Burk’s Falls:
A rural village whose population has remained steady at just under a thousand for the last decade, Burk’s Falls sits at the juncture of the Magnetawan River and Highway 11. In the autumn of 1875, David Francis Burk beached his canoe at the foot of these waterfalls on the Magnetwan River at about the same time as Mr. Knight. He won the flip of a coin and so named the falls after himself, claiming the area under the Free Land Grant Act.
Not far from renowned Algonquin Park, residents and visitors alike enjoy leisurely canoing in the winding river, or fishing and boating in the many lakes of this picturesque cottage country. Some prefer hiking along the Heritage River Walk, or shopping in the downtown core, or just having a picnic at the Stan Darling Village Park overlooking the Magnetawan River and dam. Snowmobiling is a favorite winter activity, and riders from all over Ontario come to take part in the annual Almaguin Cup Snowmobile Races. Residents also have fun taking part in the Winterfest with horse-drawn sleigh rides, tug-of-war, egg toss, and ice skating.
Emsdale:
Emsdale is a community in the Township of Perry, part of the Almaguin Highlands Region in the District of Parry-Sound. The rumor is that its name is derived from “Emma’s dale”, or “Em’s dale”, the aunt of Stan Darling, the popular MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka at the time, since her settlement was located in this valley or “dale”.
By 1899 the railway extended through Emsdale. It had a population of about 350 people and was as a hub of activity with a railway station, four hotels, a general store, a planning mill, a boarding house, a barber shop, a doctor’s office, a jewellery shop, a school, an ice cream parlour and a bakery. In 1941 Emsdale Airport was an important part of the war effort, and is still active.
Today, visitors and residents walk or ride part of the Park-to-Park Trail which runs through Emsdale, a four-season 230 kilometre trail connecting Killbear Provincial Park to Algonquin Provincial Park. Other attractions include the historical Cemeteries, the Perry Old-timer museum, as well as a children's playground. A major event every August is the annual Fall Fair, the showcase of the Emsdale Agricultural Society which had the roots of its beginnings in 1890.
Nearby is Brooks Falls. This untouched scenic waterfall is a popular destination, and patrons often bring a picnic so they can spend several hours enjoying the many trails along the riverfront in the park.
Emsdale has its own school, Evergreen Heights Education Centre, which operates Kindergarton to Grade 8. This school also serves the local communities of Kearney, Novar, and Sprucedale.
Kearney:
In 1879, A. J. O’Neil and his partner William Kearney opened a store on the eastern side of Perry Township at this crossroads between Sand Lake and Beaver Lake during logging times. It was located at 12th Concession, near what is now Cherry Hill Road, west of Beaver Lake. With the completion of the railway section between nearby Scotia and Madawaska in 1896, lumber from the area were easily shipped to Ottawa and then on to Montreal. Boom times began and saw mills and logging camps abounded in the Kearney community. By 1908, the 600 acre Kearney hamlet was broken off from Perry Township and incorporated into the Town of Kearney.
At a population of under a thousand, Kearney calls itself the “Biggest Little Town” and boasts three access points to Algonquin Park for the outdoor enthusiast. Besides Beaver Lake and Sand Lake, its borders include Clam Lake and Fisher Lake with numerous cottages, resorts and campgrounds. With sandy beaches, white water rapids and placid lakes there’s summer fun for everyone. Fishing and boating are popular, as well as bear, moose and dear hunting. In the winter are dogsled races, ice fishing and cross country skiing and visitors appreciate that local outfitters carry all the supplies needed.
Kearney is the home of the Ralph Bice, legendary guide, trapper, outdoorsman, author and newspaper columnist who wrote many arcticles about the area.
Popular events include the Dog Sled Derby in February and the Kearney Regatta in August.
Sprucedale:
Sprucedale is a small community in the Township of McMurrich/Monteith in Almaguin Highlands, and is named for the abundance of spruce and other evergreen trees in the area. McMurrich/Monteith Township itself only holds about 600 people.
Besides boating, great fishing, cottaging and swimming at the public beach on nearby Doe Lake, a major attraction to the area is the nine kilometre nature hiking trail. This trail connects to the 230 kilometre Park-to-Park Trail connecting Killbear Provincial Park to Algonquin Provincial Park. The Park-to-Park Trail is a 230 kilometre a four season multi-use trail system which is actually a link of local trails moving east to west from Killbear Provincial Park to Algonquin Provincial Park. It offers pristine scenery with a unique ecosystem and is a favorite of photographers, nature lovers, bikers, cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, and ATV-ers alike.
Other attractions in the township are Buck Lake, Axe Lake, and Johnson’s Lake, five pioneer cemeteries and old buildings and barns, the Bear Lake Peatlands which are about 12 kilometers to the west, and the Beggsboro Creek Wildlife Area near Doe Lake.
Novar:
Novar is part of the Perry Township in Almaguin Highlands along with Emsdale, Scotia, Clear Lake, Swindon and Walls. Almaguin Highlands is the region between Huntsville and North Bay in the District of Parry-Sound along the Highway 11 corridor.
The south end of Perry Township had a Scottish settlement called “Cyprus”, with a store, post office, church, hotel, school and several dwellings. When the railroad came nearby in 1884 the whole town moved or rebuilt their homes next to the tracks, calling their new settlement “Novar”, meaning “New”. The lumber industry boomed with the ease of transport through the rail lines and Novar became the site of many saw mills.
Novar is the southern gateway to scenic Almaguin Highlands, just north of Huntsville on Highway 11. Close by on Deer Lake Road is an untouched scenic waterfall. Brooks Falls is a popular destination, and patrons often bring a picnic so they can spend a few hours enjoying the many trails along the riverfront in the park.
Novar’s students attend Evergreen Heights Education Centre in nearby Emsdale, but it has its own Community Centre.