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Charles W. Stockey Centre and
the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame
Hiking Trails
Georgian Bay
Festival of Sound
Parry Sound Bridge & Falls
30,000 Islands
Winter Wonderland
Unspoiled Nature
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PARRY SOUND EXTENDS A WARM WELCOME
PARRY SOUND The world is full of spectacular locations, but there is one place you can really have it all: islands, room to move, fresh water and hospitality are all part of what makes Parry Sound the four seasons playground. Nestled on the rugged shores of Georgian Bay, and home of the Charles W. Stockey Centre and the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame, the Town of Parry Sound is just a short two hour drive north of Greater Toronto. Tucked among the 30,000 islands, Parry Sound is adorned by the natural beauty of shoreline hiking trails, breathtaking vistas and the rugged pink granite of the Canadian Shield. This four seasons destination is also home to many festivals, events and attractions.
Parry Sound is the largest town in the Parry Sound area, incorporated in 1887. The steamers were the first lifelines of the settlements, bringing tourists and homesteaders to the area. The first railway line was the Canadian Atlantic Railway which reached Rose Point in the early 1900's. With the end of lumbering and the decline of shipping, Parry Sound turned its attention to the tourist industry. Luxury hotels in the area had flourished even when the guests had to arrive by stagecoach and boat. The natural beauty of the unspoiled wilderness and the hospitality of the inhabitants resulted in a thriving tourist industry which has continued to grow to the present.
GEORGIAN BAY Georgian Bay is known for its 30,000 islands, creating the world's largest fresh water archipelago, and was recently designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. There are six area provincial parks, the Canadian Shield, hiking trails, endless acres of Crown Land, hundreds of lakes and rivers and abundant wildlife. The ancient rocky shoreline and the landscape of windswept pines create a vision so distinct it could only be Georgian Bay. In addition to the natural attractions, visitors will find interesting shops, restaurants, galleries and artist's studios. Activities include boating, golfing, sailing, fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ATV'ing and much, much more.
No matter which of the four seasons, Georgian Bay has something for everyone. During summer, water activities abound with power boats and canoes and kayaks and there is always a festival to enjoy. Autumn is then ushered in with nature's beauty of fall colours. With the winter months, fun continues with skates, skis and snowmobiles as the activity of choice. As the winter thaws, the flowers of spring arrive signaling a change in season. For year round hiking, the 230 kilometer park-to-park trail connects Kilbear Provincial Park to Algonquin Provincial Park. A part of this trail system goes through the southern portion of Georgian Green.
World Class Charles W. Stockey Centre
The world class Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts in Parry Sound, Ontario, sits on a 3.5-acre waterfront site overlooking beautiful Georgian Bay. Constructed out of the area's natural stone and indigenous trees, the Charles W. Stockey Centre houses a 480-seat acoustically sound Festival Performance Hall, the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame interactive hockey museum and a gift shop.The centre is home of the world-renowned chamber music festival, The Festival of the Sound, and offers a wide variety of year-round entertainment programming including professional theatre productions, concerts, movies, and community events. The Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, where nature, culture and entertainment meet.
The Festival of the Sound, which runs for three weeks each year, began 25 years ago, and is a summer favourite for residents and visitors. The music is varied, from small ensembles to orchestra and covers all forms of modern and classical music.
Park-to-Park Trail
The Park-to-Park Trail is a multi-partnered, regional initiative to create an east-west, 200 kilometre year round recreational trail link between the Towns of Parry Sound and Huntsville and Killbear and Algonquin Parks. The trail will provide connections to several other communities, provincial parks, trail networks, features, attractions and services in Parry Sound, Muskoka and Haliburton Districts. A 50 kilometre portion of the route has also been registered as part of the Trans Canada Trail, a country-wide effort to create the longest recreational trail system in the world!
In Parry Sound, the Park-to-Park Trail will utilize the existing Rotary & Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail. From the historic Carrington Colonization Road in Seguin Township, the Park-to-Park Trail will pick up the fitness trail at its southern extent and wind its way along the Georgian Bay shoreline along this former CNR/CPR spur line. The trail will then continue on a roadside/sidewalk route as it heads north out of town and into the neighbouring municipality of McDougall.
For more information on the Park-to-Park Trail or to become a member of the Association go to www.parktoparktrail.com
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