Kapuskasing, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Kapuskasing is a town
on the Kapuskasing River in the Cochrane District
of Northern
Ontario
, Canada
, approximately 92 km (57.2 mi) east of Hearst
. The town was known as MacPherson until 1917 when the name was changed so as not to conflict with another railway stop in Manitoba
.
origin and its true meaning has been the question of debate. A long established local belief suggests the word Kapuskasing means "Bend in River".
The first reported survey of the district in which Kapuskasing lies was carried out in 1875 by Dr. Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada. He referred to the Kapuskasing River as the "Kai-bush-ka-sing". According to Bell's information, the Kapuskasing River derived its name from the lake at its head.
In 1900, the Bureau of Colonization of the Ontario Department of Agriculture sent parties to survey the north of the Canadian Pacific Railway between the Quebec border and Lake Nipigon. Their main interest was to seek out and delimit areas for further agricultaural settlements that would give Ontario a new farming frontier to offset the attraction of the western prairies.
In 1900, the Department of Crown Lands commissioned a Survey of Exploration of Northern Ontario. Survey parties were sent out to explore, document and report back to the Province on the various resources of water-power, timber etc. that might be available for exploitation. No roads existed, but northern Cree Indians and fur traders had used the local rivers connecting to James Bay
for centuries. In the summer of 1900 groups of surveyors traveled the many rivers of this remote area documenting their findings. The results were published by order of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as "Report of the Survey of Exploration of Northern Ontario 1900". The section of the report detailing exploration of the Kapuskasing River contains references to the local Cree names for Sturgeon Falls, White Spruce Rapids, Kapuskasing River and Big Beaver Falls among others. Surveyors who explored the Kapuskasing River and tributaries in 1900 had local Cree guides familiar with the country who provided the local place names and their meanings to them. In this report the word Kapuskasing is said to mean "Whispering Water".
At the location where the CNR crossed the Kapuskasing River in 1910 there was an island in the centre of the river. Power and storage dams were built at that location in 1923. Prior to the dam construction the rapids at that location was known as "White Spruce Rapids" and later known simply as "Spruce Falls". The first Spruce Falls Company of 1920 took its name from these rapids.
. The topography of the region is very flat, dotted with numerous small lakes and muskeg
bogs. Also in the heart of Canada's boreal forest the region is drained by rivers running north to James Bay
. The district is heavily forested, mostly by thick stands of black spruce
that have commercial value as pulpwood.
The area has long, very cold winters. The summer growing season is short and often punctuated by killing frosts. Visitors often comment on the deep blue of the sky during clear weather.
Wildlife is abundant. Species such as moose
, black bear
, lynx
and red fox
are commonly seen in the area. Lakes and rivers are well populated with pickerel
, northern pike
and yellow perch
. Fishing and hunting are very popular recreational activities locally.
Located near the western edge of the Clay Belt
of "New Ontario," the town was founded in the early 20th century after the National Transcontinental Railway
, forerunner of the Canadian National Railway
was built through the area in 1911. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the founding of Kapuskasing's role in Ontario's heritage. A scheme to settle veterans of the First World War in this vicinity was unsuccessful. It was not until the start of pulp and paper milling operations in the 1920s that Kapuskasing began to develop as an organized community.
The still unexploited timber limits were sold to Kimberly-Clark
in 1920 and the new The Spruce Falls Company Limited began the development of the first pulp mill at Kapuskasing under the direction of F.J. Sensenbrenner, a Vice President of Kimberly Clark Corporation for the next 20 years. The small sulphite mill started up in late 1922 with four 12-ton digesters and an output capacity of 75 tons of pulp daily. Spent liquor was discharged untreated into the Kapuskasing River.
Early development was plagued by major setbacks. Fire destroyed the construction camp and power project at Sturgeon Falls. A years supply of pulpwood that was boomed up in the river was washed away in the spring flood. A fire at the new mill killed two workers and brought production to a halt.
In 1923, a water storage and hydro electric dam was built by Morrow and Beatty Ltd. of Peterborough
at Spruce Falls. In 1925, the Spruce Falls Company Limited was awarded additional timber limits to the north and south bringing their total limits up to 11830 square kilometres (4,567.6 sq mi).
In 1926, The Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company was incorporated under joint ownership of Kimberly-Clark and The New York Times
. The new company negotiated two additional hydro power leases to the north on the Mattagami River
at Smoky Falls and Devils Rapids. Work to build a 550 ton/day paper mill at Kapuskasing, a 75,000 HP hydro generating station at Smoky Falls and a 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) railway and power line connecting the two got underway in the spring of 1926. The contractor for the entire project was Morrow and Beatty Ltd. of Peterborough Ontario.
Since July 13, 1928, The New York Times has been printed entirely on Spruce Falls paper. The mill has run continuously ever since. The company became known locally as "Uncle Spruce" in affectionate reference to the steady work and benefits provided to this distinct northern community for many decades.
The mill was the focus of the Reesor Siding 1963 Strike, which saw 3 union workers killed. In 1997 Tembec
became the sole owner of the mill which is now known as Tembec — Spruce Falls Operations.
, on their first visit to Canada.
The landmark inn closed in 2002 and fell in disrepair but was slated for renovation by new investors. On May 22, 2007, youths set fire to the inn. It was damaged beyond repair. The arsonists were not charged as they were below the age of criminal responsibility at the time of the fire. The remains of the Inn were demolished in May and June 2008.
, the town was the site of one of the largest internment camps in Canada that held over 1,300 German, Austrian, and Turkish prisoners with the majority being Ukrainian, whose homeland was part of Austria–Hungary at that time. Prisoners were employed in the construction of buildings and clearing of land for a government experimental farm on the west side on the Kapuskasing River. Isolation provided ideal security for the minimum security camp as the railway was the only access to the remote location. Prisoners who attempted to escape into the bush were turned back by endless muskeg
and clouds of mosquitoes or minus 40 degree temperatures in winter. In 1917, most were paroled to help relieve labour shortages. Afterwards the camp was used briefly for prisoner-of-war and political radicals until its closure in 1920.
A small cemetery is all that remains of the internment camp near the Kapuskasing Airport where victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic
were laid to rest. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the Kapuskasing Internment Camp's role in Ontario's heritage.
A 1920 Commission of Enquiry into the failed settlement scheme found that the settlers had not been up to the task at hand. The inhospitable climate and geography had won out. One bitter settler testified "There are 7 months snow, two months rain and the remainder mosquitoes and black flies". Settlers had also counted on the development of a pulp mill at Kapuskasing that would provide a local market for pulp wood.
in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
. Kapuskasing was the headquarters for the radar bases, which were manned by the United States Army Air Force.
Kapuskasing is the largest community located directly along Highway 11
between Thunder Bay
and Temiskaming Shores. According to statistics Canada, the town's population has declined 7.9% between 2001-2006. In 2006, 68% of the population identified French as its first language, 0.02% identified both French and English at its first language, 36% identified English and 0.02% identified a non-official language as its first language (Cree etc.). The median age of the population is 44.7 years old.
Travellers reach Kapuskasing by car, by Ontario Northland bus or by plane.
The town's pulp and paper mill is served by the Ontario Northland Railway
, which took over the trackage serving the mill in 1994. The mill is located just off the original National Transcontinental Railway mainline (NTR) that was later nationalized as part of the Canadian National Railway. The railway line crossed the Kapuskasing River in 1913 and was the main means of transportation accessing the town until the late 1950s and early 1960s when Highway 11
became the main route to the City.
Kapuskasing Airport
was once a refueling stop for Trans Canada Airlines flights in the days before jet airliners. It now has scheduled air service to Timmins
.
, pulp and paper mill is the town's major employer, soon to be replaced by the Ontario Power Generation
's Smoky Falls dam reconstruction site. Another employer is the Agrium
phosphate mine.
General Motors Canada
operates the GM Cold Weather Development Centre at Kapuskasing. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
operates an agricultural experiment station
, or Experimental Farm, close to the town.
of the New Democratic Party
is the area's MP and represents the federal riding of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing
. Gilles Bisson
, member of Ontario's New Democratic Party, is the town's MPP and represents the provincial Timmins—James Bay
riding.
Locally the town is led by Mayor Alan Spacek
. The mayor works with six councillors to complete Kapuskasing's municipal government. Local officials are all elected through universal elections, meaning the town is not divided into wards.
(branded as Moose FM), French-language community radio station CKGN
, and the English-language Kapuskasing Northern Times and bilingual Le/The Weekender community newspapers and the French newspaper L'Horizon. Le Nord, a French newspaper from Hearst, is also available in Kapuskasing. English-language daily newspaper the Timmins Daily Press
offers minimal coverage through its regional reporting of the Cochrane District
. The community receives similar English-Language television coverage from CTV
.
Separate
Other
Sensenbrenner Hospital was built in 1929 by the Spruce Falls Pulp & Paper Company for its workers. At the time the hospital was one of northern Ontario's finest. In 1988 the need for a more modern facility arose and the ultra-modern 53 bed complex was built in a different part of the town. Sensenbrenner serves a regional population of 14,000 residents. The hospital provides both in-patient and out-patient care. Clinical services include; emergency services, chronic cardiorespiratory, acute neurology, specialty clinics, general medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, obstetrics, pediatrics, chronic and long-term care, rehabilitation, and other related diagnostic and treatment services. The health care services are assessment, evaluation, screening, treatment programs and direct therapy. In 1995 the hospital built a private clinic wing near the Emergency Room.
EMS services are provided by Sensenbrenner Hospital, which is managed by the Northeastern Ontario Medical Education Corporation (NOMEC).
The Porcupine Health unit serves the town with preventive education, psychiatric services, social services and child social service.
Safety
The town operates a fire department which is a member of the Fire Marshalls of Ontario, Public Fire Safety Council.
A local branch of the Ontario Provincial Police is located 1 km east of the town on Highway 11.
Kapuskasing has Enhanced 911
(E911) service for Fire, Ambulance and Police.
Well-being
Children's Aid Services, Counselling services, Detox centres, Chiropractitioners, and many other services are offered for those who need it.
. In the story, a young Chinese-Canadian girl wants to visit Kapuskasing, but her father says no. She tries to go by bicycle and later on roller blades; she finally succeeds in getting there by floating on 300 helium balloons.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
on the Kapuskasing River in the Cochrane District
Cochrane District, Ontario
Cochrane District, Ontario is a district and census division in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1921 from parts of Timiskaming and Thunder Bay districts....
of Northern
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, approximately 92 km (57.2 mi) east of Hearst
Hearst, Ontario
Hearst is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in Northern Ontario, approximately west of Kapuskasing, approximately north of Toronto and east of Thunder Bay on Highway 11...
. The town was known as MacPherson until 1917 when the name was changed so as not to conflict with another railway stop in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Etymology
The town of Kapuskasing gets its name from the Kapuskasing River, which was so named long before the existence of the town. Kapuskasing is a word of CreeCree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
origin and its true meaning has been the question of debate. A long established local belief suggests the word Kapuskasing means "Bend in River".
The first reported survey of the district in which Kapuskasing lies was carried out in 1875 by Dr. Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada. He referred to the Kapuskasing River as the "Kai-bush-ka-sing". According to Bell's information, the Kapuskasing River derived its name from the lake at its head.
In 1900, the Bureau of Colonization of the Ontario Department of Agriculture sent parties to survey the north of the Canadian Pacific Railway between the Quebec border and Lake Nipigon. Their main interest was to seek out and delimit areas for further agricultaural settlements that would give Ontario a new farming frontier to offset the attraction of the western prairies.
In 1900, the Department of Crown Lands commissioned a Survey of Exploration of Northern Ontario. Survey parties were sent out to explore, document and report back to the Province on the various resources of water-power, timber etc. that might be available for exploitation. No roads existed, but northern Cree Indians and fur traders had used the local rivers connecting to James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
for centuries. In the summer of 1900 groups of surveyors traveled the many rivers of this remote area documenting their findings. The results were published by order of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as "Report of the Survey of Exploration of Northern Ontario 1900". The section of the report detailing exploration of the Kapuskasing River contains references to the local Cree names for Sturgeon Falls, White Spruce Rapids, Kapuskasing River and Big Beaver Falls among others. Surveyors who explored the Kapuskasing River and tributaries in 1900 had local Cree guides familiar with the country who provided the local place names and their meanings to them. In this report the word Kapuskasing is said to mean "Whispering Water".
At the location where the CNR crossed the Kapuskasing River in 1910 there was an island in the centre of the river. Power and storage dams were built at that location in 1923. Prior to the dam construction the rapids at that location was known as "White Spruce Rapids" and later known simply as "Spruce Falls". The first Spruce Falls Company of 1920 took its name from these rapids.
Geography, climate, and wildlife
Kapuskasing lies in the heart of the Great Clay BeltClay Belt
The Clay Belt is a vast tract of fertile soil in northeastern Ontario, Canada, between the area of Cochrane District, and Abitibi County, Quebec covering around 29,000,000 acres in total...
. The topography of the region is very flat, dotted with numerous small lakes and muskeg
Muskeg
Muskeg is an acidic soil type common in Arctic and boreal areas, although it is found in other northern climates as well. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bogland but muskeg is the standard term in Western Canada and Alaska, while 'bog' is common elsewhere. The term is of Cree origin, maskek...
bogs. Also in the heart of Canada's boreal forest the region is drained by rivers running north to James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
. The district is heavily forested, mostly by thick stands of black spruce
Black Spruce
Picea mariana is a species of spruce native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to Alaska, and south to northern New York, Minnesota and central British Columbia...
that have commercial value as pulpwood.
The area has long, very cold winters. The summer growing season is short and often punctuated by killing frosts. Visitors often comment on the deep blue of the sky during clear weather.
Wildlife is abundant. Species such as moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
and red fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
are commonly seen in the area. Lakes and rivers are well populated with pickerel
Pickerel
Pickerel may refer to:*Esox, the genus of fish commonly known as the pickerels which includes pike and muskellunge as well as other pickerel*American pickerel*Chain pickerel*Walleye, or Yellow Pickerel * Pickerel Frog...
, northern pike
Esox
Esox is a genus of freshwater fish, the only living genus in the family Esocidae — the esocids which were endemic to North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Paleogene through present.The type species is E. lucius, the northern pike...
and yellow perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
. Fishing and hunting are very popular recreational activities locally.
History
Clay Belt
The Clay Belt is a vast tract of fertile soil in northeastern Ontario, Canada, between the area of Cochrane District, and Abitibi County, Quebec covering around 29,000,000 acres in total...
of "New Ontario," the town was founded in the early 20th century after the National Transcontinental Railway
National Transcontinental Railway
The National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
, forerunner of the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
was built through the area in 1911. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the founding of Kapuskasing's role in Ontario's heritage. A scheme to settle veterans of the First World War in this vicinity was unsuccessful. It was not until the start of pulp and paper milling operations in the 1920s that Kapuskasing began to develop as an organized community.
Spruce Falls
The Kapuskasing River Pulp and Timber limit, that included 4500 square kilometres (1,737.5 sq mi) of timber and hydro leases at Sturgeon Falls, White Spruce Rapids (Spruce Falls) and Big Beaver Falls was awarded to speculators Saphrenous A. Mundy and Elihu Stewart in 1917 and Spruce Falls Pulp and Paper Ltd. was incorporated, but no development took place.The still unexploited timber limits were sold to Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. Kimberly-Clark brand name products include "Kleenex" facial tissue, "Kotex" feminine hygiene products, "Cottonelle", Scott and Andrex toilet paper, Wypall utility wipes, "KimWipes"...
in 1920 and the new The Spruce Falls Company Limited began the development of the first pulp mill at Kapuskasing under the direction of F.J. Sensenbrenner, a Vice President of Kimberly Clark Corporation for the next 20 years. The small sulphite mill started up in late 1922 with four 12-ton digesters and an output capacity of 75 tons of pulp daily. Spent liquor was discharged untreated into the Kapuskasing River.
Early development was plagued by major setbacks. Fire destroyed the construction camp and power project at Sturgeon Falls. A years supply of pulpwood that was boomed up in the river was washed away in the spring flood. A fire at the new mill killed two workers and brought production to a halt.
In 1923, a water storage and hydro electric dam was built by Morrow and Beatty Ltd. of Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
at Spruce Falls. In 1925, the Spruce Falls Company Limited was awarded additional timber limits to the north and south bringing their total limits up to 11830 square kilometres (4,567.6 sq mi).
In 1926, The Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company was incorporated under joint ownership of Kimberly-Clark and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. The new company negotiated two additional hydro power leases to the north on the Mattagami River
Mattagami River
The Mattagami River is a river in the James Bay drainage basin in Cochrane District, Timiskaming District and Sudbury District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada....
at Smoky Falls and Devils Rapids. Work to build a 550 ton/day paper mill at Kapuskasing, a 75,000 HP hydro generating station at Smoky Falls and a 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) railway and power line connecting the two got underway in the spring of 1926. The contractor for the entire project was Morrow and Beatty Ltd. of Peterborough Ontario.
Since July 13, 1928, The New York Times has been printed entirely on Spruce Falls paper. The mill has run continuously ever since. The company became known locally as "Uncle Spruce" in affectionate reference to the steady work and benefits provided to this distinct northern community for many decades.
The mill was the focus of the Reesor Siding 1963 Strike, which saw 3 union workers killed. In 1997 Tembec
Tembec
Tembec Inc. is a paper company in Canada. Tembec has approximately 6000 employees located in Canada, United States, and France. Tembec's operating divisions include Forest Products, Pulp, Paper & Paperboard, and Chemicals....
became the sole owner of the mill which is now known as Tembec — Spruce Falls Operations.
Kapuskasing Inn
The Kapuskasing Inn was built in 1928, together with the Civic Centre (built 1928) and the former Sensenbrenner Hospital (built 1929, now Drury Place, a geared-to-income housing complex). They were commissioned by the Spruce Falls Company Ltd. These buildings were all built in an impressive Neo-Tudor style and would form the nucleus of the town. In 1951, the Inn hosted Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, on their first visit to Canada.
The landmark inn closed in 2002 and fell in disrepair but was slated for renovation by new investors. On May 22, 2007, youths set fire to the inn. It was damaged beyond repair. The arsonists were not charged as they were below the age of criminal responsibility at the time of the fire. The remains of the Inn were demolished in May and June 2008.
Internment camp
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the town was the site of one of the largest internment camps in Canada that held over 1,300 German, Austrian, and Turkish prisoners with the majority being Ukrainian, whose homeland was part of Austria–Hungary at that time. Prisoners were employed in the construction of buildings and clearing of land for a government experimental farm on the west side on the Kapuskasing River. Isolation provided ideal security for the minimum security camp as the railway was the only access to the remote location. Prisoners who attempted to escape into the bush were turned back by endless muskeg
Muskeg
Muskeg is an acidic soil type common in Arctic and boreal areas, although it is found in other northern climates as well. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bogland but muskeg is the standard term in Western Canada and Alaska, while 'bog' is common elsewhere. The term is of Cree origin, maskek...
and clouds of mosquitoes or minus 40 degree temperatures in winter. In 1917, most were paroled to help relieve labour shortages. Afterwards the camp was used briefly for prisoner-of-war and political radicals until its closure in 1920.
A small cemetery is all that remains of the internment camp near the Kapuskasing Airport where victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
were laid to rest. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the Kapuskasing Internment Camp's role in Ontario's heritage.
Kapuskasing Soldier Colony
Governments of the day were mistakenly impressed with the agricultural potential of the Great Clay Belt. A federal government experimental farm had been established on the west side of the river to explore and develop crops and systems for farming the area. Under the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Act of 1917, the Kapuskasing Soldier Colony was established to settle veterans returned from the Great War. Settlers received homesteads, grants, and guaranteed loans and were paid for clearing their own land. But by 1920 only nine of more than a hundred original settlers remained and the project was discontinued.A 1920 Commission of Enquiry into the failed settlement scheme found that the settlers had not been up to the task at hand. The inhospitable climate and geography had won out. One bitter settler testified "There are 7 months snow, two months rain and the remainder mosquitoes and black flies". Settlers had also counted on the development of a pulp mill at Kapuskasing that would provide a local market for pulp wood.
Radar site
During World War II, Kapuskasking was one of five Northern Ontario radar bases that were set up to watch for potential attacks on the Soo LocksSoo Locks
The Soo Locks are a set of parallel locks which enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. They are located on the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, between the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario...
in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
. Kapuskasing was the headquarters for the radar bases, which were manned by the United States Army Air Force.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1921 | 926 |
| 1931 | 3,819 |
| 1941 | 3,431 |
| 1951 | 4,687 |
| 1961 | 6,870 |
| 1971 | 12,834 |
| 1981 | 12,014 |
| 1991 | 10,344 |
| 2001 | 9,238 |
| 2006 | 8,509 |
Kapuskasing is the largest community located directly along Highway 11
Highway 11 (Ontario)
King's Highway 11 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. At , it is the second longest highway in the province after Highway 17. Highway 11 begins at Highway 400 in Barrie, and arches through northern Ontario, around Lake Superior, to the Ontario–Minnesota border...
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 Temiskaming Shores. According to statistics Canada, the town's population has declined 7.9% between 2001-2006. In 2006, 68% of the population identified French as its first language, 0.02% identified both French and English at its first language, 36% identified English and 0.02% identified a non-official language as its first language (Cree etc.). The median age of the population is 44.7 years old.
Transportation
The town's pulp and paper mill is served by the Ontario Northland Railway
Ontario Northland Railway
The Ontario Northland Railway is a Canadian railway operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, a provincial Crown agency of the government of Ontario....
, which took over the trackage serving the mill in 1994. The mill is located just off the original National Transcontinental Railway mainline (NTR) that was later nationalized as part of the Canadian National Railway. The railway line crossed the Kapuskasing River in 1913 and was the main means of transportation accessing the town until the late 1950s and early 1960s when Highway 11
Highway 11 (Ontario)
King's Highway 11 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. At , it is the second longest highway in the province after Highway 17. Highway 11 begins at Highway 400 in Barrie, and arches through northern Ontario, around Lake Superior, to the Ontario–Minnesota border...
became the main route to the City.
Kapuskasing Airport
Kapuskasing Airport
-Charter:...
was once a refueling stop for Trans Canada Airlines flights in the days before jet airliners. It now has scheduled air service to Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
.
Economy
The former Spruce Falls, now TembecTembec
Tembec Inc. is a paper company in Canada. Tembec has approximately 6000 employees located in Canada, United States, and France. Tembec's operating divisions include Forest Products, Pulp, Paper & Paperboard, and Chemicals....
, pulp and paper mill is the town's major employer, soon to be replaced by the Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation is a public company wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. OPG is responsible for approximately 70% of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Sources of electricity include nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and fossil fuel...
's Smoky Falls dam reconstruction site. Another employer is the Agrium
Agrium
Agrium Inc. is a major retail supplier of agricultural products and services in North and South America, a leading global wholesale producer and marketer of all three major agricultural nutrients and the premier supplier of specialty fertilizers in North America through its Advanced Technologies...
phosphate mine.
General Motors Canada
General Motors Canada
General Motors of Canada Limited is General Motors' Canadian division. Its national headquarters office, Canadian Regional Engineering Centre, and main manufacturing plants are located in Oshawa, Ontario. GM Canada is 100% owned by GM.As of Apr...
operates the GM Cold Weather Development Centre at Kapuskasing. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals...
operates an agricultural experiment station
Agricultural experiment station
An agricultural experiment station is a research center that conducts scientific investigations to solve problems and suggest improvements in the food and agriculture industry...
, or Experimental Farm, close to the town.
Politics
Kapuskasing has a federal representative known as a Member of Parliament, or MP, and a provincial representative known as a Member of Provincial Parliament, or MPP. Carol HughesCarol Hughes
Carol Hughes is a Canadian politician, who has represented the electoral district of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008. She is a member of the New Democratic Party....
of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
is the area's MP and represents the federal riding of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing
Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing
Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
. Gilles Bisson
Gilles Bisson
Gilles Bisson is a Franco-Ontarian Canadian politician who has represented the northern riding of Timmins—James Bay in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1990...
, member of Ontario's New Democratic Party, is the town's MPP and represents the provincial Timmins—James Bay
Timmins—James Bay (provincial electoral district)
Timmins—James Bay is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1999...
riding.
Locally the town is led by Mayor Alan Spacek
Alan Spacek
Alan Spacek is a Canadian politician, currently serving as mayor of Kapuskasing, Ontario. Formerly a businessman who owned a furniture store, a stereo equipment store and a Source by Circuit City franchise in Kapuskasing, he was elected mayor of the town in the 2006 municipal elections.Spacek was...
. The mayor works with six councillors to complete Kapuskasing's municipal government. Local officials are all elected through universal elections, meaning the town is not divided into wards.
Media
Kapuskasing's locally-originated media include English-language commercial radio station CKAPCKAP-FM
CKAP-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 100.9 FM in Kapuskasing, Ontario. The station airs an adult contemporary format branded as Moose FM. CKAP also has a rebroadcaster in Hearst, CKHT, at 94.5 FM....
(branded as Moose FM), French-language community radio station CKGN
CKGN-FM
CKGN-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 89.7 FM in Kapuskasing, Ontario and 94.7 FM in Smooth Rock Falls.Owned and operated by Radio communautaire KapNord cooperative, it is a non-profit community radio station for the region's franco-ontarian community.-History of the CKGN call...
, and the English-language Kapuskasing Northern Times and bilingual Le/The Weekender community newspapers and the French newspaper L'Horizon. Le Nord, a French newspaper from Hearst, is also available in Kapuskasing. English-language daily newspaper the Timmins Daily Press
Timmins Daily Press
The Timmins Daily Press is a newspaper in Timmins, Ontario, which publishes six days a week. It is notable as the first paper bought by press baron Roy Thomson, who would eventually own more than 200 newspapers including The Times...
offers minimal coverage through its regional reporting of the Cochrane District
Cochrane District, Ontario
Cochrane District, Ontario is a district and census division in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1921 from parts of Timiskaming and Thunder Bay districts....
. The community receives similar English-Language television coverage from CTV
CTV Northern Ontario
CTV Northern Ontario, formerly known as MCTV, is a system of four television stations in Northern Ontario, Canada, owned and operated by the CTV Television Network, a division of Bell Media.These stations are:...
.
Radio
- FM 89.7 - CKGNCKGN-FMCKGN-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 89.7 FM in Kapuskasing, Ontario and 94.7 FM in Smooth Rock Falls.Owned and operated by Radio communautaire KapNord cooperative, it is a non-profit community radio station for the region's franco-ontarian community.-History of the CKGN call...
, Franco-OntarianFranco-OntarianFranco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
communityCommunity radioCommunity radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest... - FM 90.7 - CBON-24CBON-FMCBON-FM is a Canadian radio station. It broadcasts the Société Radio-Canada's Première Chaîne network at 98.1 FM in Sudbury, Ontario. The station also serves much of Northern Ontario through a network of relay transmitters.-History:...
, Première Chaîne - FM 92.3 - CHIM-10CHIM-FMCHIM-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts Christian music at 102.3 FM in Timmins, Ontario.The station began testing its signal at 102.3 MHz on December 24, 1995, and officially signed on April 7, 1996. The station has expanded through a network of rebroadcast transmitters in...
, Christian musicChristian musicChristian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world.... - FM 93.7 - CHYXCHYK-FMCHYK-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at FM 104.1 in Timmins, Ontario. It broadcasts a francophone hot adult contemporary format for the city's Franco-Ontarian community. It is owned by Le5 Communications, and branded as Le Loup 104.1....
, FrancophoneFrancophoneThe adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
hot adult contemporary - FM 100.9 - CKAPCKAP-FMCKAP-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 100.9 FM in Kapuskasing, Ontario. The station airs an adult contemporary format branded as Moose FM. CKAP also has a rebroadcaster in Hearst, CKHT, at 94.5 FM....
("Moose FMHaliburton Broadcasting GroupThe Haliburton Broadcasting Group is a Canadian group of FM radio stations, located primarily in smaller markets in Ontario.-History:The company is named for the Haliburton region in Central Ontario, where majority owner and president Christopher Grossman, a longtime radio sales manager, trainer...
"), adult contemporary - FM 105.1 - CBOKCBCS-FMCBCS-FM is a Canadian radio station. It is the CBC Radio One station in Sudbury, Ontario, broadcasting at 99.9 FM, and serves all of Northeastern Ontario through its network of relay transmitters.-History:The station was launched in 1978 on FM 99.9 MHz...
, CBC Radio OneCBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
Television
- Channel 2: CBLT-TV-9CBLT-TVCBLT-DT is a television station serving Toronto, Ontario and outlying regions and is an owned and operated station of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the oldest television station in Ontario, and the second oldest in Canada after Radio-Canada flagship station CBFT in Montreal...
, CBCCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are... - Channel 10: CITO-TV-1CITO-TVCITO is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Timmins, Ontario. It is an O&O of CTV. CITO also broadcasts on channel 10 in Kapuskasing, channel 11 in Kirkland Lake, channel 4 in Hearst and channel 9 in Chapleau.-History:CITO was established in 1971 as CKSO-TV-2, originally rebroadcasting...
, CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival... - Channel 12: CBLFT-TV-4, SRCTélévision de Radio-CanadaTélévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT...
Education
Public- District School Board Ontario North EastDistrict School Board Ontario North EastDistrict School Board Ontario North East, also known as DSBONE, is an English Public School Board serving Northeastern Ontario from Hearst to Temagami. The school board headquarters are located in Timmins, Ontario...
(DSBONE):- Diamond Jubilee Elementary School (JK-8)
- Kapuskasing District High School (9-12)
- Eastview Public School (Closed)
- Conseil scolaire de district du Nord-Est de l'OntarioConseil scolaire de district du Nord-Est de l'OntarioThe Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario manages the French-language schools in the north-east region of Ontario. The area in which this school board operates covers 46,714 km² of Ontario....
(CSDNE):- École publique Coeur du Nord (M-8)
- École secondaire publique l'Écho du Nord (9-12)
Separate
- Northeastern Catholic District School Board (NCDSB):
- St Patrick School (JK-8, JK-8 French Immersion), established in 1960.
- Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-RivièresConseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-RivièresLe Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières is a French Catholic school board situated in northern Ontario. The easternmost region of the school board starts in Haileybury. The board covers much of the northern corridor of Highway 11 reaching as far north as Hearst...
(CSCDGR):- École élémentaire Jacques-Cartier (M-8)
- École élémentaire Jeanne-Mance (M-8)
- École élémentaire André Cary (M-8)
- École Sacré-Coeur (Closed)
- École secondaire catholique Cité des Jeunes (9-12)
Other
- Centre d'éducation Alternative High School (Adult Education)
- Collège BoréalCollège BoréalCollège Boréal is a francophone College of Applied Arts and Technology based and with its principal campus in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The college also has satellite campuses in Hearst, Kapuskasing, Timmins, Temiskaming Shores, Toronto and West Nipissing, as well as a network of access centres...
à Kapuskasing (Post Secondary) - Northern College of Applied Arts & TechnologyNorthern CollegeNorthern College is a college of applied arts and technology in Northern Ontario. The College's catchment area extends across . More than 65 communities within Northeastern Ontario are served by four campuses located in Timmins , Kirkland Lake, Moosonee, and Haileybury. Annual enrolment is...
(Post Secondary) - Université de HearstUniversité de HearstUniversité de Hearst is a Canadian postsecondary institution with campuses in Hearst, Timmins and Kapuskasing, Ontario...
à Kapuskasing (Post Secondary) - D'Youville Academy (Religious,Closed)
Health, safety, and well-being
HealthSensenbrenner Hospital was built in 1929 by the Spruce Falls Pulp & Paper Company for its workers. At the time the hospital was one of northern Ontario's finest. In 1988 the need for a more modern facility arose and the ultra-modern 53 bed complex was built in a different part of the town. Sensenbrenner serves a regional population of 14,000 residents. The hospital provides both in-patient and out-patient care. Clinical services include; emergency services, chronic cardiorespiratory, acute neurology, specialty clinics, general medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, obstetrics, pediatrics, chronic and long-term care, rehabilitation, and other related diagnostic and treatment services. The health care services are assessment, evaluation, screening, treatment programs and direct therapy. In 1995 the hospital built a private clinic wing near the Emergency Room.
EMS services are provided by Sensenbrenner Hospital, which is managed by the Northeastern Ontario Medical Education Corporation (NOMEC).
The Porcupine Health unit serves the town with preventive education, psychiatric services, social services and child social service.
Safety
The town operates a fire department which is a member of the Fire Marshalls of Ontario, Public Fire Safety Council.
A local branch of the Ontario Provincial Police is located 1 km east of the town on Highway 11.
Kapuskasing has Enhanced 911
Enhanced 911
Enhanced 911, E-911 or E911 in North America is one example of the modern evolution of telecommunications based system meant as an easy way to link people experiencing an emergency with the public resources that can help. The dial-three-digits concept first originated in the United Kingdom in 1937....
(E911) service for Fire, Ambulance and Police.
Well-being
Children's Aid Services, Counselling services, Detox centres, Chiropractitioners, and many other services are offered for those who need it.
People from Kapuskasing
- James CameronJames CameronJames Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
, motion picture director - Roy DupuisRoy DupuisRoy Dupuis is a Canadian actor best known for his role as counterterrorism operative Michael Samuelle in the television series La Femme Nikita...
, actor - Kirk McCaskillKirk McCaskillKirk Edward McCaskill is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher and a retired professional hockey player....
, retired pitcher, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League... - Shane PeacockShane PeacockShane Peacock , author of The Boy Sherlock Holmes series and many other books, plays, documentaries and articles for young readers and adults.-Biography:...
, writer - Kelly VanderbeekKelly VanderBeekKelly VanderBeek is a Canadian alpine skier originally from Kitchener, Ontario. She currently resides in Chilliwack, British Columbia with husband David Ford...
, alpine ski racer - Alain GouletAlain GouletAlain Goulet is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Reading Royals in the ECHL. He was selected by the Boston Bruins in the 6th round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
, professional hockey player, currently playing for Providence BruinsProvidence BruinsThe Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:... - Shera Bechard, model, Playboy's Miss November 2010
In books and music
Kapuskasing is mentioned in the 1994 children’s book Where is Gah-Ning, by Robert MunschRobert Munsch
Robert Norman Munsch, CM is an American-born Canadian children's author.-Personal life and career:Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. In the story, a young Chinese-Canadian girl wants to visit Kapuskasing, but her father says no. She tries to go by bicycle and later on roller blades; she finally succeeds in getting there by floating on 300 helium balloons.