Geography and History

Lake Simcoe is the 12th largest freshwater lake in Ontario, Canada. It is one of the world's largest freshwater lakes to freeze completely over in winter. First named in the 17th Century, it was called Ouentironk ("beautiful water") by Huron natives. It was renamed in 1793 by Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe in memory of his father.

The lake is about 30km (19 miles) long and 25km (16 miles) wide. Lake Simcoecontains a large island, Georgina. The lake is dotted withseveral smaller islands. Most are cottage destinations. A number of rivers flow into the lake. From the east the Talbot River, part of the Trent-Severn waterway system is the most important, connecting the lake with the Kawarthalake system and Lake Ontario with it's connection to Lake Couchiching where Orillia is located at the narrows where the two lakes join. Other rivers that flow into Lake Simcoe are the Pefferlaw, Maskinonge, Black, Holland, Beaverton, Bluff's Creek and Whites Creeks.

The Town of Georgina is about a 45 minute drive from Toronto to the south point of Lake Simcoe. It lies along the entire south shore of Lake Simcoe and contains smaller residential towns and communities, including Keswick, Willow Beach, Sutton, Jackson's Point, Virgina, Pefferlaw and Udora among others.

Lake Simcoe was famous for it's production of clear, clean ice blocks for refrigeration purposes which was shipped to Toronto and outlying areas for the ice boxes of the time. It also become the Ice Fishing Capital of Canada in the 1980's.  Renowned for it's perch, white fish, trout and pike.

Brock Township boarders Georgina and includes the East shore of Lake Simcoe.It includes residential communities such as Thorah and Maple Beach, Beaverton, Cannington along with several others. Beaverton, Cannington, Woodville communities are well known for their superb agricultural farms and numerous other small industries scattered throughout.