The last tour of the 2010 season took place on Saturday October 9th.  Many thanks for your support throughout 2010 - it’s been a fantastic year!  If you have any questions regarding access to the Island, special events, hosting your wedding on the Island, or the 2011 season, please do get in touch: tours@ministersisland.ca or 506-529-5081

Tours around Ministers Island continue throughout September and October – consult the calendar on the right for tour times.  A guide will meet you on the Island side of the Bar Road and provide a guided tour of Van Horne’s 50-room summer cottage, Covenhoven, the bathhouse on the shore and the Edward Maxwell barn.  The farm animals are still here too!

On Saturday August 21st, Ministers Island will be hosting two great acoustic duos from the local area! Water’s Edge , comprised of Susan Gibson on flute and Catriona Wong on guitar will fill the Van Horne grounds with sweet classical music. The other act performing that day is a double-guitar team, Sons of Ramblin’ Fathers, made up of Jamie Jack and Mike MacDonald, who will be sure to please visitors with their folky originals and good-natured banter. The Water’s Edge concert is being put on by the St Andrews Arts Council and tickets can be purchased for this act at Cockburn’s Corner Drug Store in St Andrews or at the Island gatehouse. Tickets are $15 and include your entrance onto the island that afternoon. The Sons of Ramblin’ Fathers performance is included in your regular admission. Georgiana’s on Water Street will be providing some great food for purchase!
Sons of Ramblin’ Fathers…3:00-4:15pm
Water’s Edge……………….4:30-6:00pm

We receive thank you cards and letters of support, but this one was a bit special.   Enjoy.

On Saturday, June 25th, my husband and I were the only passengers on the first scheduled boat crossing to visit Ministers Island. We traveled with two young women who were tour guides, the boat operator, and the farmer who is working on the island. Everyone was incredibly hospitable, helpful and well-informed. We had a ride up to the Van Horne house, a complete and very interesting tour of the house and bathhouse, a long and pleasant hike around half the island on the trails, a visit to the barn and another informal chat with the farmer and a boat ride back across the channel at our convenience…all for $25!

We are very impressed and want to make a contribution to the upkeep and further restoration of this historic site.
Thank you.

Judi & Joe
Blue Hill, Maine

Join us Sunday, August 8th for our Annual Community Picnic, then swing over to the barn to enjoy St. Andrews Arts Council’s original theatrical production of Van Horne LIVE!

St. Andrews Community Youth Action Centre biked over today to play Capture the Flag with the Ministers Island Day Trippers.  Good game!!

Thanks to our YMCA intern, Kayla Wagschal, Ministers Island made its first ever appearance at the Farmer’s Market!    She weeded and picked and watered, and now just look at all the food Kayla grew!    Thank you, Kayla.    This is the first food grown on Ministers Island in decades!   Join Ministers Island fresh market on Thursdays at the St. Andrews Farmers Market in downtown St. Andrews.

Teri Imrie has adopted her fourth rescue horse from Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society, and just look at him!   Wow, gorgeous.   Congratulations Teri!   He will be joining 13 other horses on Ministers Island, 3 of which were also adopted from Long Run.    Teri invites you to visit the Horses of Ministers Island this summer.

Ministers Island will come to life this summer as farming returns to the former home of Sir William Van Horne.

In Van Horne’s day there were heated greenhouses on the island where such things as mushrooms, exotic plants, peach trees and grape vines were grown while the livestock barn was home to a prize herd of Dutch belted cattle where workers prepared the milk and butter for his households. Read More