- North Bay, Ontario
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North Bay — City — Main Street
Motto: Gateway of the North Location of North Bay, Ontario
Coordinates: 46°18′N 79°27′W / 46.3°N 79.45°WCoordinates: 46°18′N 79°27′W / 46.3°N 79.45°W Country Canada Province Ontario District Nipissing Established 1891 Government – Type City – Mayor Al McDonald – Governing Body North Bay City Council – MP Jay Aspin – MPP Monique Smith Area[1] – Land 314.91 km2 (121.6 sq mi) – Metro 771.37 km2 (297.8 sq mi) Elevation 197 m (646 ft) Population (2006)[1] – City 53,966 (Ranked 50th) – Density 171.4/km2 (443.9/sq mi) – Metro 63,424 – Metro density 82.2/km2 (212.9/sq mi) Time zone EST (UTC-5) – Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) Postal Code span P1A, P1B, P1C Area code(s) 705 Website City of North Bay [2] North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.
Contents
History
North Bay, Ontario is the gateway to Northern Ontario.
The site of North Bay was on the main canoe route west from Montreal (see Canadian Canoe Routes (early)). Apart from First Nations tribes, voyageurs and surveyors, there was little activity in the Lake Nipissing area until the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882. The CPR started its westward expansion from Callander Station (later renamed Bonfield), Ontario; Bonfield was inducted into Canadian Railway Hall of Fame in 2002 as the CPR First Spike location.
That was the point where the Canada Central Railway extension ended. The CCR was owned by Duncan McIntyre who amalgamated it with the CPR and became one of the handful of officers of the newly formed CPR. The CCR started in Brockville and extended to Pembroke. It then followed a westward route along the Ottawa River passing through places like Cobden, Deux-Rivières, and eventually to Mattawa at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers. It then proceeded cross-country towards its final destination, Bonfield. Duncan McIntyre and his contractor James Worthington piloted the CCR expansion. Worthington continued on as the construction superintendent for the CPR past Bonfield. He remained with the CPR for about a year until he left the company. McIntyre was uncle to John Ferguson who staked out future North Bay after getting assurance from his uncle and Worthington that it would be the divisional and a location of some importance.
In 1882, John Ferguson decided that the north bay of Lake Nipissing was a promising spot for settlement. North Bay was incorporated as a town in 1891. The first mayor was John Bourke. More importantly, Bourke developed the western portion of North Bay after purchasing the interest of the Murray Brothers from Pembroke, who were large landholders in the new community. The land west of Klock Avenue (Algonquin Avenue) was known as the Murray block. Bourke Street is named after John Bourke. Murray Street is named after the Murrays.
Cementing North Bay's status as a railway town, it was selected as the southern terminus of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway (T&NO) in 1902 when the Ross government took the bold move to establish a development road to serve the Haileybury settlement. During construction of the T&NO, silver was discovered at Cobalt and started a mining frenzy in the northern part of the province that continued for many years. The Canadian Northern Railway was subsequently built to the town in 1913.
The Georgian Bay Canal was a mammoth transportation system that proposed to connect the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The entire passageway from the Ottawa River to Lake Nipissing and down the French River to Georgian Bay was surveyed, mapped and ready to go in the first decade of the 20th century. Financing became the giant hurdle and as time passed, transportation patterns changed and interfered with the earlier practicality of the giant venture. Despite this, there were groups who still hoped it would happen as late as 1930.
North Bay grew through a strong lumbering sector, mining and the three railways in the early days. The town benefited from strong community leadership and people like Richardson, Milne, McNamara, Englands, Browning, McDougal, Carruthers, McGaughey, George W. Lee, Senator Gordon, T. J. Patton, Charlie Harrison, and many others are responsible for its development. In 1919, John Ferguson was elected mayor of North Bay and continued to serve as mayor until 1922. North Bay was incorporated as a city in August 1925.
The Dionne Quintuplets were born in Corbeil, Ontario, on the southern outskirts of North Bay in 1934. Their births had a tremendous impact on tourism in the area. In fact, the Dionnes may have saved the economy in the district during the Depression and beyond. North Bay and area lived off this legacy well into the 1960s. Many visitors to the area discovered lakes and summer retreats that were easily accessible and the businesses thrived on the tourist dollars.
In January 1968, the City of North Bay amalgamated with West Ferris and Widdifield townships.
During the Cold War, North Bay hosted a large Royal Canadian Air Force station at which were based Canadian and American North American Aerospace Defence Command forces. Although since the end of the Cold War the number of personnel and air units has been reduced greatly in size, the Canadian Air Force continues to maintain a presence at the base in the form of 22 Wing which is responsible for providing surveillance, identification, control and warning for the aerospace defence of Canada and North America. The United States Air Force also maintains 722 Air Control Squadron at the base. The long runways at North Bay have been maintained as an alternate landing site for Toronto's Pearson International Airport and were used during the 911 crisis as an emergency landing site for a several international aircraft.
The current engines driving North Bay's economy are the university and college population as well as the North Bay Regional Health Centre, newly opened in January 2011.[3] Tourism, and a stable provincial government service centre also contribute to the robust economy.
On March 17, 2007, North Bay was announced as the winner of 2007 Kraft Hockeyville contest. North Bay received $50,000 to upgrade their local arena, Memorial Gardens, and also hosted an NHL pre-season game between the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers.
In 2009, multiple film productions came to the city, most notably The Kids in the Hall's 8-part TV miniseries for CBC Television, Death Comes to Town. North Bay's downtown, Memorial Gardens, and Trinity United Church were among the filming locations, as well as the neighbouring communities of Mattawa and Sturgeon Falls.[4]
Statistics Canada's 2006 census showed an increase in residents, from 52,771 in 2001 to 53,966 in 2006, an increase of 2.3%. There is also a growing trend in post secondary students who decide to come to Canadore College and Nipissing University who wish for a quieter atmosphere than larger universities tend to have. However, these students are not counted in the census.
Geography and climate
A beach on Lake Nipissing in West Ferris, a neighbourhood of North Bay.North Bay is located approximately 330 kilometres (210 mi) north of Toronto, and differs in geography from Southern Ontario in that North Bay is situated on the Canadian Shield. This gives rise to a different and more rugged landscape.
North Bay is geographically unique in that it straddles both the Ottawa River watershed to the east and the Great Lakes Basin to the west. The city's urban core is located between Lake Nipissing and the smaller Trout Lake.
North Bay, critically situated at the junctions of Highway 11 and Highway 17, remains a major transportation centre for Northern Ontario. It is the southern terminus of the Ontario Northland Railway, and is served by the Jack Garland Airport.
The area of North Bay contains a number of ancient volcanic pipes, including the Manitou Islands and Callander Bay and many exposed dykes and five named batholiths (Timber Lake, Mulock, West Arm, Powassan and Bonfield).
The climate in North Bay is common to most places in Northern Ontario. North Bay tends to be a less humid climate than that found in Southern Ontario due somewhat to the distance from the Great Lakes and less warm than some other locations in Northern Ontario due to cooling from Lake Nipissing. On May 31, 2002, a tornado caused minor damage near the city. Two more tornadoes touched down on Lake Nipissing on August 20, 2009. This storm was a part of a chain of tornadoes that caused large amounts of damage in other parts of Ontario.[5] The first weather box shows climate normals for the airport, at an elevation of 358 masl, while the second box shows the climate normals for the city proper, at an elevation of 201 masl.
Climate data for North Bay Airport Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 12.2
(54.0)21.4
(70.5)23.9
(75.0)29.9
(85.8)31.6
(88.9)33.3
(91.9)35.4
(95.7)33.5
(92.3)33.3
(91.9)26.7
(80.1)20
(68)14.4
(57.9)35.4
(95.7)Average high °C (°F) −8
(18)−5.8
(21.6)0.2
(32.4)8.4
(47.1)16.8
(62.2)21.3
(70.3)23.8
(74.8)22.3
(72.1)16.9
(62.4)10.1
(50.2)2.2
(36.0)−4.7
(23.5)8.6 Average low °C (°F) −18
(0)−15.9
(3.4)−9.8
(14.4)−1.8
(28.8)5.5
(41.9)10.5
(50.9)13.3
(55.9)12.3
(54.1)7.4
(45.3)1.7
(35.1)−4.9
(23.2)−13.5
(7.7)−1.1 Record low °C (°F) −40
(−40)−39.4
(−38.9)−36.7
(−34.1)−21.1
(−6.0)−8.3
(17.1)−2.1
(28.2)2.6
(36.7)0
(32)−4.5
(23.9)−11.7
(10.9)−23.9
(−11.0)−36.7
(−34.1)−40
(−40)Precipitation mm (inches) 67.6
(2.661)52.6
(2.071)65.4
(2.575)67.2
(2.646)87.6
(3.449)95.2
(3.748)100.1
(3.941)100.1
(3.941)113.5
(4.469)97.6
(3.843)89.9
(3.539)70.9
(2.791)1,007.7
(39.673)Rainfall mm (inches) 16.9
(0.665)9.6
(0.378)31.9
(1.256)51.4
(2.024)85.5
(3.366)95.2
(3.748)100.1
(3.941)100.1
(3.941)113.3
(4.461)92.2
(3.63)58.6
(2.307)19.9
(0.783)774.7
(30.5)Snowfall cm (inches) 63
(24.8)52.2
(20.55)38
(15)16.2
(6.38)2.1
(0.83)0
(0)0
(0)0
(0)0.2
(0.08)5.5
(2.17)35
(13.8)61.3
(24.13)273.5
(107.7)Source: Environment Canada[6] Climate data for North Bay Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 12.8
(55.0)21.4
(70.5)27.2
(81.0)28.9
(84.0)32.2
(90.0)36.1
(97.0)37.2
(99.0)34.4
(93.9)34.4
(93.9)27.8
(82.0)21.1
(70.0)13.9
(57.0)37.2
(99.0)Average high °C (°F) −7.4
(18.7)−5.3
(22.5)1.7
(35.1)9.5
(49.1)17.8
(64.0)22.8
(73.0)25.2
(77.4)23.2
(73.8)18.1
(64.6)11.5
(52.7)3.9
(39.0)−4.1
(24.6)9.7 Average low °C (°F) −17.8
(0.0)−16.7
(1.9)−9.4
(15.1)−1.4
(29.5)5.7
(42.3)11.0
(51.8)13.9
(57.0)12.7
(54.9)8.4
(47.1)2.9
(37.2)−2.9
(26.8)−11.9
(10.6)−0.5 Record low °C (°F) −44.4
(−47.9)−42.8
(−45.0)−37.2
(−35.0)−21.7
(−7.1)−9.4
(15.1)−6.1
(21.0)−2.2
(28.0)0
(32)−5
(23.0)−12.8
(9.0)−26.1
(−15.0)−43.3
(−45.9)−44.4
(−47.9)Precipitation mm (inches) 67.3
(2.65)58.3
(2.295)58
(2.28)64.4
(2.535)67.8
(2.669)75.2
(2.961)93.7
(3.689)96.6
(3.803)101.9
(4.012)79.2
(3.118)76.2
(3)71.9
(2.831)910.5
(35.846)Rainfall mm (inches) 8.1
(0.319)9.6
(0.378)28.8
(1.134)53.5
(2.106)67.1
(2.642)75.2
(2.961)93.7
(3.689)96.9
(3.815)101.9
(4.012)77.3
(3.043)51.8
(2.039)18.4
(0.724)682.3
(26.862)Snowfall cm (inches) 58.9
(23.19)48.8
(19.21)29.9
(11.77)10.6
(4.17)0.7
(0.28)0
(0)0
(0)0
(0)0
(0)1.9
(0.75)24.4
(9.61)53.5
(21.06)228.7
(90.04)Source: Environment Canada[6] Economy
Looking northwest down Main Street, from a pedestrian/cyclist overpass near Chippewa CreekNorth Bay is more economically diverse than many other Northern Ontario communities, although a large percentage of the city's jobs are public sector in nature with health, education and government dominating the list of the city's top employers.[7]
North Bay is the home of Nipissing University, founded in 1992, and of Canadore College, founded in 1967. Approximately 7,000 full-time students (and thousands more part-time students) are enrolled at the two post-secondary institutions, which share a campus in the west end of the city.
North Bay is the site of CFB North Bay (22 Wing), which maintains a North American Aerospace Defence Command control centre, with operations formerly taking place inside a facility located deep underground, similar to, but on a much smaller scale than, the famous Cheyenne Mountain base in Colorado. As of October 2006, operations were moved out of the "Hole" to the David L Pitcher Building near the north entrance to the underground facility. Although historically the base hosted a large number of air units and air force personnel, today it employs approximately 500 personnel. North Bay is also home to The Algonquin Regiment, A Coy, a Canadian Force Army Reserve unit. B Coy of The Algonquin Regiment is located in Timmins.
The service industry, tourism, and transportation also play a significant role in the city's economy, as well as primary industry companies.
In recent years the city has gained prominence as a hub of arts and culture in Ontario, due to its vibrant community of artists, musicians, actors and writers. In 2004, the TVOntario program Studio 2 selected North Bay as being one of the top three most artistically talented communities in the province.[citation needed]
In August 2009, the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall began filming their mini-series Death Comes to Town on location in North Bay.
Neighbourhoods
Main article: Neighbourhoods in North Bay, OntarioThe city includes the neighbourhoods of Birchaven, Camp Champlain, Champlain Park, Cooks Mills, Eastview, Feronia, Gateway, Graniteville, Hornell Heights, La Fuente(Lobby Bar), Lounsbury, Kenwood Hills, Marshall Park, P.J. Clowe Rotary Park, Nipissing Junction, Pinewood, Sage, Ski Club, St. John's Village, Sunset Park, Thibeault Terrace, Thorncliff, Trout Mills, Tweedsmuir, Wallace Heights, West Ferris and Widdifield.
Waterfront development
The city has big plans for the waterfront. In the 1980s a mile long waterfront park/promenade was developed along the Lake Nipissing shoreline adjacent to the downtown core. Eventually such attractions as a mini-train ride and (more recently) two antique carousels (largely crafted by local artisans) were installed and quickly became very popular with tourists and locals alike. Now, work is getting underway on a large new multifaceted community park that will be developed on the former Canadian Pacific Railway yards that separated the downtown core from the existing waterfront park. In August 2009 a new pedestrian underpass opened connecting the downtown core to the waterfront for the first time since the CPR laid down tracks. Several more carousels, botanical gardens, a children's area and an extended mini-train ride will be among the park's attractions. The new community waterfront park is planned for completion by the year 2011 and is expected to transform the look and feel of the city centre and become a major tourist attraction for the city and region.
Media
Main article: Media in North Bay, OntarioSports
Local teams
- Canadore College Panthers (Men's & Women's Volleyball/OCAA)
- Nipissing University Lakers (Men's Hockey/OUA)
- Nipissing University Lakers (Men's & Women's Soccer/OUA)
- Nipissing University Lakers (Men's & Women's Volleyball/OCAA)
- Nipissing University Lakers (Men's & Women's Crosscountry Running/OUA)
- North Bay Bulldogs (Football/Northern Football Conference)
- North Bay Trappers Junior "A" (Hockey/Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League)
- North Bay Trappers Midget "AAA" (Hockey/Great North Midget AAA League)
- North Bay Century 21 United (U-17 Men's Soccer)
- North Bay Trappers Junior "A" NOJHL
North Bay Stingers Midget Baseball (3 time provincial champions)
Kraft Hockeyville 2007
North Bay was crowned the winner of the Kraft Hockeyville competition in 2007. The New York Islanders and Atlanta Thrashers played an exhibition game at Memorial Gardens to a near capacity crowd.
Nipissing Lakers Hockey
The Nipissing Lakers are North Bay's newest hockey team. The Lakers are the 19th member of the Ontario University Athletics' Men's Hockey League (founded in 2009 in a partnership with Nipissing University and private investors). The Lakers play in historic Memorial Gardens (circa 1955) and share the building with the North Bay Trappers. Like their Northern Ontario counterparts in Thunder Bay (the Lakehead Thunderwolves), the Lakers attract an impressive number of local hockey supporters for their games in the OUA.
North Bay Trappers Junior "A"
The North Bay Trappers (formerly the North Bay Skyhawks) were relocated from Sturgeon Falls in 2002 (following the departure of the OHL's North Bay Centennials to Saginaw, Michigan). The Trappers are members of the 8 team NOJHL Junior "A" circuit (Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League). The Skyhawks/Trappers franchise has won 3 NOJHL championship titles (2002–03, 2003-04 & 2004-05).
North Bay Bulldogs
The North Bay Bulldogs compete in the 9 team, Ontario-based NFC (Northern Football Conference). The Bulldogs were relocated from Brampton in 1991 to the Gateway City.
Transportation
The headquarters of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission in North Bay.North Bay is located at the easternmost junction of Highway 11 and Highway 17, which are both segments of the Trans-Canada Highway. The two highways share a single route through the city core, between Algonquin Avenue and an interchange at Twin Lakes, along an urban limited-access road with reduced but not fully controlled access. Major arterial streets intersect directly with the highway, while minor streets end at a network of service roads connecting them to the arterials. At Algonquin Avenue, Highway 17 continues westward to Sturgeon Falls and Sudbury, while Highway 11 heads north toward Temiskaming Shores. At the eastern interchange, Highway 17 heads eastward toward Mattawa, Pembroke and Ottawa, while Highway 11 widens into a freeway and heads southerly toward Barrie.
Highway 11 and Highway 17 both formerly had business spur routes through downtown North Bay, Highway 11B and Highway 17B, although both have been decommissioned by the province and are now designated only as city streets. North Bay is also served by Highway 63, a route which extends northeasterly from the city toward Thorne, where it crosses the Ottawa River and becomes Quebec Route 101.
Due to the steep incline of Algonquin Avenue/Highway 11 as it enters North Bay from the north on Thibeault Hill, the southbound lanes are equipped with the only runaway truck ramp on Ontario's provincial highway system.[8]
North Bay is served by the North Bay/Jack Garland Airport, which serves both as the city's main commercial airport and as a military airstrip for the adjacent CFB North Bay.
Train and intercity bus service in the city operates from the North Bay railway station, a joint terminal on Station Road.
The city operates a public transit system, North Bay Transit.
Community profile
Census Population 1891 2,210 1901 2,350 1911 7,737 1921 10,692 1931 15,528 1941 15,411 1951 17,944 1961 23,781 1971 49,187 1981 51,268 1991 55,405 2001 52,771 2006 53,966 - North Bay census agglomeration population: 63,424[9]
- Land area: 314.92 km2 (121.59 sq mi)
- Median total income of persons 15 years of age and over ($): 20,802
- Median family income ($) All census families: 53,668
- Average value of dwelling ($): 160,000
- % of the population with a university certificate, diploma or degree: 50.7
- According to the 2006 census, North Bay is:
92% White, 6% Aboriginal, and 2% Visible Minorities
(Based on the Canada 2006 Census)
Aerial view of North Bay and Lake Nipissing.Mother tongue demographics
- Total 63,424 (100.0%)
- English 48,870 (78.0%)
- French 10,245 (16.3%)
- Non-official language 2,890 (4.6%)
- English and French 481 (0.8%)
- English and non-official language 160 (0.3%)
- French and non-official language 10 (0.0%)
- English, French and non-official language 10 (0.0%)
Prominent people
Prominent people who live or have lived in North Bay include:
- Giles Blunt, author
- Gerald Bull, aerospace engineer, expert in ballistics
- Chuck Cadman, Politician and Member of Parliament
- Jessica Cameron, Actress
- Harvey Charters, silver medalist at 1936 Olympics in canoeing
- Billy Coutu, NHL hockey player
- Ab DeMarco Sr, former NHL hockey player
- Michael J. Fox, actor
- Kevin Frankish, is a Toronto-area media personality. He co-hosts Breakfast Television on Citytv.
- Bobby Gimby, orchestra leader, singer/songwriter who wrote the Canadian Centennial song
- Mike Harris, former Premier of Ontario
- Susan Hay, Global news reporter
- High Holy Days, rock music group
- Bill Houlder, former NHL player
- Troy Hurtubise, inventor
- Sam Jacks, inventor of ringette
- Byron M. Jones, Christian movie producer and managing partner of Pure Flix Entertainment
- Sean Kelly, glam-rock guitarist and vocalist
- Gerry Mendicino, actor
- Andi Muise, model
- Chris Neil, NHL hockey player for the Ottawa Senators
- Claude Noel, NHL coach
- Bryan Lee O'Malley, cartoonist, creator and author of the Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels
- Michael O'Shea, linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL
- Steve Omischl, world champion, freestyle skiing aerials
- Kate Pace, world downhill alpine ski champion
- Pete Palangio, former NHL player
- Tony Poeta, former NHL player
- Denis Rancourt, scientist, educational reform activist, former physics professor at the University of Ottawa
- Julia Rivard, Olympic athlete (canoe/kayak), business leader
- Craig Rivet, former NHL player, currently with the Elmira_Jackals of the ECHL
- Steve Shields, former NHL goalie
- Colin Simpson, bestselling author
- Lance Storm, professional wrestler
- Scott Thompson, comedic actor
- Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet
- Roy Thomson, Baron Thomson of Fleet
- Darren Turcotte, former NHL player
- Mike Yeo, Minnesota Wild Head Coach
Cartoonist Lynn Johnston lives just outside the city in nearby Corbeil, and the famous Dionne Quintuplets were born on the outskirts of the city between Corbeil and Callander. Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet started his empire in North Bay in 1931 when he purchased an AM radio station in Iroquois Falls, CFCH, and moved it to North Bay. Thomson Park in North Bay is named in his honour.
Sister cities
A CF-100 on display at Lee Park.References
- ^ a b Statistics Canada 2006 Census
- ^ [1]
- ^ North Bay Regional Health Centre Website
- ^ IMDb link for filming locations
- ^ Tornado causes minor damage in North Bay
- ^ a b Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 October 2009
- ^ http://www.city.north-bay.on.ca/business/workforce/top50.asp
- ^ "Northern Highways Program: 2010-2014. Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
- ^ Canada 2006 Census Community Profiles: Census Agglomeration of North Bay. Statistics Canada.
- ^ Official North Bay Website
External links
Nipissing Unorganized North Part Nipissing 10, Lake Nipissing 
Nipissing Unorganized North Part, East Ferris 
North Bay 
Callander Cities North Bay
Towns Mattawa • Temagami • West NipissingTownships First Nations reserves Unorganized territories See also: Communities in Nipissing District • Census divisions of OntarioCategories:- North Bay, Ontario
- Ontario communities with large francophone populations
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