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Because
Kenora is a destination for thousands of tourists, our communities have
a great number of activities, events and attractions for people to enjoy.
The list which follows describes these in some detail
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| Husky the Muskie: In the 1960's the then Town of Kenora was gaining prominence as a major tourist attraction in NW Ontario. Members of the local Chamber of Commerce got together to discuss ideas for a symbol which tourists could easily identify with for the area. In 1966 it was decided that a statue of a giant Muskie should be this symbol, since Lake of the Woods is famous as home to a large number of this huge freshwater fish. The Muskie symbol was recognized as a potential local project to celebrate Canada's Centennial in 1967 and donations came pouring in for its construction. Once constructed, a call to the public was made to name the symbol and a local citizen Mr. Bill Brabrooke came up with "Husky the Muskie." This giant fish endures as a symbol of Kenora and its slogan reminds all the importance of protecting the natural environment. |
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Lake
of the Woods Museum: The Lake of the Woods Museum houses a
collection of over 15,000 articles that reflect Kenora's unique history
and character. Three level's of exhibit space highlight an intriguing
collection of native and pioneer artifacts, natural history, minerals,
textiles, pictorial and archival materials. The main focus is on the area's
early settlement days between 1880 to 1920 a period of tremendous growth
and prosperity.
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Keewatin
Pot Holes: Over the years, several mysterious pot holes have been
discovered in the Kenora area. some of the holes - which are located in
solid bedrock - are over two metres deep and one metre wide. Theories
of the holes origins have suggested they are remnants of the last great
ice age, over 20,000 years ago.
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Native
Indian Pictographs:
This ancient art. produced using a combination of berry juices, saps and
gums by the area's aboriginal peoples, provide a permanent record of the
local Indian history and legands.
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Mather-Walls
House: One of the oldest houses in the area, the Mather-Walls
House was built by John Mather, a native of Scotland who came to the area
in 1879. Located in what was Keewatin, the house was the home to John
Mather and his family. The Mather family ran several businesses in the
area in the late 1800's including a flour mill and lumber company. The
Foundation put a large amount of money and time into restoring the exterior
and interior of the house to what we see today.
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Heritage
Townscape Murals: In 1994, a group of local residents interested
in beautifying the city and preserving it's history though art, got together
to develop large murals of walls of businesses throughout Kenora. The
full-color murals painted by professional artists from across Canada,
dot the town's downtown core. Four were completed in various locations
in the city in 1995 and four more are planned over the next few years.
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Parks and Beaches: Kenora is home to many beautiful beaches and parks. Anicinabe Park is located a few blocks from Downtown Kenora and his picnic sites, trailer parking, tenting, and a beautiful beach for swimming. Coney Island Beach is located on Coney Island on Lake of the Woods and boasts the area's finest beach. Access to Coney Island is available via a pontoon boat located at Kenora's Harborfront for a very nominal fee. The Coney Island Shuttle operates during the summer months during normal hours 9 to dusk. Norman Beach Park is located 3.2 kilometres from Kenora's downtown and offers a sandy swimming beach and complete day use facilities including a childrens play area. Memorial Park is located in the heart of downtown Kenora. With its shade maple trees and beautiful floral gardens the park is a popular destination for local residents and tourists. McLeod Park is an ideal spot for boat watching and outdoors picnics. It is also the location of Husky the Muskie, the Rotary Goodwill Geyser and a beautiful floral garden. Historyically McLeod Park is known for its connection to the fur trade with Hudson's Bay Comany in the early days of settlement of this area. |
Kenora Harborfront: Located in downtown Kenora, and the home to most of Kenora's major celebrations and events. The harborfront offers both residents and visitors alike a fantastic view of Safety Bay, and Kenora Harbor. The walkway from Husky the Muskie, to here is a lesiurely walk during the evening hours. Watch the area waterfowl, float planes take off for area fly-in lakes, or watch people board and depart from the MS Kenora Cruise/Dining Boat which is also located here.
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