Thursday, May 24th, beginning at 11:00 a.m., everyone is welcomed to the grand opening of the new multimillion dollar Welcome Centre located at Nancy Island Historic Site in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada.

Ontario Parks has replaced the orientation building at Nancy Island Historic Site in preparation of the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial. Nancy Island has served as a historic site since 1928 and is the most viable and related site to the War of 1812 in Simcoe County and the Georgian Bay Region. It represents a major event during the War of 1812 - HMS Nancy's August 14, 1814 battle against three American schooners.

The island houses the charred hull and artifacts of the HMS Nancy from this pivotal moment in Canadian history. The borders of Canada today are a direct result of the valiant struggle of the Nancy and her crew. 

The Wasaga Beach Welcome Centre, designed by Ontario Parks architect Matthew Harvey, houses a gift shop, staff offices, meeting space, tourist information, washrooms and interpretation relating to both Nancy Island and the natural resources of Wasaga Beach. The new War of 1812 interpretive displays will highlight Heroes of the War related to the Nancy story. For more information please visit www.wasagabeachpark.com