“lived on the bay ever since”

The Labatte family’s story of relocation from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene was filled with years of movement, adaptability, and resilience. 

Originally departing Drummond Island for Penetanguishene in 1827, the Labattes once again boarded a steamer, the Penetanguishene, in 1834 intending to take up a nearby land grant that they had been awarded for military service during the War of 1812. 

But the unpredictable late-autumn waters of Georgian Bay had other plans. A storm wrecked their vessel, leaving the Labattes stranded on Christian Island. Unwilling to face the storm again, they adapted and set up a temporary camp until the weather calmed.

After about a week, a boat attempted to return them to Penetanguishene, but thick ice blocked the way. Forced ashore at Thunder Bay on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1834, the family experienced yet another unexpected halt to their journey. Antoine Labatte later recalled the fateful night:

“We got as far as Thunder Bay (Tiny) and landed at a fisherman’s cabin, only twelve feet square, where we stayed for one night with fifteen men, besides eight of our family. We built a place to winter in, then a log house, and lived on the bay ever since.”

Rather than seeing misfortune, the Labattes embraced their circumstances. They adapted, sheltering through the winter until spring allowed them to build a proper log home, one that has remained central to their family and the settlement that eventually grew around them for generations. 

The Labattes exemplified the strength of so many other Métis families, building their lives with remarkable adaptability and resilience.

See Our Sources

• The Migration of Voyageurs From Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828

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