Accessibility Links
Seven Wonders of Canada
Sleeping Giant, Ontario
The Sibley Peninsula, or the Sleeping Giant as it's known in Thunder Bay, is a natural rock peninsula in the shape of a giant sleeping person. The rock juts into Lake Superior and forms Thunder Bay. There are many stories around this landmark. One Ojibway legend identifies the giant as Nanabijou, who turned to stone when the secret location of a rich silver mine, now known as Silver Islet, was disclosed to white men.
Audio Nominations
Sandra Hansen (0:48)
RealPlayer is required to listen to audio files. Download the RealPlayer plug-in for your browser.
Email Nominations
Gail Beda
I nominate the Sibley Peninsula or the Sleeping Giant as it's known in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This is a natural rock peninsula in the shape of a sleeping person lying on its back jutting into Lake Superior and forming Thunder Bay.
The First Nations have a story regarding it.The Great Manitou lies on his back to protect a silver mine that was to be dug by the Europeans. They succeeded to some extant until the mine was flooded never to be used again. The hamlet at the toes of the Sleeping Gaint is called Silver Islet. The peninsula is a beautiful place to explore, with Lake Louise Provincial Park, the mountain trails and Silver Islet being three of many places to visit. Please consider "The Sleeping Gaint" as one of the Seven Wonders of Canada.
Larry Deswiage
I submit the Sleeping Giant as viewed from the shores of Thunder Bay, Ontario. This rock formation, across the bay, is nothing less than breath taking. The image of the Sleeping Giant is what Thunder Bay is known for. An Ojibway legend identifies the giant as Nanabijou, the spirit of the Deep Sea Water, turned to stone when the secret location of a rich silver mine, now known as Silver Islet, was disclosed to white men.
Sabine Leidums
I think one of the true wonders is the "Sleeping Giant" of Lake Superior. My daughter was lucky enough to attend teacher's college in Thunder Bay this past year. My husband and I went up twice and the Sleeping Giant is the most incredible site. Majestic and mysterious yet it brings a sense of peace over me. I could sit and look at it for hours. Like staring at a campfire, or sitting on the shore of Lake Superior watching the waves, this piece of land is truly a wonder. The Sleeping Giant just represents a calmness, which most of us could use in our lives today.
Francine Kotovich
Almost every weekday for the last 23 plus years I have had the pleasure and the privilege to see, what I think should be one of Canada’s Seven Wonders. From the parking lot, the street and the office windows I can look out over the harbour and see the “sleeping giant”, a great formation of land in the shape of a man with his arms folded across his chest resting peacefully in the cool waters of Lake Superior. Some mornings there is a bright fierce rising sun gradually warming him, and some mornings there is a cloudy blanket of fog covering him. Sometimes in the winter at the end of the day, I look thru my office windows and see the setting sun’s rays striking parts of the man sleeping in the water and it looks like summer over there on that Sleeping Giant. He sometimes gets me thru the day.
He is always there, for me to look at. Every morning when I come to work there is something different to see about him, dynamic and ever changing. He is a legend. The Ojibwa legend of Nanabijou.
Eric Vander Wal
Lake Superior's Sleeping Giant must be considered one of Canada’s 7 Wonders. Ojibwa myth tells of Nanna Bijou, the Spirit of the Deep Water, being turned to stone for betraying the secret of the silver found beneath the rocks. But what remains is shear granite cliffs that tower precipitously from the depths of the world’s largest freshwater sea, and reflect in the summer’s setting sun as though they were painted on the sky. When viewed across Thunder Bay, the figure of a man stretched across the horizon is unmistakable: a man who has protected the voyagers en route to Fort William, or the sailors and salties bearing Canada’s bread basket grain from Prince Arthur’s Landing. Whether hiking through the cooled air under the Boreal forests, swimming in the waters that lap at its shores or climbing across his chest, the Sleeping Giant offers a majesty greater than any mountain pass or ocean vista. And surely must be counted among Canada’s great natural wonders.