Port McNicoll, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Port McNicoll is a community in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. It is located in the Simcoe County
township of Tay
.
port on the southern shores of Georgian Bay
. It was the home port of the Canadian Pacific Railway
's Great Lakes Service from 1908, when the eastern terminus of the marine operations were relocated from Owen Sound
. Port McNicoll was also the western terminus of the CPR's Georgian Bay and Seaboard Railway, connecting to its Ontario and Quebec Railway
, near Bethany
.
Warehouses were constructed on the western side of the port for handling package freight, as well as the station for passengers, the roundhouse
and railyards for servicing the trains, the community was west of the harbour. On a peninsula to the east, the railway constructed a large grain elevator for storage of grain brought in by bulk freighter, from the Canadian Lakehead
. At Port McNicoll the grain was loaded into box cars, for shipment to the Port of Montreal
, via Orillia
and Lindsay
.
and Flagship
SS Assiniboia. The steamers would take on passengers from the "boat train", arriving from Toronto
, upbound to Port Arthur / Fort William to connect with their trains there. Downbound, the steamers would carry passengers back to Port McNicoll, returning to Toronto, via Medonte and Midhurst.
During the depression of the 1930s, the rail connection between Orillia and Lindsay, was abandoned. The CPR's older steamers, SS Alberta, SS Athabaska and SS Manitoba continued to run from Owen Sound until the mid 1930s when the Alberta and Athabaska were withdrawn from service. With an increase in the handling of package freight, these two ships were pressed into freight-only service from Port McNicoll, until the end of the war. The SS Manitoba was retired in 1950, following the SS Noronic
disaster.
The SS Keewatin and SS Assiniboia continued operating until the cessation of passenger service in 1965, when they too were reduced to freight-only service. The coal burning Keewatin was withdrawn from service in November 1966, while sister ship Assiniboia, with boilers converted to burn oil years earlier, was likely the reason she lasted longer. The SS Assiniboia retired November 26, 1967.
Over the last 20 years, businesses in Port McNicoll have been on the decline. At one point there was a hotel/pub (which burnt to the ground in the 1980s), two supermarkets, charity shop, movie store, fish and chip shop, as well as an LCBO. There are currently 2 convenience stores, a pizza/diner and restaurant and a laundromat located conveniently beside Garrett's convenience store on Talbot Street and the Beer store located on Ney off Talbot Street.
Most people living in Port McNicoll work in various industries in the Midland/Penetanguishene area. It is a quiet town, whose population swells, due to cottagers, during the summer months. Most cottages are located near the many beaches on the shores of Georgian Bay.
One of the most popular events in Port McNicoll is the annual Portarama festival held on Victoria Day weekend. There are fireworks, a parade and various other family oriented activities.
Skyline International Development Inc. is building the community for urban dwellers who want private marina space in an exclusive community. With a Victorian style, Port McNicoll will see more than 1500000 square foot of commercial space added to the region, with boutiques and restaurants slated to open in the near future.
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...
province of 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....
. It is located in the Simcoe County
Simcoe County, Ontario
Simcoe County is located in central portion of Southern Ontario. The County is situated just north of the Greater Toronto Area stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west...
township of Tay
Tay, Ontario
Tay is a township in Central Ontario, Canada, located in the southern Georgian Bay region. Tay, like many other townships in the surrounding area such as Tiny Township was named after one of the several dogs owned by Sir Peregrine Maitland's wife....
.
Busy terminal
The community of Port McNicoll was established in 1908 as a Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
port on the southern shores of Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
. It was the home port of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
's Great Lakes Service from 1908, when the eastern terminus of the marine operations were relocated from Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
. Port McNicoll was also the western terminus of the CPR's Georgian Bay and Seaboard Railway, connecting to its Ontario and Quebec Railway
Ontario and Quebec Railway
The Ontario and Quebec Railway is a historic Canadian railway located in eastern Ontario.The railway had received a charter in 1881 and the Canadian Pacific Railway gained control, building the O&Q line between Perth and Toronto...
, near Bethany
Bethany, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Bethany is an unincorporated village in the Canadian province of Ontario, within the single-tier municipality of Kawartha Lakes. Bethany is centred on Highway 7A, which forms part of the Trans-Canada highway...
.
Warehouses were constructed on the western side of the port for handling package freight, as well as the station for passengers, the roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and railyards for servicing the trains, the community was west of the harbour. On a peninsula to the east, the railway constructed a large grain elevator for storage of grain brought in by bulk freighter, from the Canadian Lakehead
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
. At Port McNicoll the grain was loaded into box cars, for shipment to the Port of Montreal
Port of Montréal
The Port of Montreal, is a port located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on the St Lawrence river. It one of the largest inland ports in the world, it is the second busiest port in Canada , and it is one of the busiest ports in North America....
, via Orillia
Orillia, Ontario
Orillia, pronounced ōrĭl'ēə, is a city located in Simcoe County in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, 135 kilometres north of Toronto.Originally incorporated as a village in 1867, the history of...
and Lindsay
Lindsay, Ontario
Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough...
.
Boat train
From 1912, Port McNicoll was home port of the CPR's passenger and package freight steamships, SS KeewatinSS Keewatin
The SS Keewatin is a passenger liner that once sailed between Port Arthur / Fort William and Port McNicoll in Ontario, Canada. She carried passengers between these ports for the Canadian Pacific Railway's Great Lakes Steamship Service...
and Flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
SS Assiniboia. The steamers would take on passengers from the "boat train", arriving from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, upbound to Port Arthur / Fort William to connect with their trains there. Downbound, the steamers would carry passengers back to Port McNicoll, returning to Toronto, via Medonte and Midhurst.
During the depression of the 1930s, the rail connection between Orillia and Lindsay, was abandoned. The CPR's older steamers, SS Alberta, SS Athabaska and SS Manitoba continued to run from Owen Sound until the mid 1930s when the Alberta and Athabaska were withdrawn from service. With an increase in the handling of package freight, these two ships were pressed into freight-only service from Port McNicoll, until the end of the war. The SS Manitoba was retired in 1950, following the SS Noronic
SS Noronic
The SS Noronic was a passenger ship that was destroyed by fire in Toronto Harbour in September 1949 with serious loss of life.-The ship:SS Noronic was launched June 2, 1913 in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada...
disaster.
The SS Keewatin and SS Assiniboia continued operating until the cessation of passenger service in 1965, when they too were reduced to freight-only service. The coal burning Keewatin was withdrawn from service in November 1966, while sister ship Assiniboia, with boilers converted to burn oil years earlier, was likely the reason she lasted longer. The SS Assiniboia retired November 26, 1967.
Town life
Port McNicoll has one public elementary school, teaching children from Jr. Kindergarten to Grade 8, after which students head to either Midland Secondary School or St. Theresa's High School, both located in Midland, Ontario.Over the last 20 years, businesses in Port McNicoll have been on the decline. At one point there was a hotel/pub (which burnt to the ground in the 1980s), two supermarkets, charity shop, movie store, fish and chip shop, as well as an LCBO. There are currently 2 convenience stores, a pizza/diner and restaurant and a laundromat located conveniently beside Garrett's convenience store on Talbot Street and the Beer store located on Ney off Talbot Street.
Most people living in Port McNicoll work in various industries in the Midland/Penetanguishene area. It is a quiet town, whose population swells, due to cottagers, during the summer months. Most cottages are located near the many beaches on the shores of Georgian Bay.
One of the most popular events in Port McNicoll is the annual Portarama festival held on Victoria Day weekend. There are fireworks, a parade and various other family oriented activities.
Investment interest
There is a significant redevelopment project underway in Port McNicoll. The village is currently the site of a planned $1 billion investment project that will galvanize its transformation into a vibrant community nestled around the bay on 800 acre of shoreline land.Skyline International Development Inc. is building the community for urban dwellers who want private marina space in an exclusive community. With a Victorian style, Port McNicoll will see more than 1500000 square foot of commercial space added to the region, with boutiques and restaurants slated to open in the near future.