On Sunday October 17, I joined the Jack Miner Sanctuary Walking Tour with our guide, Kaydence Sim, and learned a lot of local history.

We explored the Jack Miner Museum, the Stuart Playfair Nature Stadium and Ty Cobb Field.

Left Photo: Marilyn Farnworth in the hay. Right Photo: Walking Tour Guide Kaydence Sim

We saw the Flight 126 Memorial and the cabin, and paid our respects at Jack Miner’s and family graves.

We watched the blue peacocks and Canada geese, and admired phenomenal woodcarving exhibits.

Left Photo: Vendor booth. Right Photo: Sisters Jan Willan and Michelle Sproat at Grammies Gifts booth

We enjoyed local vendor booths, a magnificent antique car show, and a pancake breakfast.

Jack Miner founded the bird sanctuary in 1904 and it has been home to countless geese, peacocks and ducks for over 100 years.

Jack Miner: Banding Together

Jack became known as one of the world’s greatest naturalists and father of conservation in North America.

This destination was once rated the second-greatest tourist attraction in Canada, next to Niagara Falls.

 
Left Photo: Jack Miner sign. Right Photo: Jack Miner’s gravestone

How fortunate we are that he chose Kingsville as his home!

He had many high profile friends, including Henry Ford and Ty Cobb.

Jack Miner Museum exhibits

In fact, the field next to his home is named  Ty Cobb Field.

This is where the stacks of hay, train rides and fishing were set up for the Migration Festival participants.

Left Photo: Councillor Tom Neufeld drives the train express. Right Photo: Allie McCracken on the train.

The fishing pond with stocked trout was a huge success and fun for the adults and children.

The expressions on their faces when they caught a fish were priceless!

The fishing pond was full of trout

In the Stuart Playfair Nature Stadium you can look out from the bleachers to see where they band the geese.

Since 1909, well over 100,000 ducks and geese have been banded here.

Left Photo: Stuart Playfair Nature Stadium. Right Photo: the Hunter’s Cabin 

At the back of the property stands the Hunter’s Cabin with a twin dog house.

Red maples are planted there to honour eight hunters, pilot, and two dogs (Chip and Dakota).

Blue peacocks getting ready to display their beautiful feathers

They had perished on January 17, 2004, in a plane crash while returning from Pelee Island after a pheasant hunting trip.

The Museum houses a gift shop, and lots of Jack Miner memorabilia including photos, stuffed ducks, pheasants and geese.

Plenty of  good looking automobiles at the Car Show

We checked out a wonderful Woodcarving exhibit.

It was a most enjoyable morning filled with lots of history and memories!

 
Left Photo: Car from the car show. Right Photo: Parker McCracken at the car show

In the future, they are planning to build a covered pavilion for an outdoor eating area.

There are also plans for a custom playground with new play equipment.

Jack Miner Museum memorabilia

An expansion for the Museum and upgrades to Kennedy Woods are also in the planning stages.

If you can help out financially, please donate at jackminer.ca and you will receive an income tax receipt for donations $25 and over.

 
Left Photo: Migration Festival Canada Goose. Right Photo: Woodcarving exhibit

The Migration Festival was full of many activities and history for adults and children alike.

The day was full of many activities and history for adults and children alike. Thanks for a great Migration Festival weekend, Kingsville!

Woodcarving at the exhibit

~ Photos by Marilyn Farnworth