Bruce Township Driving Tour booklet dedicated to former reeve John MacKenzie

A Driving Tour of Bruce Township has been dedicated in memory of former township reeve John MacKenzie, who died Jan. 23.

Unveiled at the Kincardine council meeting last night (Jan. 27), the "Bruce Township's Places of Interest Driving Tour" booklet features more than 70 sites that are important to the development of the township and the local population.

Karen Ribey of the Bruce Township Historical Society noted the project was a partnership between the historical society and Heritage Kincardine.

"I was on the heritage committee when it developed the Walking Tour of Kincardine," said Ribey. "I brought that information back to the historical society and we agreed to do something similar for Bruce Township."

The group divided the township into four quadrants and began researching and gathering photos. The resulting publication, by Kincardine Commercial Printing, explores the rich built and natural heritage of the area, providing visitors and residents a chance to view historic and modern landmarks.

“We are very proud of our heritage in Bruce Township and are extremely pleased to be able to share this free publication with residents and visitors to the community," said Ribey.

Places of interest include built heritage, such as the Octagonal House and the Job Carr Stone House; and natural heritage, such as the Bottomless Bog and the Glammis Bog. School houses across the township are featured, as are cemeteries and long-forgotten communities, including Malta.

An initial run of the Driving Tour was printed in November and quickly snapped up. A second run has been printed and copies can be picked up at Kincardine Tourism, the Kincardine municipal office in Underwood, the Tiverton, Kincardine and Port Elgin Libraries, and the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton. The booklet can also be found on-line at: www.kincardine.net/kincardineheritage.cfm.

Ribey thanked Mary Lehman of Heritage Kincardine, John Kaminiski of the historical society, deputy clerk Jennifer Lawrie for their help on this project.

She also requested that the booklet be commemorated in memory of John MacKenzie who was reeve of the township for 29 years, and was instrumental in the development of the nuclear industry in this area.

Council agreed.