Port Stanley, Ontario facts for kids
Port Stanley is a small town in Ontario, Canada. It's part of the Municipality of Central Elgin in Elgin County. This community sits on the north shore of Lake Erie, right where Kettle Creek flows into the lake. In 2016, about 2,148 people lived there.
Port Stanley's Past
The area where Port Stanley is located was once a very important travel route. In the 1600s and 1700s, many explorers and travelers used this spot. It was a key place to land boats and set up camp.
- Early Explorers
In 1669, Adrien Jolliet landed here. He was the brother of Louis Jolliet, who was one of the first Europeans to explore the Great Lakes. Other famous visitors included François Dollier de Casson and René de Bréhant de Galinée in 1670. Later, Jean-Baptiste Céloron de Blainville visited in 1749, and Sir William Johnson in 1761.
- A Special Place
Because of its important history, a specific area in Port Stanley was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923. A stone monument, called a cairn, was placed there to remember its past.
- How Port Stanley Got Its Name
The first person to officially own land here was Lieutenant-Colonel John Bostwick in 1804. Around 1824, the community was named Port Stanley. It was named after Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby. He had visited a nearby place called Port Talbot. Lord Stanley later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was also the father of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby. Frederick Stanley was a Governor General of Canada and loved ice hockey. He even donated the first Stanley Cup in 1893, which is a famous hockey trophy!
What Port Stanley Does
Port Stanley has a large, safe harbour. The local government, the Municipality of Central Elgin, now manages it. In the past, this harbour was used to trade coal and wood. These goods were moved between Southwestern Ontario and the United States. Today, most of these old trading facilities are not used. However, a commercial fishing business still operates from the harbour. They catch freshwater fish there.
Fun Things to Do
Port Stanley has many attractions for visitors and locals.
- Beach and Water Fun
It has a big, sandy beach, which is great for swimming and relaxing. There are also marinas where boats can dock.
- King George VI Lift Bridge
You can see the King George VI Lift Bridge. This special bridge lifts up to let boats pass underneath. It crosses Kettle Creek and was opened in May 1939.
- Shops and Shows
The town has many restaurants, hotels, and shops. The Port Stanley Festival Theatre is a great place to watch plays. It's located in the old town hall building on Bridge Street.
- Port Stanley Terminal Rail
You can also ride the Port Stanley Terminal Rail. This is a tourist train that travels between St. Thomas, Ontario and Port Stanley. It uses part of an old railway line called the London and Port Stanley Railway.
- The Stork Club
In 1926, a large dance hall called the L&PS Pavilion opened. It was later renamed the Stork Club. This club had a huge dance floor, about 13,000 square feet (1,200 square meters)! It was the biggest dance floor in the area. The Stork Club was famous for swing dancing and big band music. Many famous musicians played there. It closed in 1973 because it couldn't make enough money to stay open. A businessman named H.J. McManus bought it and his son, Joe Jr., helped fix it up. It reopened in 1974 with the Harry James Orchestra playing to a full house. The very last event was on New Year's Eve 1978/79. Just 12 days later, a fire in a dumpster badly damaged the building, and it could not be saved.
Port Stanley's Weather
Port Stanley has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. The nearby waters of Lake Erie also affect the weather a bit.
| Climate data for Port Stanley (1981−2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
13.0 (55.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
27.2 (81.0) |
31.7 (89.1) |
34.4 (93.9) |
34.4 (93.9) |
33.9 (93.0) |
31.7 (89.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
34.4 (93.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
11.0 (51.8) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
25.5 (77.9) |
24.7 (76.5) |
20.7 (69.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
7.8 (46.0) |
1.6 (34.9) |
12.4 (54.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.9 (23.2) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
0.1 (32.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
12.7 (54.9) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.3 (68.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
7.9 (46.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.6 (16.5) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
2.0 (35.6) |
7.6 (45.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −32.8 (−27.0) |
−32.0 (−25.6) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.3 (37.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−18.9 (−2.0) |
−31.7 (−25.1) |
−32.8 (−27.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 60.1 (2.37) |
62.5 (2.46) |
74.5 (2.93) |
85.2 (3.35) |
80.3 (3.16) |
93.3 (3.67) |
95.9 (3.78) |
118.5 (4.67) |
104.9 (4.13) |
87.0 (3.43) |
116.2 (4.57) |
102.4 (4.03) |
1,080.7 (42.55) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 33.1 (1.30) |
39.0 (1.54) |
60.2 (2.37) |
82.5 (3.25) |
80.3 (3.16) |
93.3 (3.67) |
95.9 (3.78) |
118.5 (4.67) |
104.9 (4.13) |
86.1 (3.39) |
111.5 (4.39) |
82.2 (3.24) |
987.5 (38.88) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 27.0 (10.6) |
23.5 (9.3) |
14.3 (5.6) |
2.7 (1.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.92 (0.36) |
4.8 (1.9) |
20.2 (8.0) |
93.2 (36.7) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 12.9 | 10.8 | 12.9 | 14.4 | 13.2 | 11.1 | 11.9 | 12.0 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 14.3 | 156.3 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.1 | 5.2 | 9.4 | 13.5 | 13.2 | 11.1 | 11.9 | 12.0 | 13.4 | 13.7 | 14.8 | 8.9 | 132.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 8.6 | 6.9 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.25 | 1.1 | 6.6 | 28.7 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
