Terry Boyle unveils the eccentric and bizarre in these mini-histories of Ontario’s towns and cities: the imposter who ran the Rockwood Asylum in Kingston; Ian Fleming’s inspiration for James Bond; the Prince of Wales’s undignified crossing of Rice Lake; the tragic life of Joseph Brant; the man who advertised his wife’s death before poisoning her; as well as Ontario’s first bullfight and the answer to the question, Why did so many lumberjacks sport beards?

The colourful characters, Native legends, and incredible tales that make up our province’s fascinating past come alive in Hidden Ontario. From Bancroft, Baldoon, and Brighton to Timmins, Toronto, and Trenton, find out more about the Ontario you thought you knew.