Simonett Building as Central Frontenac’s Offices

Ken Fisher | Aug 07, 2025

In all of Canada, Sharbot Lake is one of the very few villages that is almost surrounded by water. In 1980, Ron Hollywood wrote a song called “Sharbot Lake Island” – ‘Sharbot Lake Island is heaven to me.’ Yes, it is.

In 1937, as a 6-year-old walking to school, Gary Hawley would pass the Sharbot Lake Depot of the Parham Dairy. It was established before the First World War. Little did he know that in 1946, the Dairy Depot would be converted into Jack Simonett’s General Motors Sales and Service. At 15, Gary went to work for Jack and that would be his first and only job for the rest of his life! When Simonett’s closed in ’86, Gary continued with GM in Napanee. In ’87 the Simonett building was born again as W.A. Robinson Asset Management. In its hay day, in this little rural community, this building was as sophisticated as anything on Bay Street in Toronto, managing assets from coast-to-coast.

In the 70’s Marcel Giroux led the beach recovery project, restoring our #1 village icon. This was followed with the building of the Medical Centre on the water. We have also benefitted from other waterfront assets: Maples Restaurant/Belong Sharbot Lake, the Government Dock, and the Sharbot Lake Marina.

The Simonett Building is now our Township Offices. How extraordinarily wonderful is that? Imagine McDonalds or Tim Hortons instead. Thank-you councillors for continuing this awesome east-basin property as an icon of Sharbot Lake. 2026 will be the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of the Kingston & Pembrook Railroad in Sharbot Lake. May we celebrate all of our assets and all of our history.