Ontario's Historical Plaques 


Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques


2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019


 To find out all about me, you can visit the Home Page 


Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone
in Landscape mode (Horizontal)



Canoe Route to the West

Canoe Route to the West

Photo by contributor Brian Herling - Posted May, 2005

Photo by contributor Brian Bockus - Posted August, 2017

Photo by contributor Sue - Posted June, 2007

Plaque Location

The District of Parry Sound
The Township of the Archipelago
In French River Provincial Park, along the walkway between
the parking lot and the Visitor Centre, just off Highway 69
first right southbound, south of the French River bridge


Coordinates: N 46 01.004 W 80 35.086

Click here for a larger map

Plaque Text

The French River formed a vital link in the historic canoe route via the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers and Lake Nipissing, which connected the settlements on the St. Lawrence with the upper Great Lakes and the far West. Most of the famous Canadian explorers, missionaries and fur traders of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries followed this waterway. Here passed: Brûlé, discoverer of Lake Huron; Champlain, "Father of New France"; the Jesuit martyrs, Brébeuf and Lalemant; the colourful coureurs de bois. Radisson and Groseilliers; La Vérendrye, pioneer explorer of the prairies; Mackenzie, first European to reach the Pacific by land north of Mexico; Thompson, the great explorer and cartographer.


Another plaque at this location
Pierre-Esprit Radisson c. 1640-1710

Related Ontario plaques
Canoe Route to the West
The French Portage
The Mattawa Route
The Michipicoten Canoe Route
Champlain's Journey of 1613
Sieur de La Vérendrye
Bethune-Thompson House

More
Information

More
Canoe Routes

More
Fur Trade

More
The Archipelago Plaques




Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted August 26, 2009
Museum is up in French River Provincial Park and the plaque is in the parking lot. Check out the amazing snowmobile bridge (claims to be the biggest in the world).




Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.

Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.

To send me your comment, click .

Thanks
Alan L Brown
Webmaster

Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click .