Wolfe Island, the largest of the Thousand Islands, is a picturesque destination located at the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River in Lake Ontario near Kingston, Ontario. Part of Frontenac County, Ontario, and the Township of Frontenac Islands, Wolfe Island is home to the largest community on the island, Marysville. The island spans about 29 kilometres in length and varies in width, covering an area of approximately 124 square kilometres. While the resident population is about 1400 people, the island buzzes with activity in the summer, with the population doubling or even tripling.
Wolfe Island was originally part of the traditional hunting lands of the Tyendinaga Mohawk people and was known as Kawehnóhkwes tsi kawè:note ("Long Island Standing"). The French called it Grand Island (Grande île). In a proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe on 16 July 1792, the island was renamed from Grand Island to Wolfe Island, in honour of British General James Wolfe.
In the mid-19th century, a scheme to ship goods from Cape Vincent, New York to Kingston required a canal to be dug across the island. Despite the completion of the canal, it did not serve its intended purpose and stopped being used by 1892. The island has also been the site of various cheese factories, including one once operated by Kraft Foods.
Wolfe Island boasts its own post office and telephone exchange. The island is accessible by ferry from both Canada and the United States. The ferry from Kingston, operated by the Ministry of Transportation, is free of charge and operates from two locations: the Summer Dock located in Marysville and the Winter Dock located at Dawson Point.
The seasonal Horne's Ferry to Cape Vincent, New York, first licensed in 1802, is still operated by the descendants of the first licence-holder. A third ferry runs seasonally to join Wolfe Island to Simcoe Island. Wolfe Island is also the site of most Kingston radio transmitters.
Wolfe Island is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Snowy owls are frequently seen on the island during winter, and it serves as an important stopover location for migrating waterfowl, including swans, in spring and fall. The island is also home to a growing population of wild turkeys, deer, and other fauna.
The Big Sandy Bay Management Area on Wolfe Island is a 404-hectare property, classified as a provincially significant life sciences Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. This environmental area is protected, and motorized vehicles are not allowed.
Wolfe Island offers a variety of recreational activities and facilities. There is a golf course, a corn maze, and three marked bicycle routes and country roads. The town of Marysville includes a bakery, restaurants, and various other shops and services, as well as the largest church in the Thousand Islands (Sacred Heart of Mary Church).
The island also has a volunteer fire and ambulance service, and a new medical clinic opened in the spring of 2010. During the summer months, the Old House Museum in Marysville is in operation. The island is home to two elementary schools: Marysville Public School and Sacred Heart Catholic School. The limestone Wolfe Island Town Hall is a National Historic Site of Canada.
