Centrally located 45 minutes from Parry Sound, Huntsville and North Bay, Magnetawan is a four-season playground with something for everyone! Lots to enjoy – from arts, culture and history to boating, public parks and beaches, cycling, snowmobiling and extensive municipal recreation programming that ranges from pickle ball and yoga to archery and roller skating! 

Free Municipal Recreation Programming

GEOCACHING 

Become part of a worldwide community of treasure hunters who enjoy the outdoors and the thrill of discovery. Magnetawan has hidden “caches” all around our beautiful municipality!

PUBLIC ART

Maggie the Community Rock Snake, Mortimer the Moose Mural, Sport/Recreation Mural Lions Pavillion Mural, Boats Through History Mural, Steamship/Lighthouse Mural, Steamship Carving, X Marks the Spot, Heritage Museum Indoor Mural  

Magnetawan holds a special place in Canadian art history through its connection to A.J. Casson, one of the later members of the renowned Group of Seven. Casson joined the Group in 1926 and became known for his vibrant paintings of rural Ontario villages, historic buildings, and picturesque landscapes. Unlike many of the original Group members, who focused on rugged wilderness, Casson was drawn to the charm and character of small communities.

During a sketching trip to Magnetawan in the early 1930s, Casson was inspired by St. George the Martyr Anglican Church, a striking Carpenter Gothic church built in 1880 on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Magnetawan River. He painted Anglican Church at Magnetawan in 1933, capturing the church bathed in warm light against the rugged Canadian Shield landscape. The painting beautifully reflects the harmony between the built heritage and natural surroundings that define Magnetawan. Today, the original artwork is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Canada, making Magnetawan one of the few small Ontario communities represented in Canada's national art collection.

The church itself is an important local landmark. Constructed in 1880 as an Anglican mission for early settlers, St. George the Martyr served as both a place of worship and a gathering place for the growing community. In recognition of its historical and architectural significance—and its connection to A.J. Casson's famous painting—the church has been commemorated with an Ontario historical plaque.

Magnetawan's artistic legacy extends beyond Casson's church painting. His Magnetawan Village (1930) also portrays the community and highlights the distinctive architecture and landscape that inspired him. These works have helped establish Magnetawan as an important destination in the story of the Group of Seven and continue to attract visitors interested in Canadian art, history, and heritage.