Ignace, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Ignace is a township
in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario
, Canada, located at Highway 17 (Trans Canada Highway) and Secondary Highway 599, and on the Canadian Pacific Railway
between Thunder Bay
and Kenora. It is on the shore of Agimak Lake, and, as of 2006, the population of Ignace was 1,431.
The town was named after Ignace Mentour by Sir Sandford Fleming
in 1879. Ignace Mentour was the key aboriginal guide through this region during Fleming's 1872 railway survey, recorded in George Monro Grant
's journal of the survey, Ocean to Ocean. Mentour had also served with Sir George Simpson
in Simpson's final years as governor of Rupert's Land
.
During Ignace's early days, there was a settlement of railway boxcars used by the English residents there called "Little England."
Although Ignace was incorporated in 1908, it was something of a latecomer to some modern conveniences, such as rotary dial telephone, which did not arrive to the town until 1956.
Lumbering and tourism support Ignace's economy, today, and one attraction is the 3-storey log White Otter Castle
, located on White Otter Lake, and built by James Alexander McOuat between 1903 and 1914.
In the 1950s, Ignace saw its first newspaper, the Village Tattler, started there to serve the town, published by the local YMCA
. In 1971, Dennis Smyk started the Ignace Driftwood, which was suspended two years later, but was revived in 1979 and still serves the town today. During Driftwoods suspension, the Ignace Courier was published for the town's local news.
In 1971, Dennis Smyk started the Ignace Driftwood, which was suspended two years later, but was revived in 1979 and still serves the town today. During Driftwood's suspension, the Mattabi Memo and the Ignace Courier was published for the town's local news.
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
, Canada, located at Highway 17 (Trans Canada Highway) and Secondary Highway 599, and on the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
between Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
and Kenora. It is on the shore of Agimak Lake, and, as of 2006, the population of Ignace was 1,431.
The town was named after Ignace Mentour by Sir Sandford Fleming
Sandford Fleming
Sir Sandford Fleming, was a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and inventor, proposed worldwide standard time zones, designed Canada's first postage stamp, a huge body of surveying and map making, engineering much of the Intercolonial Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was a founding...
in 1879. Ignace Mentour was the key aboriginal guide through this region during Fleming's 1872 railway survey, recorded in George Monro Grant
George Monro Grant
George Monro Grant, C.M.G. was a Canadian church minister, writer, and political activist. He served as principal of Queen's College, Kingston, Ontario for 25 years, from 1877 until 1902.-Early life, education:...
's journal of the survey, Ocean to Ocean. Mentour had also served with Sir George Simpson
George Simpson (administrator)
Sir George Simpson was a Scots-Quebecer and employee of the Hudson's Bay Company . His title was Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land and administrator over the Northwest Territories and Columbia Department in British North America from 1821 to 1860.-Early years:George Simpson was born in Dingwall,...
in Simpson's final years as governor of Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
.
During Ignace's early days, there was a settlement of railway boxcars used by the English residents there called "Little England."
Although Ignace was incorporated in 1908, it was something of a latecomer to some modern conveniences, such as rotary dial telephone, which did not arrive to the town until 1956.
Lumbering and tourism support Ignace's economy, today, and one attraction is the 3-storey log White Otter Castle
White Otter Castle
White Otter Castle is an elaborate 3-story log house built on the shore of White Otter Lake, about south of Ignace, Ontario, Canada, by eccentric hermit James Alexander "Jimmy" McOuat....
, located on White Otter Lake, and built by James Alexander McOuat between 1903 and 1914.
In the 1950s, Ignace saw its first newspaper, the Village Tattler, started there to serve the town, published by the local YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. In 1971, Dennis Smyk started the Ignace Driftwood, which was suspended two years later, but was revived in 1979 and still serves the town today. During Driftwoods suspension, the Ignace Courier was published for the town's local news.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 1431
- Population in 2001: 1709
- Population in 1996: 1782
- Population in 1991: 1935
Newspapers
- Ignace Driftwood
In 1971, Dennis Smyk started the Ignace Driftwood, which was suspended two years later, but was revived in 1979 and still serves the town today. During Driftwood's suspension, the Mattabi Memo and the Ignace Courier was published for the town's local news.