you check out the finals and see which dog is crowned champion!

Beachfest – St Lawrence Park

Starting at 10am, Beachfest is a fun and free family event! At 10am, there will be a church service hosted by The Pier Christian Church. Then at 12pm, the free activities and entertainment begin. There will be games and activities put on by different groups in Brockville. These include events like a sand castle building contest, face painting, art, a scavenger hunt, and a volleyball tournament. There also will be a petting zoo, bouncy castles, and the chance to see some of the Brockville Fire trucks!

Free popcorn and cotton candy will be available, and Loaves and Fishes will be hosting a barbecue, with all the proceeds going to Loaves and Fishes. Squeezers Lemonade and Goodies will also be there with their fresh squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes and deep fried Oreos!

For more information or for the detailed schedule of events, check out the Facebook Event page. Make sure you RSVP right away!

Sunday Concerts In the Park – Hardy Park

Come see the final concert in this annual summer series! Christ and Alex with the Great Music Guys will be performing at 6:30pm at the Gazebo in Hardy Park. Bring a chair, sit back and enjoy the season closing performance. Note: If the weather is bad, the concert will be at St.John’s United Church.

Monday, August 26th

WPBS TV Screening: Great Lakes Now + Starry Night – The Aquatarium

WPBS will be offering a free screening of an episode of “Great Lakes Now” in the theatre at the Aquatarium for Big River Festival! The episode will be “Ships and Shipwrecks” and will focus on the CSL Welland, a series of locks that allows ships to bypass Niagara Falls and the people who work on board . The series is all about the world’s largest system of fresh water, focusing on the environmental, economic and political issues that surround the Great Lakes and the people who use, cherish and protect them.

The showing will be opened by the WPBS President and General Manager, Mark Prasuhn. The event is free, but you are encouraged to pre-register on the WPBS website.

Guests will also be able to visit the 4th floor Pilot House on a first come, first served basis to look up and explore the galaxy and planets. The presentation explores our solar system and highlights what’s visible in the night sky that evening. The tour includes constellations, planets, the moon, colliding galaxies, and exploding star, glowing nebulae, star clusters and planetary transits. It will be an exciting journey into space, based on computer generated large format images projected on the planetarium.

Tuesday, August 27th

Film Screening – “Maiden” – Brockville Arts Centre

There will be a screening of the documentary film “Maiden” presented by Film Brockville. The film tells the story of Tracy Edwards, a 24-yer-old who became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World race in 1989.

There will be a screening at both 2pm and 7pm, and tickets are available through the Brockville Arts Centre.

Big River Night on Blockhouse Island – Tunnel Plaza

Enjoy a free, family friendly evening of entertainment to celebrate our beautiful waterfront! There will be live performers including Gerry Mitchell and a hula hoop performer. Activities will include face painting, pirate shop painting, a kids booth by the Brockville Public Library and a race at 5:45 by the Brockville Yacht Club.

  • 5:30pm: hula hoop demos, face painters, art INDEED pirate craft, popsicles and giveaways in the railway tunnel plaza
  • 5:45pm: Brockville Yacht Club race in the St. Lawrence River (best viewing location is from Hardy Park – sail boats will pass by tunnel plaza between roughly 6:00-6:20pm)
  • 6:00pm: Gerry Mitchell performance
  • 6:30pm: Hula Hoop show
  • 7:00pm: Gerry Mitchell performance (second set)
  • 7:30pm: Hula Hoop show (second set)

Wednesday, August 28th

Live Music at the Waterfront – Fat Les Waterfront Patio, Blockhouse Island

Come visit the waterfront for a “Big River” drink, dinner and an ice cream at the Waterfront Patio! There will be live entertainment, including The Rifle & The Writer, Rebekka Paige and Colby Latocha. This event will be hosted by Fat Les Waterfront Patio on Blockhouse Island.

Ghost Tours – Fulford Place

What roams the halls after the lights go out? Come learn more about Fulford’s more spooky stories after hours by taking part in a 30 minute ghost tour around the haunted mansion. Tickets can be bought at the Kensington Parkway Quickie, Fulford Place or online at Eventbrite. Reservations are required, so make sure you buy your tickets in advance!

Elvis: The Concert – Brockville Arts Centre

Pete Paquette will bring the classic music of Elvis back to life with his live band. Throughout the concert, experience the entire musical career of Elvis, through the 1950’s, Elvis in leather, and his explosive Vegas years. Tickets are $35 each, and can be bought on the Brockville Arts Centre’s website.

Thursday, August 29th

Brockville Farmers’ Market – Market Street West

Come spend the morning down at the Brockville Farmer’s Market! Grab some lunch, some fruits or vegetables, and have a stroll past the different vendors selling their locally grown and produced goods.

Music on the Veranda – Fulford Place

Come enjoy the final performance of Music on the Veranda at Fulford Place from 12pm to 1pm. Pack a lunch and enjoy the music of Yvan Petit, a country singer, guitar plater and member of Johnny Reid’s band. Admission to Music On the Veranda is by donation.

Elvis: The Concert – Brockville Arts Centre

Come relive the classic music of Elvis Presley with Pete Paquette and his live band during the two performances on Thursday at 2pm and 8pm. Enjoy all the hits as Paquette goes through Elvis’ entire career of music.

Aquatarium After Dark with YukYuks Comedy – Aquatarium

Standup comedy will be taking over the Aquatarium once the doors close to the public! Come see the Aquatarium while enjoying cocktail hour from 6-7pm with live music from Amelia Foley. Then at 7pm, the following comedians will perform:

  • Geoffrey Appelbaum
  • Patrick Haye
  • Rachelle Elie
  • Sebastien Bourgault

There will be a cash bar and refreshments available by Moose McGuires.

  • Homemade kettle chips or popcorn – $3
  • Theatre service “hot box” including 3 chicken wings + sauce, 2 bruschetta, 2 fried pickles and a bag of kettle chips – $15
  • Table service appetizer platter – $20 (preorder and served 30 minutes before the show)

Tickets can be bought online through the Brockville Arts Centre.

Big River Brockville Islands Sunset Cruise – 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises

Enjoy a sunset cruise throughout Brockville’s islands with the 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises. This cruise, leaving at 6:30pm, will be a special cruise designed to enlighten passengers, about our rich history along the St.Lawrence River, and will tell stories of shipwrecks, the islands, and different unique stories that may not have been heard before. These stories have been developed and delivered by the staff of the Brockville Museum, and are going to be well worth the trip! Tickets can be booked through the 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises website.

Movies in the Park: Aladdin – Hardy Park

The final movie of the summer will be the 2019 remake of Aladdin! Come enjoy the bouncy castles, snacks and free popcorn from 6:30 until sunset. The movie will begin once the sun has set. Bring a chair and arrive early to make sure you’ve got a good spot!

This list only takes us up to the Long Weekend! Keep watching Brockville Tourism’s website to get all the details about Big River Festival, the Red Hot & Blue Rockabilly Festival, Shootout Fishing League Solo series, the SNOlympiad and of course, Tall Ships!

Keeping it Ecofriendly at Brockville Tourism

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Everywhere you look these days, people are making efforts to become more ecofriendly. One of the biggest initiatives in Canada right now is the Canadian government’s plan to ban single use plastics as early as 2021. The Brockville Tourism office wants to make sure you’re ready years in advance by bringing in goods that will help you reduce your carbon footprint!

Glass Jars and Bottles

  • EcoFriendly - Mason Jar
  • EcoFriendly - Mason Jar
  • EcoFriendly - Mason Jar

Our glass mason jars are a nice way of enjoying an icy drink! Use them over and over again instead of plastic or styrofoam cups, and impress your guests wth the adorable Canadiana decorating each jar.

Cost: $4.79 each

  • EcoFriendly - Milk Bottle
  • Milk Bottle

These classic milk bottles will bring a sense of nostalgia to your home. With their nautical theme, they are sure to fit in perfect with any summer decor! Can’t you just imagine sitting back and drinking your favourite drink out of these ecofriendly bottles?

Cost: $4.79 each

Tumblers

  • EcoFriendly - Tumbler
  • Tumbler
  • Tumbler

Looking for something to keep your drinks cold (or hot) for hours? These insulated tumblers will probably last longer than you will! Coming in three different options – water bottle, coffee tumbler, and wine glass shapes – and different colours, these tumblers will last you for years! Forget ever needing to buy bottles of water again! Save money by using your coffee tumbler when you go to your local coffee shop! Never worry about your wine getting warm again! The perks just keep going on and on.

Cost:
Water bottle: $21.99
Coffee tumbler: $21.99
Wine glass: $17.99

Stainless Steel Straws

These reusable straws are going to be flying off the shelves quickly. Coming in packs of 4 and 8, every pack comes with a cleaning brush so you can use these straws for ages to come. The price couldn’t be better too! Strike one more single use plastic off your worry list with these straws.

Cost:
4 pack, bent straws: $4.99
8 pack, straight straws: $9.99

To find all of these goods, be sure to come by the Brockville Tourism office at 10 Market Street West, Brockville, Ontario! And don’t forget – the last Thursday of every month is Seniors Day! People ages +55 get 20% off regular priced merchandise (Not including food or tickets.)

Canada Day Weekend Celebrations 2019

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With the official start of summer coming tomorrow, people are making their plans for all the summer long weekends coming up. The first long weekend is coming up soon – Canada Day Weekend!

1000 Islands Regatta

Canada Day weekend is going to start with a roar – quite literally! The 1000 Islands Regatta will be taking place from June 28-30th at Blockhouse Islands, and will be the host of the hydroplane racing league. These boats are essentially planes without wings, flying down the St.Lawrence at breakneck speeds, reaching over 100 MPH easily! Racing will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am until 5pm. After the races, there will be live musical performances.

Canada Day 2019 - 1000 Islands Regatta - Platinum Blonde

Platinum Blonde will begin the weekend on Friday, June 28th. This Canadian rock band will be performing all their classics throughout the night. Supporting act is Bourne To Rock

Canada Day 2019 - 1000 Islands Regatta -Jason Blaine

Canadian country music star Jason Blaine will perform on Saturday, June 29th. This singer from Pembroke, Ontario will really keep the audience going after a day of racing, so look forward to that. The supporting act is Jordy Jackson.

Canada Day 2019 - 1000 Islands Regatta - The Northern Pikes

Closing the festival concert series will be The Northern Pikes. These Canadian legends and Juno nominees will really keep the energy going after the trophy presentations on the main stage at 5pm. Their supporting acts are Dead Root Revival and Reckless 4.

Weekend passes and day passes can be bought at the Brockville Tourism office, or online through Snapd 1000 Islands. People who purchase advance passes will be given priority front of line access to the concert series.

Royal Brock Craft, Vendor and Bake Sale

Royal Brock Retirement Living will also be hosting an event on June 30th. Their Craft, Vendor and Bake Sale will take place from 11am to 3pm. There is no charge for entry, and the event is open to all members of the public. If you are able, you are encouraged to park across the street at the shopping centre, as there is limited parking at the Royal Brock. Make sure you have your cash on hand and come check out their goods!

1000 Islands Tower Open For Sunset

What better way is there to build up to Canada Day than by watching the sun set over the gorgeous 1000 Islands? 1000 Islands Tower will be hosting their sunset views on June 29th and 30th. Bring your camera to the very top level and get some breathtaking photos! Regular admission applies, and more information can be found on their website.

Canada Day Activities

Canada Day 1K/5K

The day of Canada Day will have a selection of events happening. Starting early at Rotary Fieldhouse 429 Laurier Blvd., the Brockville Road Runners will be hosting their annual Canada Day 1K and 5K run on July 1st. There will be two events happening

Kids (Under 13) 1K Run
Starts at 8:45am
Cost: Free
There will be medals for top male and female runners in three age groups – Under 7, Under 10 and Under 13.

Safety: The race is entirely on the trail path, with no road crossings

The 5K Race
Starts at 9am
Cost: $15 for Brockville Road Runner Club members, $20 for non members, and family is $35
There will be trophies for the overall male and female winners and medals for the top three male and female finishers in their category.

City of Brockville Canada Day Activities

Once you’re done at the run, head to Brockville City Hall for Canada Day festivities. At 11:45am, there will be a procession to the Court House Green. Led by the Brockville Pipe and Drum Corp, there will be a march of Scarlet Clad Infantry Re-enactors, representatives from the Brockville Rifles, the Brockville Police Services, those who have served our country during times of war and peace, and local dignitaries.

At noon, everyone will sing “O Canada” on the Court House Green, followed by speeches. Cake will then be served to the public.

MS Society Teddy Bear Festival

A great family fun event will be the 1st Annual MS Society Teddy Bear Festival, held at Hardy Park. They have a great schedule of events happening throughout the day that will be fun for the whole family.

8am-11am – Pancake Breakfast (Adults: $5 Children: $3)
11am-11:15am – Opening Ceremonies
11am-12pm – Best decorated bike contest
11:30am-12pm, 1pm-1:30pm, 3pm-3:30pm – Story time by the Brockville Theatre Guild
12pm-12:45pm – SMA Karate Brockville demonstration
12:45pm – 1:30pm – Subramanya Kids Yoga
1:30pm – Teddy Bear Parade
2pm-2:45pm, 3pm-3:45pm – Royal High Tea Party ($6)
2pm-4pm – Children’s Muster Photo Booth in 1862 Militia Uniforms presented by the Brockville Infantry Co.

For more information, be sure to check out the Facebook Event page.

Fort Wellington Canada Day Celebration

If an afternoon of history is more your style, be sure to check out Fort Wellington’s celebrations in Prescott. Open from 10am to 4pm, the fort will have free admission throughout the day. There will be family activities, historic demonstrations, and refreshments to help make this Canada Day a memorable one.

For more information, check the Fort Wellington website.

Thousand Islands National Park

Looking to go experience something truly Canadian? Head out to Thousand Islands National Park and get to paddle in a voyageur canoe! Tours depart from Mallorytown Landing every hour on Monday July 1st from 10a.m. to 4p.m. and can be booked in advance by calling (613)923-5261 ext 140. You also will get to hear stories and learn more about the Thousand Islands. It is $4.90 per paddler.

Aquatarium

The Aquatarium will be open for those wanting to escape the heat for a few hours on Canada Day from 10am to 5pm. Added bonus – if you show up in patriotic Canadian outfits, you will receive 25% off regular admission rates!

Brockville Ghost Walks

If you’re looking for something to do as the sun is setting, and it’s too early for the fireworks, come join Brockville Tourism’s Ghost Walks! They run every Monday at 7pm, and you’ll be back at downtown Brockville with time to spare to make it to the fireworks.

Tickets can be bought on the EventBrite website or through the Facebook Event listing.

Canada Day Fireworks

In the evening, there will be a fireworks display over the St.Lawrence River between 9:30 and 10pm. Please note, if there are high winds or a chance of lightning, the event will be postponed until the following evening. Any updates will be found on the Brockville City website or their Twitter account.

Canada Day At the Moose

Moose McGuire’s will also be hosting an event. With their location at Tall Ships Landing and their patio, it will be a great place to catch the fireworks or just to relax! For $25 at the door, you will get to enjoy free food, free swag and live music. The Windmill Brewery and Gananoque Brewery will also be on the cafe patio to celebrate everything Canada. 10% of all the ticket sales and alcohol sales will be donated to our local food bank.

For more information, check out the EventBrite page to RSVP (It helps them know how much food to prepare!)

1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises

If you’re in the mood to watch the fireworks from a unique perspective, perhaps check out the 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises Canada Day Fireworks Dinner cruise! This three hour extended version of the regular dinner cruise is a relaxed and casual buffet dinner as you sail along the 1000 Islands at sunset. Then, settling in along Brockville’s waterfront, you’ll be able to enjoy Brockville’s fireworks in style!

For more information or for tickets, please check the 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises’ website.

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