Petrie Island
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Petrie Island (45°30′02″N 75°29′39″W / 45.50056°N 75.49417°W) is an island situated in the Ottawa River in the eastern part of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. The island has several nearby islands and the general collection of islands is also called Petrie Island.
The islands were formed from clay and sand deposited following the end of the last ice age. The area incorporates provincally significant wetlands and wooded areas that provide habitat for plants, animals and birds, especially during spring and fall migration. Extensive flooding occurs during the spring. The size of the islands was reduced when water levels were raised by the hydroelectric dam at Carillon.
The island was named after its original owner, Archibald Petrie, an early inhabitant of Cumberland Township. In 1955, Donat Grandmaître purchased the island and set up a sand and gravel extraction facility. The island is now owned by the City of Ottawa and incorporates a park with picnic areas, a public beach and hiking trails. The park is officially named Stuemer Park after an Ottawa family that sailed from Petrie Island around the world, returning to Petrie to complete their voyage.
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