Rich in history, the Edwardsburgh/ Cardinal Township is located in Eastern Ontario, and sits just north of the St, Lawrence River. The Municipality includes the Village of Cardinal, the Village of Spencerville, and several other smaller hamlets. In total, the population reaches close to 6,500. Less than an hours drive to Kingston, Cornwall, and Ottawa, the municipality sits at the intersection of highways 401 and 416.

Up to 500 years ago, early natives camped beside the majestic rapids, before French voyagers used the area as a resting point, and United Empire Loyalists finally settled a the site in the mid 1700’s, establishing the village of Cardinal. In 1777, Loyalist troops fought and were defeated in a counter revolution after the American Revolution. To reward the surviving troops, the north shore of the St. Lawrence was divided into townships and Edwardsburgh was established. By 1790, sawmills were built, taking advantage of the ‘galloping rapids’ at cardinal, and industry was created and development initiated, including the undertaking of a canal to bypass the rapids.

The Cardinal lock became an industrial, commercial and social gathering place for residents, until 1897 when a deeper canal was necessary to support larger ships. This new canal cut past the village, and made Cardinal an island, accessible only by a swing bridge. This continued until the St. Lawrence Seaway was constructed and a causeway was built. In turn, part of the original canal was filled in, and the Village of Cardinal was no longer an island.

Today, historic sites, schools, churches, recreational facilities, parks and community businesses and organizations all provide welcoming opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the best of the Township. Plenty of tourism fr0m Upstate New York arrives each year to take in the historical sites and unique recreational activities. Fort Wellington, Prehistoric World, the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the Upper Canada Village and Windmill Point all provide educational and entertaining tourism.

Most notable perhaps is the large concentration of freshwater dive sites, with a focus on wreck diving in the St. Lawrence. Sunken vessels such as the Conestoga, the Wee Hawk (Kitty Hawk) Eastcliffe Hall and the Fleur Marie are all well known and exciting dive sites. Supporting organisations and guides are strongly recommended when considering diving in this area.n.