Mattawa, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Mattawa is a town
in northeastern Ontario
, Canada
, at the confluence of the Mattawa
and Ottawa River
s in Nipissing District
. Mattawa means "Meeting of the Waters" in Ojibwa
. In 1615 Etienne Brulé
and Samuel de Champlain
were the first Europeans to pass through this area.
and in 1615, Samuel de Champlain
were the first Europeans to travel through the Mattawa area. For some 200 years thereafter, it was a link in the important water route leading from Montreal west to Lake Superior
. Canoe
s travelling west up the Ottawa turned left at "the Forks" (the mouth of the Mattawa) to enter the "Petite Rivière" ("Small River", as compared to the Ottawa), before continuing on to Lake Nipissing
.
Other notable travellers passing by Mattawa included Jean Nicolet
in 1620, Jean de Brébeuf
in 1626, Gabriel Lallemant
in 1648, Pierre-Esprit Radisson
and Médard des Groseilliers
in 1658, La Verendrye
in 1731, Alexander MacKenzie in 1794, and David Thompson
in 1812.
In the 1820s and 1830s, the Hudson's Bay Company
sent canoe brigades from their Fort Coulonge Post to this river junction in order to trade furs
. In 1837, a permanent post was established which was relocated in 1843 to shores of the Ottawa River in the centre of present-day Mattawa. After the fur trade diminished, the post traded general merchandise to supply lumbermen and eventually closed in 1908.
In the 19th century, Mattawa became a hub for the logging industry which would harvest large untouched stands of white pine
in the area and using the Mattawa River to transport logs to sawmills. In 1881, the railroad was built to Mattawa which was mostly built by French Canadian
labourers. After the railroad's completion, these labourers and their families would settle in Mattawa and surrounding areas, bringing with them their culture and heritage.
While logging
is still an important industry in this region, nearby provincial parks and wilderness support the camping/hunting/fishing tourism industry in Mattawa today. Mattawa is located on the Canadian Pacific Railway Chalk River subdivision, connecting Smiths Falls
and North Bay, with an additional connection to Témiscaming
, Quebec
.
Mattawa elected Canada's first-ever Black
mayor, Firmin Monestime
, in 1963. Monestime served as mayor until his death in 1977.
In April 2010, the old Mattawa hospital (visible as the red building in the image to the right) was demolished amid controversy, since the building was a local landmark for which heritage status was considered. A new Mattawa Hospital had been in service for about a year. The area will be further served by a new regional hospital in nearby North Bay, expected to be completed in January, 2011. The old hospital site is expected to be used for the construction of a new secondary school funded by the Province of Ontario through the Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Franco-Nord.
, Médard des Groseilliers
, and others. The Mattawa District Museum is host to a 17 ft (5.2 m). wooden statue of Big Joe Mufferaw
, a local folk hero. These statues are scattered throughout the town of Mattawa and in two locations outside the town on nearby Highway 17
.
Small shops along the Main Street offer unique creations from local artists and craftsmen.
Mattawa provides access to numerous dropping off points for canoeing or boating on the Ottawa River which acts as a natural border between the hills of the province of Quebec and Ontario. The Mattawa River flows through the pristine rugged Canadian shield with opportunities to see moose, eagles, the haunting and beautiful sounds of loons at night and terrific fishing, camping, and hiking. There are numerous motels, campgrounds, and retreat centres in and around Mattawa. Just west is Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
on the Mattawa River, which has an interpretive area focusing on the early voyageurs. Campers also have the opportunity to river tube
. The park is also home of the Canadian Ecology Centre
, a unique eco-friendly retreat centre that is facilitated to accommodate business retreats. Algonquin Provincial Park
can be accessed from the north side in Kiosk
or the east side in Brent
.
The nearby area contains over 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) of year-round ATV
and snowmobile
trails, known as the Voyageur Multi Use Trail System (VMUTS).
In 2007, Mattawa and the townships of Bonfield
, Papineau-Cameron
, Mattawan
and Calvin
cooperated to create a newly-branded Mattawa Voyageur Country tourist region in order to promote the area.
, Trooper
, Saga
, Loverboy, Honeymoon Suite, Chuck Labelle
, David Wilcox
, Peter Frampton
, Heart
and Tom Cochrane
among other local singers and musicians from inside and outside the region play on the Thursday night.
As part of tradition, on the Sunday of the event at dusk there is a choreographed fireworks show.
Mattawa Voyageur Days celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2007, selling out of its 7,000 admission wristbands before the event had begun. In 2008, Festivals and Events Ontario listed Mattawa Voyageur Days as one of the Top 100 Ontario Festivals.
stations:
The town is otherwise served by radio stations from North Bay
.
Print
Mattawa's weekly newspaper The Mattawa Recorder has been in publication since 1972. It is owned and published by Tom and Heather Edwards.
Additionally, 40% of Mattawanians are Francophone
, although the seasonal nature of local employment results in population and demographic fluctuations throughout the year.
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...
in northeastern 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...
, at the confluence of the Mattawa
Mattawa River
The Mattawa River is a river in central Ontario, Canada. It flows east from Trout Lake east of North Bay and enters the Ottawa River at the town of Mattawa. Counting from the head of Trout Lake, it is 76 km in length...
and Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
s in Nipissing District
Nipissing District, Ontario
Nipissing District, Ontario is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858. The district seat is North Bay.In 2006, the population was 84,688...
. Mattawa means "Meeting of the Waters" in Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
. In 1615 Etienne Brulé
Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé , was the first of European French explorers to journey along the St. Lawrence River with the Native Americans and to view Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Canada in the 17th century. A rugged outdoorsman, he took to the lifestyle of the First Nations and had a unique contribution to the...
and Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
were the first Europeans to pass through this area.
History
The area was first inhabited by native peoples who used the Mattawa River as an important transportation corridor for many centuries. In 1610, Étienne BrûléÉtienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé , was the first of European French explorers to journey along the St. Lawrence River with the Native Americans and to view Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Canada in the 17th century. A rugged outdoorsman, he took to the lifestyle of the First Nations and had a unique contribution to the...
and in 1615, Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
were the first Europeans to travel through the Mattawa area. For some 200 years thereafter, it was a link in the important water route leading from Montreal west to Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. Canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s travelling west up the Ottawa turned left at "the Forks" (the mouth of the Mattawa) to enter the "Petite Rivière" ("Small River", as compared to the Ottawa), before continuing on to Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...
.
Other notable travellers passing by Mattawa included Jean Nicolet
Jean Nicolet
Jean Nicolet de Belleborne was a French coureur des bois noted for exploring Green Bay in what is now the U.S. state of Wisconsin.-Life:...
in 1620, Jean de Brébeuf
Jean de Brébeuf
Jean de Brébeuf was a Jesuit missionary, martyred in Canada on March 16, 1649.-Early years:Brébeuf was born in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France. He was the uncle of the fur trader Georges de Brébeuf. He studied near home at Caen. He became a Jesuit in 1617, joining the Order...
in 1626, Gabriel Lallemant
Gabriel Lallemant
Saint Gabriel Lalemant was a Jesuit missionary and one of the eight Canadian Martyrs....
in 1648, Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson was a French-Canadian fur trader and explorer. He is often linked to his brother-in-law Médard des Groseilliers who was about 20 years older. The decision of Radisson and Groseilliers to enter the English service led to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company.Born near...
and Médard des Groseilliers
Médard des Groseilliers
Médard Chouart des Groseilliers was a French explorer and fur trader in Canada. He is often paired with his brother-in-law Pierre-Esprit Radisson who was about 20 years his junior...
in 1658, La Verendrye
Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye
Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian military officer, fur trader and explorer. In the 1730s he and his four sons opened up the area west of Lake Superior and thus began the process that added Western Canada to the original New France in the Saint Lawrence basin...
in 1731, Alexander MacKenzie in 1794, and David Thompson
David Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
in 1812.
In the 1820s and 1830s, the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
sent canoe brigades from their Fort Coulonge Post to this river junction in order to trade furs
North American Fur Trade
The North American fur trade was the industry and activities related to the acquisition, exchange, and sale of animal furs in the North American continent. Indigenous peoples of different regions traded among themselves in the Pre-Columbian Era, but Europeans participated in the trade beginning...
. In 1837, a permanent post was established which was relocated in 1843 to shores of the Ottawa River in the centre of present-day Mattawa. After the fur trade diminished, the post traded general merchandise to supply lumbermen and eventually closed in 1908.
In the 19th century, Mattawa became a hub for the logging industry which would harvest large untouched stands of white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
in the area and using the Mattawa River to transport logs to sawmills. In 1881, the railroad was built to Mattawa which was mostly built by French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
labourers. After the railroad's completion, these labourers and their families would settle in Mattawa and surrounding areas, bringing with them their culture and heritage.
While logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
is still an important industry in this region, nearby provincial parks and wilderness support the camping/hunting/fishing tourism industry in Mattawa today. Mattawa is located on the Canadian Pacific Railway Chalk River subdivision, connecting Smiths Falls
Smiths Falls, Ontario
Smiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the census division for Lanark County, but is considered a separated town and does not participate in county government...
and North Bay, with an additional connection to Témiscaming
Témiscaming, Quebec
Témiscaming is a town located at the south end of Lac Témiscamingue on the upper Ottawa River in the Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality of western Quebec, Canada. Also nearby is Lake Kipawa.-History:...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Mattawa elected Canada's first-ever Black
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
mayor, Firmin Monestime
Firmin Monestime
Dr. Saint-Firmin Monestime was a Haitian-Canadian politician and medical doctor, who was the first Black Canadian ever elected mayor of a Canadian municipality....
, in 1963. Monestime served as mayor until his death in 1977.
In April 2010, the old Mattawa hospital (visible as the red building in the image to the right) was demolished amid controversy, since the building was a local landmark for which heritage status was considered. A new Mattawa Hospital had been in service for about a year. The area will be further served by a new regional hospital in nearby North Bay, expected to be completed in January, 2011. The old hospital site is expected to be used for the construction of a new secondary school funded by the Province of Ontario through the Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Franco-Nord.
Attractions
Mattawa is the home of many wooden statues depicting historical figures from the Mattawa area, such as Champlain, Pierre-Esprit RadissonPierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson was a French-Canadian fur trader and explorer. He is often linked to his brother-in-law Médard des Groseilliers who was about 20 years older. The decision of Radisson and Groseilliers to enter the English service led to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company.Born near...
, Médard des Groseilliers
Médard des Groseilliers
Médard Chouart des Groseilliers was a French explorer and fur trader in Canada. He is often paired with his brother-in-law Pierre-Esprit Radisson who was about 20 years his junior...
, and others. The Mattawa District Museum is host to a 17 ft (5.2 m). wooden statue of Big Joe Mufferaw
Big Joe Mufferaw
Big Joe Mufferaw was a French Canadian folk hero from the Ottawa Valley, perhaps best known today as the hero of a song by Stompin' Tom Connors. Like Paul Bunyan, he made his living chopping down trees. The name is also sometimes spelled Muffero, Muffera, and Montferrand...
, a local folk hero. These statues are scattered throughout the town of Mattawa and in two locations outside the town on nearby Highway 17
Highway 17 (Ontario)
King's Highway 17, more commonly known as Highway 17, is a provincially maintained highway and the primary route of the Trans-Canada Highway through the Canadian province of Ontario. It begins at the Manitoba border west of Kenora and ends south of Arnprior at the western terminus of Highway 417, ...
.
Small shops along the Main Street offer unique creations from local artists and craftsmen.
Mattawa provides access to numerous dropping off points for canoeing or boating on the Ottawa River which acts as a natural border between the hills of the province of Quebec and Ontario. The Mattawa River flows through the pristine rugged Canadian shield with opportunities to see moose, eagles, the haunting and beautiful sounds of loons at night and terrific fishing, camping, and hiking. There are numerous motels, campgrounds, and retreat centres in and around Mattawa. Just west is Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is a provincial park spanning both sides of the Mattawa River. It has an area of 25.5 km² and is about 14 km west of Mattawa, Ontario, Canada...
on the Mattawa River, which has an interpretive area focusing on the early voyageurs. Campers also have the opportunity to river tube
Tubing (recreation)
Tubing is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.-Water:Tubing on water generally consists of two forms: towed and free-floating, also...
. The park is also home of the Canadian Ecology Centre
Canadian Ecology Centre
The Canadian Ecology Centre is an outdoor education complex located within Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, near the town of Mattawa, Ontario.- Basic Description :...
, a unique eco-friendly retreat centre that is facilitated to accommodate business retreats. Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park is a provincial park located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, Canada, mostly within the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada. Additions since its creation have increased...
can be accessed from the north side in Kiosk
Kiosk, Ontario
Kiosk is an unincorporated place and former railway point and community in geographic Pentland Township in the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District in northeastern Ontario, Canada...
or the east side in Brent
Brent, Ontario
Brent is a community on Cedar Lake on the Petawawa River in northern Algonquin Provincial Park, and is located in geographic Deacon Township in the Unorganized south part of Nipissing District in northeastern Ontario, Canada....
.
The nearby area contains over 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) of year-round ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
and snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
trails, known as the Voyageur Multi Use Trail System (VMUTS).
In 2007, Mattawa and the townships of Bonfield
Bonfield, Ontario
Bonfield is a township in northeastern Ontario, Canada, on the Mattawa River in Nipissing District.The township comprises the communities of Blanchard's Landing, Bonfield, Grand Desert, and Rutherglen...
, Papineau-Cameron
Papineau-Cameron, Ontario
Papineau-Cameron is a municipal township in northeastern Ontario, Canada, in Nipissing District. The township is located on the south side of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers along Highway 17....
, Mattawan
Mattawan, Ontario
Mattawan is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located in the Nipissing District, the township had a population of 147 in the Canada 2006 Census....
and Calvin
Calvin, Ontario
Calvin is a township in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattawa River in Nipissing District. The township took its name from Delino Dexter Calvin, an Ontario lumber merchant and MPP based in Frontenac County....
cooperated to create a newly-branded Mattawa Voyageur Country tourist region in order to promote the area.
Voyageur Days
Every summer since 1997, the Mattawa Voyageur Days Festival is held the last weekend of July. It is organized by the Town of Mattawa and takes place behind the Museum on Explorer's Point. Some of the events include a regional talent night, lumberjack competition, and canoe race. Live music is a large part of the Festival, and has in the past included such notable Canadian musicians as April WineApril Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
, Trooper
Trooper (band)
Trooper is a Juno Award winning Canadian rock band that developed from a group formed by vocalist Ramon McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith in 1975...
, Saga
Saga (band)
Saga is a progressive rock quintet, formed in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Jim Crichton and Welsh-born vocalist Michael Sadler have been the principal songwriters for Saga. Ian Crichton is the band's guitarist; apart from his work with Saga, he has recorded several solo albums as well as sessions...
, Loverboy, Honeymoon Suite, Chuck Labelle
Chuck Labelle
Jean-Guy Labelle is a Canadian singer-songwriter, who is one of the most prominent Canadian performers of francophone country music. His 1999 album Le Cowboy, released in both French and English versions, reached #1 on the European country music charts that year.A franco-Ontarian from Mattawa,...
, David Wilcox
David Wilcox (Canadian musician)
David Wilcox is a Canadian rock musician.-History:Montreal native, David Wilcox drew inspiration from musician Elvis Presley at the early age of six...
, Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
, Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
and Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane, OC Canadian musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs "Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe", "Human Race" and "I Wish You Well". Cochrane fronted the Canadian rock band Red Rider and has won seven Juno Awards...
among other local singers and musicians from inside and outside the region play on the Thursday night.
As part of tradition, on the Sunday of the event at dusk there is a choreographed fireworks show.
Mattawa Voyageur Days celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2007, selling out of its 7,000 admission wristbands before the event had begun. In 2008, Festivals and Events Ontario listed Mattawa Voyageur Days as one of the Top 100 Ontario Festivals.
Radio
Mattawa is served by two low-power AM repeaters of Greater Sudbury's CBC RadioCBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
stations:
- AM 1090 - CBON-12CBON-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 - AM 1240 - CBLOCBCS-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...
The town is otherwise served by radio stations from North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
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.-History:...
.
Demographics
- Population trend:
- Population 2006: 2,003
- Population 2001: 2,270
- Population 1996: 2,281
- Population 1991: 2,454
- Dwellings: 942
- Area (km²): 3.66
- Density (persons per km²): 548
Additionally, 40% of Mattawanians are Francophone
Francophone
The 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....
, although the seasonal nature of local employment results in population and demographic fluctuations throughout the year.
Notable people
- AnahareoAnahareoGertrude Moltke Bernard, CM, also known as Anahareo, was a Mohawk woman who was the influential companion of Grey Owl, born Archibald Belaney, a writer and one of Canada's first conservationists.- Biography :...
, wife of writer and conservationist Grey OwlGrey OwlGrey Owl was the name Archibald Belaney adopted when he took on a First Nations identity as an adult... - Chuck LabelleChuck LabelleJean-Guy Labelle is a Canadian singer-songwriter, who is one of the most prominent Canadian performers of francophone country music. His 1999 album Le Cowboy, released in both French and English versions, reached #1 on the European country music charts that year.A franco-Ontarian from Mattawa,...
, a popular Franco-OntarianFranco-OntarianFranco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
singer/songwritter - Gilbert ParentGilbert ParentGilbert "Gib" Parent, PC was a Canadian Member of Parliament. He is best known in his role of Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons between 1994 and 2001....
, late speaker of the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of CommonsThe House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...