History Lives in Georgina – Connections to the Past You Can Still Find Today

What’s in a name? The names in our towns and cities—streets, buildings, waterways, parks—where do they come from? We see them and speak them as we go about our daily lives, but what do we really know about these names? How are we connected to them in our modern everyday existence?

The Town of Georgina in York Region is one of our many places here in YDH that’s rich with the history of the people who brought it to life. They may have existed a hundred, or even two hundred years ago, but they were real people, with real hopes and dreams. Just like you. Sibbald, Leacock, Simcoe, Roche… these names are ties between the past and the present. Today, they remain as vibrant and tangible as they were when their owners lived and breathed, laughed and loved, those long years ago.

Come with us as we explore this part of the Town of Georgina, and let’s connect to our community roots together.

Who were the Sibbalds of Georgina?

Take a minute to think about your hometown. Is there a person or a family everyone knows? Perhaps it is the beloved teacher that also coaches the local sports team. Maybe it’s the real estate duo who organize the holiday food drive every year and raise funds for the annual walk-a-thon. When you see them in the grocery store, or at the gas station, or in the park, you think, “Oh, that’s So-And-So.” Because everyone knows, or at least knows of, So-And-So and their family.

We are not so different from the people of Georgina who lived centuries ago, even though times have changed. The name Sibbald is prevalent in this area because this was an influential family that everyone knew and loved. The Sibbalds came to this area when it was known as Upper Canada, and its founding matriarch, Susan Sibbald, is considered a “pioneer” at a time when the complex and storied nation that we know today was rapidly changing. The fifth daughter of a Royal Navy physician, Susan and her husband, Colonel William Sibbald, planned to journey from Scotland to settle in Upper Canada, and sent two sons of their eleven children to Orillia to learn regional farming techniques. But before the Sibbalds could travel across the ocean to their new home, William sadly passed away. Widowed, Susan carried out the plans she and her husband made together, packed up her belongings, and shipped them across the Atlantic to join her sons, putting down roots in what is now known as Sibbald Point, on the shores of Lake Simcoe.

Today, there are several features in the area that are attributed to, or are named after, Susan Sibbald and her prominent family.

Sibbald Point Provincial Park — Located on the south shores of Lake Simcoe, Sibbald Point is known for its sandy beaches, forested trails, and many recreational activities. It is currently owned by the Province of Ontario, but this was originally the property owned and inhabited by the Sibbald family. It was here that they settled and made their life almost two hundred years ago. When Susan arrived in Upper Canada on her first of two voyages, she purchased several hundred acres in 1835 from the estate of a man named Major William Kingdom Rains and settled in the old log cabin on the property, which she named Eildon Hall after the estate in Scotland where she grew up. The Sibbald family worked the land, grew the community, and loved their home. They lived here until 1951, when they sold the property to the County of York, to become a park. The next time you are hiking the trails or fishing the waters or camping in the shaded grass, think of Susan Sibbald and how much she and her family must have loved this place. We’re sure they’d be thrilled to see how many people love it still.

Eildon Hall — You wouldn’t expect such a prominent family to keep living in a tiny log cabin, would you? Naturally, the original Sibbald home was expanded over the years as the family made a life in Upper Canada. Today, Eildon Hall is a charming museum dedicated to preserving the items the Sibbalds treasured and kept through the generations. These include not just items purchased while they lived here, but items which Susan herself shipped from Europe to begin her life in Sibbald Point. Oil paintings, furniture, and even a clock which belonged to her husband came over, so she could remember him as she made her way in an unfamiliar land.

St. George’s Anglican Church — As was common amongst many European arrivals at the time, Susan Sibbald was devoutly religious. Being a prosperous settler, she donated some of her lands at the edge of her property to the Anglican Church, on which was erected a simple log cabin for the area’s parishioners. In a testament to how small the world truly is, Susan turned to her old school friend, Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe, to help design a stained-glass window. Yes, that is the Elizabeth Simcoe, wife of the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, Sir John Graves Simcoe (and there’s a few more connections for you: now you know where the names Lake Simcoe and the Town of East Gwillimbury come from). Elizabeth sent the request back to her daughters in England, who were themselves accomplished artists. They designed the window, bundled the pieces up, and shipped them to Canada to be installed in the church in 1845. This stunning window remains, and is the oldest of its kind in Canada.

Upon Susan’s death in 1866, her sons wanted to honour her memory by ensuring that the church would withstand the test of time. Between 1876 and 1877, it was rebuilt into the breathtaking, neo-gothic stone building that now occupies the site, complete with gorgeous stone arches, relocated stained-glass window, and crenellated Norman-style tower. Interestingly, the original gatehouse to Eildon Hall still stands beside the church.

Cemetery — With such a long and distinguished history, it is no surprise that St. George’s graveyard is also a point of interest. Established with the original log cabin church, you will find many notable names of parishioners buried here—including Susan Sibbald herself. Her granddaughter, an organ player at the church, is buried here, along with her husband, who was the reverend and a wood carver. His altar, which he carved in 1906, remains in St. George’s. Canadian author Mazo de la Roche is buried in this cemetery, as well as Stephen Leacock, a beloved Canadian icon who is famed for his work as a political scientist, writer and humorist in the early part of the 20^th century.

Carrying on the tradition in town

The towns and villages of the area carry on the tradition of honouring the names that made their communities what they were. Today, you can find places like the Stephan Leacock Theatre and the hamlet of Roches Point as the years pass and more influential Canadians are remembered through their names. There is so much more to learn about this fascinating area and the history of its people at the Georgina Pioneer Village and Archives, so be sure to stop in and see what else you can learn about Susan Sibbald, her large family of descendants, and the people who lived here that went on to do great things.

Connect to Georgina’s Roots: Your Sibbald-Inspired Day Trip Itinerary

Discover Georgina’s connections to the past and its people with this lovely itinerary for a day of exploring.

• Start with breakfast and coffee in Sutton at Black River Coffee. This quaint little shop has been described as a hidden gem. From the front, it appears to be a small, unassuming café. But walk through its doors and you will find a scenic paradise on the patio by the banks of the Black River, where the Anishinaabe people hunted and fished for centuries before Europeans arrived.

• Wander around downtown Sutton’s main street for some historic inspiration before taking a hike in Sibbald Point Provincial Park to visit the Eildon Hall Museum. Here, you will feel truly connected with Susan Sibbald and her family as you come face-to-face with the items they collected during their lifetimes and learn about the stories behind each one.

• Next, make your way to St. George’s Anglican Church on the edge of the property to view the monument that Susan Sibbald’s sons erected in her memory, and where so many residents of Georgina, influential and ordinary alike, are laid to rest. Marvel at the oldest stained-glass window in Canada and the altar carved by Susan Sibbald’s grandson-in-law.

• Before you leave, take a tour around the graveyard to look at the names of the people who lived here, including recognizable names like Stephen Leacock, Mazo de la Roche, Susan Sibbald, and her many family members. As you do, think about the people of your own community who have come and gone over the centuries. They are not so different from the people who rest in this peaceful place on the shores of Lake Simcoe.

• You must be getting hungry by now. Travel to the nearby picturesque village of Keswick. There are tons of comforting restaurants of all culinary types to satisfy your grumbling belly.

• End your day with a sunset at Roches Point, named after the original owner James O’Dell Roche, an Irish settler and a relative of Mazo de la Roche. The views are spectacular from this extension of land into the sparkling waters of Lake Simcoe. And then round out the evening with a performance at the Stephen Leacock Theatre, a delightfully intimate venue where every seat in the house is a great seat.

Updated: November 6, 2024