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Brockville - city in Eastern Ontario, Canada

Leeds-Grenville courthouse Brockville is a city of about 30,000 people (2016) on the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario.

Understand

Southeastern Ontario is United Empire Loyalist country, colonised primarily by loyal British subjects fleeing the newly established United States of America at the end of the American Revolution (1776-1783). Because of the region's proximity to the US border (Morristown, New York, directly across the St. Lawrence River, is easily visible from Brockville's waterfront) this area was one of the front lines in the War of 1812. The town's name refers to General Isaac Brock, leader of British-Canadian soldiers in the Niagara region during that war.

Brockville bills itself as the "City of the Thousand Islands", in reference to a group of islands directly upriver on the Ontario-New York border.

Get in

undefined Brockville is part of major transportation corridors between Toronto and Montréal, Canada's two largest cities. Transportation infrastructure includes the St. Lawrence Seaway, the CN Rail mainline (Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montréal VIA passenger services follow the same path east to Brockville, then diverge) and roads such as Ontario Highways 2 and 401. The scenic Thousand Islands Parkway ends just west of the city.

The closest major airport is Ottawa-Uplands (IATA: YOW), some 100 km distant. Montréal-Dorval (IATA: YUL), while more distant, may also be a viable option as it offers relatively easy air-to-rail connections.

There is no scheduled bus or rail service to southeastern Ontario from Watertown or Syracuse.

By car

Brockville is located on Highway 401 about 50 minutes east of Kingston and two hours west of Montreal.

There is no active international crossing within Brockville, despite its close proximity to Morristown NY. A ferry once joined the two towns, but was abandoned after an international bridge opened at Prescott-Ogdensburg (1960); there's another bridge upriver in the Thousand Islands (1938).

From Ottawa, access to the region is normally by Highway 416 to Prescott, the next major town downriver. Travel time from Bayshore (in Ottawa's west end) to Brockville is nominally an hour (100 km, 60 miles). From Smiths Falls, the Brockville Road (old Highway 29) is a half-hour of driving on two-lane road.

By bus

  • Megabus, 3049 Jefferson Dr (Food Basics parking lot near KFC), 44.5997°, -75.7036°. The Toronto-Montréal service stops about 2.2 km from Brockville's Courthouse Square. There is no Brockville ticket agent; pay the driver directly.
  • Book A Ride. Service from Kingston, Belleville, Ottawa, and Toronto. 2021-12-09

By train

Brockville railway station, 141 Perth St (1km NW of downtown Brockville). The station heritage building built in 1872 for the Grand Trunk Railway which later became part of the Canadian National Railway. Vintage photos displayed in the waiting room illustrate the history of the station. The station is open 30 minutes to train arrivals and is staffed. 2017-09-22

Get around

There is a set of three local buses which operate once an hour within city limits, but no evening or Sunday service.

There are three local taxi companies, Executive +1 613-342-2000, Yellow Cab +1 613-345-5911 and City Taxi +1 613-345-5888.

As Brockville is a small city, much (at least within the downtown) is within walking distance, including the rail station. In rural areas, however, a motorcar may well prove to be a necessity.

See

Brockville rail tunnel

  • A total solar eclipse on Monday 8 April 2024 starts at 3:23PM local time and lasts almost three minutes. The chances of a clear sky are 30%. The track of totality is northeast from Mexico and Texas to Ohio, straddling the Canada–New England border through Lakes Erie and Ontario, then across Maine, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
  • Brockville Railway Tunnel. April to early November: 9AM-9PM. Canada's first railway tunnel passes under City Hall continuing north under Victoria Avenue. It is about 500 metres long. Visitors can walk the entire length of the tunnel on a paved walkway. The artistic lighting is a major feature within the tunnel, which changes the colour of the tunnel lining to accompanying background music. Occasionally, a flash of light will pass through the tunnel accompanyed by the sound of a train. Free 2018-06-19
    • South tunnel portal, 1 Water St W (south of city hall), 44.5897°, -75.6819°. This is the main entrance to the tunnel. If you have the opportunity, see this portal at night. 2017-07-26
    • North tunnel portal, Pearl St E & Victoria Ave, 44.5932°, -75.6862°. 2017-07-26
  • Court House Square (Court House Avenue), 44.5900°, -75.6848°. Court House Square is an attractive, wide street with landscaped islands, a statue and a fountain. The square is dominated by the Court House at the north end. 2017-07-26
  • Brockville Museum, 5 Henry St, 44.5861°, -75.6867°, +1 613-342-4397. Museum: 10AM-5PM in summer; farmers market: Sa 8AM-3PM. Waterfront museum's exhibits and artifacts recall Brockville's Loyalist heritage. The museum is located in the former Aurinda and Isaac Beecher House, built ca. 1815 (rear) and ca. 1840 (front). $4.50/person
  • Fulford Place, 287 King St. E, 44.5975°, -75.671°, +1 613-498-3003, fulford@heritagetrust.on.ca. Late May-early Sep: 10AM-5PM (Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day); irregular hours during the shoulder season. Museum and tea room in 35-room 1901 senator's mansion with original furnishings of the Edwardian era, public tours. If the museum is closed, visitors may visit the gardens and walk the exterior veranda of the mansion. $5/person
  • The Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing, 6 Broad St, 44.5876°, -75.6828°, +1 613 342-6789. The Aquatarium is a non-profit interactive science and education museum that focuses on the history and ecology of the Thousand Islands region of the Saint Lawrence River. The museum includes tanks with live water-based creatures, videos and child-oriented displays. 2017-07-26

Heritage buildings

Brockville has some attractive cultural heritage buildings, some of which may not be open to the public but can all be viewed from a public sidewalk.

  • Brockville City Hall (Victoria Hall), 1 King St W, 44.5903°, -75.6827°, +1 613-342-8772. This heritage building, built in 1862-64 as Victoria Hall, once had a second floor concert hall. It was remodelled after 1904 to become Brockville City Hall. The Brockville Railway Tunnel passes under the building. 2017-07-26
  • Leeds and Grenville County Court House (Brockville Court House), 1 Court House Square, 44.5909°, -75.6859°. This monumental, grandiose court house is a National Historic Site of Canada overlooking the pictoresque Court House Square. The building contains a jail. The central portion of the building was built 1842-1844 with the west wing added in 1888. The Gaoler's House on the east side was built in 1898. 2017-08-31
  • First Presbyterian Church, 10 Church St (at William St), 44.5904°, -75.6866°. Built in 1879. 2017-08-30
  • Wall Street United Church, 5 Wall St, 44.5914°, -75.6853°. Built as a Methodist church built 1830-1896. 2017-08-30
  • Thomas Fuller Building (former Post Office and Customs House), 12 Court House Ave, 44.5898°, -75.6851°. The former Post Office and Customs House built in 1883-85 was designed by architect Thomas Fuller for whom the fountain in Court House Square was dedicated. 2017-08-30
  • Elizabeth and Alexander Morris House, 22 Court House Ave, 44.5901°, -75.6853°. Private residence. Built ca. 1835. 2017-08-30
  • Jane and Newton Cossitt House, 58 Wall St (at Pearl St), 44.5923°, -75.6870°. Private residence. Attractive Victorian house with bay windows and a tower-like roof structure. Built in 1883. 2017-08-30
  • Mary Ann and Robert Wright House, 17 Sherwood St (at Granite St E), 44.5821°, -75.6936°. Private residence. Attractive Victorian house with a tower-like roof structure. Built in 1880. 2017-08-30
  • Two Victorian houses, 10 & 12 Victoria Ave (near Brockville City Hall), 44.5907°, -75.6835°. Private residences or businesses. Although these two Victorian houses have very fanciful façades, they do not seem to have official heritage status. 2017-08-31
    • Adam Fullerton House, 10 Victoria Ave. Built circa 1895. 2017-08-31
    • Margaret & Dr. Vincent Moore House, 12 Victoria Ave. Built in 1880. 2017-08-31

Do

  • 1000 Island Cruises, 30 Blockhouse Island Pkwy, 44.5876°, -75.6812°, +1 613 345-7333. Cruises available mid-May through mid-Oct, although not all cruises are available every day (particularly outside of June, July and August). Offers a variety of 1-3 hour cruises on the St. Lawrence River and 3-6 hour cruises on the Rideau Canal. 1000 Islands: $16-60 (adult), $8-43 (child); Rideau Canal: $35-75 (adult), $25-50 (child)
  • Brockville Arts Centre, 235 King St. West, 44.5866°, -75.6892°, +1 613-342-7122. Gallery: M-F 10AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-3PM. Live theatre and art gallery.
  • Thousand Islands Parkway, 44.5160°, -75.7866°. Scenic route with walking and cycling paths, begins west of the city leading through Mallorytown to Gananoque. 2017-07-26

Buy

King Street, Brockville There are two principal commercial districts. The town's main street, King Street (old Ontario Highway 2) is one block from the waterfront and the home of most of the city's established independent merchants. There is also some newer commercial development along the freeway (Parkedale Avenue parallels Highway 401 between exits 696 and 698; the Stewart and Parkedale area includes grocers, big-box/department stores, fast food and chain hotels as well as the 1000 Islands Mall).

Eat

Drink

Sleep

There are several hotels off Highway 401 at the Stewart Blvd interchange.

Connect

  • A Highway 401 rest area west of the city (ONroute Mallorytown, both directions) provides 60 minutes free wi-fi to travellers.

Go next

Brockville

brockville.com
Postal code:K6V 5X3Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/TorontoCoordinates:44.58, -75.68

Ontario

Primary administrative division

Canada

canada.ca
Population:37.1 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (CAD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50