Submitted by Peninsula
Bruce Trail Club
On August 19, Hazel Smith and Marg Glendon led a historic harbour walking tour for a group of 12 participants from the Park Visitor Centre in Tobermory to Little Tub Harbour. The walk started with a land acknowledgement of the traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation, with special thanks to Chippewas of Nawash and Chippewas of Saugeen, now known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as traditional keepers of the land. This historic walking tour of Tobermory Harbour and the local Bruce Trail is from a settler’s perspective
Participants heard stories about the early days of trail building on the Peninsula. Glendon said, “One of the original founders of the Bruce Trail – Dr. Philip Gosling – said that the Bruce Trail is about relationships. That remains true to this day; relationship with landowners, the land and one another.” These relationships guide the building of the Bruce Trail within a protected conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
Hazel Smith continued with the walking tour, talking about history of the local shipping, fishing and logging industry on the Peninsula – and how that shaped family life in the village.
What did living on one side of the harbour or the other mean to families?
Why did the wind direction matter on family laundering day?
What does belonging to “place” mean?
This was an interesting and fun evening. The next historic tour is scheduled for Thursday, September 16 at 10 a.m., meeting at the Park Visitor Centre. There is still time to register for this small group tour. Cost is $10 per person. This is a fundraiser for the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club. Contact pbtc.historicwalk@gmail.com to register.
