St Joseph Island | Beautiful Islands in Canada

Many colorful stories, some legend, some historical fact, are told about St Joseph Island. It is the westernmost of the Manitoulin chain of islands, situated in the channel between Lakes Huron and Superior. It's 45 km long and 24 km wide and covers 365 sq km. Originally named Anipich, the Ojibway word for 'place of the hardwood trees' the island was given its present name by Jesuit missionaries to honor the patron saint of a new Indian church they erected. It is linked to the mainland by a toll-free bridge, opened in 1972.
St Joseph's island location was of strategic importance to the British who fortified it as a bulwark against the Americans during the war of 1812. Fort St. Joseph itself was abandoned when peace broke out, though it has now been restored as a National Historic Site.

St Joseph Island Today

Today St Joseph island is noted for is peaceful beauty, its friendly residents and its recreational activities. It is a place of undisturbed bays, rocky inlets and the undulating hills, mixed forests, marshes and meadows that lend themselves to scenic drives, bike tours or leisurely walks. Most of the population live in the pretty villages of Richards Landing and Hilton Beach. The main industries are tourism, logging and agriculture.

St Joseph Island Activity

Water sports are very popular here in summer and good fishing is  to be found. In winter you can cross-country ski on 160 km of prepared trails. This is an island of festivals, from the winter Flurryfest and the Maple Syrup Festival in the spring, to Community Nights in the summer through to the Jocelyn Harvest Festival in the autumn