Lake St. George (Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake St. George |
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Lake St. George Conservation Field Centre-Doll House and Snively House
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 Lake St. George
Location in Ontario
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| Location | Richmond Hill, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 43°57′20.71″N 79°25′32.37″W / 43.9557528°N 79.4256583°W |
| Lake type | Kettle lake |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 140 ha (350 acres) |
Lake St. George is a special type of lake called a kettle lake. It is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario. This beautiful lake is now part of a conservation area. The Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) manages this area.
A kettle lake forms when a large piece of ice from a glacier melts. This melting ice leaves behind a hollow in the ground. Over time, this hollow fills with water, creating a lake.
History of Lake St. George
The lake gets its name from Henri St. George. He was born in France. Henri St. George moved to Upper Canada in 1847. He built a large estate in Richmond Hill called Glen Lonely. The lake was a part of his property. This is how the lake got its name.
From Estate to Conservation Centre
After Henri St. George passed away in 1896, the property changed hands several times. In 1906, Robert Davies bought the land. He was the son of William Davies, who started Canada Packers. Robert Davies built a large house on the estate. This house is now known as 'Davies Hall'.
Later, Schuyler Snively bought the Glen Lonely lands. He was a veteran from World War 1. Snively turned the property into a successful dairy farm. It became a model country estate.
In 1965, the Snively family agreed to sell the property. They sold it to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The agreement allowed them to live there until they passed away. After Marjory Snively died in 1968 and Schuyler in 1971, the sale was complete.
Lake St. George Conservation Field Centre
In 1979, the Glen Lonely Farm and Estate became something new. It was reborn as the Lake St. George Conservation Field Centre. This centre is an outdoor education facility. It helps many schools in Toronto and York Region.
The centre also serves as a resource for research and training. Schools and universities across Ontario use it. Lake St. George has quiet forests and open meadows. Its clean kettle lake is perfect for learning. Thousands of students come here to learn outdoors. They take part in programs based on the Ontario school curriculum.
