Township of Assiginack Welcome to Manitowaning /Assiginack!
The Township of Assiginack is located on the eastern portion of Manitoulin Island.The main community, Manitowaning (the first European settlement on Manitoulin Island), is nestled in a picturesque bay.
Manitowaning offers a diverse number of attractions and unique landmarks including; the Assiginack Arena and Fair Grounds (with public tennis courts and ball diamond), River Road Marina (offering access to the North Channel and Great Lakes), an original lighthouse still in operation (built in 1878), the Rainbow Ridge Golf Course, swimming beaches and playgrounds, McLeans park that has year round access for hiking, biking snowshoeing and cross country skiing, St. Paul’s Anglican Church (the oldest Anglican church in Northern Ontario), Museum exhibit building with an adjacent original blacksmith shop, authentic log home and early century school house.
Retail and services include municipal office, medical clinic, ambulance services, waste disposal, public Internet access, volunteer fire department, seven churches, post office, public library, grocery store, restaurants, pharmacy, variety and convenience stores, chartered banking services with 24 hour ATM, real estate & insurance sales, building supply, building and construction contractors, automotive sales and services, marine sales and service, liquor/beer store, greenhouses and landscaping, florist, farm and feed supply, aviation storage, and lodging (resorts, motels and bed & breakfasts).
Community Profile
Manitoulin Island
Many visitors describe Island residents as being exceptionally kind, while possessing a small town sense of community and an eagerness to lend a helping hand. There is undeniably an air of peacefulness and a more relaxed pace here. People say that the worries of the world grow fainter once they cross the bridge and arrive on the Island – adding to a feeling of safety and peace of mind in a serene and pastoral island setting.
Our proximity to the North Channel has also raised the profile of the area. Yesterday’s voyageur trade route and today’s internationally popular cruising destination, the North Channel attracts foreign and domestic boaters and cruise ships annually to its picturesque sailing grounds. Private and public marinas on Manitoulin offer residents and visitors various levels of service to harbour their vessels and easily access the magnificence of the Great Lakes.
There are a vast array of sport and recreational activities that can be pursued on Manitoulin. Our small township alone has a variety of dedicated individuals and organizations that generously contribute their time and expertise to benefit people, events and activities. Please see our Community Profile, which includes a list of volunteer groups.
The term “It takes a community to raise a child” fares well on Manitoulin. Young families have described our schools and educational system as being superior. School sponsored activities regularly uphold close-knit relationships with the communities, allowing our youth good opportunities to develop and interact socially, physically and academically as they pursue their future dreams. Post secondary programs are available through Cambrian College, Contact North, Kenjgewin Teg and via the Internet.
High-speed Internet and advanced telecommunications technologies has played a significant role in developing knowledge based sharing; fostering positive benefits to virtually every sector of our economy by enabling new opportunities for increased community and economic development.
Manitoulin Island is renowned for its “back to nature” or unspoiled environment – the largest freshwater Island in the world; it has often been referred to as the “Jewel of the Great Lakes”. There are numerous distinctive features that contribute to the special appeal of the Island; crystal clear waters (80+ inland lakes), unique cultural diversities, history, geology, flora, fauna, and dazzling starlit skies all exist in harmony and form a wholesomeness that has made Manitoulin famous.
For additional Island resources and information, please visit the Manitoulin Tourism Association website (link on our homepage) or contact us directly.