Where is
Point Alexander, Ontario, Canada?
Point Alexander is a sand point on the Ottawa River, 3.5 km upstream from the Deep River pier. It is 165 km north west of Ottawa as the crow flies but a little over 200 km. by road. Point Alexander also refers to a small community on Hwy. 17 (the trans Canada Highway), about 2.5 km distant from the physical point.
When steam boats used to ply the Ottawa River between Pembroke and "da Swisha" (Des Joachims), Point Alexander was one of the stops. The Mattawa Road -- the original colonization road -- left the high ground and ran along the river's edge at this point. (So as to cross McConnell Creek which, away from the river, cuts a deep and steep gully through the Petawawa Sand Plain). In addition, the depth of the river adjacent to the point allowed the steam boats to approach the shore quite closely.
 Gravel Beach at Presqu'isle |
 Mouth of Presqu'isle Bay |
 Quebec Shore from Tack Point |
 Point Alexander at High Water |
 Deep River Riverfront |
 Mouth of Kennedy Creek |
Point Alexander used to be an unincorporated community within the United Townships of Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay. But a few years back the townships amalgamated with the Village of Chalk River to form the municipality of Laurentian Hills. (The provincial government said it would save money.) In consequence: our mailing address is RR 1, Deep River; we pay our taxes to the municipality of Laurentian Hills; and our drivers licenses say that we live on a particular lot in the township of Rolph. But as far as we are concerned, we live in Point Alexander.
So what's the population of Point Alexander? We don't know, and given the amorphous and indeterminate extent of the community, the question is perhaps meaningless. But we would hazard to guess that less than 200 people can legitimately claim to live in Point Alexander.
A complete description of Point Alexander would tell who it is named after. But we don't know and have been unable to find out. If you know, please drop us a line. To contact us, email Bob at bob@mcelroy.ca or Diana at diana@mcelroy.ca
