Perth (Ontario)

Established as a military settlement in 1816, Perth-upon-Tay was settled initially by military veterans of the War of 1812 as the seat of Lanark County. The Scottish, Irish and European stonemasons who constructed the Rideau Canal (opened 1832, Kingston to Ottawa) built many local historic stone buildings which have been preserved in their original condition or carefully restored.
The seven "Marks Brothers", Canadian kings of theatrical repertoire who toured North America from the 1870s-1920s. originally hailed from Christie Lake just outside of Perth. The Balderson Theatre building at 12 Gore Street East (still standing, now a furniture store) was the largest theatre between Montreal and Toronto in its time; the brothers were called (Maclean’s Magazine, 1958) "the most remarkable theatrical family in Canadian history. The dazzling Marks Brothers were the greatest impresario performers of our small town stage in the era before the nickelodeon."
The two century-old downtown huddles around the Tay Basin, the end point of the Tay Canal that connects Perth into the Rideau Canal system. Large boats arriving from the Rideau via the Tay Canal will get no further than the Last Duel Campground due to very low bridges between the campground and the Tay Basin but smaller boats, canoes and kayaks should be able to navigate under these bridges to the Tay Basin in downtown Perth.
Local arts and crafts can be found throughout the town. Paintings, prints and art cards of Nostalgic Realism artist Craig Campbell (available at many downtown stores) are internationally known for their nostalgic portrayal of the steam train era.
The town is named for Perth (Scotland), one of its two sister cities, which is built on a Tay River. County Lanark is also named for a Scottish town Lanark (from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade") in the former Lanarkshire.

;By car:

• From Ottawa (and the mainline Trans-Canada Highway), Perth is 83km (52 miles) west on Highway 7. Exit on Wilson Street and follow the "business section" signs.
• From Kingston and Highway 401, take County Road 10 north through Westport.

;By boat:

• The Tay River branches from the Rideau Canal between Smiths Falls and Newboro. There are two locks (#33 Lower Beveridges, #34 Upper Beveridges) which bypass the river to join Perth to the main canal. Parks Canada operates the canal seasonally, late May to Thanksgiving.

;By bus:

• Greyhound

  phone: +1 613-326-0006
  address: Ultramar (Four Seasons Car Wash), 89 Dufferin St
  Toronto-Peterborough-Perth-Ottawa bus via Highway 7.

;By train or aeroplane:

The downtown core, situated on a few square blocks, is easily toured on foot. Parking in downtown lots is $4/day; one may park on-street for free for no more than two hours in any five-hour period. Portable wheelchair ramps have been retrofitted to some of the older-style stores.
The "big box" stores, strip mall, fast food and motels are out on Highway #7 and best accessed by motor car.
Local taxis are provided by K+K Cab (+1 613-264-4001), Access Taxi (+1 613-264-1212) and Charlie's Taxi (+1 613-267-3757).

• Perth Museum

  phone: +1 613-267-1947
  address: 11 Gore St. E
  Matheson House, c. 1840, was home to well-to-do Scottish merchant Hon. Roderick Matheson and his family for over 90 years. Four rooms of the nationally-designated historic stone dwelling are restored to the 19th-century era; two galleries display changing exhibitions on topics including the last fatal duel fought in Canada, the Mammoth Cheese, and the famous Marks Brothers theatrical family (not to be confused with the American Marx Brothers).

• Mammoth CheeseAs a promotional stunt for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, twelve Lanark County cheesemakers used the equivalent of a day's milk from ten thousand cows to make the 'World's Largest Cheese', 8.5 metres (28 feet) in diameter and two metres (six feet) tall. It drew crowds at every stop on the trip via Toronto to Chicago by rail; its ten tonne (22,000 lbs) weight crashed through an exhibition hall floor when first unloaded. A modern full-scale replica stands at the Tay Basin beside the Crystal Palace, an earlier replica (from the 50th anniversary) is near the original assembly point on the CP Rail line (end of Herriott Street. near the Perth Soap Factory).

• Perth Town CrierOfficial Town Crier Brent McLaren represents the town at civic ceremonies, festivals, special community functions and Town Crier competitions.

• Round Garden

  address: 99 Sunset Blvd. (99 Christie Lake Rd)
  Constructed in 1983 as a special garden for the blind which features smells, sounds and taste with a round walkway leading from raised bed to raised bed. Signs in English, French and Braille describe various garden plots. Garden fountains and surrounding woods add to the sounds, with plenty of seating areas around the garden to enjoy the various senses.

• Hall of Remembrance

  phone: +1 613-267-4400
  address: 26 Beckwith St. East
  Military veterans' museum covering two world wars, the Korean war and peacekeeping missions.

• Conlon Farm Recreation Complex

  phone: +1 613-267-5302
  address: 6 Conlon Dr.
  53-acre public park south of Perth with six ball diamonds, three soccer pitches, two basketball courts, a beach volleyball court, four tennis courts, a playground area, toboggan hill, skateboard park and outdoor rink in winter, cross-country skiing. Teams may schedule a sports field in advance. Home of Perth Tay Tennis Club. Perth United Soccer Club, Perth and District Little League, Perth Mixed Lob ball and Recreational Lob ball.

• Christie Lake Cottages & Marina

  phone: +1 613-267-3470
  address: 203 Christie Lake Lane 32, Perth
  Paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, kids' programme (3-13's), beach with play area, swimming, fishing. Off-grid cottages, 1600 acres, marina with wi-fi.

• Links O'Tay

  phone: +1 613-267-3090
  address: 141 Peter St
  Canada's oldest continuously operating golf course, founded 1890.

• Maple Key Day Camp

  phone: +1 613-900-7374
  address: 103 Miller Bay Rd
  Day camp for 4-14 year olds on 14 acres with workshop, cabins, boating on Otty Lake. Campers choose their own activities in a community-based environment.

• Perth Studio Theatre

  phone: +1 613-267-7469
  address: 63 Gore Street E.
  Live theatre, April-October.

• Tay River TrailSeries of navigational markers and information plaques follow historic portage and walking pathways upstream and downstream from Tay Basin.

• Port Elmsley Drive-In

  phone: +1 613-267-7772
  address: 333 Port Elmsley Road, Port Elmsley
  Cinema open weekends late-April to Thanksgiving, daily in July-August, rain or shine. Grill and snack bar.

Parks

• Stewart Park

  address: behind town hall
  Cool downtown oasis along Tay River with gardens and maple trees. Perth Citizen's Band, the oldest operating citizens band in Canada (established 1852), performs Thursday evenings at the band shell behind the town hall. The park also hosts weddings and Sunday night church services.

• Code's ParkAcross the Tay River from Stewart Park. A life-size bronze statue across from Code's Mill commemorates Olympic equestrian horse "Big Ben" (1976–1999) and his rider Ian Millar of Millar Brooke Farm.

• Last Duel ParkLast Fatal Duel in Upper Canada. On June 13, 1833, law student John Wilson shot and killed Robert Lyon because of Lyon's remarks disparaging local schoolteacher Elizabeth Hughes. Wilson and his second were charged with murder, but were acquitted. Wilson moved to London (Ontario), married Miss Hughes, became a Member of Parliament and eventually a judge. Robert Lyon's body lies in the Old Burying Grounds on Cole Street.

• Murphy's Point Provincial Park

  phone: +1 613-267-5060
  address: 2243 Elm Grove Road, Big Rideau Lake (RR#5 Perth)
  Camping, water sport and day use.

Events

• Perth Polar Bear Plunge

  address: Tay River, next to the Perth Legion
  New Year's Day.

• Festival of the MaplesLate April, at end of maple sugar season. Maple syrup and street festival, live entertainment, pancake breakfast, taffy on snow, classic cars, rides and children's entertainment, market fair with commercial vendors and product awards. Various locations including main street and arena.

• Stewart Park FestivalJuly. Three days of free music in Stewart Park behind city hall.

• Perth Garlic FestivalAugust. "It's Chic to reek."

• Perth Fair

  phone: +1 613-267-4104
  address: 50 Arthur St.
  September (Labour Day weekend) agricultural fall fair.

• Perth Autumn Studio TourOctober. Showcase for contemporary fine crafts.

• One Act Play FestivalNovember. Eastern Ontario Drama League annual event, a competition between various theatrical groups from Kingston to Ottawa. The venue changes each year: Perth Studio Theatre was host in 2011 and again in 2016.

• Festival of Good CheerNovember. Experience a shopping trip back to 1840. A festival of lights is held on (usually) the third Friday of November by the downtown business association at Crystal Palace and Tay Basin; this starts at 6pm with music and a bonfire, followed by fireworks at 6:30pm and then a mass lighting of Community Christmas Trees in the Crystal Palace. The festival of good cheer, held later the same weekend, includes entertainment by carollers and music groups.

• Perth 200The 200th Anniversary of the Perth Military Settlement, in 2016, is to be commemorated with 200 events and the publication of a local cookbook.

• Crystal Palace Market

  address: Tay Basin, across from City Hall
  Town marketplace built from remnants of glass street enclosures that once covered Rideau Street in Ottawa. Perth Farmers' Market, local artisans and craftspeople, local produce.

• Balderson Village Cheese

  phone: +1 613-267-4492
  address: 1410 Highway 511, Balderson
  Founded 1881 by local dairy farmers collective to produce Cheddar cheese in the tiny village of Balderson, north of Perth. Various domestic and imported cheeses, confections and condiments, baskets for special occasions.

• Canada's oldest drugstore

  address: 57 Foster St.
  Now expanded as member of Pharmasave chain, entrances on Foster and North streets.

• Downtown Heritage PerthHistoric commercial district with over eighty local merchants, including twenty downtown restaurants.

• Hoffman Gore St. Flea Market

  phone: +1 613-267-3156
  address: 147 Gore St. E.
  Forty-five vendors of everything from junk to antiquities.

• Riverguild Fine Crafts

  phone: +1 613-267-5237
  address: 51 Gore St E
  Artist's co-operative offers pottery, woodcarving, etchings, paintings, jewellery, fibre art, hand-blown glass, sheepskin slippers, leather work, ironwork, children's games and toys, representing over 75 local and Canadian artists.

Maple syrup

Various farms around Perth/Lanark (locally) and around Delta (north of Brockville) produce maple sugar and maple syrup seasonally; sap normally starts flowing at the beginning of the spring thaw (late March-early April) while the last of the winter snow is still on the ground.

• Ennis' Maple Syrup

  phone: +1 613 267-3491
  address: 848 Ennis Road, Balderson
  North of Perth on Bennett Lake.

• Farrell's Finest Maple

  phone: +1 613-267-2158
  address: 4262 Narrows Lock Rd, Perth

• Temple's Sugar Bush

  phone: +1 613-253-7000
  address: 1700 Ferguson’s Falls Road (County Rd #15), Lanark
  Pancake House restaurant, wedding and event space.

• Wheeler's Maple Products

  phone: +1 613-278-2090
  address: 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners
  Lanark Highlands pancake house and maple sugar camp. Maple heritage museum, trails, barn, playground, chainsaw/logging display and blacksmith shop.

• Coutts Coffee

  phone: +1 613-267-3713
  address: 17 Wilson St. E
  Coffee and pastry. One of multiple storefronts in the historic Code's Mill building, which also includes a pub, retail and banquet/event space. Seasonal patio overlooking Stewart Park.

• Maximilian's

  phone: +1 613-267-2536
  address: 99 Gore St. East
  European. Weinerschnitzel, Hungarian goulash, beef fillet, desserts.

• Me and Mrs. Jones

  phone: +1 613-264-2644
  address: 110 Gore St E.
  Family restaurant.

• Mex & Co

  phone: +1 613-264-8182
  address: 55 Gore Street East
  Mexican-Californian. Riverfront patio.

• The Stone Cellar

  phone: +1 613-267-0200
  address: 71 Gore St. E.
  European

• Fiddleheads Bar and Grill

  phone: +1 613-267-1304
  address: 53 Herriott St.
  Sunday brunch, kids and dessert menus.

• Imperial Tavern

  phone: +1 613-267-6655
  address: 27 Wilson St. W.
  No-frills dive bar with a few pool tables, shuffleboard, beer on tap and in bottles/tall cans.

• O'Reilly's Ale House

  phone: +1 613-267-7994
  address: 43 Gore St. E.
  Pub in former apothecary shop, lunch specials, 12 draught beers on tap, wi-fi.

• Shark & Bull

  phone: +1 613-264-4445
  address: 41A North St.
  Pool Hall and nightclub, hot soup and chili, crèpes, sandwiches freshly made to order.

• Drummond House

  phone: +1 613-267-1038
  address: 30 Drummond St. E.
  Three-room bed and breakfast in historic 1830 stone house beside Tay River Turning Basin, private baths, outdoor pool, hot tub, a/c, wi-fi, free long-distance calls.

• Parkside Inn and Spa

  phone: +1 613-326-0082
  address: 82 Peter Street
  Aveda Spa, therapeutic mineral pool, steam room, fitness centre, and Hair Artistry salon. Best Western Plus hotel with suites and conference rooms, beside Stewart Park.

• Perth Manor

  address: 23 Drummond St. W.
  Six-suite boutique hotel and reception facility in "Thurreson Place", built 1878 as a merchant's £12000 family home. Wi-fi, full breakfast, en-suite bath.

• Tay Inn

  phone: +1 613-267-3300
  address: 125 Dufferin Street (Hwy #7)
  Highway 7 motel with wi-fi, a/c, refrigerators, outdoor pool. No pets.

• Perth & District Union Public Library

  phone: +1 613-267-1224
  address: 30 Herriott Street
  Public library with wi-fi. Internet-connected computers may be booked in advance for one-hour periods.

• Westport (Ontario) and the Rideau Canal