Timmins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timmins
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| City of Timmins | |||
View of Timmins
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| Motto(s):
The City with a Heart of Gold
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| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Ontario | ||
| District | Cochrane | ||
| Established | 1912 | ||
| Named for | Henry Timmins and Noah Timmins | ||
| Area | |||
| • Land | 2,978.83 km2 (1,150.13 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 294.70 m (966.86 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 41,145 | ||
| • Density | 14/km2 (40/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Forward sortation area |
P4N to P4R
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| Area codes | 705 and 249 | ||
Timmins ( TIM-ins) is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada, located on the Mattagami River. The city is the fourth-largest city in the Northeastern Ontario region with a population of 41,788 (2016). The city's economy is based on natural resource extraction and is supported by industries related to lumbering and to the mining of gold, zinc, copper, nickel and silver. Timmins serves as a regional service and distribution centre. The city has a large Francophone community, with more than 50% bilingual in French and English.
Contents
History
Research performed by archaeologists indicate that human settlement in the area is at least 6,000 years old; it's believed the oldest traces found are from a nomadic people of the Shield Archaic culture.
Up until contact with settlers, the land belonged to the Mattagami First Nation peoples. Treaty Number Nine of 1906 pushed this tribe to the north side of the Mattagami Lake, the site of a Hudson's Bay trading post first established in 1794. In the 1950s, the reservation was relocated to the south side of the lake, to its present-day reservation.
The development of Timmins is due to the rich ore deposits of the Canadian Shield. Originally a company town, it was founded by Noah Timmins in 1912 following gold discoveries in the Porcupine Camp a few years earlier.
On June 9, 1909, Harry Preston slipped on a rocky knoll and the heels of his boots stripped the moss to reveal a large vein of gold, which later became the Dome Mine. Benny Hollinger discovered the nearby Hollinger Gold Mine in 1910. Noah and Henry Timmins bought into the Hollinger Mine shortly after. On the same day as the Hollinger discovery, Sandy McIntyre discovered the McIntyre Mine near Pearl Lake, four miles away. These mines are known as the "Big Three."
The area became home to dozens of prospectors during the "Porcupine Gold Rush," who explored the areas around Porcupine Lake and the Frederick House River. Most settlers grouped around Porcupine Lake and the Dome, which is situated one mile from the lake. Four miles down the road, around the McIntyre Mine, the hamlet of Schumacher was established. Timmins apparently got its name from the wooden sign nailed to a tree, demarcating Noah Timmins's purchase.
The rail system that began to operate around Timmins in 1911 accelerated the growth of the camp. That same year, two days after the first train arrived in the Porcupine, the entire camp was destroyed in the fire of 1911, although the area was rebuilt within two months.
In 1912, Noah Timmins founded the town to house the employees of the Hollinger Mine.
In November 1912, 1,200 members of the Western Federation of Miners Local 145 held a strike at all three mines in response to a proposal to lower their wages. Mine operators hired gun thugs, who fired on the picket line and were ordered out by the provincial government. After months without work, many men chose to leave the settlement; only 500 miners returned to work in July 1913. The strike won the men a nine-hour workday and a pay increase.
The Great Depression did not adversely affect the economy of the area, and jobs were available in mining and lumber.
In 1917, a dam was built at Kenogamissi Falls, downriver from Mattagami Lake, to provide power for the Timmins-Porcupine mining camp; Mattagami Lake was consequently flooded.
The gold mines declined in the 1950s.
In 1973, 35 townships covering 1,260 square mile, including Porcupine, South Porcupine, Schumacher, and Timmins were organized into the City of Timmins.
In the 1990s, the City of Timmins became a regional service and distribution centre for Northeastern Ontario.
Geography
Climate
Timmins is near the northern periphery of the hemiboreal humid continental climate (Dfb). Timmins has very cold winters, being in northern Ontario, but temperatures in late summer and fall tend to be among the coldest for any major city in any Canadian province, although during the spring and summer it can get very hot. The highest temperature ever recorded in Timmins was 39.4 °C (103 °F) on 12 July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −45.6 °C (−50 °F) on 1 February 1962.
| Climate data for Timmins (Victor Power Airport), 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1922−present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) |
12.2 (54.0) |
27.5 (81.5) |
29.9 (85.8) |
34.9 (94.8) |
38.8 (101.8) |
39.4 (102.9) |
36.7 (98.1) |
36.1 (97.0) |
28.9 (84.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
39.4 (102.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −10.6 (12.9) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
8.0 (46.4) |
16.6 (61.9) |
21.9 (71.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
22.5 (72.5) |
17.1 (62.8) |
9.0 (48.2) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −16.8 (1.8) |
−14.0 (6.8) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
1.8 (35.2) |
9.6 (49.3) |
14.9 (58.8) |
17.5 (63.5) |
16.0 (60.8) |
11.1 (52.0) |
4.4 (39.9) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −23.0 (−9.4) |
−20.7 (−5.3) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
2.5 (36.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
10.7 (51.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −44.2 (−47.6) |
−45.6 (−50.1) |
−37.8 (−36.0) |
−29.4 (−20.9) |
−13.9 (7.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−13.0 (8.6) |
−33.9 (−29.0) |
−43.9 (−47.0) |
−45.6 (−50.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.8 (2.04) |
41.3 (1.63) |
54.5 (2.15) |
56.2 (2.21) |
67.4 (2.65) |
83.4 (3.28) |
90.9 (3.58) |
81.6 (3.21) |
84.7 (3.33) |
82.5 (3.25) |
75.9 (2.99) |
64.5 (2.54) |
834.6 (32.86) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 3.2 (0.13) |
1.7 (0.07) |
14.1 (0.56) |
30.1 (1.19) |
62.3 (2.45) |
83.2 (3.28) |
90.9 (3.58) |
81.6 (3.21) |
83.7 (3.30) |
68.1 (2.68) |
30.9 (1.22) |
8.5 (0.33) |
558.3 (21.98) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 57.8 (22.8) |
45.9 (18.1) |
44.8 (17.6) |
27.2 (10.7) |
5.0 (2.0) |
0.2 (0.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (0.4) |
15.1 (5.9) |
49.0 (19.3) |
65.2 (25.7) |
311.3 (122.6) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 17.5 | 14.0 | 13.5 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 14.3 | 15.8 | 16.5 | 19.3 | 19.8 | 183.6 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 1.6 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 6.9 | 11.7 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 14.3 | 15.6 | 13.5 | 6.9 | 2.7 | 107.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 17.7 | 14.0 | 11.8 | 6.6 | 2.1 | 0.14 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.62 | 5.9 | 15.5 | 19.3 | 93.5 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1912 | 974 | — |
| 1921 | 3,843 | +294.6% |
| 1931 | 14,200 | +269.5% |
| 1941 | 28,544 | +101.0% |
| 1951 | 27,743 | −2.8% |
| 1961 | 29,270 | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 28,542 | −2.5% |
| 1981 | 46,114 | +61.6% |
| 1991 | 47,461 | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 47,499 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 43,686 | −8.0% |
| 2006 | 42,997 | −1.6% |
| 2011 | 43,165 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 41,788 | −3.2% |
| 2021 | 41,145 | −1.5% |
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Timmins had a population of 41,145 living in 17,886 of its 19,390 total private dwellings, a change of -1.5% from its 2016 population of 41,788. With a land area of 2,955.33 km2 (1,141.06 sq mi), it had a population density of 13.9/km2 (36/sq mi) in 2021.
| Canada 2016 Census | Population | % of Total Population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Canadian | 36,397 | 87.1 | |
| Visible minority Source: |
African and Caribbean | 185 | 0.4 |
| South Asian | 160 | 0.4 | |
| Filipino | 135 | 0.3 | |
| Chinese | 125 | 0.3 | |
| Latin American | 75 | 0.2 | |
| Southeast Asian | 30 | 0.1 | |
| Other visible minority | 95 | 0.2 | |
| Total visible minority population | 785 | 1.9 | |
| Aboriginal group Source: |
Métis | 2,305 | 5.5 |
| First Nations | 2,245 | 5.4 | |
| Inuit | 50 | 0.1 | |
| Total Aboriginal population | 4,715 | 11 | |
| Total population | 41,788 | 100 | |
| Canada census – Timmins community profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2011 | 2006 | |
| Population: | 41,788 (−3.2% from 2011) | 43,165 (0.4% from 2006) | 42,997 (−1.6% from 2001) |
| Land area: | 2,978.83 km2 (1,150.13 sq mi) | 2,979.15 km2 (1,150.26 sq mi) | 2,961.58 km2 (1,143.47 sq mi) |
| Population density: | 14.0/km2 (36/sq mi) | 14.5/km2 (38/sq mi) | 14.5/km2 (38/sq mi) |
| Median age: | 39.6 (M: 39.0, F: 40.3) | ||
| Total private dwellings: | 19,317 | 18,806 | 18,642 |
| Median household income: | $55,623 | ||
| References: 2016 2011 2006 earlier | |||
Language
In Timmins, according to the 2016 census, 63.7% of the population reported English as their first language (Anglophone), 35.6% reported French (Francophone) as their first language, and 0.12% reported a non-official language, neither English nor French, as their first language (Allophone). 50.8% of the population is bilingual in English and French.
Arts and culture
Tourism
Some of the main tourist attractions within the city include: The Timmins Museum and National Exhibition Centre, Cedar Meadows Wilderness Tours, Kamiskotia Snow Resort, Porcupine Ski Runners Cross-Country Trails and Chalet, Hollinger Golf Club, Spruce Needles Golf Club, the Sandy Falls Golf Club, the McIntyre Community Building and the Timmins Snowmobile Club. Snowmobiling impacts the Timmins economy as tourists from all over North America travel to explore area trails.
Hollinger Park is one of the city's main recreational spaces. The park is divided in two sections, the north side being the public park area, with the south side having a regulation sized baseball diamond and two soccer fields for more organized outdoor recreational endeavours. The baseball park has been home to the Timmins Men's Baseball League since 1985. Former Timmins resident Shania Twain played a concert at Hollinger Park on July 1, 1999. An estimated 22,000 people attended the outdoor concert.
The Pioneer Museum is located 39.5 km (24.5 mi) northeast of the city centre in Connaught, a community of 400 people. Nearby communities include Barbers Bay, Dugwal, Finn Road, Hoyle, Ice Chest Lake, McIntosh Springs and Nighthawk. Local history in the area dates back over 300 years.
La Galeruche Art Gallery, located at 32 Mountjoy Street North (Centre Culturel La Ronde), provides local francophone artists with a venue to exhibit and sell their work.
The Porcupine Miner's Memorial tribute is a statue of the miner, head frame and tablets bearing the names of 594 miners killed in mining accidents were unveiled in 2008. The following year, the statues of a mother and two children were unveiled to commemorate those families left behind.
Timmins Murals painted by Ed Spehar, Gary Bostrom and Paulette Brozowski, three of our local and accomplished artists. Much of their work now graces the sides of buildings or is on display inside public buildings. These murals reflect the history of Timmins including the founders of the city. Murals are available for viewing at the McIntyre Community Centre, Hollinger Park, the Northern Tel Building, the Maurice Londry Community Centre, the CM Shields Library, Golden Avenue Public School, the Timmins Public Library, the Victor M. Power Timmins Airport and Theriault Catholic High School.
The Timmins Public Library was constructed in 2005 with locally manufactured products, using wood as the main structural material, making efficient use of our natural resources while reducing construction waste. The eco-friendly design was recognized by the Green Building Initiative and the building achieved a 3 Green Globes rating for its efficient use of resources and sustainable development.
Sports
The Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League represent Timmins in hockey. They are the city's junior A team. And their affiliate, Timmins Majors, of the Great North Midget League, are the Midget AAA team. They both play at the McIntyre Arena.
Education
Postsecondary education
The two main postsecondary institutions in Timmins is Northern College, a College of Applied Arts and Technology and Collège Boréal, which also has a sister campus of Université de Hearst. Algoma University also offers degrees in Social Work and Community Development on the Northern College Campus in South Porcupine.
School boards
Four school boards serve the City of Timmins:
- District School Board Ontario North East
- Northeastern Catholic District School Board
- Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières
- Conseil scolaire de district du Nord-Est de l'Ontario
High schools
- O'Gorman High School
- École Publique Renaissance
- École secondaire catholique Thériault
- Timmins High and Vocational School
- Roland Michener Secondary School
Transportation
Timmins Victor M. Power Airport is the main regional airport for the Timmins area. Regional ground transportation is provided by Ontario Northland Motor Coach Services operating out of the Timmins Transit Terminal. The nearest communities with train service are more than 100 kilometres away. They include Foleyet to the west and Gogama to the south, which are served by The Canadian, Via Rail's transcontinental passenger rail service. To the north of Timmins, Cochrane is the southern terminus of the Ontario Northland Railway's Polar Bear Express. Matheson and Porquis Junction were formerly the closest stations to the city. Local transit is provided by Timmins Transit.
Notable people
- Alfred Aho, computer scientist, member of US National Academies, professor at Columbia University, Turing Award winner
- Charlie Angus, musician and songwriter for the band Grievous Angels, currently serving as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Timmins—James Bay since 2004.
- Paul Bellini, comedy writer and television actor
- Gilles Bisson, Ontario New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament since 1990 for the provincial riding of Timmins.
- Michael Boisvert, actor
- Natalie Brown, actress
- Dave Carroll and Don Carroll, country/pop/folk band Sons of Maxwell
- Carlo Cattarello, Order of Canada & Queen's Jubilee Medal recipient
- Lina Chartrand, writer
- Jamie M. Dagg, film director
- Derek Edwards, comedian
- John Labow, actor and television producer
- Maurice LaMarche, comedian and voice actor
- J. Conrad Lavigne, broadcasting pioneer
- Lights (born Valerie Poxleitner), vocalist, singer-songwriter
- Cecil Linder, actor
- Frank Mahovlich, NHL Hall of Fame player and Canadian Senator
- Peter Mahovlich, NHL player
- Bruce McCaffrey, Progressive Conservative MPP
- Derek McGrath actor
- Gord Miller, former Environment Commissioner of Ontario
- Alan Pope, former Progressive Conservative MPP
- Jim Prentice, former Premier of Alberta, former Member of Parliament from Calgary and federal cabinet minister
- Myron Scholes, Nobel Prize winning economist
- Philippe Tatartcheff, Swiss-born poet and songwriter notable for writing songs in French with Anna and Kate McGarrigle
- Gordon Thiessen, governor of the Bank of Canada from 1994 to 2001
- Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, newspaper magnate, started his empire in the 1930s with the Timmins Daily Press
- Lola Lemire Tostevin, novelist and poet
- Shania Twain, musician
- Bruce Watson, guitarist with Scottish rock band Big Country
See also: List of mayors of Timmins.
Notable athletes
- Pete Babando, National Hockey League (NHL) hockey player
- Bill Barilko, NHL hockey player and subject of the 1993 Tragically Hip song "Fifty Mission Cap"
- Aldege "Baz" Bastien, NHL goaltender
- Lino Bozzer, general sportsman around town
- Sharon Bruneau, female bodybuilder, fitness competitor, actress and stuntwoman
- Les Costello, NHL hockey player with the Toronto Maple Leafs 1947–49. Later became a Roman Catholic priest in Timmins while continuing to play hockey for the "Flying Fathers"
- Réal Chevrefils, NHL hockey player with the Boston Bruins 1951–59.
- Murray Costello, Hockey Hall of Famer, president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
- Larry Courville, NHL hockey player
- Shean Donovan, NHL hockey player
- Paul Harrison, NHL hockey player
- Alex Henry, NHL hockey player
- Art Hodgins, Ice hockey player, inducted in the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
- Mark Katic, NHL hockey player
- Kathy Kreiner, Gold medallist, giant slalom, XIIth Olympic Winter Games, Innsbruck, Austria, 13 February 1976
- Laurie Kreiner, Alpine skiing, XI Olympic Winter Games, XIIth Olympic Winter Games
- Jason Gervais, Athletics discus, Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
- Denis Lapalme, amputee athlete and Paralympic medalist
- Rick Lessard, NHL hockey player
- T. J. Luxmore, NHL Referee
- Frank Mahovlich, NHL hockey player, Canadian Senator
- Pete Mahovlich, NHL hockey player
- Jim Mair, NHL hockey player
- Hector Marini, NHL hockey player
- Bob McCord, NHL hockey player
- Gus Mortson, NHL hockey player
- Bob Nevin, NHL hockey player
- Dave Poulin, NHL hockey player
- Dean Prentice, NHL hockey player
- Eric "Doc" Prentice, NHL hockey player
- Dale Rolfe, NHL hockey player
- Steve Shields, NHL goaltender
- Allan Stanley, NHL hockey player
- Steve Sullivan, NHL hockey player
- Walter Tkaczuk, NHL hockey player
- Eric Vail, NHL hockey player, 1975 Calder Trophy winner
Images for kids
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The Timmins Daily Press Building
See also
In Spanish: Timmins para niños
