GLENGARRY COUNTY FIELD TRIP AND WINERY VISIT
This event is now sold out
Heritage Ottawa is delighted to offer our popular heritage field trip, a day-long coach tour to historic Glengarry County, with visits to Williamstown’s Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum and the Sir John Johnson House, a stop at St. Raphael’s Church Ruins, and visits in Alexandria to St. Finnan's Basilica, and the Glengarry County Archives. We conclude at Stonehouse vineyard for a tour and wine tasting. The tour will include visits guided by local experts and commentary on other heritage sites along the way by experienced and knowledgeable tour guide David Jeanes.
SPACE IS LIMITED, SO PRE-REGISTER SOON!
WHEN: Thursday, 19 June 2025 | 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
WHERE: Meet by 8:30 am at Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue, for an 9:00 am departure by coach.
COST: $85 per person includes round-trip coach transportation, admissions to museums, wine tasting, bottled water, and professional commentary along the tour route.
Please note: Lunch is not included in the price of the trip. We will have an optional group reservation at the North Glengarry Restaurant with suggested meal choices for faster service. We will also suggest other eating places in Alexandria, or bring your own lunch.
EXCURSION
Only an hour east of Ottawa, Glengarry County is rich in heritage institutions, national historic sites, and even a 234 year old family farm, now a vineyard. The Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum chronicles migrations from the United States and to Western Canada. The Sir John Johnson Manor House National Historic Site is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Ontario. St. Raphaels' Ruins National Historic Site is a spectacular fire-gutted church ruin. The Glengarry Archives in Alexandria is in the oldest house in town and we will meet county archivist Alan Macdonald. St. Finnan's Basilica was formerly the Catholic cathedral for Alexandria and Cornwall and has a spectacular interior and organ. There is not enough time to visit all the other sites that we will point out along the way, but they welcome individual visits later.
ITINERARY
8:30 am: Meet at Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa
9:00 am: Coach departs Arts Court via Highway 417 east to County Road 20 with a loop through the Maxville Fair Grounds
10:20 am: Arrive at the Glengarry Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum, Williamstown (drop off half the group)
10:25 am: Arrive at Sir John Johnson Manor House National Historic Site, Williamstown (drop off second half of the group)
11:00 am: Shuttle between the above two sites to exchange group visits.
11:45 am: Pickup at the two sites, then follow rural county roads to St. Raphael's Ruins National Historic Site for a brief stop and interpretation.
12:15 to 1:15 pm: Lunch break at The North Glengarry Restaurant in Alexandria and free time to explore. A walking tour map of downtown Alexandria will be provided.
1:15 to 2:30 pm: Group visits to St. Finnan’s Basilica and the Glengarry County Archives, Alexandria.
2:30 pm: Coach pick-up at the two sites.
2:45 pm: Arrive Stonehouse Vineyard, Lochiel, for a tour and tasting.
4:00 pm: Depart vineyard, taking rural county roads passing the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan.
5:00 pm: Coach returns to Arts Court.
We will provide free bottled water, a guide who will provide historic commentary, and comfortable coach transportation with PA system and washroom. Washrooms will also be available at all stops.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW BY REGISTERING AND PAYING ONLINE using our secure online payment service. You will receive confirmation of purchase by email.
Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the event is full. Choose the number of registrants in the fly-down menu below (maximum four registrants per purchase please). Please note that names and emails of all registrants are required.
For more information, please contact Heritage Ottawa at info@heritageottawa.org or call 613-230-8841.
Heritage Ottawa reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case a full refund will be given.