Kenora District | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 49°46′N94°29′W / 49.767°N 94.483°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Ontario |
Region | Northwestern Ontario |
Created | 1907 |
Government | |
• MPs | Eric Melillo (CPC), Charlie Angus (NDP) |
• MPPs | Greg Rickford (PC), Guy Bourgouin (NDP), Sol Mamakwa (NDP) |
Area | |
• Land | 407,213.01 km2 (157,225.82 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 505 m (1,657 ft) |
Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Population (2016) [2] | |
• Total | 65,533 |
• Density | 0.16/km2 (0.4/sq mi) |
Time zones | |
West of 90° west/Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight (CDT)) |
East of 90° west | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern Daylight (EDT)) |
Pickle Lake/Mishkeegogamang First Nation | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
Postal Code FSA | |
Area code | 807 |
Largest communities [3] | Kenora (15,177) Dryden (8,195) Sioux Lookout (5,183) |
Kenora District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The district seat is the City of Kenora.
It is geographically the largest division in Ontario: at 407,213.01 square kilometres (157,225.82 sq mi), it covers 38 percent of the province's area, making it larger than Newfoundland and Labrador, and slightly smaller than Sweden or roughly the land size of California. Kenora District also has the lowest population density of any of Ontario's census divisions (it ranks 37th out of 50 by total population).
The district was created in 1907 from parts of Rainy River District. The northern part (north of the Albany River) only became part of Ontario in 1912 (transferred from the Northwest Territories). [4] The separate Patricia District upon transfer, it was in 1937 annexed to Kenora District and known sometimes as the Patricia Portion. [5]
As with the other districts of Northern Ontario, the Kenora District does not have an organized government like those of counties or regional municipalities in Southern Ontario. All government services in the district are instead provided by the local municipalities, by local services boards in some unincorporated communities, or directly by the provincial government.
The climate is very harsh because of the influence of the cold waters of Hudson and James Bays: most of the region is taiga characterized by discontinuous permafrost, but on the extreme northern coast there are – remarkably for a latitude of only 54°N – patches of true Arctic tundra and continuous permafrost. This is the southernmost point in the Northern Hemisphere reached by the circumpolar line of continuous permafrost on any continent.
Kenora District is geographically extensive enough to share borders with both the contiguous United States (the boundary between it and the Northwest Angle is located in the Lake of the Woods) and the Canadian Arctic waters (Hudson Bay), the only district in Canada to do so.
The District contains the Sturgeon Lake Caldera, which is one of the world's best preserved Neoarchean caldera complexes and is some 2.7 billion years old. [6]
City | Population | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Dryden | 7,749 | |
Kenora | 15,096 |
Town | Population | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Red Lake | 4,107 | |
Sioux Lookout | 5,272 |
Township | Population | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Ear Falls | 1,026 | |
Ignace | 1,202 | |
Machin | 935 | |
Pickle Lake | 425 | |
Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls | 567 |
Reserve | Population | Ref. | Reserve | Population | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attawapiskat | 1,549 | Northwest Angle 33 | 187 | ||
Bearskin Lake | 461 | North Spirit Lake | 263 | ||
Cat Lake | 489 | Pikangikum | 2,100 | ||
Deer Lake | 763 | Poplar Hill | 473 | ||
Eabametoong | 1,014 | Rat Portage 38A | 362 | ||
Eagle Lake 27 | 227 | Sabaskong Bay 35D | 387 | ||
English River 21 | 639 | Sachigo Lake | 443 | ||
Fort Albany 67 (part) | 2,031 | Sandy Lake | 1,861 | ||
Fort Severn 89 | 361 | Shoal Lake 39A (part) | 388 | ||
Islington 29 | 832 | Shoal Lake 40 (part) | 101 | ||
Kasabonika | 681 | Shoal Lake 34B2 | 97 | ||
Keewaywin | 340 | The Dalles 38C | 195 | ||
Kenora 38B | 394 | Wabauskang 21 | 75 | ||
Kingfisher Lake | 462 | Wabigoon Lake | 184 | ||
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug | 904 | Wapekeka | 355 | ||
Lac Seul | 872 | Wawakapewin | 21 | ||
Lake of the Woods 31G | N/A | Weagamow Lake 87 | 677 | ||
Lake of the Woods 37 | 46 | Whitefish Bay 32A | 670 | ||
Marten Falls | 190 | Whitefish Bay 33A | 79 | ||
Mishkeegogamang | 1,920 | Whitefish Bay 34A | 126 | ||
Muskrat Dam Lake | 281 | Wunnumin Lake | 565 | ||
Neskantaga | 265 |
As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Kenora District had a population of 66,000 living in 24,818 of its 32,914 total private dwellings, a change of 0.7% from its 2016 population of 65,533. With a land area of 395,432.07 km2 (152,677.18 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.2/km2 (0.4/sq mi) in 2021. [7]
2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|
Population | 66,000 (+0.7% from 2016) | 65,533 (13.8% from 2011) | 57,607 (−10.6% from 2006) |
Land area | 395,432.07 km2 (152,677.18 sq mi) | 407,213.01 km2 (157,225.82 sq mi) | |
Population density | 0.2/km2 (0.52/sq mi) | 0.1/km2 (0.26/sq mi) | |
Median age | 37.6 (M: 36.8, F: 38.4) | ||
Private dwellings | 32,914 (total) 24,818 (occupied) | 31,191 (total) | 29,606 (total) |
Median household income | $78,500 |
Historical population figures | |||
---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2001 | 1996 | |
Population | 64,419 | 61,802 | 63,360 |
References [10] |
Most of the population is concentrated in the district's extreme south where some agriculture is possible: the main crop is barley. Traditional native activities such as hunting and fishing dominate the north of the district outside of mining settlements.
The area near Lake Minnehaha saw a gold rush between 1902 and 1909. The settlement of Gold Rock served 14 area mines, which included the Big Master, Laurentian, Detola and Elora. According to Barnes, "Approximately 180,000 ounces of gold was won from 27 mines in the Kenora district from 1880 to 1976," with "over 331 known gold occurrences." The more successful mines included the Bully Boy, Cameron Island, Champion, Combined, Cornucopia, Gold Hill, Golden Horn, Kenricia, Mikado, Oliver, Olympia, Ophyr, Regina, Scramble, Severn, Stella, Sultana, Treasure and Wendigo. [11]
Mining is currently extremely extensive in northern Kenora District, which contains some of the world's largest and highest-grade reserves of uranium and some of the world's major producers of nickel. A major mining exploration project is currently underway in the Ring of Fire region, centred on the district's isolated McFaulds Lake.
Permanent roads (Highway 599) only reach about halfway to the northernmost point of Kenora district, with the provincial highway network ending at Pickle Lake. Some more northerly communities connect seasonally through an ice/winter road network to the Northern Ontario Resource Trail.
Year-round air and summertime river transport are the only means of reaching the most remote parts of the district.
The major railroad lines between Toronto and British Columbia pass through the south of the district. The district is served by Via Rail's Canadian at Rice Lake, [12] Copelands Landing, [13] Malachi, Ottermere, Minaki, Redditt, Farlane station, Canyon, Red Lake Road, Richan, and Sioux Lookout stations.
Current services at Rice Lake station | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Preceding station | Via Rail | Following station | ||
Winnitoba toward Vancouver | The Canadian | Copelands Landing toward Toronto | ||
Former services at Rice Lake station | ||||
Preceding station | Canadian National Railway | Following station | ||
Winnitoba toward Vancouver | Main Line | Malachi toward Montreal | ||
Current services at Copelands Landing | ||||
Preceding station | Via Rail | Following station | ||
Rice Lake toward Vancouver | The Canadian | Malachi toward Toronto | ||
Former services at Copelands Landing | ||||
Preceding station | Canadian National Railway | Following station | ||
Rice Lake toward Vancouver | Main Line | Malachi toward Montreal | ||
Current services at Malachi station | ||||
Preceding station | Via Rail | Following station | ||
Copelands Landing toward Vancouver | The Canadian | Ottermere toward Toronto | ||
Former services at Malachi station | ||||
Preceding station | Canadian National Railway | Following station | ||
Copelands Landing toward Vancouver | Main Line | Ottermere toward Montreal |
The Patricia Portion is the part of the Kenora District lying north of the Albany River, which was transferred from the Northwest Territories to Ontario on May 15, 1912, in The Ontario Boundaries Extension Act. [4] This area was originally a separate division, Patricia District, but became part of Kenora District in 1937. [5]
With the exception of a few communities along the northernmost ends of Highway 599 and the Highway 105/Highway 125 corridor, the Patricia Portion consists almost entirely of remote First Nations communities that are only accessible by float plane or winter road. Accordingly, the term "Patricia Portion" is still sometimes used to distinguish the region from the relatively more populated and road-accessible southern portion.
Dryden is the second-largest city in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on Wabigoon Lake. It is the least populous community in Ontario incorporated as a city. The City of Dryden had a population of 7,749 and its population centre had a population of 5,586 in 2016.
Kenora, previously named Rat Portage, is a city situated on the Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada, close to the Manitoba boundary, and about 210 km (130 mi) east of Winnipeg by road. It is the seat of Kenora District.
Northern Ontario is a primary geographic and quasi-administrative region of the Canadian province of Ontario, the other primary region being Southern Ontario. Most of the core geographic region is located on part of the Superior Geological Province of the Canadian Shield, a vast rocky plateau located mainly north of Lake Huron, the French River, Lake Nipissing, and the Mattawa River. The statistical region extends south of the Mattawa River to include all of the District of Nipissing. The southern section of this district lies on part of the Grenville Geological Province of the Shield which occupies the transitional area between Northern and Southern Ontario.
Pickle Lake is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the most northerly community in the province that has year-round access by road. Located 530 kilometres (330 mi) north of Thunder Bay, highway access is via Highway 599, the only access road to the town from the south. More northerly communities rely on winter roads for access and are cut off to land travel in the summer. Highway 599 meets the Northern Ontario Resource Trail, formerly Tertiary Highway 808, at Pickle Lake.
Unorganized Kenora District is an unorganized area in northwestern Ontario, Canada, in Kenora District. Constituting 98.39 percent of the district's land area, yet only 10.93 percent of its population, it is essentially the remainder of the district's territory after all incorporated cities, municipalities, townships, Indian reserves, and Indian settlements have been excluded. It is by far the largest municipal-equivalent level census division in Ontario, covering over 35 percent of the entire provincial land area, yet only about 0.05 percent of the population of Ontario.
Unorganized Thunder Bay District is an unorganized area in northwestern Ontario, Canada in Thunder Bay District. It comprises all parts of the district that are not part of an incorporated municipality or a First Nations reserve.
Unorganized North Algoma District is an unorganized area in northeastern Ontario, Canada, comprising all areas in Algoma District, north of the Sault Ste. Marie to Elliot Lake corridor, which are not part of an incorporated municipality or a First Nation. It covers 44,077.03 km2 (17,018.24 sq mi) of land, and had a population of 6050 in 2021. Many of these communities were/are stations on the Algoma Central Railway or were logging/mining towns.
Minaki is an unincorporated area and community in Unorganized Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the point where the Canadian National Railways transcontinental main line crosses the Winnipeg River, between Wade to the west and Ena Lake at the east, and was accessible only by rail until about 1960. It was a fuelling and watering point in the days of steam locomotives; now few trains stop in Minaki, though the thrice-weekly Via Rail transcontinental Canadian passenger trains will stop on request at the Minaki railway station.
Hornepayne is a township of 980 people in the Algoma District of Ontario, Canada. The town was established in 1915 as Fitzback when the Canadian Northern Railway's transcontinental line was built through the area. It was renamed Hornepayne in 1920 after British financier Robert Horne-Payne. The municipality was originally named Wicksteed Township after the geographic township in which it is located. It was renamed Hornepayne, after its primary community, in 1986.
Red Lake is a municipality with town status in the Canadian province of Ontario, located 535 km (332 mi) northwest of Thunder Bay and less than 100 km (62 mi) from the Manitoba border. The municipality consists of six small communities—Balmertown, Cochenour, Madsen, McKenzie Island, Red Lake and Starratt-Olsen—and had a population of 4,107 people in the Canada 2016 Census.
The Township of Alberton is a community in the Rainy River District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is made up of the two geographic townships Crozier and Roddick. The township borders Fort Frances to the east, La Vallee to the west, the unincorporated geographical township of Miscampbell to the north, and the city of International Falls to the south.
Ear Falls is a township located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, on the banks of the English River, Lac Seul, Pakwash Lake and Wenesaga Lake. It is located along Highway 105, 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Highway 17 and Vermilion Bay, about halfway between Highway 17 and Red Lake, or about 480 kilometres (300 mi) northwest of Thunder Bay.
King's Highway 105, commonly referred to as Highway 105, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located in the Kenora District of northern Ontario, the highway extends for 173.5 kilometres (107.8 mi) from an intersection with Highway 17 between Kenora and Dryden with the Red Lake mining area to the north. The route also passes through the town of Ear Falls near its midpoint. Highway 105 was built to provide access to the large gold deposits at Red Lake, which were only accessible by boat or plane between their discovery in 1926 and the opening of the highway in 1946. Highway 105 passes through long stretches of isolated forest and lakeland, with no services available between the distanced communities along the route.
Matachewan is a township in Timiskaming, Northeastern Ontario, Canada, located at the end of Ontario Highway 66 along the Montreal River. The name is derived from the Cree word for "meeting of the currents".
Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Kenora District. It is located on the eastern shores of Lake of the Woods along Ontario Highway 71.
Redditt is an unincorporated community in Unorganized Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is on the MacFarlane River, and located at the northern terminus of Ontario Highway 658, 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Kenora. Redditt is also the name of the surrounding geographic township that includes the community.
Secondary Highway 658, commonly referred to as Highway 658, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Kenora District. The highway extends 25.3 kilometres (15.7 mi) between the city of Kenora and the community of Redditt. For a decade, Highway 658 was numbered as Highway 666, leading to numerous sign thefts and a petition by members of a church on the route. This petition eventually led to the route being renumbered in late 1985.
Ena Lake is the name of a lake and an adjacent unincorporated area and railway point in Unorganized Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada, about 23 kilometres (14 mi) north of the city of Kenora. Formerly a stop on the Canadian National Railway, it is now a small cottage community of approximately 50 seasonal residents and 11 year round residents.
Farlane is an unincorporated place in Unorganized Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada.