Eastern Ontario has many sights that are unusual and of interest to people from all walks of life. From the awesome murals that line the main street of Athens, Ontario to the round forts of Kingston, there's something for everyone. Travel the road of broken dreams or visit a real ghost town in this picturesque area of Ontario.
The Athens Murals
In 1983, the mill town of Chemainus on Canada’s Vancouver Island was fast becoming a ghost town. Desperate town officials commissioned Canada’s leading artists to create magnificent murals on the sides of the town’s buildings. It wasn’t long after that Chemainus become one of British Columbia’s leading tourist attractions.
While Athens Ontario was never as economically depressed as its western cousin, it needed an economic boost. Reeve John Dancy was very impressed by the success of Chemainus’ murals and suggested to the town council that they create a similar project. Though the project was a great financial risk, due to the $8,000 to $10,000 needed to attract Canada’s best artists, council voted to proceed.
The first three paintings were a great success. Before long, there were eleven murals along Athen’s streets, depicting bygone days. Well known artists Pierre Hardy and Dan Sawatsky created beautiful murals that drew people to the small town of 1,000 people.
Pierre Hardy’s painting, “The Gathering,” is a depiction of local residents gathered around a stove catching up on the latest news. A painting of an 1894 Athens' fire appears on the wall of the fire hall.
The most popular Athens mural was created by artist Lorrie Maruscak. It is a nostalgic image of Athens' locals on the railroad platform meeting the local train. This is an activity that was once part of small town life in Canada.
The murals along Athens' main street are turning the small town into one of Ontario’s major tourist attractions. The “Welcome to Athens” sign on the outskirts of the town proclaims it as the “Home of Murals.”
Athens is located on Highway 42, just west of Brockville, Ontario. Take the Queen Elizabeth Highway to Brockville, and then follow Highway 42 to Athens.
Stop by Athens' town hall and book a guided walking tour, or pick up pamphlets on the murals to ensure you don’t miss any of these awesome paintings. They are a spectacle that you won’t want to miss and the locals are friendly and pleasant to talk with. Visiting Athens is a wonderful depiction of small town life in Ontario.