Historic Port Credit - Virtual Reward 5.0
Introduction:
Located where the Credit River meets Lake Ontario, Port Credit has a long history shaped by the water that surrounds it. The area developed into an important harbour and marine transportation centre during the 1800s, with lumber, grain, stone and other goods passing through the community. Over time, Port Credit also became home to major industries, commercial fishing, Great Lakes shipping and many of the landmarks that can still be seen today.
Port Credit was formally surveyed as a village in 1835 and continued to grow around its harbour. It became a Police Village in 1909, gained town status in 1961, and in 1974 joined with Mississauga and Streetsville to form the present-day City of Mississauga.
Today, much of the working harbour has been transformed into a recreational waterfront filled with parks, trails, restaurants, marinas and gathering spaces. However, reminders of Port Credit's past can still be found throughout the village, from its lighthouse and historic buildings to pieces of its industrial and maritime history.
This Virtual Cache will take you on a grand tour of Historic Port Credit, visiting some of the community's most recognizable landmarks along the way. Some stops tell the story of the old village, some highlight its industrial past, and others show how important Lake Ontario and the Credit River continue to be to Port Credit today.
I hope you enjoy exploring Port Credit and perhaps discover something along the way that you have never noticed before!
Requirements:
To claim a find on this Virtual Cache, you must visit all 10 waypoints listed below and take a photo that includes your geocaching name and the GC code of this geocache at each location. At the tenth/last waypoint, you must include the coordinates of your picture location in your log. Take your time, explore the village, and enjoy your tour of Historic Port Credit!
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Waypoint #1:
Port Credit Lighthouse
Built in 1991, the red-and-white Port Credit Lighthouse commemorates the community’s long maritime history. It replaced an earlier lighthouse built in 1863, which was destroyed by fire in 1936.
Climb the stairs or take the accessible pathway to reach the photo spot.
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Waypoint #2:
Port Credit Pavilion
The Village Pavilion is a central feature of Port Credit Memorial Park, overlooking the Credit River and surrounding parkland. It serves as a gathering space for community events, festivals, concerts, and other activities held throughout the year.
Explore the many pathways of the park to find the photospot.
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Waypoint #3:
Port Credit Memorial Arena
Built in 1959, Port Credit Memorial Arena was the first public arena in Mississauga and is now the city’s oldest surviving public arena. For generations, it has been a local gathering place for skating, hockey, and other community events.
Head to the front entrance to find the photo spot.
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Waypoint #4:
St. Lawrence Starch Company
The St. Lawrence Starch Company began producing cornstarch in Port Credit in 1890 and became one of the community’s largest and longest-running industries. The factory operated for about a century before closing in 1990, and the site was later redeveloped.
Head to the front entrance to find the photo spot.
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Waypoint #5:
St. Lawrence Water Pump
Installed in 1912, this steam-driven duplex water pump served as the St. Lawrence Starch factory’s fire pump until the early 1970s. During the wintertime, it was also used to flood the company’s outdoor skating rink.
Find the red and blue pump to find the photo spot.
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Waypoint #6:
Port Credit Post Office
Built in 1931, the Port Credit Post Office, Customs House & Armoury was constructed as a Depression-era public works project. The red-brick building housed postal, customs, and military services and remains an important heritage landmark in the heart of Port Credit.
Head to the front of the former post office to reach the photo spot.
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Waypoint #7:
Snug Harbour
Snug Harbour is a family-owned waterfront restaurant located in J.J. Plaus Park beside Credit Village Marina. Overlooking the Credit River harbour, it has become one of Port Credit’s most recognizable waterfront destinations.
Head toward the waterfront side of Snug Harbour to reach the photo spot.
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Waypoint #8:
Credit Village Marina
Credit Village Marina is a City of Mississauga marina located at the mouth of the Credit River in the heart of Port Credit. It provides seasonal and short-term docking for recreational boats and gives visitors direct access to the surrounding waterfront, parks, restaurants, and shops.
Head to the marina to find the photo spot.
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Waypoint #9:
Ridgetown Freighter
The Ridgetown was launched in 1905 as the S.S. William E. Corey and spent more than 60 years carrying cargo across the Great Lakes. In 1974, the retired freighter was brought to Port Credit, filled with stone and cement, and sunk to form the permanent breakwater protecting the harbour.
Take to the high seas and sail toward Ridgetown to reach the photo spot.
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Waypoint #10:
Photo Spot of Your Choice
Find one location that you enjoyed along your adventure. Take a picture (including your name and GC code) of that location and note down the coordinates of the location. Make sure to include both the picture and the coordinates in your log.
Example:
N43 33.019 W79 35.079
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Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.