Cornwall, also known as the Seaway City, is a historical gem located an hour from both Montreal and Ottawa. The city of Cornwall offers big city amenities with small town hospitality and the convenience of being surrounded by both country and cultural escapes.
Cornwall
Cornwall is the hub for the surrounding counties offering a variety of accommodations, attractions, shopping and dining. Visiting Cornwall will be enjoyable to those interested in the arts, culture, history, the outdoors and family fun. Cornwall is also a prime location for sporting events and conferences as the price tag for a stay in Cornwall is much less than most big cities but with access to world class facilities like the NAC Centre, Benson Centre and Cornwall Civic Complex.
Cornwall has two downtown area’s; The Downtown and Le Village offering unique shopping, dining and cultural views, as wells as the Brookdale and Second Street districts which offer more big box store and franchise restaurants.
Downtown Cornwall
Cornwall’s revitalized downtown offers a growing mix of restaurants and retail stores, beautiful waterfront parks, museums and tree-lined neighbourhoods.
Anchored by the landmark intersection of Pitt and Second, the Downtown is the historical heart of the region, tracing its roots back to 1784. Heritage homes, churches and buildings provide a clue as to what the city looked like a century ago.
The Downtown is the go-to dining and shopping district for both locals and visitors alike. Have lunch on an outdoor patio and browse eclectic shops owned by the merchants who have sourced unique one-of-a-kind goods to fill their shelves. Drop by Cornwall Square, an indoor shopping mall featuring over 70 stores and stay for dinner at one of the many fine restaurants.
Downtown is where you will find City Hall, the Cornwall Public Library and the Counties Administration Building. It is also the location of the Historic SDG Jail and Cornwall Community Museum as well as the Civic Complex, home of the Cornwall Colts and Cornwall Nationals hockey teams. Take a dip in the Aquatic Centre or try your luck throwing stones at the Cornwall Curling Club.
These attractions and more are just a short walk away from the sprawling Lamoureux Park which offers scenic views of the St. Lawrence River and Cornwall Island. In the park, you will also find play structures, a splash pad and outdoor gym, in addition to well-maintained walking paths along the riverside.
Le Village
Le Village is a “main street” commercial district in the east end of Cornwall that runs along Montreal Road. It offers a diverse mix of professional offices, restaurants, retail stores and residential buildings.
Le Village has strong connections to Cornwall’s textile mills past and Francophone heritage. The early nucleus of the Francophone community was Nativity Roman Catholic Church on Montreal Road which was built during 1887-92 to serve the many French Canadians.
The area is in the midst of revitalization as new businesses set up shop. It is also an area with immediate access to the St. Lawrence River, attracting new residents as heritage textile mills are converted into condos.
St. Lawrence College is located at the east end of Le Village. With surging enrollment, the College is a vibrant place of learning and community activities. The campus is also home to the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences as well as Aultsville Theatre – a 700-seat theatre that attracts thousands of people to the area to attend dozens of shows throughout the year.
As you move further east along the Waterfront Trail you will find the NAV Centre, a sprawling convention centre overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The NAV Centre includes a great restaurant and pub, in addition to a fitness centre, indoor pool and spa to compliment over 500 guest rooms.
Waterfront Trail
The Waterfront Trail is a 2100 km series of trails that connects the Great Lakes to the Quebec Border.
Cornwall’s portion of the Waterfront Trail is a dedicated off-road multi-use trail that spans the entire city’s waterfront, offering stunning views of the Cornwall Canal and the St. Lawrence River and connecting to a number of attractions. It is very popular with cycling and running enthusiasts.
As you approach Cornwall, the Trail runs through Guindon Park before turning south at Power Dam Drive. Take a moment to visit the St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre and snap a photo of the impressive RH Saunders Power Dam. Continue east along the remains of the historic Cornwall Canal and travel underneath the brand new bridge that connects Cornwall to Cornwall Island. Next up is beautiful Lamoureux Park, home to the Cornwall Civic Complex, Cornwall Curling Centre, Cornwall Aquatic Centre, Cornwall Community Museum, and the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame. This is a great opportunity to grab a bite to eat in any of the fabulous restaurants along Pitt Street. The Trail continues along Marina 200 and through the Historic Cotton Mill District.
East of Cornwall, a short detour will take you to Gray’s Creek Conservation Area where you’ll find 5km of meandering trails through natural landscape. The Waterfront Trail continues through South Glengarry until the Quebec Border.
West of Cornwall, the Waterfront Trail follows the Long Sault Parkway, which travels through a series of 11 islands that were created from high points of land left after the flooding of the St. Lawrence River during the construction of the Seaway in the 1950s. In fact, several villages once stood where the river now lies, a fascinating story captured at the Lost Villages Museum.
The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail has been designated a Trail of Distinction as its unique wetlands, forests and beaches creates an incredible route of discovery through Ontario’s rich natural heritage.
SDG Counties
The vibrant communities of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry are rich in history and natural beauty, with many places to explore. Have fun with your family and relax and unwind.
South Glengarry
South Glengarry features several museums, festivals and community special events. Williamstown Fair as always promises fun for all. The Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum regularly features special collection viewings and the South Lancaster Walking Tour offers the opportunity to explore many of its hidden jewels. St. Raphael’s Galorama is a much anticipated event that features live entertainment and games for the whole family. The Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown is home to athletes of all ages, including the Char-Lan Rebels. In spring when water levels are high, many compete in the annual Raisin River Canoe Race which prides itself as being the longest canoe race in Eastern Ontario.
North Glengarry
An extensive network of groomed trails makes North Glengarry a popular destination for hikers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers. It is alive with festivals throughout the year while home to the world-famous Glengarry Highland Games. North Glengarry is the envy of many rural communities with two full-service arenas.
South Dundas
The best part of a visit to South Dundas is diversity. Spend a day as a pioneer, working the land that a country will be built on. Visit prehistoric times when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Curl up with your favourite book on the shores of the St. Lawrence and enjoy the beauty and tranquility. Shop our quaint village stores for a hidden gem. Camping, beaches, scuba diving, fishing on the St. Lawrence River, and snowmobiling on winter trails are activities at the heart of a memorable family vacation.
North Dundas
North Dundas is a vibrant rural community. A historical society and an amateur theatre group offer local theatre with big city fun. There are several major summer fairs and festivals that take place in the Township of North Dundas. Every summer, Chesterville holds a summer agricultural fair. The Village of Winchester hosts “Dairyfest” in early August and the Village of South Mountain hosts their summer agricultural fair also in August. The Village of Chesterville hosts the ‘Chesterville Farmer’s Market’ on the waterfront every Saturday during the summer months.
South Stormont
When you visit South Stormont, you’ll find much to do. There are attractions, adventure and history along with acres of parks, camp sites, beaches and the unspoiled beauty of the Long Sault Parkway. Along with exercise and fresh air, there’s an opportunity for a fascinating look at what life was like in South Stormont 50 years ago, before the flooding of the St. Lawrence with a visit to the Lost Villages Museum. History comes alive as you stroll through the park. Visit St. Andrews West – the oldest parish in the area and nearby pioneer cemetery with a rich history, many fine buildings and monuments.
North Stormont
The small communities of North Stormont are alive with community spirit and fresh country air. Spend the day with your family picking berries, apples or pumpkins. Let the kids run in one of the many parks. Explore the many snowmobile or ATV trails or find the perfect wedding dress at the Moose Creek mall.
Akwesasne
Akwesasne is a Mohawk Nation that lies directly south of Cornwall.
The name Akwesasne in Mohawk means “Land Where the Partridge Drums”, referring to the rich wildlife in the area. Akwesasne was founded in the mid-18th century by people from Kahnawake, a Catholic Mohawk village south of Montreal.
Akwesasne territory incorporates part of the St. Lawrence River, the mouths of the Raquette and St. Regis rivers, and a number of islands in these three rivers. The territory is divided by the Canada United States border and further divided by the Canadian provincial boundary between Ontario and Quebec.
The largest island in the territory is Cornwall Island (Kawehno:ke). It is home to a number of commercial establishments as well as the administration offices of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. A key focal point for sporting and cultural events on the island is the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena (Big Turtle Arena). The arena is the site of the International Pow-Wow each September, which provides the opportunity for thousands of visitors to experience Mohawk culture and heritage.
Other points of interest include the Native North American Travelling College and Mohawk International Lacrosse, both located on Cornwall Island, and Thompson Island Cultural Camp, located on Thompson Island, Akwesasne Museum and Cultural Center Located on Route 37 in Akwesasne NY, the St. Regis Mission Catholic Church, located in St. Regis Quebec, the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort in Akwesasne NY and the Mohawk International Raceway.
Cornwall Island is accessible from Cornwall via the Seaway International Bridge. Visitors can walk, cycle or drive to the island.
Major hamlets and villages include :
Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island, Ontario)
Kana:takon (Saint Regis, Quebec)
Tsi:Snaihne (Snye, Quebec)
How to Find us
Cornwall is located along Canada’s busiest corridor, Highway 401, roughly one hour west of Montreal and one hour southeast of Ottawa. Exits 789 (Brookdale Ave.), 792 (McConnell Ave.) and 796 (Boundary Rd.) will bring you in to the city.
By bus: There are 2 options when traveling by bus, Megabus with the depot located at Irving 24 Service Center, 3250 Brookdale Ave and Greyhound Bus lines offering pick ups and drops offs at the corner of Pitt and Tolgate.
By train: The VIA Rail station is at 1650 Station Rd., a short distance from amenities and hotels. It provides convenient rail service to and from the city. For VIA routes and times, call 1-888-842-7245 or visit viarail.ca.
By plane: Cornwall is conveniently located near international airports in both Montreal and Ottawa. The Cornwall Regional Airport welcomes small aircraft and features 24-hour self-serve fuel services. For more info, visit cornwallregionalairport.ca.
By Boat: If you plan to come to Cornwall by boat, the city-operated Marina 200 is located right in the heart of the City, just steps from Downtown Cornwall. Transient boaters welcome. Contact the marina at 613-932-8301 or in the off-season, 613-938-9400.