On July 8th, 1917 Tom Thomson’s canoe was found floating upside down in Canoe Lake. The official cause of death was listed as “accidental drowning,” but to this day there still remains speculation that his death could have been murder. But why? Thomson had a reputation as an excellent outdoorsman and talented canoeist, leaving the thought of accidental death at odds with his reputation. To this day people still believe that they have seen Tom Thomson paddling through the mist on Canoe lake. There are books, documentaries paintings, songs and yes even Twitter accounts (@TTLastSpring) depicting & describing these experiences.
While this conspiracy theory and tales of sightings of Thomson’s ghost make for wonderful campfire stories under the night skies in Algonquin Park, Thomson’s contribution to the Canadian Art world should not be overlooked.
Thomson was known to paint in Algonquin Park for days at a time. His works were mostly landscaped depicting trees, skies, lakes and rivers. While Thomson died before the establishment of The Group of Seven, he is considered an unofficial member.
Interested in owning your own cottage in Algonquin Park? Contact The Parker Team for the details on purchasing a Land Lease within the boundaries of the Park.