The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Edith Dumont and her husband Tony Viscardi continued their whirlwind visit to Southampton on August 10th (2024), day one of the 25th Anniversary celebration of amalgamation.
Earlier in the day they attended a Rotary pancake community breakfast followed by the Opening Ceremony that officially began the celebrations and where they were Guests of Honour.
Although a tour to Chantry Island lighthouse had been planned following the opening, Mother Nature had other plans as winds swept up high waves on Lake Huron preventing the boat trip to the Island. Instead, the Marine Heritage Society (MHS) hosted a land tour that began at the Chantry Island Tour Base, where Vicki Tomori, a member of MHS explained the restoration of the Island and the Keeper’s Quarters.
All photos by Saugeen Times
From there, Mme. Dumont and her husband, boarded the Peerless tour boat moored at the docks and MHS member Wayne Kaufman explained how the boat came into service and how it has also now become part of marine rescue working with the local Fire Service and OPP.


Unable to visit the Island, they had the opportunity to see it in the distance as they toured Pioneer Park, on the south side of Southampton harbour, and that is maintained by the MHS and Propeller Club.
In the park, MHS member Rob Campbell also explained the use of the early warning signal baskets, hanging high overhead, that were used in early sailing days and that have been restored as part of the community’s marine history.
Members then took Mme. Dumont and her husband to the north side of the Southampton harbour where they explored the Range Light at the Saugeen River mouth and learned that it, too, had been restored due to deterioration as a result of high water levels and winter storms that had battered it through the years.

With their marine history tour over, Mme. Dumont and husband Tony Viscardi attended their first Pow Wow at Saugeen First Nation, before their last stop of the day at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, where Executive Director, Cathy McGirr led them on a complete tour of the Museum.


The tour began in the First Nations Anishnaabwe gallery that illustrates the Indigenous culture of the region.
Mme. Dumont was fascinated by the many Indigenous artifacts and Doran Ritchie of Saugeen First Nation explained many facets of Ojibwe culture and also the importance of the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
For larger view, click on image
On the lower level, they explored each of the areas that included artifacts from early pioneer life in Bruce County in the General Store exhibit, the railway system that received Provincial recognition and that was created by Museum volunteers, and then they boarded the HMS General Hunter, a replica of the 1812 shipwreck that was found on Southampton Beach.
“It is wonderful that there are hands-on, interactive exhibits,” said Mme. Dumont as she tried out the children’s fun sailing area.

In the gallery that houses temporary exhibits, Mme. Dumont, a Francophone, was fascinated with the exhibit ‘True or False‘ that originated in the Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Science in Quebec and has been on loan to the Museum until September.
“I am amazed at all there is to see here in the Museum,” said Mme. Dumont, “one would need an entire day to take it all in. I will be returning to the area in the future as there is so much history here.”