North Bay in Nipissing District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
La Vase River
Point of Historical Interest
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2022
1. La Vase River Marker
From this point the Canadian explorers and early fur-traders caught their first glimpse of Lake Nipissing as they paddled westward on their journey from Montreal by way of the Ottawa, Mattawa and French Rivers to the Great Lakes.
Champlain viewed this scene in 1615, Recollet and Jesuit missionaries, Brűlé, Nicolet, Radisson, Groseilliers, LaSalle, DuLhut, LaVérendrye, MacKenzie, Fraser and Thompson all paddled past this point.
Until the end of the eighteenth century the LaVase River was part of the principal Trans-Canada canoe route of the Montreal fur-traders, some of whom made their way as far west as the Pacific Ocean.
It is possible to retrace this historic route across the North Bay Divide back to Trout Lake, source of the Mattawa River.
Erected 1961 by North Bay and District Canadian Club.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1615.
Location. 46° 14.616′ N, 79° 25.316′ W. Marker is in North Bay, Ontario, in Nipissing District. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Premier Road and Champlain Park Road when traveling south. Marker is located beside the La Vase River in Champlain
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 400 Years of Francophone Presence / 400 ans de présence francophone (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Fields (approx. 6.5 kilometers away); The Bomarc Missile (approx. 6.5 kilometers away); The CF100 Canuck (approx. 6.6 kilometers away); Gateway of the North Arch (approx. 6.6 kilometers away); Jean Nicolet (approx. 6.7 kilometers away); Golf Street / Lee Park (approx. 6.9 kilometers away); La Vase Portages (approx. 7.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Bay.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. La Vase Portages.
The La Vase Portages is an 8.7 mile section of the historic Voyageur canoe route, which connects Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing. The Route was used thousands of years ago by First Nations in Ontario at the time of European contact. Europeans, including Etienne Brule and Samuel de Champlain learned of the route from First Nations guides and it was soon established as a major artery into the interior of North America.(Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2022
2. La Vase River Marker
2. North Bay’s La Vase Portages: Then and Now.
Native people used the route over the high land for centuries as a part of their exchange system, and passed over the high land on various trails using lakes, creeks and the La Vase River where possible. The most popular native route was through a series of lakes (Camelot, Maclean, Upper Twin, Lower Twin and Passmore) below the west end of Trout Lake, on to Park’s Creek and into Lake Nipissing. The lightweight native birch bark canoes handled the shallow water on this route and were easily carried over the portages. When the fur traders came their large canoes needed the deep water of the La Vase route.(Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2022
3. La Vase River (mouth at Lake Nipissing)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
