Moosonee

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Moosonee

|official_name = Town of Moosonee

|nickname =

|settlement_type = Town (single-tier)

|total_type =

|motto =

|image_skyline = Moosonee downtown aerial.jpg

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|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = Canada

|subdivision_type1 = Province

|subdivision_name1 = Ontario

|subdivision_type2 = Region

|subdivision_name2 = Northeastern Ontario

|subdivision_type3 = District

|subdivision_name3 = Cochrane

|government_footnotes =

|government_type =

|leader_title = Mayor

|leader_name = Wayne Taipale

|leader_title1 = Councillors

|leader_name1 =

|leader_title2 = MP

|leader_name2 = Charlie Angus (NDP)

|leader_title3 = MPP

|leader_name3 = Guy Bourgouin (ONDP)

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|established_title = Settled

|established_date = 1903

|established_title2 = Incorporated

|established_date2 = 2001

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|area_footnotes = (2021)

|area_total_km2 =

|area_land_km2 = 547.83

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|area_blank1_title = Population Centre

|area_blank1_km2 = 1.64

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|population_total = 1512

|population_density_km2 = 2.8

|population_blank1_title = Population Centre

|population_blank1 = 1471

|population_density_blank1_km2 = 898.8

|timezone = EST

|utc_offset = −05:00

|timezone_DST = EDT

|utc_offset_DST = −04:00

|coordinates = {{coord|51|20|03|N|80|43|16|W|region:CA-ON|notes={{Cite cgndb|GFEVNX|Moosonee}}|display=inline,title}}

|postal_code_type = Postal code

|postal_code = P0L 1Y0

|area_code = 705

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|website = [http://www.moosonee.ca/ www.moosonee.ca]

}}

Moosonee ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|uː|s|ə|'|n|iː}}) is a town in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, on the Moose River approximately {{cvt|19|km}} south of James Bay. It is considered to be "the Gateway to the Arctic" and has Ontario's only saltwater port.{{cite web|url=https://www.ontario.ca/en/about_ontario/004660.html|title=About Ontario: Moosonee|publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario|access-date=2010-12-22|archive-date=2012-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018002148/http://www.ontario.ca/en/about_ontario/004660.html}} Nearby, on Moose Factory Island, is the community of Moose Factory to which it is connected by water taxi in the summer and ice road in the winter.

There is no road connection to the community but flights are provided by Air Creebec{{cite web|url=https://www.aircreebec.ca/destinations/ |title=Air Creebec Destinations|access-date=16 September 2023}} and by Thunder Airlines,{{cite web|url=https://www.thunderair.com/daily-flights#route-map |title=Thunder Airlines Flight Schedule|access-date=16 September 2023}} via Moosonee Airport.{{cite web|url=http://www.moosonee.ca/|title=TOWN OF MOOSONEE|accessdate=15 March 2021}} Moosonee is also the railhead of the Ontario Northland Railway where goods are transferred to barges and aircraft for transport to more northerly communities. Moosonee is not particularly far north, being located at 51°N, roughly the same latitude as Saskatoon and Calgary, but is colder because of its proximity to Hudson Bay and isolated by its lack of road access to the rest of Ontario. The community was the site of a fur trading post set up in 1903 by Revillon Frères, competitors to the Hudson's Bay Company, which later bought out Révillon.

Moosonee formerly held the status of a development area, the only community in the province with that designation, and was governed by a locally-elected board subject to formal appointment by the Ontario provincial government. It became incorporated as a town effective January 1, 2001, with an elected mayor and four-person council.

History

File:Moosonee Revillon Freres.JPG store in Moosonee]]

In 1900, Annie Hardisty and her two daughters were the first settlers on the site.{{cite web |url=http://www.wakenagun.ca/Adobe/moosonee.pdf |title=Moosonee Community Profile |publisher=Wakenagun Community Futures Development Corporation |access-date=2010-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706212605/http://www.wakenagun.ca/Adobe/moosonee.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-06 }} Significant development began on June 6, 1903, four canoes and a crew of 21 persons of the Revillon Frères company arrived on the banks of the Moose River near the much older Moose Factory to establish the Moose River Post. This Parisian furrier had ambitious plans to set up a chain of fur trading posts in direct competition with the Hudson's Bay Company, including five on James Bay. But it suffered a setback when their supply ship that carried all the provisions shipwrecked near Fort George (Chisasibi).{{Citation |title=Revillon Frères |year=2002 |publisher=The Moosonee Development Area Board}} The Revillon Frères Museum is located on First Street.

Moose River Post became the most important location for Revillon Frères and was quickly expanded with a staff house, carpenter's shop, warehouse, and sawmill. The buildings were spaced far apart as a preventive measure to minimize the spread of fire. By 1912, it was reported that "the whole line of good substantial buildings, built principally for their French Canadian employees, stretches along the river front for nearly a mile northward from the residence of the inspector."

Moose River Post (and Moose Factory) were prosperous but isolated. It was supplied only once per year by ship coming from Montreal around the Labrador Peninsula. Mail arrived only four times per year, twice by canoe and twice by toboggan. During World War I, Revillon Frères' chartered supply ship was requisitioned for war service. So from then on until 1932, the post was supplied by scows from Pagwa on the National Transcontinental Railway coming down the Pagwachuan, Kenogami, and Albany Rivers.

In 1932, the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway was extended from Cochrane to Moose River Post, that was renamed at that time to Moosonee, derived from the Cree word {{lang|cr-Latn|môsonihk}} meaning "at the Moose [River]". In 1936, Revillon Frères sold its Canadian operations to the Hudson's Bay Company and the Moosonee post closed. The HBC also exited the fur trade and opened a retail store in Moosonee (now Northern Store, part of The North West Company). With the end of the fur trade business, Moosonee's economy became centred on transportation.{{cite web|url= http://www.moosonee.ca |title= Main Page|publisher= Town of Moosonee|access-date= 2009-08-20}}

In 1962, Moosonee became the site of RCAF Station Moosonee that was part of NORAD's Pinetree Line chain of radar stations. It closed in 1975 and some of its buildings were used by the Town after the closure, including the base swimming pool and recreation centre.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moosonee |title=Moosonee |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia |author=James Marsh |access-date=2010-12-22}}

In 1968, the town was classified as a development area board. In November 2000, it was incorporated as the Town of Moosonee.

The town is governed by a mayor and four councillors. As of 2023, the mayor is Wayne Taipale and the councillors are Theresa Chavez, Sheldon Ross, Diane Ryder, and Carman Tozer{{cite web|url=http://www.moosonee.ca/council/ |title=2022 – 2024 Town Council|access-date=16 September 2023}}

Demographics

{{Historical populations

|align=left

|1986|1319

|1991|1213

|1996|1939

|2001|1916

|2006|2006

|2011|1725

|2016|1481

|2021|1512

|footnote=Statistics Canada
{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS92-101-1987.pdf | title=1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=September 1987 | access-date=15 September 2023|page=60|isbn=0-660-53450-9}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS93-304-1992.pdf | title=91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=April 1992 | access-date=15 September 2023|isbn=0-660-57115-3|page=62}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/statcan/rh-hc/CS93-357-1997.pdf | title=96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=April 1997 | access-date=15 September 2023|isbn=0-660-59283-5|page=101}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-P.cfm?T=1&PR=35&SR=301&S=1&O=A| title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Ontario) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=15 August 2012 | access-date=15 September 2023|page=13}}{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P2C&Page=SYMB&LANG=Eng&T=302&F=E&G=3556106&GK=CSD |title=Use with caution (revision of 2001 population data|date=16 December 2008|access-date=16 September 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=1&O=A&RPP=9999&CMA=0&PR=35 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Ontario) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=20 August 2021 | access-date=15 September 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&CMA=0&PR=35 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Ontario) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=25 July 2021 | access-date=15 September 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Ontario) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=8 February 2017 | access-date=15 September 2023}}}}

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Moosonee had a population of 1,512 living in 487 of its 629 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:1512-1481}}|1481|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|1481|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{cvt|547.83|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|1512|547.83|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Moosonee&DGUIDlist=2021A00053556106,2021S05101390&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 | title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Moosonee, Town Ontario [Census subdivision] & Moosonee Ontario [Population centre] | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=1 February 2023 | accessdate=15 September 2023}}

In 2021, 86.0 per cent of residents spoke English as their mother tongue, 8.5 per cent Indigenous (mainly Cree), 1.0 per cent French, and 4.4 per cent other languages. The population are mainly First Nations (66.8 per cent), 32.5 per cent non-indigenous and 1 per cent Métis.

{{Canada census

|notes= Includes Population and dwelling count amendment [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Amend.cfm]

|location = Moosonee

|2021_population=1,512 | 2021_pop_delta=+2.1 | 2021_land_area=547.83 | 2021_pop_density=2.8

|2021_median_age=29.8 | 2021_median_age_m=28.8 | 2021_median_age_f=30.6

|2021_total_pvt_dwell=629 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=487 |2021_mean_hh_income=94,000

|2021_geocode=2021A00053556106 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19

|2016_population=1,481 | 2016_pop_delta=-14.1 | 2016_land_area=546.72 | 2016_pop_density=2.7

|2016_median_age=28.1 | 2016_median_age_m=26.9 | 2016_median_age_f=29.1

|2016_total_pvt_dwell=633 | 2016_mean_hh_income=73,370 | 2016_access_date=2019-06-10

|2011_population=1,725 | 2011_pop_delta=-14.0 | 2011_land_area=550.12 | 2011_pop_density=3.1

|2011_median_age=27.6 | 2011_median_age_m=27.2 | 2011_median_age_f=27.9

|2011_total_pvt_dwell=635 | 2011_mean_hh_income= | 2011_access_date=2012-02-09

|2006_population=2,006 | 2006_pop_delta=4.7 | 2006_land_area=555.35 | 2006_pop_density=3.6

|2006_median_age= | 2006_median_age_m= | 2006_median_age_f=

|2006_total_pvt_dwell=658 | 2006_mean_hh_income= | 2006_access_date=2012-02-09

|2001_population=1,916 | 2001_pop_delta=-1.2 | 2001_land_area=533.82 | 2001_pop_density=1.8

|2001_median_age= | 2001_median_age_m= | 2001_median_age_f=

|2001_total_pvt_dwell=659 | 2001_mean_hh_income= | 2001_access_date=2012-02-09

}}

Services

Moosonee has two elementary schools, Moosonee Public School and Bishop Belleau Separate School (Roman Catholic) that offer kindergarten through grade eight. Bishop Belleau School also provides a French Language Instructional Unit for children who are entitled to be educated in French. There is a public high school, Northern Lights Secondary School, that provides grades nine through twelve. Northern College's Moosonee campus provides some post-secondary programs.

Health services are provided through the Moosonee Health Clinic of the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (merger of the former James Bay General Hospital and the Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin, which operated Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory).

Payukotayno (pronounced pay-k-ta-no) Family Services provide child care and social assistance to Moosonee, Moose Factory, Attawapiskat First Nation, Fort Albany First Nation, Kashechewan First Nation and Peawanuck. Payukotayno is a recognized Ontario Children's Aid society and means 'one family' in Cree.

As of 2020 a "satellite Trades Centre" was being operated in the community by Northern College "linked to the ... Timmins Campus"; courses included technology, trades and apprenticeship programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.northernc.on.ca/moosonee-campus/|title=Moosonee Campus|accessdate=14 March 2021}}

Climate

Moosonee has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with subarctic influences, which gives the town warm summers and cold winters that are sometimes severe. James Bay acts as a thermal reservoir to moderate spring and fall temperatures. Freeze-up on the Moose River normally occurs between late November and mid-December, with mean daily minimum January temperatures approximately {{convert|-25|C}}. Spring break-up, or spring thaw, usually occurs in April. Mean annual precipitation is {{cvt|703.6|mm}}, and mean annual snowfall is {{cvt|226.8|cm}}. Precipitation is somewhat higher in summer than at other times of the year. Severe thunderstorms can occur from time to time. Moosonee used to have a subarctic climate with a yearly mean temperature of {{convert|−1.3|C}}, but due to global warming that temperature has risen to {{cvt|0.1|C}}.{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Environment and Climate Change|date=2011-02-09|title=Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990 Station Data – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=moosonee&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=923&dispBack=1|access-date=2020-07-04|website=climate.weather.gc.ca|language=en}}

The highest temperature ever recorded in Moosonee was {{convert|37.8|C}} on 31 July 1975. The coldest temperature ever recorded, at (Moose Factory), was {{convert|-48.9|C}} on 24 January 1935.

Transportation

The town is billed as "a major transportation hub for Ontario’s Far North".{{cite web|url=http://www.northernc.on.ca/moosonee-campus/ |title=Moosonee Campus|accessdate=14 March 2021}}

As of 2020, the MV Niska 1 ferry was operating between Moosonee and Moose Factory island, carrying passengers and vehicles.{{cite web|url=https://www.ontarioferries.com/mv-niska-1/ |title=MV Niska|accessdate=15 March 2021}}

=Moosonee station and yard=

File:S IMG 1733.jpg at Moosonee Station]]

The main method of access is by Ontario Northland Railway, which reached the town in 1932 and provides passenger and freight train service to Cochrane. Ontario Northland's Polar Bear Express train runs from Moosonee station to Cochrane station six days per week during the summer months and five days per week during the rest of the year. Moosonee station is located at the end of First Street and has a small station building, freight shed, diesel shed and an outdoor yard to store trains. Tickets are sold by phone or at the offices Cochrane, Moosonee, Moose Factory and Timmins. The train will stop on demand in some locations as part of the flag stop service.{{cite web|url=http://www.cochraneontario.com/visitors/things-to-do/|title=Travelling on the Train|accessdate=15 March 2021|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302141325/http://www.cochraneontario.com/visitors/things-to-do/}}

There are also two freight trains per week. During the summer and early fall shipping season, goods can be transported from Moosonee by barge. In January 2007, responsibility for the Port of Moosonee was transferred from the federal government to the Town of Moosonee. The Polar Bear Express Passenger Train transports cars, canoes, ATVs, and snowmobiles as long as they are booked in advance notice. It is one of only two motorail services in North America.

=Airport=

The town is also accessible via the Moosonee Airport, served with scheduled flights by Air Creebec, and Thunder Airlines, and cargo service through North Star Air. In the summer months floatplanes can land at Moosonee Water Aerodrome

=Roads=

Moosonee is inaccessible by road. The nearest road outside of Moosonee ends at Otter Rapids, {{cvt|148.9|km}} south of Moosonee. During the early months of 2008, a winter road was open between Moosonee and the provincial road system at Otter Rapids. This road was built to support the twinning of the electric transmission lines that run from Otter Rapids to Moosonee. Local residents report it taking five or six hours to get to Timmins from Moosonee via Otter Rapids and Smooth Rock Falls. This road was not in service in 2009. In late 2009, members of the Moose Cree First Nation voted for the construction of a seasonal winter road south to Otter Rapids.

During the winter, ice roads are plowed and maintained on the ice across the Moose River to Moose Factory and winter roads are maintained to the coastal First Nations communities of Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat. In recent years, much of the traffic heading up north has been destined for the Victor Diamond Mine operated by De Beers Canada to the west of Attawapiskat.

In January 2021, the {{convert|311|km|abbr=on}} James Bay Winter Ice Road was under construction, to connect Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany and Moosonee.{{cite web|url=https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/design-build/construction-of-the-james-bay-winter-road-underway-3253316|title=Construction of the James Bay Winter Road underway|date=13 January 2021 |accessdate=15 March 2021}} It opened some time in winter 2021 and was said to accept loads up to 50,000 kilograms in weight. The road was operated by Kimesskanemenow LP, "a limited partnership between the four communities it connects".{{cite web|url=https://www.winterroadcompany.ca/|title=The James Bay Winter Road is Open to Heavy Loads up io 50 000 kgs.|accessdate=14 March 2021}}

Feasibility studies have been undertaken on the construction of a permanent all-season road to the communities of Moosonee, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat River.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/james-bay-coast-all-season-road-feasibility-study-1.4292818 "Ontario's far north one step closer to building all-season road"]. CBC Sudbury, September 17, 2017. The project, if undertaken, will entail a "coastal road" connecting the four communities with each other, as well as a road to link the coastal road to the provincial highway system at Fraserdale, Kapuskasing or Hearst.[https://www.mushkegowuk.com/?page_id=3577 "All Season Road"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126180819/https://www.mushkegowuk.com/?page_id=3577 |date=2018-11-26 }}. Mushkegowuk Council.

Communications

Moosonee has a local radio station, CHMO 1450 AM, that is generally operated by volunteers, plus a rebroadcasting facility for CBC Radio One Northern Ontario from CBCS-FM Sudbury on 1340 AM. Most homes subscribe to either Creecable cable TV or a satellite TV service to receive their programming, following the 2012 closure of the local CBC Television and TVOntario repeaters.

Ontera, formerly Ontario Northland Telecommunications, but now owned by Bell, provides telecommunications service in Moosonee (NPA-NXX 705-336).

Attractions and tourism

Tourism agencies recommend the Polar Bear Express as a "great rail excursion" in summer, between Cochrane and Moosonee, to view the "hydroelectric dams, isolated homes and perhaps even some wildlife."{{cite web|url=http://www.cochraneontario.com/visitors/things-to-do/|title=EXPLORE & DO|accessdate=15 March 2021|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302141325/http://www.cochraneontario.com/visitors/things-to-do/}}

A private company offers freighter-canoe ferry across the Moose River to Moose Factory where Centennial Park exhibits 19th-century buildings from the fur-trading era.{{cite web|url=https://www.northernontario.travel/outdoor-adventures/top-5-kid-approved-vacations-in-ontario-that-won-t-break-the-bank|title=Top 5 Kid-Approved Vacations in Ontario That Won't Break the Bank|date=5 February 2020 |accessdate=15 March 2021}}

Notable attractions in Moosonee include:

Railway Car Museum – displaying the cultural history of the area in an old Baggage Car of the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway.
MNR Interpretive Centre – displays and videos at the office of the Ministry of Natural Resources highlighting the wildlife, geological, and geographical features of the region.
Excursions to the bird sanctuaries of Shipsands Island and the Southern James Bay.

The Tidewater Provincial Park is on nearby Charles Island, adjacent to Moose Factory Island.