Desbarats (pronounced “Deborah” by locals) is the kind of place where neighbours wave and weekends revolve around the North Channel’s Kensington lakefront areas and country life. Its central location makes it easy to reach Sault Ste. Marie, Bruce Mines, and St. Joseph Island, while local inland lakes like Desbarats Lake and Diamond Lake offer swimming, paddling, and fishing close to home.

With a mix of country homes, cottages, and larger rural properties, Desbarats appeals to families looking for space, retirees seeking a quieter pace, and cottage buyers who want year-round access to lakes and trails. Make sure to check out the Central Algoma Land Trust (formerly the Kensington Conservancy) website for details about their land preserves and stunning walking trails.

Desbarats is centrally located in the middle of the rural area east of Sault Ste. Marie, and as such also is home to the region’s Central Algoma Secondary School (CASS), Central Algoma Elementary School (CAES), and the Central Algoma Intermediate School (region’s Grade 7-8 program). Young people Grades 7-12 are bused to Desbarats from Echo Bay and Thessalon areas.

Horse drawn carriages, the farmers market, and vegetable stands are very common in this area as Desbarats is home to a sprawling community of Mennonite farms that offer many great products and an experience of another time.