Listowel, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Listowel is an unincorporated community in Ontario
, Canada located in the municipality of North Perth
. It was created in 1998 during the amalgamation of several other communities in the northern section of Perth County
, and dissolved with the creation of North Perth. Its population was 5,905 at the Canada 2001 Census
.
On February 28, 1959, the Listowel Memorial Arena collapsed, burying a boys' hockey team playing a scrimmage game – the worst tragedy in the town's history. Seven young players, along with a referee and recreation director (Reginald Kenneth McLeod), were all killed in the tragic collapse.
On March 17, 2011, the local dollar store caught fire and its roof collapsed on volunteer firefighters killing Ray Walter (30) and Ken Ray (56). Listowel mourned this tragic loss, closing major streets and posting black ribbons all over town in honour of the fallen firefighters. Paddyfest festivities continued to honour Kinsmen Ray Walter, but in a somber fashion. A community funeral service was held March 24, 2011 at the Listowel Memorial Arena, with a broadcast directly to Elma Community Center. Over 10,000 were expected to visit Listowel that day and Premier Dalton MaGunity joined emergency responders from all across the country to attend the funeral service. A minute of silence was held at the Ontario Legislature earlier in the week and flags were flown at half mast. Firefighters from London, Ontario came to help staff the local fire stations so all North Perth firefighters could attend the service. This was the first time a double firefighter fatality in Ontario has happened since 1978. Ken and Ray will be remembered for their braveness and will be honoured in the community of North Perth forever.
-winning baritone, Kevin McMillan, is from Listowel.
The official spokesperson for Paddyfest is chosen yearly in the Paddyfest Ambassador Competition. Contestants must perform a speech, impromptu question and interview with the judges and receive the overall highest score to be awarded this position. A separate award of Talent is given out to the contestant with the highest score in the talent competition. Runner-up and Congeniality are also awards which are available. Although the Paddyfest Ambassador Competition changed its name and official status from being Miss Paddyfest when first created, a male has yet to win the title.
and a tannery, were established. In 1891 the Morris, Field, Rogers Company Ltd began to manufacture Morris pianos in Listowel.
The Campbell Soup Company
was a major local employer for 48 years, operating a frozen, foodservice and specialty food plant in Listowel. This relationship ended abruptly with the announcement of the factory's pending closure on April 28, 2008. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural land located on the Perth Plain, dominated by the beef and pork industries.
A notable citizen of Listowel Ontario was John Livingstone. John was the older brother of Dr. David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer who explored Africa in the mid-19th century and discovered Victoria Falls. While his brother went to Africa, John emigrated to Canada, settling in Listowel.
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 located in the municipality of North Perth
North Perth, Ontario
The town of North Perth is a municipality in Ontario, Canada. Its name is based on its location in the northern portion of Perth County. The major community in North Perth is Listowel.- History :...
. It was created in 1998 during the amalgamation of several other communities in the northern section of Perth County
Perth County, Ontario
Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land...
, and dissolved with the creation of North Perth. Its population was 5,905 at the Canada 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
.
History
Settler John Binning arrived in 1857 and was the first to create a permanent residence in the area. The community was originally named Mapleton, but the name was changed when a post office was established. The new name was chosen by a government official and refers to Listowel, Ireland. The majority of early settlers were of Protestant Irish origin (Ulster Scots Planters, or English Planters). Incorporated in 1867 as a village and in 1875 as a town, Listowel is now part of the town of North Perth.On February 28, 1959, the Listowel Memorial Arena collapsed, burying a boys' hockey team playing a scrimmage game – the worst tragedy in the town's history. Seven young players, along with a referee and recreation director (Reginald Kenneth McLeod), were all killed in the tragic collapse.
On March 17, 2011, the local dollar store caught fire and its roof collapsed on volunteer firefighters killing Ray Walter (30) and Ken Ray (56). Listowel mourned this tragic loss, closing major streets and posting black ribbons all over town in honour of the fallen firefighters. Paddyfest festivities continued to honour Kinsmen Ray Walter, but in a somber fashion. A community funeral service was held March 24, 2011 at the Listowel Memorial Arena, with a broadcast directly to Elma Community Center. Over 10,000 were expected to visit Listowel that day and Premier Dalton MaGunity joined emergency responders from all across the country to attend the funeral service. A minute of silence was held at the Ontario Legislature earlier in the week and flags were flown at half mast. Firefighters from London, Ontario came to help staff the local fire stations so all North Perth firefighters could attend the service. This was the first time a double firefighter fatality in Ontario has happened since 1978. Ken and Ray will be remembered for their braveness and will be honoured in the community of North Perth forever.
Culture
The region is home to many talented visual artists who are showcased annually as part of the region's Studio Tour. Theatre 311 is a very reputable venue for live theatre, drawing on local talent and actors from surrounding cities. Listowel is also represented in the film industry by Dura Mater Productions, an independent film company that has received recognition by film festivals throughout North America and Europe. The Bookery is located across from Veky's. This Celtic-inspired book store stocks over 25,000 books and traditional Celtic, Irish and Scottish jewellery in silver. In addition, they provide gallery space for local artists to display their work. The town of Listowel has also raised its fair share of talented musicians from many genres, such as Thirteen O'Clock, Krymera, Brian Vollmer (lead singer of Helix), Ian Laing, The Bender singers, and Chachi On Acid. In the vein of classical music, the Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning baritone, Kevin McMillan, is from Listowel.
Paddyfest
Listowel has a large Irish festival, called Paddyfest, which is held over the two weeks surrounding St. Patrick's Day. The festival was first started in 1977 from an idea put forth by Dave Murtha to honour the large numbers of persons of Irish ancestry present in the Listowel area and is largely maintained by the Kinsmen and Kinette clubs of Listowel.The official spokesperson for Paddyfest is chosen yearly in the Paddyfest Ambassador Competition. Contestants must perform a speech, impromptu question and interview with the judges and receive the overall highest score to be awarded this position. A separate award of Talent is given out to the contestant with the highest score in the talent competition. Runner-up and Congeniality are also awards which are available. Although the Paddyfest Ambassador Competition changed its name and official status from being Miss Paddyfest when first created, a male has yet to win the title.
Economy
In 1871 the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway extended its line to Listowel. It was joined in 1873 by a second railway, the Stratford and Huron Railway, and Listowel soon became an important shipping point. The population doubled when industries, including a woollen mill, a sawmill, a planing millPlaning mill
A planing mill is a facility that takes cut and seasoned boards from a sawmill and turns them into finished dimensional lumber. Machines used in the mill include the planer and matcher, the molding machines, and varieties of saws...
and a tannery, were established. In 1891 the Morris, Field, Rogers Company Ltd began to manufacture Morris pianos in Listowel.
The Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
was a major local employer for 48 years, operating a frozen, foodservice and specialty food plant in Listowel. This relationship ended abruptly with the announcement of the factory's pending closure on April 28, 2008. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural land located on the Perth Plain, dominated by the beef and pork industries.
Notable citizens
- Colin Burrowes, film director.
- Corey Conners, NCAA Golfer for Kent State University in Ohio.
- George Hay, NHL Hall of Famer
- Bert JohnsonBert JohnsonBert Johnson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003....
, MPPMPPMPP or M.P.P. may refer to:* 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine, a toxic metabolite of MPTP causing symptoms of Parkinson's disease* Macro Pre-Processor, a make-like tool forming part of the package utility distributed with OpenAFS...
, Deputy Speaker, 1995–2003 - Jared KeesoJared KeesoJared Keeso is a Canadian actor. He has had a variety of minor roles in both television series and movies, but is best known for his starring role in the Canadian biographic film of legendary hockey commentator Don Cherry, for which he won a Leo Award for best male performance in a feature length...
, Gemini Award winning actor. - Pegi Nicol MacLeodPegi Nicol MacLeodPegi Nicol MacLeod, , was a Canadian artist. Born Margaret Kathleen Nicol, she was part of the first wave of Canadian modernist painters. She was born in Listowel, Ontario and was a pupil of Franklin Brownell in Ottawa. She later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. In 1932 she won the...
, artist - Mac Nichol, Defenseman for the Guelph StormGuelph StormThe Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... - John Smale, President, CEO and Chairman of Proctor & Gamble; Chairman of General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. - Chuck TathamChuck TathamCharles "Chuck" Tatham is a Canadian screenwriter and television producer best known for his work on Arrested Development.-Early life:Tatham grew up in Guelph and later lived in Waterloo and Bathurst Street...
, television writer and producer. - Cyclone TaylorCyclone TaylorFrederick Wellington "Cyclone" Taylor, OBE, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and civil servant. Taylor was one of the earliest professional players. He played professionally for the Portage Lakes Hockey Club, the Ottawa Hockey Club and the Vancouver Millionaires from 1905 to 1923...
, NHL Hall of Famer. - Brian VollmerBrian VollmerBrian Vollmer is the lead singer and only remaining original member of Canadian hard rock group Helix. Helix was formed in 1974 by original drummer Bruce Arnold. Since that time, Vollmer had gone from lead singer to defacto leader of band, weathering numerous lineup changes...
, HelixHelix (band)Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
vocalist - Horatio WalkerHoratio WalkerHoratio Walker was a respected and commercially successful Canadian painter. He worked in oils and watercolors, often depicting scenes of rural life in Canada. He was highly influenced by the French Barbizon school of painting.-Early life:Horatio Walker was born in 1858 to parents Thomas and...
, popular artist in North America at the turn of the 20th century
Related places
A notable citizen of Listowel Ontario was John Livingstone. John was the older brother of Dr. David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer who explored Africa in the mid-19th century and discovered Victoria Falls. While his brother went to Africa, John emigrated to Canada, settling in Listowel.