Places to See and Photograph In and Around Ontario - Canada - Brief Article

PSA Journal, Jan, 1999 by Stan White

Ontario abounds with many photo ops and its crown jewel is Niagara Falls, still spectacular despite much of its water being diverted to hydro-power. Canada is perhaps the only country able to claim knowledge of the first photographs ever taken within its borders, and not surprisingly, they were recently discovered daguerreotypes of the falls.

If you are entering via Niagara for the Toronto Convention, a trip downriver by road to Niagara on the lake is worthwhile. Known for its Shaw Festival, this small town in the midst of an area that was notorious in the war of 1812, is picturesque. It has a novel hovercraft service across Lake Ontario to Toronto.

The Welland Canal, which connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is also an interesting photo-venue for those who like photographing huge lake-boats and locks.

The Niagara Peninsula, in fact southwestern Ontario, is bisected by a limestone escarpment which runs from Niagara, north to Tobermory on Lake Huron. Many small photo-kindly waterfalls run down this scarp.

On the way from Niagara to Toronto is Balls Falls, the remains of a typical early 19th Century mill village (Take Hwy. 24 off Hwy. 401). The village dependent on water power was betrayed by the coming of the railways which bypassed it. It fell into ruin, but renovated and bolstered by local historic buildings transported to the site, it is now a natural museum. The falls too, are photogenic especially after a good rainfall.

For those who like to photograph aircraft there is the recently built Canadian Heritage Warplanes Museum at Hamilton Airport in Mount Hope. Lighting for photography is wonderful here. Flower photographers might also consider the Royal Botanical Gardens also in Hamilton.

Closer to Toronto but still on the west side is the Rockton African Lion Safari and Game Farm featuring many animals in the semi-wild.

Folks entering from the west through Detroit and who are nature photographers might visit the world-renowned Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary north of Kingsville. Also in this area is Point Pelee National Park and along the north shore of Lake Erie are numerous attractive fishing ports.

To the west of Toronto is the 401 highway to Ottawa and on the way the Thousand Islands beginning near the historic town of Kingston where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence Seaway. The islands are attractive and there is much to see but you really need to be on the water to get decent photographs. But not that far, in the town of Oshawa (about 50 miles west) is the Canadian Automotive Museum with antique cars going back to 1903, another good spot for photographs.

Cottage country (rock, lakes and forests) is to the north of Toronto. Georgian Bay is a popular holiday area with another 30,000 islands. And to the northwest is a string of lakes known as the Karwathas. All of these locations have good potential for photography.

In Toronto itself, the possibilities for photographs are infinite: panoramic views of the city from the CN Tower, the unique City Hall, the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, Toronto Islands (by ferry), interiors of the T. Eaton Co., shopping mall, the attractive Harbour Front, the Science Museum, Casa Loma, a modern castle with a unique history, a world-class zoo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Greek Town on the Danforth, and Kensington Market, a series of narrow streets in what used to be Toronto's Jewish section.

An article of this limitation can only touch on a fraction of the venues for potentially good photographs. In the main, you will find Southern Ontario gentle farming country, sometimes in softly rolling hills. As you travel further north or east it becomes more rocky and forested. And, of course, each city has its own character. If you decide to arrive a little before the Conference or stay a few days after and you want more information on places to visit call 1-800-ONTARIO.