Located on the eastern shores of Georgian Bay, the Township of The Archipelago and surrounding area offer world-class recreation and cultural experiences. Residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities all right in our backyard. From outdoor adventure to cultural events, the region provides year-round opportunities to explore, connect, and enjoy life on the Bay. The pages below include information on recreation opportunities, cultural activities, and events available throughout the region.
Residents, businesses, community leaders and politicians have been talking about bringing a pool and recreation centre to the West Parry Sound region for decades. In June 2021, provincial and federal governments committed to invest $23.3 million in the project –a huge milestone for the community.
The Tamarack North Centre is scheduled to open in May 2026. For background information, news, and the latest updates, visit www.wpspoolandrec.ca."
The community of Pointe au Baril maintains an outdoor ice surface adjacent to the Pointe au Baril Community Centre. There is no roof over the rink and therefore availability of the ice service is dependent on weather conditions.
Neighbouring municipalities also provide outdoor ice facilities which are available to the general public. For more information, please visit the sites shown below:
Carling Township Centennial Park
McDougall Township Recreation Centre
Town of Parry Sound Kinsmen Park
The Bobby Orr Community Centre is located in the Town of Parry Sound at 7 Mary Street and is a fully accessible community centre, boasting an ice surface, a hall, and two meeting rooms. Special events and activities are held at the Community Centre throughout the year. The Town offers public skating and skating programs during the winter months.
For further information regarding programs, events and hours of operation at the Bobby Orr Community Centre, please visit the Town of Parry Sound's website.
The Humphrey Community Centre and Arena is located in Seguin Township at 15 Humphrey Drive off of Highway 141. Ice is available fall, winter and summer. Public skating is available as well as private, youth and group rental of the ice surface.
For further information regarding the Humphrey Arena, please visit Seguin Township's website.
The Archipelago and the surrounding area is home to many cultural festivals and events, exceptional artists and artisans, personal studios, organized art tours, music and drama.
The Pointe au Baril Arts and Culture Club annually hosts a number of events during the summer months at the Pointe au Baril Community Centre. For more information and upcoming shows, please visit the Arts on the Bay website.
A highlight of the surrounding community is the Charles. W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts which houses a 480-seat festival performance hall and the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. The Stockey Centre sits on a 3.5-acre waterfront site overlooking beautiful Georgian Bay.
The Festival Performance Hall has stunning acoustics and performances of all genres are presented throughout the year including music of all types (pop, rock, folk, blues, jazz, country, chamber, classical and world music), theatre, contemporary dance, comedy, literary readings, performances for children and community events.
The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame is an interactive hockey museum with a wide variety of photos, memorabilia and artifacts about Bobby Orr, who was born in Parry Sound. The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame also hosts exhibits about other exceptional athletes with ties to Parry Sound.
The Performance Hall is also home to the renowned Festival of the Sound. With various concerts, events and superb chamber music, the Festival of the Sound offers something for everyone. Hundreds of Canadian and international musicians have performed at the Festival over the past 38 seasons. The Festival has an education mandate, offering master classes for developing musicians, open rehearsals, workshops for local children and lectures by musicians and composers, all designed to improve the musical understanding and appreciation of audience members.
The Pointe au Baril Public Library is located at the Pointe au Baril Community Centre. Membership is free for residents of the Township of The Archipelago.
For directions and hours of operation, please click here.
The Parry Sound Public Library is located at 29 Mary Street in Parry Sound. Membership is free for residents of the Township of The Archipelago. Library staff will require you to present your property tax bill as proof of residency. Alternatively, staff of the Parry Sound Public Library will contact The Archipelago by telephone to verify residency status.
Please visit the Library's website for information regarding services and hours of operation.
The Mactier Library is located at 2 Muskoka Road in Mactier. Membership fees will be reimbursed by the Township of The Archipelago. To be reimbursed, please submit your receipt by mail or in person to the Township's Treasurer.
Please visit the Library's website for information regarding services and hours of operation.
The West Parry Sound District Museum, commonly known as the Museum on Tower Hill, is located at 17 George Street in Parry Sound. The Museum began as a group of dedicated citizens who wanted to ensure that the rich history of the District is preserved and can be interpreted for generations to come. The Museum has three galleries for visitors to explore.
Located in the core of the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, the Museum is situated within the Tower Hill Park and Heritage Garden and is mere steps away from Parry Sound's observation tower.
The Museum also offers spaces for rent for meetings and special events.
Please visit the Museum's website for further information regarding location, hours of operation, exhibits and facility rentals.
The Humphrey Museum is located at 3 Museum Road (off of Highway 141 & Clear Lake Road) in Seguin Township. The focus of the Museum is to portray the life and times of yesteryear while paying tribute to the pioneer families who settled in this area. Visitors to the Museum will enjoy the focus on community history and can take in the natural environment that makes our region unique.
The Museum is a true community effort with most items donated by local families in aid of preserving our history.
Please visit Seguin Township's website for further information regarding location and hours of operation.
There are 2 Provincial Parks located within the boundaries of the Township of The Archipelago.
Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park is open from May to October and is located on Sturgeon Bay of Georgian Bay, north of Pointe au Baril, Ontario and off the Trans-Canada Highway. The Park provides 81 camping sites and 4 rental cottages. Boats and canoes are available for rent as well and the Park is an excellent site for birding and fishing. Please visit the website for more information regarding the facilities and services offered at Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park.
The Massassauga Provincial Park is located in the southern portion of The Township of The Archipelago and encompasses much of the area stretching from Parry Sound to the Moon River Basin. The Park provides 135 backcountry campsites from late April to early October which can only be accessed by canoe, kayak or boat. Forty-eight campsites are on inland lakes accessible by portages. There are four day-use areas available for visitors to explore the Park. In addition, the Park offers three Hiking Trails providing visitors with the opportunity to learn about the history and geology of the area and to view wildlife. Please visit the website for more information regarding the facilities and services offered at The Massasauga Provincial Park.
Park to Park Trail
At 230 kilometers, the Park to Park Trail links two iconic Provincial Parks; Killbear Park on Georgian Bay at its western end and at its eastern end, the world-famous Algonquin Park. The Park to Park Trail Association has worked to develop, build and maintain the trail across the 10 municipalities on its route. The Trail network includes sections of historic rail beds and colonization roads, as well as newly developed trail and road sections. It is a multi-use trail network, welcoming trail users on foot, bicycle, horse, dog sled, dirtbike, snowmachine, ATV and UTV. Some sections are limited to non-motorized users. For more information, please visit the Park To Park Trail website.