Stag Island, River island in St. Clair River, Ontario, Canada.
Stag Island is a private island in the St. Clair River, which forms the border between Canada and the United States, lying close to the Canadian town of Corunna and the American side near Marysville. The island holds around 100 cottages used as both summer retreats and year-round homes by residents from both countries.
The first European settler, David McCall, arrived on the island in 1842 and established the first homestead there. Formal recognition followed in 1857, when Crown Patent rights were granted and land claims in the area became official.
The original inhabitants called this place Saw-Ge-Too-Yawn, while French settlers named it Isle aux Cerfs, meaning Island of Deer. Both names reflect how different groups perceived and related to this spot on the river.
The island can only be reached by ferry, operated by the Stag Island Auxiliary Club from Corunna on the Canadian shore. The service is mainly for residents and their guests, so it is worth planning ahead before making the trip.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield watched the 1969 moon landing as a nine-year-old from his family's cottage on the island. That childhood memory of watching the event from this small river island stayed with him throughout his career.
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