Beautiful Cloud Formation - Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario comprises almost 87% of the land mass ofOntario but represents only 6% of the total population of the province (2006 Census).  According to the federal government, Northern Ontario includes districts of Sudbury, Kenora, Rainy River, Thunder Bay, Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Timiskaming, Nipissing and Parrry Sound.  Since 2000, the Muskoka District Municipality has been included in the Ontario government’s definition of Northern Ontario.

There are five cities in Northern Ontario with a population over 40,000 people.  Listed in order of size, they include:Sudbury (157,857), Thunder Bay (109,140), Sault Ste. Marie (74,984), North Bay (53,966), and Timmins (42,997).

The boreal forests of northern Ontario cover an area roughly the size of France. In fact it is the largest intact, roadless boreal forest in North America and includes the Hudson Bay lowlands, one of the most expansive wetlands in the world. Significant populations of caribou, wolverine, wolves, and Canada lynx live here, and its waters are home to a myriad of fish, such as sturgeon, walleye, and lake trout.

This remote, rugged stretch of Ontario remains largely undeveloped. Roughly 10,000 people live there, spread over 34 Cree and Ojibwa fly-in communities. These communities seek to strike a balance between the pursuit of economic opportunities and the maintenance of their cultural and natural heritage in their traditional-use areas. The future of the region as a whole depends on protecting and connecting ecologically important lands while achieving sound management for development, including mining, logging, and energy projects.

Northern Ontario has a rich heritage developed through a variety of sectors, which can be traced back by the historical buildings and sites.  These historical landmarks continue to enhance the character of the surrounding communities.  Sault Ste. Marie’s location on the banks of the St. Mary’s River, made the city a natural stop over on any journey. 

 Fur traders broke into this land of opportunity and established posts in the area.  With the development of the CPR line, Sudbury was immediately over come by companies such as INCO and Falconbridge that took advantage of the rich mineral deposits formed by what scientists believe to be, a major meteorite impact.  The boom of the mining industry has left a permanent mark in the economic growth of towns all over Northern Ontario.