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Sir Frederick Banting Homestead & Heritage Park reopens

July 23, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Sir Frederick Banting was a Canadian medical scientist and physician. He is best known for co-discovering insulin in 1921 alongside his assistant Charles Best. It’s a breakthrough that transformed diabetes from a frequently fatal disease into a manageable condition, saving millions of lives.

The Banting Homestead & Heritage Park reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 14, at the Sir Frederick Banting Road location in Alliston.

The location features a 1925 home built on the site of the original Banting residence, a visitors centre, a restored original octagonal drive shed, and a dairy barn that is currently not accessible.

Known as the birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting, members of the Banting family lived on the farmstead for over a century.

The last owner, Edward Banting, bequeathed the property to the Ontario Historical Society.

The Town of New Tecumseth bought the property from the Ontario Historical Society in June 2008.

With 107 acres, it was decided to restore the property, including the main house and the octagonal drive shed.

It was closed to facilitate the town’s takeover of the property with assistance and an ongoing partnership with the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation.

Offering tours of the property to visitors, the facility also functions as a diabetes management and education centre.

“Over the past several weeks, our team has been working to prepare the site,” explained Adam Mobbs, Town of New Tecumseth Director of Recreation, Facilities, and Culture. “Earlier this month we welcomed members of the Recreation, Facilities, and Culture for a full tour of the homestead. During the visit, we walked through the site and shared the long-term vision that will guide the broader community programming opportunities. This re-opening presents more than a return to public access. It is the beginning of a renewed chapter in one of New Tecumseth’s most meaningful cultural landmarks. The Homestead continues to be a place where history, innovation, and community intersect.”

As the home of a person who changed the world and saved millions of lives through his discovery, Alliston is proud to carry on the legacy of Sir Frederick Banting.

“Over 100 years ago, insulin was discovered here,” said New Tecumseth Mayor Richard Norcross. “People like myself, I’m a diabetic, and there a millions of diabetics – insulin allows us to live a full and longer life. Here in New Tecumseth, this is where it all happened. This is the birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting. Right here in Alliston, we are connected to one of the greatest discoveries of mankind.”

Mayor Norcross acknowledged former Town Councillor Donna Jebb, and former Mayor of New Tecumseth Mike MacEachern, for their involvement in the original plan for the Banting Homestead & Heritage Park.  

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