Upper Canada Village was first opened in 1961 as part of a plan to preserve the heritage of Canada before the Confederation in 1867. Located in Morrisburg, about an hour’s drive south from Ottawa and under two hours west from Montreal, this attraction takes visitors back in time to observe the daily activities of Canadian rural life in the 1860s.
Historic Buildings and Costumed Interpreters Reflect Canadian Heritage
Many of the structures, including the Asselstine’s Woollen Factory, Beach’s Sawmill, and the Christ Church, had been built around the time period and were transported to the Upper Canada Village site. Some of these authentic buildings were originally located in what are known as the Lost Villages, ten communities that were flooded in 1958 to make way for the St. Lawrence Seaway project. Several reproductions, including a cheese factory and a bakery, complete the collection of typical businesses found in that era.
The village is staffed by interpreters in typical nineteenth-century fashions. The women stay well-covered in long-sleeved dresses, usually with hoop skirts, while the men wear button-down shirts and trousers or dungarees held up with suspenders. Many interpreters are participating in the labors of that time, including running the saw and flour mills, baking bread, and operating horse-powered farm machinery.
When visitors enter one of the over 20 buildings open to them, they are often greeted by an interpreter who, using the vocabulary and mannerisms of the time period, provides an overview of how the factory or business operated. Visitors are shown a jar of leeches and a pair of forceps that the physician might use among other supplies of a trade. Some interpreters can demonstrate their work or explain the components of the water-powered machinery in action. Some of the products of this labor, such as loaves of bread, tin candle holders, and straw brooms, are available for purchase in the gift shop located at the park’s exit. More detailed presentations about history and culture are scheduled at different locations throughout the day.
Planning a Visit to Upper Canada Village
Other activities at Upper Canada Village include rides on miniature trains, horse-drawn carriages, and a canal barge known as a tow scow, and performances by the Travelling Tiltons minstrel troupe. Children can try on period clothing and participate in hands-on activities at the Family Centre. Also, for $20.00 a day, anyone interested in blending in with the surroundings can rent and wear a costume during their visit.
In addition to its daily operations between mid-May and early October, Upper Canada Village is host to several major weekend events in or near the park. In mid-July, the grounds near the Crysler Farm Visitor Centre fill up with the tents of participants in the Grand Tactical, North America’s largest War of 1812 battle re-enactment. Other events include a Medieval Festival in June and a Fall Fair in September, as well as demonstrations of how weddings, funerals, and elections were carried out during the 1860s.
A visit of three or four hours will allow enough time to tour the buildings and other exhibits as well as take advantage of one of the three dining options: Willard’s Hotel, a full-service restaurant, the more casual Harvest Barn cafeteria, or the Village Café located outside the entrance, which features deli sandwiches and lighter fare. The park’s website and literature also suggest one- and two-hour tours for those with limited time.
In 2009, Upper Canada Village experienced cuts in staffing and a price increase to $18.95 Canadian for adult admission. However, AAA and other discounts can be applied. Visitors may have to exercise some patience when greeted by a sign on a closed door that indicates that the interpreter for an exhibit will return in thirty minutes or at a specific time, but visitors can still witness and experience many interesting aspects of 19th-century Canadian rural life.
More information about planning a trip can be found at the park’s website.
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