Culture: Ontario's first cottage country has an amazing literary history

In 1907, the Toronto-York Radial Railway opened between Toronto and Jackson's Point. Overnight, Jackson's Point became Ontario's first cottage country. Thousands flocked here to escape the city heat. Among the thousands were some well known literary types who have since left an indelible mark on the little lakeside community. They include Stephen Leacock, Mazo de la Roche, Peter Gzowski, and former Toronto Telegram publisher, Irving Robertson.

Stephen Leacock's mother had a cottage in Jackson's Point when Stephen was a young boy. Today, that cottage is part of Briar's Country Resort and Spa, which has been a popular holiday retreat for families and couples for over fifty years. Birdee Cottage is another Briar's property. This cute little two bedroom with its magnificent 180 degree view of Lake Simcoe was author, Mazo de la Roche's favourite summer place to stay. Miss de la Roche, a native of Newmarket, wrote Jalna and fifteen other novels about the fictitious Whiteoaks family. The wildly popular book series sold over 11 million copies worldwide during the 40s and 50s.

Just around the corner from the Birdee and Leacock cottages is the former home of CBC radio personality and author, Peter Gzowski. One of Gzowski's greatest passions was literacy. While living in Jackson's Point, he founded the PG Invitational Golf Tournaments for Literacy in Canada. His first invitational was played at the local Briars Country Club. The club still hosts a PG tournament every year and to date, over nine million dollars has been raised for Canadian literacy programs.

In the 1920s, Irving Robertson, the publisher of the Toronto Telegram, built his dream home on Jackson's Point, the piece of land that gave the community its name. His magnificent mansion is now Jackson's Landing, a new B&B. Just off shore from it lies the wreck of the Enterprise, a steamboat which used to ferry passengers around Lake Simcoe. Stephen Leacock based his famous Mariposa Belle on this boat. The Enterprise wreck is now a popular dive site.

Stephen Leacock and Mazo de la Roche are buried in Jackson's Point in a pretty lakeside cemetery, beside St. George's Anglican Church.

Family: Aurora is Canada's birthday town

In 1967, Canada's Centennial year, Norm Stewart, a local Aurora resident felt that the country's 100th birthday should be celebrated, so he took it upon himself to organize a big street party. The party was such a success, it was held again in 1968. By 1969, many Aurora citizens were concerned that Canadians in general took little or no notice of Canada's national birthday, so with the aid of the Aurora Town Council and several Aurora organizations, a civic party celebrating Canada's birthday was arranged. The birthday party became an annual event and the town was dubbed "Canada's Birthday Town."

According to Heritage Canada, July 1 officially became Canada Day on October 27, 1982. Prior to 1982, July 1 was known as Dominion Day. The town of Aurora was truly ahead of its time.

Family: York Region's favourite summer swimming spots

Every summer, travelers e-mail or call the York Tourism office looking for a good place to escape the summer heat and go for a swim. With that in mind, we've scoured the countryside and come up with the following choices:

The Wave Pool. York Region's first and only wave pool. Its features include four-foot waves, a 160-foot waterslide and warm water swirl pool.

Sibbald Point Provincial Park, Georgina Township, Lake Simcoe. This park has nice sandy beaches with changing rooms and comfort stations. Overnight camping and day use available.

De La Salle Park in Jackson's Point, near Sutton, is on the shores of Lake Simcoe. It has beach access and shallow water which allows children to play safely without worry of drop off to deep water.

Willow Beach Conservation Area has 500 meters of sandy beach and a gently sloping shoreline on Lake Simcoe. Picnic tables are located in a large, open, grassed area under mature trees. Change rooms, washrooms, drinking water, and a playground are also available. Willow Beach is located four kilometres west of Jackson's Point on Metro Road. A gate fee is in effect during the summer months only.

For more information on these and other York Region Summer adventures, contact us.