STAY, STUDY, EAT AND PLAY
Willowbank is located in the historic Village of Queenston, Ontario, which forms part of the larger township of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
This area is rich in the history of thousands of years of aboriginal movement and settlement. Various First Nations communities continue to be an important part of the Niagara cultural fabric. The more recent history of European settlement is highlighted by important events in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, when Niagara-on-the-Lake was the capital of Upper Canada and Queenston served as the key trans-shipment depot for moving goods around Niagara Falls. The War of 1812 was the area's defining historical event, and is marked by two important sites in Queenston - the Laura Secord Homestead, which commemorates this celebrated war heroine, and the Brock Monument, which commemorates the iconic military leader. Queenston is also home of the printing shop where William Lyon Mackenzie began his career as a political reformer.
The historic old town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is noted for its fine Georgian and Victorian-era buildings, waterfront parks and surrounding fields of fruit orchards and grapevines. Fort George National Historic Site reflects the town's strategic importance at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. It is actively interpreted as a restored and reconstructed historic site, with a variety of special events. Niagara-on-the-Lake is known internationally for its Shaw Festival, one of the world's pre-eminent repertory theatre companies. Its success has spurred many related tourist facilities. Wineries are also abundant in the area, and offer tours and tastings.
For those who favour the outdoors, the forests in the Niagara region are some of the most beautiful on the Niagara Escarpment. The Bruce Trail starts in Queenston, and there are hiking, bicycling and horse trails throughout the area. The particular soil composition, the unusual escarpment air flow patterns, and the moderating effects of Lakes Erie and Ontario contribute to the excellent climactic conditions of this acclaimed wine- and fruit-growing region. The Niagara Escarpment was designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990. The Escarpment contains an enormous variety of species, including more than 300 different birds, 53 mammals, 36 reptiles and amphibians, 90 fish and 100 varieties of special-interest flora including 37 types of wild orchids.