Lindsay

Lindsay is a community of about 22,000 (2021) people in the Kawarthas region of central Ontario 43 km west of Peterborough. It began as a lumbering and farming centre, and is home to Fleming College.

History
In 1825, settlers began to come to the region, and by 1827, the Purdys, an American family, built a dam on the Scugog River at the site of present-day Lindsay. The following year they built a sawmill, and in 1830, a grist mill was constructed. A small village grew up around the mills, and it was known as Purdy's Mills. In 1834, surveyor John Huston plotted the designated town site into streets and lots. During the survey, one of Huston's assistants, Mr. Lindsay, was accidentally shot in the leg and died of an infection. He was buried on the riverbank and his name and death were recorded on the surveyor's plan. The name Lindsay remained as the name of the town by government approval. Lindsay grew steadily and developed into a lumbering and farming centre.

In 2001, the municipal governments of the Town of Lindsay and the Village of Fenelon Falls were dissolved and merged, with Victoria County, into the new City of Kawartha Lakes.

Visitor information

 * City of Kawartha Lakes Tourism - Lindsay

By car
Lindsay is 130 km from Toronto east along Highway 401 and north along Highway 35.

Highway 7 travels east-west through the area. Travelers heading east arrive from Brock and travelers heading west arrive from Peterborough. Highway 7 is part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway that passes through the area, traveling between Sudbury and Kanata (near Ottawa) on Highway 69 and 400, then Highway 12, then Highway 7, then Highway 417.

By boat
A short detour along the Trent-Severn Waterway from Fenelon Falls or Bobcaygeon brings boaters into Lindsay's downtown, on the Scugog River.



By car
Highway 28 forms a central spine through the Kawarthas and attractions such as Petroglyphs Provincial Park and Stoney Lake are easily accessible from the highway.

Outside of Lindsay, there is little in the way of public transportation - a car is close to being a necessity.

Stay safe
Blue-green algae is a toxic form of algae that can be an occasional problem in this region. Do not swim or wade in water where this algae is present, do not drink the water, and do not let pets in the water. Blooms most commonly occur in late summer and early fall. They thrive in areas where the water is shallow, slow moving and warm, but they may be present in deeper, cooler water. Dense blue-green algae blooms may make the water look bluish-green, or like green pea soup or turquoise paint. Very dense blooms may form solid-looking clumps. Fresh blooms often smell like newly mown grass, while older blooms may smell like rotting garbage.

Poison ivy is common in wooded areas. All parts of poison ivy, including the roots, contain a poisonous substance which causes an irritating inflammation of the skin of most people, the inflamed areas frequently developing blisters and accompanied by intense itchiness.

Go next

 * Fenelon Falls — 27 km away on Highway 35
 * Bobcaygeon
 * Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake
 * Quinte-Northumberland
 * Haliburton Highlands