A trip about an hour south of Ottawa to Upper Canada Village is a journey back in time. Visitors are offered the chance to experience what life along the St. Lawrence, in what is now eastern Ontario, was like 160 years ago. “Visitors can come and experience what life was like in 1866,” says Carli Smelko with Upper Canada Village. The heritage park is located near Morrisburg, Ont. and visitor Tereza Korbel remembers coming to Upper Canada Village as a child. “I remember the cheese curds, and I remember the bread from the bakery. I mean that’s what kids remember. And the ice cream, of course.” Memories, that have now become a tradition, with annual visits. “I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid and now I bring my family,” she says. The immersive living history museum and village is a popular destination. Visitors can see more than 40 preserved and reconstructed buildings come to life. “Learn about different trades, see the domestic life, see all kinds of farm animals and how farms and livery worked in the 1860s,” says Smelko. “It’s not a static museum. You can come in, chat with the staff, and they will talk about what’s significant about their building,” says Milton Kooistra with Upper Canada Village. Visitors can explore the various buildings while wandering through the village’s streets, including everything from the Blacksmith, a bakery, cheese maker, and various Mills where things like blankets, yarn, and flour are made. There are also horse-drawn rides, many exhibits and special events. “Represents a typical village along the Saint Lawrence River in the 1860s,” Kooistra says. According to Upper Canada Village, many of the buildings were “relocated to this site before the flooding of the ‘Lost Villages’ during the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway Project. From family homes and working mills to artisan workshops, each structure has its own story to tell.” According to Smelko, Upper Canada Village is also participating in the Canada Strong pass, with free admission for youth under 18, and discounted admission for those aged 18 to 24.
