Zavikon Island refers to either the larger or the pair of islands in the Thousand Islands archipelago on the St. Lawrence River between New York and Ontario, two kilometres (1¼ miles) southeast of Rockport, Ontario and approximately north of the international boundary. Zavikon Island is located in Canadian territory and is part of the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.Natural Resources Canada, Place Names - Zavikon Island. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
Overview In April 1975, Donald Rickerd bought the two islands.Ontario Land Registry Access, Leeds LRO 28, Abstract/Parcel Register Book # 4, Escott Township River Islands, Aspasia Island, Island 103A, and Island 103B, pp. 1, 173, 175 (online images 5, 214, 216), respectively. Official certified copy of Oct 1982. Replaced by electronic system Mar 2009. Retrieved 2026–03–13. A bridge connects the larger island to the smaller island. A Canadian flag hangs on the bridge near the larger island, and an American flag adorns the other side. A Hungarian flag hangs on the middle of the bridge in honour of the Hungarian heritage of his wife, Julie Rékai Rickerd.University of Toronto Archives, Finding-aid for Julie Rékai Rickerd Papers. Reference Code: CA OTUTF MS COLL 00767. Retrieved 2026–03–23. In February 1988, Zavikon Island was established as the official name of the larger island, replacing its previous official name Aspasia Island.
The smaller and more southeasterly of the pair of islands is sometimes called Little Zavikon Island. It has a US-Canada Boundary Commission reference monument, from which surveying measurements are used to calculate the international border line turning point at this section of the river. In this case, the international border's turning point is approximately 140 metres (460 ft) southeast of the southern tip of Little Zavikon Island as shown on the largest scale USGS map of the area.
A popular misconception is that the larger island is in Canada while Little Zavikon Island is in the United States, and that the footbridge between them is the shortest international bridge in the world. As demonstrated by Canada's official topographic map of the area (see image), both Zavikon islands are wholly within Canada.
The Zavikon estate
The Zavikon estate was established at the beginning of the 1900s as a privately-owned country retreat located entirely within Canada among the islands attached to the geographic Township of Escott, Ontario (see image). Since its formation, the estate has comprised three officially recognized islands: Aspasia Island (officially known since February 1988 as Zavikon Island Natural Resources Canada, Place Names - Aspasia Island. Retrieved 2026–03–15.) at 1.4 acres; Island 103A, southeast of Aspasia, at 0.3 acres; and the Very small, low-lying Island 103B, off Aspasia's northeastern tip, at 0.05 acres.Stephen King, Zavikon Island: Home to the World's .... hasanjasim.online. Retrieved 2026–03–12.Deed of Land, Situate – Emilie Delphine Robb (of New York City) to Andrew McLean (of City of Passaic, New Jersey), Jun 27, 1918, registered Jul 2, 1918. Ontario Registry Office, Leeds LRO 28, Escott Township River Islands, Document 8–3507 (online as 8ES3507, via Ontario Land Registry Access).
Island 103B is visible in some aerial photographs and was used as the base for the outer section of a large deck extending from Aspasia Island.Google Earth. Zavikon Island. Retrieved 2026–03–24 Island 103A and Island 103B are the designations used on the official land plan in lieu of lot numbers or official names, such as Aspasia Island.Notations on Plan 120. Leeds Land Registry Office. Available through Ontario Land Registry Access, Leeds LRO 28 for a fee as document PL120.
Following a June 1918 change in the ownership of the estate, a second title, Zavikon Island, was used for the aggregate property by its new owners.Deed of Land (Executors) – Sarah Belle McLean (of City of Passaic, New Jersey), et al, to Andrew McLean (of City of Passaic, New Jersey), et al, Jun 4, 1931, registered Aug 7, 1931. Leeds LRO 28, Document 8–4304 (online as 8ES4304, via Ontario Land Registry Access).Deed of Land, Situate – Andrew McLean (of City of Passaic, New Jersey), et al, to Philip A. Castner (of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Jun 4, 1931, registered Aug 22, 1931. Leeds LRO 28, Document 9–4309 (online as 9ES4309, via Ontario Land Registry Access). A short silent film, Zavikon, illustrating the estate circa 1929, is posted online.Life on Zavikon. Posted to YouTube by randers98. Retrieved 2026–03–15. History of the estate The three islands of the Zavikon estate had once been part of the lands of the indigenous Mississaugas of Alnwick. In 1856, this group of Mississauga Ojibweg surrendered their islands in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River to the Crown. The agreement required that the funds from the sale of the surrendered islands be invested and the interest paid annually to the Alnwick Mississaugas, who are now known as the Alderville First Nation.Canada, Dept. of Indian Affairs. Indian Treaties and Surrenders from 1680 to 1890. Surrenders "Nos. 77 and 78", Vol I, pp. 205–208. Retrieved 2026–03–12.
An official survey of the Canadian Thousand Islands between Gananoque and Brockville was done in 1873 at the direction of Canada's Secretary of State for the Provinces (who was also Superintendent General of Indian AffairsCanada, Privy Council, Order-in-Council PC928, Dec 8, 1869. (online as 1869–0829.) Library and Archives Canada, Privy Council Office fond, RG 2. Retrieved 2016–03–17.Notice regarding appointment of new Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Canada Gazette, Dec 11, 1869, Vol. 3, No. 24, p. 403. Retrieved 2026–03–17.) and published in March 1874 (see image). A copy was deposited as Plan 120 in Ontario's Land Registry Office for Leeds County (Leeds LRO 28) in December 1882. Additions were made to the official plan in April 1893 as per a new survey. These additions included the previously absent Island 103B and a label for previously unnumbered Island 103A.Alnwick Reserve – Charles Unwin submitting his Accounts for Surveys of Islands in the St. Lawrence River, 1873–1874. Library and Archives Canada, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds, RG10, Vol. 1908, Microfilm C-11109, File 2328. Retrieved 2026–03–13.
Following the 1893 survey, the Canada-US boundary through the St. Lawrence River was more precisely demarcated under a UK-US treaty of 1908. The new charts for the boundary (see image) were approved in August 1913, engraved on copper printing plates during 1913–1914, and issued in May 1915 by the binational International Waterways Commission, which had conducted the new surveys.International Boundary Commission – Commission de la frontière internationale, "About Us", "History". Retrieved 2026–04–01.United States of America, Treaty Series, No. 497, Treaty between the United States and Great Britain: Canadian International Boundary – Article IV. Signed Apr 11, 1908. In effect Jul 1, 1908. Retrieved 2026–04–01.Canada, Sessional Papers, 3 Geo. V, 1913, Paper No. 19a, "Compiled Reports of the International Waterways Commission", Volume II", 1908–1913."Commission Signs 180 Maps Showing New Boundary Line", Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York), Apr 30, 1915, p. 6."Charts Sent On ... Maps Showing Boundary Line between U.S. and Canada are All Signed and Sent Away", Buffalo Commercial (online as Buffalo Post), May 4, 1915, p. 13. Retrieved 2026–04–03."Boundary Line Map Finished by Board: Copy on File at Buffalo Historical Building", Buffalo News, May 15, 1915, p. 1. Retrieved 2026–04–03."Happy Augury for Future Relations ... Receives Water Charts", London Advertiser, Jun 9, 1915, p. 3. (Permanent Link.) Retrieved 2026–04–02.
Ownership of each of the three islands that would become the Zavikon estate was transferred individually by the Department of Indian Affairs via Crown Land Patents in 1894, 1897, and 1901, respectively. In accordance with the 1856 surrender, the patents stated that the islands were sold "in order that the proceeds may be applied to the benefit, support and advantage" of the Mississaugas of Alnwick. The documents cited the official survey plans of 1874 and 1893 as held in the Department rather than the Plan 120 held in the local Land Registry Office.Land Patent 11054 for Aspasia Island citing Indian Department Survey Plan of March 1874, Nov 21, 1894. LAC, R216, RG10-D-11-a, Vol. 10933, "Land Patents - Book 11". Retrieved 2026–03–13.Land Patent 11854 for Island 103A citing Indian Department Survey Plan of April 1893, Dec 27, 1897. LAC, R216, RG10-D-11-a, Vol. 10940, "Land Patents - Book 18". Retrieved 2026–03–13.Land Patent 12985 for Island 103B citing Indian Department Survey Plan of April 1893, Nov 2, 1901. LAC, R216, RG10-D-11-a, Vol. 10940, "Land Patents - Book 18". Retrieve 2016-03-13.
The first private owners of the respective islands were as follows: Aspasia Island – Charles Berkeley Powell of Ottawa, Ontario – November 21, 1894;Alnwick Agency – Sale of Aspasia Island, Jul 1894. LAC, RG10, Vol. 2717, Microfilm C-11269, File 144001–44. Retrieved 2026–03–13. Island 103A – William George Hurdman of Ottawa, Ontario – December 27, 1897;Alnwick Agency – Sales of Islands in the St. Lawrence River to William George Hurdman, 1894–1897. LAC, RG10, Vol. 2721, Microfilm C-11270, File 144001-99. Retrieved 2026–03–13. Island 103B – Emilie Delphine Robb of New York City (Brooklyn) – November 2, 1901, as per an agreement of October 9.Alnwick Agency – Sale of Island 103B, Oct 1901. LAC, RG10, Vol. 3041, Microfilm C-11315, File 236725–82. Retrieved 2026–03–13.
Emilie D. Robb (née Taylor, also known as "Mrs. Alexander Robb") purchased Aspasia Island and Island 103A from Powell and Hurdman on October 16 and 12, 1901, respectively.Social Register, Summer 1907. The Social Register Association: Bowling Green, New York City. Vol. 21, No. 66, Jun 1907, p. 206 (online image 216). Retrieved 2026–03–14. ("Robb Mr & Mrs Alex (Emilie D Taylor) 'Zavikon' Alexandria Bay NY") Her country house was completed in August 1902 and the estate was given the name of Zavikon."Arrivals in Town", Brooklyn Life, Nov 18, 1905, p. 19. Retrieved 2026–03–13. ("Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Robb, of 346 Washington avenue, from 'Zavikon,' Thousand Islands Bay, New York.")"The Thousand Islands ... Notes", Brooklyn Eagle (News Editorial section), Aug 31, 1902, p. 8 (online p. 16). Retrieved 2026–03–13. ("Alexander Robb of Brooklyn took possession of his new island home, Zavicon , the latter part of this week, and with his family will remain very late in the autumn.")