Out of the hard work of many pioneer men and women, the town of Wilberforce rose upon the shores of what is now called Wilberemere Lake.  Arriving by foot or oxen cart, these hardy souls set down the foundations of this still tight-knit community.  With the development of the Methodist church, school, post office and store, the small town and its new inhabitants grew steadily.  With the introduction of the Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway (the IB&O) 4 kilometers north of the settlement, the core of the community migrated closer to the train station and the location of the town today.   With this new mode of transportation available to them, settlers now put a great deal of effort into developing the area with homes, streets, a boarding house, church and a school all quickly sprang up.  Although many of these historic sites have since vanished or have been transformed, a few pioneer homes remain.  And there is, of course, the Red Cross Outpost.

A great source of pride for the residents of the community, the Red Cross Outpost is the first one of its kind in Ontario.  The funds for the outpost were raised by the members of the community - the importance of health care was a priority even then.  Many nurses provided the community with safe and effective health care ranging from the delivery of children to mending broken bones and even surgery was performed in the building! Many have fond memories of the nurses who cared so much for their work and the inhabitants of the village, and their invaluable service is still remembered by many.  The Ontario government has just deemed the Red Cross Outpost a historic site, a great honor to those who have helped to keep the memories alive.  Visitors are able to visit this turn of the century hospital, and experience for themselves what living in the 1900’s was about. 

Like many people of yesterday, rock hounding is still a major draw to the area.  “The Bancroft area is known worldwide as one of the major rock hunting areas of North America and most of this rock hunting takes place in the Wilberforce-Harcourt-Tory Hill area.”(Monmouth Township- Collected Views of the Past, p 81)   Many have come to experience the superior finds in the area.  More than 60 collectible minerals can be found in Wilberforce and the surrounding region, and many areas have yet to be explored!

Unique to Wilberforce is its strong family roots and incredible community spirit! It has produced many amenities which are rare in a town the size of Wilberforce, such as an arena, curling club, beautifully decorated town hall, Royal Canadian Legion, and library. Community groups abound in the area, including the South Algonquin Kinsmen Club, Senior Citizen Club, Volunteer Fire Department, Pathfinder, Brownies, Scouts and various other community groups all dedicated to the town and its residents, whether they stay for a day or a lifetime!

Wilberforce has and always will be a place of serenity, and calls out to many just as it did those pioneers so many years ago.  Who can deny the incredible beauty of the rolling hills, the crystal clear lakes and streams, and the clean northern air?  The great outdoors beckons to those who are active in fishing and hunting, canoeing, kayaking, biking, hiking or just plain walking – and lets not forget those who are content just to catch a glimpse of our incredible and diverse wildlife. 

During your visit be sure to stay at some of our great accommodations, visit our unique stores, and participate in our community events.  Do as little or as much as you want –everyone is welcome in our wonderful four-season wonderland!

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