Heritage & Culture.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons National Historic Site, on Highway 12 just inside Midland's municipal boundary on Tay's western edge, was the headquarters of the Jesuit mission to the Wendat from 1639 to 1649 and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1920. Across Highway 12, the Martyrs' Shrine — consecrated in 1926 — commemorates the eight Jesuit and lay missioners later canonized as the Canadian Martyrs.
The brief.
The Sainte-Marie / Martyrs' Shrine cluster sits on the Tay/Midland boundary along Highway 12 — the present Sainte-Marie site is a 1964 reconstruction operated as a 17th-century living museum and runs full seasonal programming May through October. Port McNicoll's harbour was the Great Lakes terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway steamship line; SS Keewatin, the last surviving Edwardian Great Lakes passenger steamship, called the harbour home from 2012 until her relocation to the Great Lakes Museum in Kingston on 26 October 2023.
The dock and station heritage at Port McNicoll remain on the Tay Shore Trail. Tay sits on the traditional territory of the Chippewa Tri-Council (Beausoleil, Rama, and Georgina Island First Nations) and the Huron-Wendat Nation, jointly acknowledged with Midland, Penetanguishene, and Tiny.
4. places.
- 01
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons National Historic Site
1639–1649 Jesuit mission to the Wendat; NHS designated 1920; reconstructed living museum just inside Midland on Tay's western edge.
- 02
Martyrs' Shrine
Roman Catholic shrine to the Canadian Martyrs, consecrated 25 June 1926, on Highway 12 across from Sainte-Marie.
- 03
Port McNicoll former CPR Great Lakes steamship terminus
The harbour where SS Keewatin docked until her 2023 relocation to Kingston; dock and station heritage remain.
- 04
Tay Shore Trail interpretive signage
Heritage and natural-history interpretive signs along the 18.5 km paved waterfront corridor.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is operated as a living museum with seasonal admission and programming.Source ↗
- 02The Martyrs' Shrine is a Roman Catholic shrine and active place of worship; visitor access is governed by the Shrine.Source ↗
- 03SS Keewatin was relocated from Port McNicoll to the Great Lakes Museum in Kingston in 2023 and is no longer on display in Tay.Source ↗