Ontario Moments, George Fischer - excerpt by National Graphics

of Ontario has yielded a repertoire of lively photos, spirited stories, rare insights and unique experiences. In this new collection, he brings some of his most precious moments to

FISCHER

George Fischer’s 30-year romance with his home province

your table through his award-winning photos and deeply personal impressions.

time he spends in all seasons at his country house near Georgian Bay. From there he cycles the backroads, canoes the rivers in provincial parks and skis cross-country. This is the quintessential outdoor Ontario lifestyle, as integral to the province as the Canadian Shield, the boreal forest and Niagara Falls. From the inspiration he gains on his varied trips, he showcases the province’s diversity by capturing moments of culture, history and commerce. By contrast, George’s photo gallery is tucked into the heart of Toronto’s Art and Design District. He and his lens pick up the assorted sights, sounds and scents emanating from life in this multicultural neighbourhood. Shoppers abound, as do artists, chefs and fashion designers. Like all of Ontario, the neighbourhood pulses with markets, restaurants, clubs and festivals. And with this book, George is your guide, helping you feel every moment, too.

ISBN 978-1-77108-437-6

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$39.95

Ontario MOMENTS

An avid sportsman and nature-lover, George relishes the

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COVER

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Space may be at a premium, but those who have found their paradise here make the most of it.

Lucent rays break through the trees where the Amable du Fond River tumbles into Smith Lake from Eau Claire Gorge Falls.

THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

C A LV I N

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the photographer, George Fischer.

Fischer, George, 1954-, author Ontario moments / George Fischer.

Design and captions: Catharine Barker National Graphics, Toronto, ON Canada

ISBN 978-1-77108-437-6 (hardback)

Copy Editor: E. Lisa Moses Nimbus Publishing Limited PO Box 9166, Halifax, NS Canada B3K 5MB Tel.: 902-455-4286

1. Ontario—Pictorial works. I. Title.

Printed in China

FC3062.F57 2016

w2T

971.30022’2

C2016-904343-6

Moments with friends are never wasted time. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;George Fischer

BRUCE PENINSULA

To my good friends at Verdiroc/Greenwin, especial y Cary and Ronda Green: Thank you for your support. w5T

A golden sky tints the waters near Sugar Island. G EO R G I A N B AY

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Foreword As my home for 30 years, Ontario is such

men’s weekend on Georgian Bay’s Sugar Island

an integral part of who I am that pieces of it

where BBQ is the order of the day. I can drive,

always go with me, no matter where in the

of course, but give me a bike and some extra

world I travel.

time and I’ll opt for cycling excursions. These

My passion for this huge, diverse province pushes me to explore deeper and deeper into its treasures. I roam from Canada’s southernmost point near Pelee to the

can go to my cottage from Toronto or around the Thousand Islands Region. And in winter, you can find my cross-county ski tracks around Orillia, Muskoka and Haliburton.

Manitoba-Ontario border and Hudson Bay

Because the province is so vast (30 percent

in the west and north, then east to the St.

larger than the famously huge U.S. state of

Lawrence River. And with 17 percent of its one

Texas) and my wanderings take me so far

million square kilometres covered by lakes, the

and wide, I have clustered my experiences

province is aptly named “Ontario” from the

randomly around five themes that reflect the

Huron word for “beautiful water.”

most precious “moments” from my viewpoint:

Ontario has also produced some of the world’s most talented and celebrated artists, journalists, athletes and scientists. So as a landscape photographer and outdoorsman,

• time • culture • nature • art • trade.

I like to think I am in good company. While

Ontario has left an indelible imprint on my soul.

my home is in Toronto, I have some favourite

This book is a journey of love and joy for one

getaways to the near north. At my country

of the world’s most enduring and fascinating

house in Simcoe County, I plan for summer

places. I hope you will find my emotions

weekends with friends at the local community

contagious.

tennis courts so I can squeeze in a few more games. I always look forward to our annual

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Upper Canada Village brings moments of the 1860s to life. Costumed guides explain the social life, music, religion and politics of the day. MORRISBURG

Sit back on the chesterfield, kick off the runners and enjoy a double-double while learning about Ontario. Sorry I wasn’t able to photograph every town eh, but the book would’ve been a lot bigger!

— George Fischer

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Settled by Aboriginal peoples Étienne Brûlé explores

1610

Henry Hudson claims Hudson Bay for GB

1611

Samuel de Champlain

1615

Hudson’s Bay Company given royal charter 1670 Fort Frontenac est.

1673

Fort Erie, built by the British, est.

1764

Quebec Act passed, Ontario region added to Quebec Province 1774 Upper Canada est.

1791

Capital: Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

1791

New capital est.: York (Toronto)

1793

moments in Time

Fort Malden, Amherstburg, est.

1795

Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, est.

1796

Fort St. Joseph, St. Joseph Island, est.

1797

Fort York, Toronto, est.

1813

When I paddle the peaceful rivers of Muskoka,

Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough,

1812

Haliburton and Algonquin in my canoe – or

relive the fur-trading era at Fort William

Fort Henry, Kingston, est. War of 1812

1812-1814

United Province of Canada capital: Kingston 1841-1843

sometimes run the rapids – I feel a connection to the Aboriginal peoples who arrived in

Ottawa est. as Canada’s capital

1858

Ontario enters Confederation with Ottawa officially declared the capital

1867

Kissing Bridge, West Montrose, built

1881

waters in birchbark canoes.

Algonquin Provincial Park est. as Ontario’s first provincial park

1893

I also enjoy tracing the

Billy Bishop, Canadian flying ace, born

1894

Great Toronto Fire

1904

First World War

1914-1918

Ontario 10,000 years ago, conquering the

forts, historical castles and landmarks where we can walk

1922

legendary French-Canadian

Peace Tower built, Ottawa

1927

Princess Margaret Hospital built

1935

“voyageurs” – who left

1939-1945

Korean War

1941

1950-1953

Canada’s first subway opens in Toronto

1954

Hurricane Hazel

1954

Big Nickel, Sudbury, erected

1964

Flag of Ontario enacted by the Flag Act

1965

Rideau Canal opens for skating

1971

CN Tower completed

1975

SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinks, Lk. Superior

1975

Karel Soucek plunges over Niagara Falls (the first Canadian) and survives

1984

Persian Gulf War

1990-1991

Common Loon becomes the official bird

1994

Bosnian War (NATO)

1992-1995

Kosovo War (NATO)

1998-1999

SARS public health emergency Afghanistan War

2003 2001-2014

Balsam Lk. declared “Fresh Water Summit” 2009 Libyan Civil War (NATO) Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

2011 2014-

the province is also dotted

European explorers – the

Parliament Buildings built, Ottawa

Camp-X for training “special agents” est.

Fortunately for history buffs,

with pioneer villages, stone

1920

Second World War

Bay point blanket at any Bay store.

routes of the province’s first

Toronto Transportation Commission est.

Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) Toronto, dedicated 1939

Historical Park and buy a genuine Hudson’s

us with a legacy of song, imagery and folklore. During the 17th and 18th centuries, they loaded up enormous canoes with beaver, lynx and otter

in the footsteps of citizens past. Among those were heroines such as Laura Secord, British allies such as Mohawk war chief Joseph Brant, and abolitionists such

pelts they purchased from the natives to

as Rev. Josiah Henson, immortalized in Harriet

sell to Europe’s elite. The lucrative fur trade

Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

soon attracted the English to the area as well,

Parts of Ontario such as Niagara-on-the-

while wars with the Americans eventually

Lake, Ignace and Camp Picton are said to be

drove increasing numbers of British Loyalists northward. In 1668, Hudson’s Bay Company – Canada’s oldest retailer – established

haunted, so visitors may even encounter some wandering spirits.

operations at the mouth of the Rupert River to

History continues to be made in Ontario as we

serve English traders.

host international sports events, give birth to

Modern explorers like me can canoe through

world-class talent and welcome new Canadians

provincial parks or wilderness, visit the

from around the globe.

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The energy of 168,000 cubic metres of water pouring over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls thrills visitors from America onboard the former Maid of the Mist. N I AG A R A FA L L S

World-famous as an important birdwatching site and monarch butterfly migration area, Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southernmost point on the mainland sees many species not found anywhere else in the country. POINT PELEE

A winter freeze dramatically changes the feel of a waterfall as shapes merge into natural sculptures. Louth Falls is just starting its seasonal transformation as cold September winds take control. LOUTH

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Canada wil be a strong country when Canadians of all provinces feel at home in all parts of the country, and when they feel that all Canada belongs to them.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Pierre E lliott Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada

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The CN Towerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EdgeWalk, an urban adventure 356 metres above ground, is the thrill of a lifetime (safety equipment provided). TORONTO

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The Centennial Flame commemorating Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Confederation burns in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. OT TAWA

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The rhythm of waves has an energy that puts things into perspective.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; George Fischer

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A weathered tree faces the evening light on Lake Simcoe. Its original Wyandot (Huron) name was Ouentironk (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beautiful Waterâ&#x20AC;?) and later Lake Toronto, but John Graves Simcoe, British army officer and first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, renamed it for his late father. NEAR ORILLIA

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moments in Nature In Ontario, each of the four seasons is a gem.

around my canoe, and the haunting loon calls

As I cycle the backroads around my country

in Algonquin Park.

getaway north of Toronto, I’m met by vibrant scenery and delightful scents. In spring, lilacs

for my Ontario book on waterfalls, I was

me, while summer is marked by sweetgrass and lavender and

astonished by the

roses. Fall fragrances

quantity and variety of

emanate from leaves

falls in the area. Their

on the ground in

distant roar is music to my

Muskoka, grapes in

ears, while the bracing spray

punctuated with the aroma of tasty BeaverTails and hot chocolate.

Provincial Park or the pillowy beaches at Long

7,905,305

7.4%

1,514,147

1.4%

Dedicated Protected Areas - Regulated under PPCRA 5

349,481 0.3%

Dedicated Protected Areas 4 - Non-regulated

876,535 0.8%

Wilderness Areas Total Provincial Protected Areas

838 <0.1%

649 10,646,306 10% 5

208,160 0.2%

Total National and Provincial 654 10,854,466 10.2% Protected Areas ONTARIO LAKES WITH AREA MORE THAN 400 km2 Lake

Area (including islands)

Lake Superior

82,100 km2

Lake Huron

59,600 km2

Lake Erie

25,700 km2

Lake Ontario

18,960 km2

Lake Nipigon

4,848 km2

Lake of the Woods

3,150 km2

Lac Seul

1,657 km2

Rainy Lake

932 km2

Lake Abitibi

931 km2

Lake Nipissing

832 km2

however, I hide myself and my gear behind

Lake Simcoe

744 km2

Big Trout Lake

661 km2

plastic sheets and chuckle as tourists discover

Sandy Lake

527 km2

the raw power of Niagara on boat tours into

Lake St. Joseph

493 km2

Trout Lake

413 km2

of Niagara Falls invigorates my face. (When I’m shooting photos,

the abyss.)

Summer moments for me are about sinking my toes into the rolling dunes of Sandbanks

334

Regulated Conservation Reserves 295

1,114 km2

in campgrounds. Festivals such

skating on the Rideau Canal, where the air is

Regulated Provincial Parks

Lake St. Clair

wine country and bonfires

as Winterlude in Ottawa bring memories of

Provincial % of No. Hectares Prov. Protected Area

National Parks

During the two years of collecting images

and fruit blossoms and jasmine greet

ONTARIO’S PROTECTED AREAS SUMMARY

PROVINCIAL STATS

In fall, I love to crash through harvested

Number of lakes

over 250,000

cornfields to the rustling of dry stalks – and

Number of farms

approx. 51,950

Number of trees

approx. 85 billion

Point – and disturbing the peace on Georgian

take some home to decorate the porch. In

Bay by cannonballing off the deck into the

winter, the clatter of ice skates on frozen ponds

water during our men’s weekends. They are

recalls the days of my childhood. And every

about early-morning mists rising from the lake

spring the cycle starts anew. w 118 T

Forested area

66% (70 million hectares)

The iconic trillium is Ontario’s protected provincial flower.

The Rideau River drops to meet the Ottawa River from two high cliffs separated by Green Island. Important during the mid-1800s for its hydropower, this spot was redeveloped into Rideau Falls Park after World War II. OT TAWA FOLLOWING PAGE S

Sea stacks that resemble flowerpots created an identity for the two-square-kilometre area of Flowerpot Island. Accessible only by boat, it is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park. TOBERMORY

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An aerial view of a community covered in snow evokes needlepoint stitching.

Some of the Duchesnay Falls’ low cascades surge into two channels and a number of scenic waterfalls. The lower falls drops approximately eight to 10 metres while the upper falls descends over a 20-metre “staircase.”

OT TAWA

N O R T H B AY

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moments in Art Trekking through the wilderness of this great

symbolizes my spiritual connection to

province is always inspirational. Giant pine

Native culture.

trees bowing to the wind and intricately textured rock strata built over centuries remind me of the colourful, abstract

Throughout Ontario, I am surrounded by artists and artisans from today and

paintings of the Group of Seven, the most

yesterday. In Orillia near my cottage is a

important Canadian artists of the early 20 th

memorial to Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian

Dundurn Castle completed, Hamilton

1835

Royal Canadian Henley Regatta founded

1880

The Canadian Museum of History is set up in Ottawa

1881

Casa Loma constructed, Toronto

1911-1914

White Otter Castle completed, near Ignace

1915

Group of Seven is formed

1920

Mary Pickford wins Academy Award

1929

Joe Shuster gets co-created character Superman published

1938

Triumph releases debut album

1976

Paul Shaffer joins Late Night with David Letterman 1982 Al Purdy receives the Order of Canada

1982

Glenn Gould posthumously inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame

1983

The Tragically Hip forms

1984

Jeff Healey discovered at Albert’s Hall

1985

Blue Rodeo signs with Warner Music Canada 1987

century. Their art

singer-songwriter who

gave the world new

helped define the folk-

impressions of our

pop sound of the 1960s

astounding Canadian

and ’70s and continues

Shield, boreal forest

to enthrall audiences

and shimmering waters.

Alanis Morissette releases her first international album

1995

everywhere. Orillia was

Shania Twain’s first “Diamond” album

1997

also an inspiration to

Three Days Grace is formed

1997

to some interesting

author Stephen Leacock,

Sum 41 signs with Island Records

1999

experiences, and it is

whose summer house

Justin Bieber discovered through YouTube

2007

a family affair. Over

there is now a National

the years, my wife

Historic Site.

Bryan Adams receives Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement

2010

Highlighting the immense

Gordon Lightfoot inducted into Songwriters Hall Of Fame

2012

Rush inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2013

Stompin’ Tom Connors honoured, statue unveiled, Sudbury

2015

My love of art has led

and I have turned the walls of our house and

craftsmanship that we

cottage into a visual feast of art collected here and around the world. Aboriginal

have to offer the world are Toronto’s One of a Kind Show and Sale

creations are a particular passion of mine,

as well as the sales of handmade Mennonite

and I have walls and niches dedicated to such

quilts. Yes, Ontario’s great environment

paintings and sculptures. In fact, with my

encourages fresh thinking and rich creativity.

assistant and friend, Jean, I have gone so far

And it is a testament to the abundantly

as to build a totem pole at my cottage that

creative spirit. w 164 T

Barenaked Ladies banned from Toronto City Hall New Year’s bash

1991

David Milne recognized by Canada Post on a stamp with his work Red Nasturtiums 1992

Penny Oleksiak is the first Canadian swimmer to win four medals in an Olympics 2016

One of the largest art museums in North America, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) boasts a collection of more than 90,000 works. TORONTO

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Built in 1936 as a carding mill, Hope Sawmill was expanded in 1873 to focus on sawmilling. Restored to working condition, it sits in a picturesque area close to the Hope Mill Conservation Area. LANG

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An exhilarating diving destination, the Thousand Islands Region is acclaimed for its water clarity, marine life and seascapes. Explorers can discover shipwrecks from as far back as 1812 that were lost on the historic trade route.

An aerial view displays the underwater landscape near Whiskey Harbour, a thrilling backyard for those living in the area. NORTHERN BRUCE PENINSULA

THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

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The bright yellow flowers of a canola crop catch the last rays of the day. Cholesterol-free and high in vitamin E, canola oilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light, clear properties make it the choice of many chefs.

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A unique steel-frame light tower watches over Pigeon Island. The stairway to the light and the watch room runs up the steel tube in the centre of the frame.

N E A R B LU E M O U N TA I N

NEAR WOLFE ISLAND

A runabout rushes along to make port before the sun sets. THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

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Washboard Falls cascades five metres down the rough surface and continues on to Tiffany Falls farther downstream. While visitors can view the falls from below, the property above is private. DUNDAS

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For more than 202 kilometres, the Rideau Canal Links the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario at Kingston. The popular skating portion in Ottawa is flooded at night by city workers who drill holes in the ice that pump water upwards to smooth the surface.

Ice-fishing basics include your gear and a hole in the ice. However, for a more comfortable experience, you can use an ice hut towed onto the ice every season as the lake freezes over. Some huts even have satellite TV and stocked fridges.

OT TAWA

L AKE SIMCOE

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Protecting the southwest shore of Simcoe Island (named for John Graves Simcoe), Nine Mile Point Lighthouse has a commanding view of the St. Lawrence River. Built in 1833 and automated in 1978, the light shines from a height of almost 14 metres. SIMCOE ISL AND

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Like the relief on a topographic map, rock layers form on underwater cliffs.

Walls of the gorge surround Chedoke Falls where it pours into a turquoise plunge pool. After a rainstorm or snow melt, the pool and river runoffs temporarily turn brown.

G EO R G I A N B AY

H A M I LTO N

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If your feet are travelling the same path, look up for a new perspective. Inspiration is all around.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; George Fischer

The day pushes the last rays of sun through friendly clouds in the southeastern part of Georgina. UDORA

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Tobermory offers outdoor enthusiasts countless entertaining activities, from cliffs and caves to crystal-clear water. Fathom Five National Marine Park has preserved more than 20 historic shipwrecks that thrill divers and snorkelers. TOBERMORY

George Fischer is one of Canada’s most

Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, France, Jean-Louis

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

renowned and prolific landscape photographers.

Lepage traveled extensively across Europe

He has produced over 50 books, 50 art

between the ages of 18 and 25. He came to

posters and numerous prints. George’s work

Canada in 1966, settling first in Montréal for 18

has appeared on the covers of countless

months, then moving to Toronto. Jean-Louis has

I would like to extend my gratitude to Verdiroc/Greenwin for their support, as well as Hanita Braun, Jessica Green and Patricia Castro for all their assistance.

international magazines and newspapers, and in

visited at least one different country every year

the promotional publications of tourism agencies

for the past 25 years, and has seen more than

around the world. Two of his recent publications,

85 countries so far. Since 1991, he has worked

Canada in Colour/en couleurs and Exotic

as George Fischer’s assistant on more than 40

Places & Faces, are stunning compilations of his

photography books featuring various countries.

extensive travels. George’s book Unforgettable

He likes to travel to the mountainous regions of

Canada was on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller

Mexico in the winter and Europe in the fall. His

list for eight weeks and sold over 50,000 copies.

home base is Toronto, Canada.

Other titles in the Unforgettable series include:

For the “above and beyond” aerial experiences, many thanks to Andy Plater at Owen Sound Flight Services, Keith Saulnier at Georgian Bay Airways, Krishna Patel at the Windsor Flying Club, and Ken Saumure for his awesome heli-skills. To Jean Lepage who assists me and shares my adventures: I couldn’t do it without you. For pulling it all together and making it look good, I am sincerely thankful for the creativity of Catharine Barker, art director – and E. Lisa Moses, writer and copy editor.

Unforgettable Tuscany & Florence, Unforgettable Paris Inoubliable, Unforgettable Atlantic Canada, The 1000 Islands – Unforgettable, and Les Îles de la Madeleine Inoubliables. Currently George is

Photo Credits: Sean Fischer, page 64; Ryan Fischer, pages 48, 65

working on a few new books including the Faroe Islands and Canada – 150 Panoramas. He resides

Thank you all ! George Fischer

in Toronto, Canada. See more of George Fischer’s work at georgefischerphotography.com

Cross-country ski trail NEAR PORT BOLSTER

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JE AN-LOUIS LEPAGE

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GEORGE FISCHER

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An oasis for naturalists, Algonquin Park is Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest and largest provincial park. More than 1500 lakes, a unique forest mix and diverse plant and animal species combine to make this a vital part of the province. WHITNEY

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