Things to Do in Brockville

The Kingston School of Art & Window Art Gallery nurtures budding creativity through comprehensive courses in painting, drawing, sculpting, and printmaking. Like a phoenix rising from a pile of used paintbrushes, the school arose as teachers and students rallied to keep art in the community after the closing of St. Lawrence College's art program. The nonprofit, volunteer-run organization works to share fine art with students of all ages, regularly hosting exhibits to cultivate awareness and fight the scourge of blank canvases. Featured classes include fantasy drawing workshops as well as oil painting with Ontario artist Bruce St. Clair and pastel workshops with award-winning Ottawa artist Margaret Ferraro.

Big Rideau Lake Boat Rental's owner, Heather Heins, has boating in her blood. Hundreds of years ago, her ancestor William Davidson was the first European to settle in New Brunswick, where he built and launched the region's first sailing vessel—the Miramichi.

Today, Heather continues in her forefather's footsteps, managing a fleet of watercrafts alongside her husband, Robert. Their kayaks and canoes skim across the lake's crystal clear waters, and their motorized pontoons and Sea-Doos roar past shores lined with pine trees, cottages, and sunbathing cacti on vacation. The Heinses also oversee an armada of seven houseboats that are outfitted with sleeping quarters, barbecue grills, and air conditioning, ideal for day trips or voyages down the Rideau Canal that last weeks at a time. For Heather, the pride of the fleet is a simple 23-foot houseboat, which she named Miramichi in honour of her ancestor's historic vessel.