ImPort Stanley

Map showing the location of Kettle Creek Golf Club

A Golfer’s Delight – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

If you’re a golfer, you’re probably itching to get out again. I tried to be happy for a former colleague who’s been golfing for a couple of weeks on Vancouver Island. But the green monster of envy rears its head! And I don’t even golf anymore.

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Port Stanley railway terminal with train parked beside it. Train is green and yellow.

Riding the Railway – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

I grew up in a railway family. My Dad worked for CN for many years before breaking away and starting his own rail-related business. At our house, we didn’t say hello when we answered the phone. We said, “Galaxy of West Lincoln”! I knew the prices and details about railroad ties by heart.

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Window of the Harbour Merchant Coffee Co has a blue and yellow decal on it in support of Ukraine

A Giving Community – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

Our little village is showing support for Ukraine. The decal above is on the window of The Harbour Merchant Coffee Company. Around the corner toward Little Beach, Joshua and Company will donate 20% of all sales on Wednesday (March 16) to the Red Cross and its efforts in Ukraine. The Canadian government is matching donations until March 18, so your money doubles.

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block letters read MORE SHOPPING AHEAD

Shopping – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON. *This post was updated in November 2023, to reflect changes in the local marketplace.

My heartbeat sped up as I plopped in today’s title! I absolutely love shopping in Port Stanley and have made it my mission to visit all the stores. Hey, it’s research! This is a long one. And there are more stores to come, with the announcement this week that the former L.R. Jackson Fisheries building was sold again, with a vision of more retail opening there. And that the Dominion of Canada building across the harbour was sold, to become a microbrewery next year. A market is coming to the old firehall at the base of Schoolhouse Hill. And something is cooking in the former Village Square coffee shop across the intersection.

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Where to Eat – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

As you’re well aware, Covid has affected the hours and operations of restaurants. Please click on the embedded links of restaurants that interest you and find the latest info before you head out. A link will go to a Facebook page if the business doesn’t have a dedicated website. I’ll offer my opinion about places I’ve tried. But don’t let my lack of personal experience with a restaurant deter you from trying it. I’ll get to all of them eventually!

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Where to Stay – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

Full disclosure: I’ve never stayed in a Port Stanley hotel. However, several friends have. Some return year after year to stay in the same spot. That tells you a lot. We’re fortunate to have room for our guests to stay. But any more than 2 will have to read this page and pick out their best option!

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map of port stanley showing the berm jutting out into the lake

The Berm – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

If you’ve visited Little Beach, you might wonder why a large tract of land a parking lot away is just sort of sitting there. They’ve put in place some picnic areas made of boulders. Currently, the 23-acre patch is partly a photographer tripod platform, dog exercise area, and goose toilet. There are well-worn footpaths around the perimeter. On the water’s edge, it seems ripe for development. But its history offers clues into why that hasn’t happened yet and perhaps shouldn’t happen at all.

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Port Stanley lift bridge under construction with just one half raised up

The King George Bridge – ImPort Stanley

ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.

Watching the lift bridge in Port Stanley is oddly compelling. A patio with concrete picnic tables sits at the water’s edge, and there’s nowhere I’d rather be on a warm summer night than on one of those benches, enjoying an ice cream cone, watching the boats float past. We try to guess how much they cost. Or where they’re from. Or just enjoy the view of happy-looking people doing what they love. When the bells sound and the bridge breaks in half, rising to 80-plus degrees, you can’t look away. It’s never boring. It opens every half hour during peak season.

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Port Stanley Beach on the shore of Lake Erie as seen through the helicopter windshield

New Friday Series: ImPort Stanley

It will not come as a surprise to you that Ms. Clever Pants, Erin Davis, came up with the title. She proposed it for the name of a side hustle I was contemplating. But Port Stanley, like many small towns, is all about local-local-local. Importing stuff, or implying it’s imported, doesn’t excite them. However, we are imports.

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