Gananoque, Ontario, is a charming town nestled in the Leeds and Grenville area of Ontario, Canada. With a population of 5,383 year-round residents, according to the 2021 Canadian Census, Gananoque is a vibrant community that also welcomes summer residents, fondly known as "Islanders". This is due to the town's proximity to the Thousand Islands in the Saint Lawrence River, a major tourist attraction. The Gananoque River flows through the town, while the St. Lawrence River forms the southern boundary.
The name Gananoque is of Indigenous origin, meaning "town on two rivers". It rhymes with the place name Cataraqui, which is found in the Cataraqui River, the Little Cataraqui Creek, and the Cataraqui Cemetery in nearby Kingston, Ontario. A fun way to remember its pronunciation is "The right way, the wrong way, and the Gananoque". Locals in eastern Ontario often abbreviate the town name to Gan.
The history of Gananoque, Ontario, dates back to 1789 when Colonel Joel Stone, a Loyalist militia member during the American Revolutionary War, established a settlement on this site. During the War of 1812, American forces raided the government depot in the town, disrupting the flow of British supplies between Kingston and Montreal. This led to the construction of the Gananoque Blockhouse, which stood until 1852.
As per the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gananoque had a population of 5,383 living in 2,562 of its 2,767 total private dwellings. This represented a 4.3% increase from its 2016 population of 5,159. The majority of residents speak English as their first language (94.2%), followed by French (1.3%), and other languages (4.1%).
Known as the "Gateway to the Thousand Islands," Gananoque, Ontario, offers a plethora of local attractions. These include boat cruises through the Thousand Islands, live theatre, the summer theatre festival of The Thousand Islands Playhouse, the Arthur Child Heritage Museum of the 1000 Islands, Thousand Islands Boat Museum, and the Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands. The town is also home to the Thousand Islands – Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO site.
Gananoque, Ontario, is conveniently located on three of Canada's busiest transportation routes: the four-lane Highway 401, the double-track Canadian National Railway main line, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. It is also home to the Gananoque Airport for general aviation. Historically, the Gananoque River's watershed was an important water transportation corridor, playing a key role in the town's early history and economic importance.
The Gananoque Police Service is a small law enforcement agency serving the community of Gananoque, Ontario. Unlike other towns and villages in Ontario that have disbanded their municipal police forces in favour of contracting with the Ontario Provincial Police, the Gananoque Police Service continues to grow under the leadership of Chief of Police Scott Gee.
