Ontario Travel to meet Midland Mural Artists in Historic Downtown Midland

North America's Largest Outdoor Mural

Midland, Ontario………………August 2008. As one of the top 100 places to see in Ontario. Downtown Midland http://www.downtownmidland.ca/ should be on every visitors and residents travel list. Midland hosts North America’s largest outdoor mural and was recently listed in the Ron Brown first edition of Top 100 Unusual Things to see in Ontario released September 17^th 2007, Boston Mills Press. Brown labels the murals as a "Giant Outdoor Art Gallery". The murals depicting a scene from the Jesuits meeting Huron aboriginals for the first time is the largest outdoor historic mural in North America. Ron Brown is a Canadian travel writer and broadcaster who is the author of several books on unusual features to see throughout Ontario. His latest titles include Downtown Ontario; Unusual Main Streets to Explore, and Top One Hundred Unusual Things to See in Ontario. Toronto-based Brown also regularly contributes to CBC Radio broadcasts.

For the summer of 2008 our murals are continuing to be restored by 3 local artists with the financial aid of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Ruth Hurdle is recreating the Rotary Mural which was originally on the LCBO building. This mural will be relocated on the side of T & G Fabrics. Terri-Lee Milley will be recreating the S.S. Lemoyne mural which will be painted on location on the side of Homecoming beside St. Paul’s United Church. Sonja Rathke has been restoring all the murals located at the Town of Midland’s Harbour Master’s office at the bottom of King Street this summer. Please feel free to speak with them about their experiences.

Midland Ontario is 90 minutes north of the Greater Toronto Area, and 35 minutes North West of Barrie. Situated on the shores of Georgian Bay in historic Huronia, the Midland area is one of Ontario’s earliest developed settlements dating back to the early 1600’s and Samuel de Champlain.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE AREA: Hotels, Resorts and Historic Inns are available. See Midland Area Accommodation. http://www.georgianbaytourism.on.ca/S/HotelsResorts.aspx

WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA. Exciting historical re-enactments and attractions, fresh clean beaches complement First Nations history, Georgian Bay Cruises and Great Lakes British Navel history and the towering Martyrs’ Shrine. http://www.georgianbaytourism.on.ca/S/Attractions.aspx

TOURIST INFORMATION: FREE full colour guidebook available by calling 1800-263-7745, or view Georgian Bay Visitor Guide on-line http://www.southerngeorgianbay.on.ca/tourism/index.html.

For additional information on Downtown Midland and the Midland Mural Project contact Meredith Forrest at 705.527.7246

Georgian Bay Fall Colours and Ecology

The surrounding waters of Georgian Bay provide a moderating effect that sometimes delays the onset of fall colours. Georgian Bay is well know for the apple growing communities around Meaford and Thornbury and the fall is a perfect apple picking time.

A start to your Georgian Bay fall colour tours with the family could start at Midland's Veteran's Waterfront Park and the Scouts Arboretum. A beautiful trail for biking, hiking, or walking runs along the Midland shoreline. One of the outstanding features of this park area is the waterfront rehabilitation put into place by the Town of Midland and the Severn Sound Environmental Association. One can see a naturalized shoreline with fall colours showing with the Staghorn Sumac and High Bush Cranberry.

Fall Festival Activities in Watersheds Leading To Georgian Bay

One of the most significant watersheds leading to Georgian Bay is the Nottawasaga River and its many tributaries. The Wye River is also a major provider of fresh water to Georgian Bay.
Combine a little canoeing this weekend with a visit to two
popular Festivals, the Wye Marsh Rythms Festival which includes free canoe rides (see photo) in a large voyageur canoe.

The Nine Mile Portage Festival in Barrie and Fort Willow (Minesing)--bring your own canoe and travel into the Minesing Wetlands, as the explorers did more than 400 years ago. (This was a short cut to Georgian Bay, compared to canoeing up through Orillia, the Severn and back down to the Midland area and the settlement at Sanite Marie among the Hurons.

See Midland and Barrie for area accommodation. Or select a road trip from a selection of fall colour road trips north of Toronto.

Ontario's Wye Marsh Wildlife Walk

Ontario’s Wye Marsh--Walk the boardwalk

On the last day of spring June 22, a 60 minute walk along the trails and boardwalk provided great wildlife viewing. Several herons, a diving tern, two pairs of Trumpeter Swans, one with a recent cygnet , several turtles, lots of frogs, multiples of bird song from Warblers, Red Winged Black birds. Spectacular marsh vistas provided a refreshing break from our Southern Georgian Bay road trip. The Wye River winds its way across Simcoe County through the Wye Valley, into the Wye Marsh and into Georgian Bay. This little section of Tay Township next door to Midland Ontario is one of Canada’s Seventy Seven Wonders. Accommodation in the Midland area can be found at Midland Ontario.