Barry's Bay


Barry's Bay is a community in the township of Madawaska Valley, Ontario, Canada, located two hours west of Ottawa on the shores of Kamaniskeg Lake, with a population of approximately 1,300 people.
Originally named 'Kuaenash Ne-ishing' Barry's Bay was later named after James Barry, a foreman for McLaughlin's Lumber in Arnprior who constructed a cabin as his headquarters in the area where St. Hedwig's Church currently stands. Its post office was established in 1876. The town was officially incorporated in 1933.
The historic train station is home of the South of 60 Arts' Centre, host to a variety of arts and craft shows, musical events and festivals. In 2008, the town re-opened the Radcliffe Hills Ski Area for snowboarding and downhill skiing. Barry's Bay was the Central Canada finalist in the 2006 CBC Hockeyville competition.

History

This area of Renfrew County was first settled over one hundred years ago, along with other communities on the Opeongo Line. The town served as a standby base for the Canadian Military during the war years. Local workers and lumbermen were reformed into soldiers to help contribute to the war efforts of Canada in World War II.
The community dedicated a park and monument to honour the construction of the Canadian Avro CF-105 Arrow and its chief test pilot, local resident Janusz Żurakowski. The CF-105 was an advanced Canadian designed-and-built interceptor that was instrumental in the advancement of aviation technology in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Education

is an accredited Catholic liberal arts post-secondary institution established in 2000. In 2017, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom had a student body of 109 full-time students. In Barry's Bay younger generations actively learn Kashubian embroidery.