River Hub at the Burk's Falls Public Docks
A new eco-destination is being proposed at the Burk’s Falls Public Docks!
A repurposed Canadian Coast Guard vessel will be docked near the Welcome Centre. The RIVER HUB will be a floating
education centre to serve the community by animating the Magnetawan River’s rich history, ecology, and culture.
Please complete the below survey & learn more about the project while sharing your feedback.
Alternatively, email the Mag River Nature Hub and they will send you a copy of the survey and answer any questions you may have: info@magrivernaturehub.ca
The Council of the Township of Armour passed a resolution during their August 12, 2025 regular council meeting declaring their support in principle for the River Hub proposal and expressed their intention to collaborate where reasonable to support the development, promotion and use of the River Hub facility. Council also recognized that many aspects of this project will require significant financial support and encourages suitable funding organizations to strongly consider supporting this request.
Please answer the below survey questions to help shape the project further.
A new eco-destination is being proposed for the Burk’s Falls Public Docks! Mag River Nature Hub, a local not-for-profit organization, is in the process of consulting with the community and we’d like to hear your feedback.
C.S.R.V. AGILE is a former Canada Coast Guard vessel that was used for scientific research in the Great Lakes from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Repurposed for education, a proposal to dock the Community Science Research Vessel at the Burk’s Falls Public Docks has been approved by Burk’s Falls Council. If you are interested, please click
HERE to learn more by viewing a copy of the presentation proposal.
The vision for Phase 1 of the project involves the vessel being based at the Public Docks as a floating education centre or “RIVER HUB” to serve the community by animating the Magnetawan River’s rich history, ecology, and culture. Some of the opportunities being explored through the River Hub in Phase 1 of the project include:
- Sharing stories about local history, nature, and culture
- Loaning fishing rods and tackle
- Teaching visitors how to participate in local community science initiatives that monitor biodiversity using iNaturalist
- Running environmental education programs for local schools and community groups
- Exploring the local aquatic ecosystem (e.g. identifying benthic invertebrates/insects and categorizing micro-plastics) using magnifying glasses, microscopes, and water testing kits
- Renting canoes and/or kayaks
- Teaching canoe and/or kayak workshops
- Guiding canoe and/or kayak trips
- Presenting creative performances (e.g. the vessel acting as a floating stage)
- Hosting community arts, crafts, and other family-friendly programs (e.g. like Magnetawan’s Maggie the community rock snake project)
- Facilitating a marine archeological study of local steamboat shipwrecks
- Demonstrating renewable energy technology
- Growing native plants and creating habitat by sharing local seeds
- Promoting local businesses, artists, and other tourism attractions
Given the parking limitations at the Public Docks, visitors will be encouraged to park across from the Burk’s Falls Old Towne Cinema, then invited to walk along the downtown strip to support local businesses and cross the Heritage Footbridge to the
Burk’s Falls Welcome Centre.
