Get the most from your Virtual Tour.
Before taking the 3D Virtual Tour, it is recommended you review the Learning Objectives.
Learning Objectives for 3D Virtual Tour
The Banting Homestead is the birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin and Canada’s first Nobel Laureate. Fred Banting was born on this property on November 14, 1891. His birthday is now celebrated globally as World Diabetes Day.
About the Banting Homestead
This venue was established during 2009 to 2014 by first rescuing and restoring historic buildings to create a unique Canadian context, not only for program delivery but as an informative site for all Canadians and visitors worldwide. Program development and delivery and the addition of interior and outdoor exhibits followed and continue to evolve.
The six acres shown above contain the elements of the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation, Diabetes Management and Education Centre (DMEC) all within the Legacy Walking Trail. The three main buildings house over 25 major educational exhibits; including the farmstead diorama, display cases with artefacts and memorabilia, insulin discovery room; art room and war room; family and homestead history room; diabetes and insulin impact room; and the SFBLF programs room.
Banting Family Farmhouse
The historic Banting Homestead was built by Thompson Banting in 1925 using materials from the original and much larger Farmhouse (circa early 1920s). It was rescued and restored by SFBLF, September 2011 to October 2012. Today it serves as a major exhibit space with over 20 educational exhibits in 6 rooms on 2 floors.
Octagonal Drive Shed
Built in 1918 by Thompson Banting and restored in 2010 by Alliston Lions, Rotary and SFBLF.
The Drive Shed is the main classroom and can seat 60 students.
Heritage Reception Building
Built in 2012-13 by SFBLF, this building provides barrier-free washrooms and access to the Farmhouse. It also provides exhibit space and serves as a small classroom for up to 25 students.
Welcome Exhibit
The Welcome Exhibit is in the picnic area of the Legacy Walking Trail. There are 5 outdoor exhibits on the Trail plus an exercise area and percussion musical instruments.
Memorial Paver Patio
This engraved paver patio was added in 2015 and includes engraved pavers of 3 sizes available for purchase to recognize family members or show support for SFBLF and the Banting Homestead Heritage Park.
Additional property features include roadside monuments and cairn; a 700-metre Legacy Walking Trail with 5 information exhibits; an exercise area; picnic area and percussion musical instruments.
Main Barn and Pig Barn have been preserved but are not open to the public.
Need help navigating the virtual tour?
Get more from your Virtual Tour: 3D Tour Quizzes
We challenge you to take a fun and informative quiz designed to test your knowledge of Sir Fredrick Banting, his homestead, his accomplishments, and the discovery of insulin. The Virtual Tour contains a variety of clues and information that will help you answer all of the quiz questions correctly. Select the quiz below, that you feel is most appropriate for your interest level:
Once you exit the Virtual Tour, return to this page to select the quiz that best suits your interest level. When completed, each Quiz will provide you with a score, along with the correct response for any incorrect answers. The answers to the questions can be found throughout the 3D Tour either by viewing a ‘close-up’ of an exhibit or by using the ‘tags’ provided on each floorplan to obtain additional information about the exhibit.
Further Projects
Suggested further projects for students and classes after taking the tour.
Survey
Thank you for visiting the Diabetes Management and Education Centre at the Banting Homestead Heritage Park, birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting. We hope you enjoyed your visit. Your responses to the following brief questions will be of major assistance for us and will help us to:
- provide evidence to our donors of the value of our programs
- identify opportunities to improve our programs and our visitor experience
Navigating the Virtual Tour
To return to this page at any time during the tour, use the back arrow button on your browser
General
Start your Virtual Tour by clicking on the ‘Start 3D tour here’ button above.
At any point, you can select a continuous ‘autoplay’ tour or conduct your own self-directed tour in any sequence you wish. You can ‘switch’ back and forth between these options. You can ‘zoom in ‘for a closer look at any aspect using your touchpad or mouse.
Continuous ‘autoplay’ Tour
Click the forward arrow icon at the bottom of any screen. You can stop at any time by clicking on the scene or selecting a new destination from the ‘pop-up’ menus. To do a manual 360 degree tour of any one scene, left click and use the resulting cursor.
Self-Directed Tour [required option to seek additional information about the Exhibits]
The ‘pop-up’ MENU in the bottom right corner of each ‘floorplan’ will allow you to move to another building, floor, room and the Grounds Menu and then back to any destination OR you can navigate from room to room by clicking on the ‘green dot’ in each room.
To get additional information about an Exhibit, you can click on the ‘tag’ symbol in the top left corner of any floorplan to get a list from which you can select for more information OR as you navigate through the rooms, you can click on any coloured circle on an exhibit to get the same result.
On-site School or Group Tour can be scheduled at info@bantinglegacy.ca
The development of this Virtual Tour was funded by:
We depend on donations to pursue our goal of fighting diabetes and preserving a legacy.
3D photography by MacFarlane Photography, Alliston, Ontario. Virtual Tour and web page integration by yCommunicate.com, Alliston, Ontario