Lombardy,

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, is a community in the

Township of Rideau Lakes Rideau Lakes is a township (Canada), township located within the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Rideau Lakes lies in the northwest corner of Leeds and Grenville, and is geographically the largest municipality ...

Leeds and Grenville County The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, commonly known as Leeds and Grenville, is a county and census division in Ontario, Canada, in the Eastern Ontario subregion of Southern Ontario. It fronts on the St. Lawrence River and the internation ...

Eastern Ontario Eastern Ontario (census population 1,892,332 in 2021) () is a secondary region of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It occupies a wedge-shaped area bounded by the Ottawa River and Quebec to the northeast and east, the St. Lawr ...

. Its nearest communities are the town of

Smiths Falls Smiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada, southwest of Ottawa. As of the 2021 census it has a population of 9,254. It is in the Census division for Lanark County, but is administratively separated from the county. The Rideau Canal ...

to the northeast,

Rideau Ferry Rideau Ferry is a small community in Eastern Ontario, Canada, along the Rideau Waterway. Rideau Ferry straddles a narrow stretch of water joining the Big Rideau Lake to the Lower Rideau Lake. At Rideau Ferry, the south shore of the Rideau Water ...

and Perth to the west, and

Portland, Ontario Portland is a police village and unincorporated place located in the municipal township of Rideau Lakes, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in eastern Ontario, Canada. The community is on Ontario Highway 15 about northeast of Ontario Hig ...

to the southwest. The village of Lombardy is home to approximately 100 residents, with many more inhabiting the rural areas surrounding it. The only store in Lombardy is a vape shop, which was previously a restaurant.

History

Although the name reprises that of the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

region of the same name, the Ontarian community supposedly owes its name to Francis Lombard, a

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

soldier who settled in the area in the early 1820s. It has also been known by other names, including Landon's Corners, Landon's Mills, Lombard's Corners and South Elmsley. Capitalising on its proximity to Otter Creek, a number of mills were built in Lombardy, along with tradesmen's shops and hotels and taverns, which served the travelers passing through.

Services and Attractions

The community has two churches, Blessed Sacrament

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

, and Holy Trinity

Anglican church Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

. It has an elementary school, Lombardy Public School, which serves children from junior kindergarten to the eighth grade and offers library services to the general public. The Rideau Lakes branch of the

Ontario Provincial Police The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is the State police, provincial police service of Ontario, Canada. The OPP patrols Provincial highways in Ontario, provincial highways and waterways; protects Government of Ontario, provincial government buil ...

is located within the community off of Highway 15. Rural Lombardy is home to several beautiful lakes including Rideau Lake, Bass Lake and Otter Lake. Additionally, the Lombardy area boasts several tourist attractions, including campgrounds, like Bass Lake Lodge, Sandy Beach (Otter Lake), Moonlight Bay an
Camp Otterdale
as well as the Lombard Glen Golf and Country Club. Strawberry picking is available at Miller Bay Farm along with fresh vegetables sold at their roadside stand. It is also home to the Lombardy Agricultural Hall and Fairgrounds, which hosts the Lombardy Fair every year on the August long weekend. The fair is celebrating its 153rd anniversary in 2019, and will move from a 4 to 3 day fair. The Fairgrounds are also host to various events such as auction sales, car shows, gun shows, music festivals, dog shows and an annual barn dance held every year in September.

References

External links

Lombardy Fair WebsiteLombard Glen Golf and Country ClubBass Lake Lodge
{{authority control Communities in Leeds and Grenville United Counties