Brockville, Ontario
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Brockville (2006 population 21,957 ; metroplitan area 39 668)[1] is located in the Thousand Islands region on the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario, Canada.
Known as the "City of the 1000 Islands", Brockville is located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, directly opposite Morristown, New York, about half-way between Cornwall in the east and Kingston in the west and a little over an hour's drive south of the nation's capital, Ottawa. Brockville is one of the oldest cities in Ontario and is named after the British general Sir Isaac Brock.
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[edit] History
This area of Ontario was first settled in 1784 by hundreds of American refugees who later became known as United Empire Loyalists for their political position on the side of King George III during the American War of Independence. This struggle between Britain and the 13 American colonies took place in the years 1776 to 1783 and seriously divided loyalties in some colonies such as New York and Vermont. During the 6-year war, which ended with the capitulation of the British forces in 1782, many of those colonists who remained loyal to the crown were frequently subject to harsh reprisals and unfair dispossession of property. Many "Loyalists" chose to flee north to the then British colony of Quebec. Later this western region of Canada was opened and settled by English-speaking refugees of the past American war.
The St. Lawrence River, which flows between Brockville, Ontario and Morristown, New York, was named by French explorers in the 1700s to commemorate the martyred Roman Christian, Saint Laurentis. The small inlet on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River had been a natural resting point for French voyageurs in the past. In 1785 the first U.E. Loyalist to take up land here on the site of Brockville was a disbanded ensign with the King's Rangers from the state of New York, William Buell Sr. (1751-1832). The initial settlement on this site was commonly referred to as Buell's Bay. Around 1810 the village was designated as Elizabethtown by government officials of Upper Canada. Leading residents of the small village decided, about 1812, that it might be appropriate to suggest a name which differed from the surrounding township of Elizabethtown.
This was during the ensuing second war with Canada's American neighbours, known as the War of 1812-14. The commanding ranking British General in Upper Canada and the temporary administrator of the province was Major-General Isaac Brock who was celebrated as the "Hero and Saviour" of Upper Canada because of his recent success in securing the surrender of Fort Detroit. Perhaps to curry favour with Gen Brock, certain leading citizens in the village including Charles Jones, proposed the name of Brockville and began using this new name in their correspondence and dealings with Isaac Brock who was also the civil administrator of the province. Gen. Brock was soon involved in other battles on the Niagara Peninsula, and on October 13th 1812, he was fatally shot while leading his troops up the heights near the village of Queenston, then being held by American militia.
The general had been aware of the honour being offered by the residents of Elizabethtown but may have been unable to give it his official blessing before his death. The new name was later accepted by the provincial bureaucrats and soon became commonly used by residents and visitors. In 1830 the growing population of Brockville had managed to exceed the 1000 mark. This entitled it to be represented by its own elected member in the House of Assembly, and Henry Jones, the village postmaster, was elected in October 1830 to the 11th Parliament of the Province.
Brockville became Ontario's first incorporated self-governing town on January 28, 1832, two years before the town of Toronto. By means of the Brockville Police Act passed by the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, Brockville was given the right to govern its own affairs, pass laws and raise taxes. The first elections for the new Board of Police were held on April 2, 1832 to choose 4 members to the Board. These four in turn chose a fifth member, Daniel Jones, who was also chosen as the first Police Board president or Mayor of Brockville. This was the gentleman who in March 1836 became the first native Upper Canadian to receive a royal knighthood from King William IV, and became Sir Daniel Jones.
The town became a local centre of industry including shipbuilding, saddleries, tanneries, tinsmiths, a foundry, a brewery, and several hotels in the 1800s. By 1854, a patent medicine industry had sprung up in Brockville and in bordering Morristown, NY featuring products such as Dr Morse's Indian Root Pills, Dr. McKenzie's Worm Tablets and later, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People.
In 1855, Brockville was chosen as a divisional point on the line of the new Grand Trunk Railway, which was built and opened from Montreal to Toronto. At the same time, the north-south line of the Brockville & Ottawa Railway was built as a transportation link to join the St. Lawrence River ship route with the timber trade of the Ottawa Valley. A well-engineered tunnel for this railway was dug and blasted underneath the middle of Brockville from 1854 to 1860. This was the first railway tunnel of its kind created and opened in Canada, and remains in place for visitors to enter and experience.
Brockville and many other towns in Canada West became involved in the threatened Fenian invasion following the the close of the American Civil War in 1865. In June 1866, the Irish-American "Brotherhood of Fenians" invaded Canada. Raids were launched across the Niagara River into Canada West and from Vermont into Canada East. Canadian Premier John A. Macdonald called on all the volunteer militia companies in every town to protect Canada. The Brockville Infantry Company and Brockville Rifle Company were mobilized to protect Brockville. These unsuccessful Fenian Raids were a significant factor leading to the creation of the new Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Brockville was granted the official status as a City in 1962. Its coat of arms features a beehive surrounded by a golden chain and bears the motto Industria, Intelligentia, Prosperitas. This is an official heraldic design. Brockville is also one of the few cities that has a recognized heraldic flag.
[edit] Transportation and communications
Brockville is almost midway between Toronto and Montreal and less than one hour from the Nation's Capital, Ottawa. There are several daily VIA Rail connections to Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa and the Ottawa International Airport is approximately 50 minutes. There is a city transportation system available.
There are two international bridges which border the community with access to the U.S. markets via New York State.
Brockville has high band/high speed telecommunication capability provided by both Bell Canada and AT&T fibre lines.
[edit] Industry
Brockville is the home to several large industrial manufacturers including ceiling fan manufacturer, Canarm , and the oil-blending plant of Shell Canada. Another thriving company is 3M which is currently running three separate factories in Brockville. The Brockville Procter & Gamble factory is the world manufacturer and supplier of dryer sheets and cleaning products. The company employs over 600 workers and is a large financial contributor to the community. Canadian retailer Giant Tiger has opened a new distribution centre for frozen products in Brockville. East of Brockville, near the village of Maitland, is located the large industrial site of Invista Canada, the former Dupont Canada Ltd.
[edit] Tourism
The community is dominated by the St. Lawrence River and is known as The City of the Thousand Islands. St. Lawrence River tour boats offers scenic trips on the river. The Brockville area is the launching point for some of the best fresh-water wreck diving in the world. Numerous sunken ships have been discovered below the waters of the St. Lawrence and a number of dive operators with fully equipped boats are ready to take divers to these sites.
A revitalized downtown area, waterfront open to the public with parks and walking trails, and numerous shopping locations are found throughout the city. The town's architecture consists of many stately mansions and elaborate fountains, carefully preserved as reminders of Canadian history. The historic Fulford Place house museum is located in the east end of Brockville at 287 King St. E. This was the palatial home of Senator George T. Fulford, whose success in marketing "Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People" around the world made him one of the area's richest industrialists before his death in 1905. The house owned and operated by the Ontario Heritage Trust is open daily for tours.
Brockville has been awarded one of Canada's safest communities by the World Health Organization.[citation needed]
[edit] Music, art and dance
The city has several music, art and dance organizations, such as Brockville Artists Studio Association, Brockville Concert Association, Brockville Musicians' Association, Brockville Operatic Society Inc., City of Brockville Pipe Band, and Thousand Islanders Chorus.
[edit] Sports
Brockville has had a very strong sports heritage relative to communities of its size in Ontario. Several local clubs, organizations and high schools have achieved success on provincial, national, and international levels, such as Brockville Rowing Club,[2] one of the oldest and most successful rowing clubs in Canada. The Rowing Club has captured the Royal Canadian Henley Championships several times. The club has also sent crews to London, England where they have captured a Royal Henley World Championship. This success often comes by competition against clubs from much larger Canadian centers such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Close to 50 Brockville Area Youth are offered an opportunity to participate in a national level rowing program annually.
Thousand Islands Secondary School is home to a strong high school track & field and cross-country running program. The Pirates have captured numerous Canadian championships and have won 5 straight overall provincial (OFSAA) Ontario championships in track & field and cross country running in an association of over 1000 schools since 2004. With over 15 former students currently on NCAA athletic track & field scholarships in the United States, TISS has been awarded over $1,000,000 in student athletic scholarships. The TISS team travels all over North America including Ohio, Florida, New Hampshire, and British Columbia, consistently winning major international championships. The accomplishments of the school have inspired the community to construct a $1.5 million athletic centre at the school. Presently (2007), Matt Leeder of the Canadian Junior Cross-Country Team runs at the school.
Brockville Bunnies Youth Baseball Program is also an elite level program that operates out of this small city, with provincial championships and several pro and Olympic graduates. The Brockville youth basketball teams, the Brockville Blues and the Brockville Blazers, provide basketball coaching and training for boys and girls across the area. The Blues and Blazers have repeatedly placed in the OBA championships. A female basketball player, Stacey Dales (a graduate of Thousand Islands Secondary School), has gone on to play for the Oklahoma University Sooners, coming in a close second for the NCAA title in her graduating year. She also has the highest Canadian woman's draft pick for the WNBA, where she has played for the Washington Mystics, and is currently playing for the Chicago Sky women's team. Upper Canada Swim Club is another local youth organization that operate at a high level of competition.
There are several golf courses in the Brockville area for a variety of skill levels. Sunnidel Golf is a par three course designed for an easy going round. The Brockville Highlands is a full length 18 hole course. The course has a small membership and is open to patrons willing to pay green fees. The Brockville Country Club poses greater difficulty to the average golfer. The membership is comprised of an older demographic and is semi-private. The course is open to green fees however certain playing restrictions are imposed.
[edit] Education
There are four high schools located in and around the City of Brockville. Brockville Collegiate Institute, with an enrollment of approximately 500, is a predominantly university preparatory school with a strong rowing and football program. The BCI Stage Crew is a team of students who are particularly proficient in many aspects of technical theatre. Due to the auditorium at BCI, the BCI Stage Crew has a long tradition of experienced Technical Directors and Crew members alike, some who have gone on to work professionally in the theatre and concert show business circuits. Thousand Islands Secondary School, with an enrollment of 1160, is both a university and college preparatory school with tech facilities and athletics programs, most notably the track and field, girls basketball, boys soccer, and cross country running teams. St. Mary Catholic High School, with around 600 students, also had athletic success with their girls basketball programs, winning the all Ontarios, back to back, in the late 90s. Grenville Christian College is located just east of the city and is a university preparatory school that houses around 250 students from around the world. St. Lawrence College (Brockville Campus) has been graduating post secondary students since the 1960s and has an enrollment of around 800.[3]
Public elementary schools in the city inlude Commonwealth Public School, Prince of Wales Public School, Westminister Public School, Toniata Public School and Vanier Public School. The Catholic elementary schools are: St. Francis Xavier, St. John Bosco and James L. Jordan.
[edit] References
- ^ 2006 Census Profile for Brockville
- ^ Brockville Rowing Club
- ^ St. Lawrence College (Brockville Campus)
- Robert B. Shaw. History of the Comstock Patent Medicine Business
- Holbrook, Stewart (1959). Golden Age of Quackery. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1959.
- Leavitt, Thad. W. H., (1879). History of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, from 1749 to 1879. Recorder Press, 1879. Online at Canada's Local Histories Web Site, "Our Roots/Nos Racines".
- Douglas M. Grant, (1979). Discovering Old Brockville, the Historic Core. The Brockville Foundation, 1979. (Out of print).
[edit] External links
[edit] Official links
- City of Brockville
- Brockville Police Service
- Brockville Fire Department
- Brockville Public Library
- Brockville Arts Centre
- Brockville Museum
[edit] Media
- The Recorder & Times.
- The Prescott Journal - a weekly newspaper, (Prescott is 12 miles east of Brockville)
- BOB FM 103.7 Radio Station CJPT
[edit] Organizations and schools
- 'Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown Brockville BIA Business Improvement Area
- Brockville Farmers' Market Founded 1833
- Brockville Celtic Festival
- Brockville Infantry Company (1862) - Local military history re-enactors
- Brockville Rifles - Canadian Forces Reserve Regiment
- Toniata Public School
- St. Lawrence College (Brockville Campus)
