Manotick, Ontario, a charming community nestled in the rural southern part of the City of Ottawa, Canada, is a suburb that offers a unique blend of history and modernity. Located on the Rideau River, Manotick is immediately south of the suburbs Barrhaven and Riverside South, and about 25 km (16 mi) from downtown Ottawa. Founded by Moss Kent Dickinson in 1864, the village was named 'Manotick', after the Algonquin word for 'island'. As of the Canada 2016 Census, Manotick had a population of 4,486.
The history of Manotick, Ontario, dates back to 1833 when the village of Long Island Locks was first settled. The area saw significant development in the 1850s when Moss Kent Dickinson and his partner Joseph Merrill Currier constructed a stone mill on the shores of the Rideau River. This flour mill, along with a carding mill, sawmill, and a bung factory, spurred the development of the settlement.
The first major building in Manotick, the Dickinson House, was built in 1863. It served multiple purposes, including a general store, bank, post office, and telegraph office. The house is currently furnished to give visitors an interpretation of what the space was like when the Dickinson family was in residence.
Manotick was also home to a Royal Canadian Navy experimental ionospheric laboratory, the Radio Propagation Laboratory (RPL) on the Prescott Highway. The RPL evolved from Section 6 of the Operational Intelligence Centre (OIC/6) of the navy during World War II.
Every year, on the first Friday and Saturday of June, the people of Manotick gather in the heart of the village around Dickinson Square to celebrate Dickinson Days. This spring festival, named after the village's founder, Moss Kent Dickinson, includes activities such as a parade, pancake breakfast, arts and crafts sales, wagon rides, music, dance, and drama performances.
Watson's Mill is Manotick's most recognized landmark and a symbol for the village. It is one of the very few operating industrial grist mills in North America. Founded as the Long Island Flouring Mills in 1860 by Moss Kent Dickinson and Joseph Merrill Currier, it was later purchased by Harry Watson in 1946 and renamed Watson's Mill. The mill is open to the public during the summer months and hosts a variety of events, including milling demonstrations every Sunday.
In 2007, a dispute arose when Minto Developments Inc. sought approval to construct a community of approximately 1800 new homes in Manotick. The proposal drew concerns from residents about the potential impact on the village's "small town" character and infrastructure. After a series of public meetings and consultations, the Ottawa City Council rejected Minto's proposed development. However, the Ontario Municipal Board overruled the council's decision, leading to a controversial approval of Minto's plans. The construction is now long underway, following extensive cooperation between Minto and the community.
Manotick, Ontario, with its rich history and modern developments, offers a unique blend of the past and the present. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a lover of modern suburban life, Manotick has something for everyone.
