Moosonee(/ˌmsəˈn/) is a town innorthern Ontario,Canada, on theMoose Riverapproximately 19 km (12 mi) south ofJames Bay.It is considered to be "the Gateway to the Arctic" and hasOntario's only saltwater port.[4]Nearby onMoose Factory Islandis the community ofMoose Factoryto which it is connected bywater taxiin the summer andice roadin the winter.

Moosonee
Town of Moosonee
Official logo of Moosonee
Moosonee is located in Ontario
Moosonee
Moosonee
Moosonee is located in Canada
Moosonee
Moosonee
Coordinates:51°20′03″N80°43′16″W/ 51.33417°N 80.72111°W/51.33417; -80.72111[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
RegionNortheastern Ontario
DistrictCochrane
Settled1903
Incorporated2001
Government
• MayorWayne Taipale[2]
MPCharlie Angus(NDP)
MPPGuy Bourgouin(ONDP)
Area
(2021)[3]
• Land547.83 km2(211.52 sq mi)
Population Centre1.64 km2(0.63 sq mi)
Population
(2021)[3]
• Total
1,512
• Density2.8/km2(7/sq mi)
• Population Centre
1,471
• Population Centre density898.8/km2(2,328/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−05:00(EST)
• Summer (DST)UTC−04:00(EDT)
Postal code
Area code(s)705
Websitemoosonee.ca

There is no road connection to the community but flights are provided byAir Creebec[5]and byThunder Airlines,[6]viaMoosonee Airport.[7]Moosonee is also the railhead of theOntario Northland Railwaywhere goods are transferred to barges and aircraft for transport to more northerly communities. Moosonee is not particularly far north, being located at 51°N—which is roughly the same latitude asSaskatoonandCalgary—but is colder due to its proximity toHudson Bay,and isolated due to its lack of road access to the rest of Ontario. The community was the site of afur tradingpost set up in 1903 byRevillon Frères,competitors to theHudson's Bay Companywhich later bought out Révillon.

Moosonee formerly held the status of a development area, the only community in the province with that designation; it 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

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Revillon Frèresstore in Moosonee

In 1900, Annie Hardisty and her two daughters were the first settlers on the site.[8]Significant development began on June 6, 1903, four canoes and a crew of 21 persons of theRevillon Frèrescompany arrived on the banks of the Moose River near the much older Moose Factory to establish theMoose River Post.This Parisianfurrierhad ambitious plans to set up a chain of furtrading postsin direct competition with theHudson's Bay Company,including five onJames Bay.But it suffered a setback when their supply ship that carried all the provisions shipwrecked nearFort George(Chisasibi).[9]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 theirFrench Canadianemployees, stretches along the river front for nearly a mile northward from the residence of the inspector. "[9]

Moose River Post (and Moose Factory) were prosperous but isolated. It was supplied only once per year by ship coming fromMontrealaround theLabrador Peninsula.Mail arrived only four times per year, twice by canoe and twice by toboggan. DuringWorld War I,Revillon Frères' chartered supply ship was requisitioned for war service. So from then on until 1932, the post was supplied byscowsfromPagwaon theNational Transcontinental Railwaycoming down the Pagwachuan,Kenogami,andAlbany Rivers.[9]

In 1932, theTemiskaming and Northern Ontario Railwaywas extended fromCochraneto Moose River Post, that was renamed at that time to Moosonee, derived from theCree wordmôsonihkmeaning "at the Moose [River]". In 1936, Revillon Frères sold its Canadian operations to the Hudson's Bay Company and the Moosonee post closed.[4][9]The HBC also exited the fur trade and opened a retail store in Moosonee (now Northern Store, part ofThe North West Company). With the end of the fur trade business, Moosonee's economy became centred on transportation.[10]

In 1962, Moosonee became the site ofRCAF Station Moosoneethat was part ofNORAD'sPinetree Linechain 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.[11]

In 1968, the town was classified as a development area board. In November 2000, it was incorporated as the Town of Moosonee.[4]

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[2]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
19861,319
19911,213−8.0%
19961,939+59.9%
20011,916−1.2%
20062,006+4.7%
20111,725−14.0%
20161,481−14.1%
20211,512+2.1%
Statistics Canada
[3][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

In the2021 Canadian censusconducted byStatistics Canada,Moosonee had a population of 1,512 living in 487 of its 629 total private dwellings, a change of2.1% from its 2016 population of1,481.With a land area of 547.83 km2(211.52 sq mi), it had a population density of2.8/km2(7.1/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

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 mainlyFirst Nations(66.8 per cent), 32.5 per cent non-indigenous and 1 per centMétis.[3]


Canada census – Moosonee community profile
202120162011
Population1,512 (+2.1% from 2016)1,481 (-14.1% from 2011)1,725 (-14.0% from 2006)
Land area547.83 km2(211.52 sq mi)546.72 km2(211.09 sq mi)550.12 km2(212.40 sq mi)
Population density2.8/km2(7.3/sq mi)2.7/km2(7.0/sq mi)3.1/km2(8.0/sq mi)
Median age29.8 (M: 28.8, F: 30.6)28.1 (M: 26.9, F: 29.1)27.6 (M: 27.2, F: 27.9)
Private dwellings629 (total) 487 (occupied)633 (total)635 (total)
Median household income$94,000$73,370
Notes: Includes Population and dwelling count amendment[1]
References: 2021[20]2016[21]2011[22]earlier[23][24]

Services

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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 theMoosonee Health Clinicof theWeeneebayko Area Health Authority(merger of the former James Bay General Hospital and the Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin which operated Weeneebayko General Hospital inMoose 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 NationandPeawanuck.Payukotayno is a recognizedOntario Children's Aidsociety 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.[25]

Climate

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Moosonee has ahumid continental climate(Köppen climate classificationDfb) withsubarcticinfluences, which gives the town warm summers and cold winters, sometimes severe.James Bayacts 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 −25 °C (−13 °F). Spring break-up, or spring thaw, usually occurs in April. Mean annual precipitation is 703.6 mm (27.70 in), and mean annual snowfall is 226.8 cm (89.3 in). Precipitation is somewhat higher in summer than at other times of the year.Severe thunderstormscan occur from time to time. Moosonee used to have asubarctic climatewith a yearly mean temperature of −1.3 °C (29.7 °F), but due toglobal warmingthat temperature has risen to 0.1 °C (32.2 °F).[26][27]

The highest temperature ever recorded in Moosonee was 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) on 31 July 1975.[26]The coldest temperature ever recorded, at (Moose Factory), was −48.9 °C (−56.0 °F) on 24 January 1935.[28]

Climate data for Moosonee (Moosonee Upper Air (UA))
WMO ID:71836; coordinates51°16′N80°39′W/ 51.267°N 80.650°W/51.267; -80.650(Moosonee Upper Air));elevation: 10.0 m (32.8 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1877–present[a]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record highhumidex 5.7 8.0 26.0 27.7 40.3 46.0 45.5 41.3 38.3 32.3 22.5 10.6 46.0
Record high °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0)
10.6
(51.1)
24.5
(76.1)
27.9
(82.2)
34.2
(93.6)
37.1
(98.8)
37.8
(100.0)
35.0
(95.0)
36.3
(97.3)
28.1
(82.6)
20.5
(68.9)
13.2
(55.8)
37.8
(100.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −13.0
(8.6)
−10.8
(12.6)
−4.0
(24.8)
3.8
(38.8)
12.7
(54.9)
19.8
(67.6)
22.9
(73.2)
21.6
(70.9)
16.9
(62.4)
8.9
(48.0)
0.1
(32.2)
−8.8
(16.2)
5.8
(42.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −18.7
(−1.7)
−17.4
(0.7)
−11.0
(12.2)
−2.2
(28.0)
6.4
(43.5)
12.7
(54.9)
16.3
(61.3)
15.5
(59.9)
11.3
(52.3)
4.9
(40.8)
−3.6
(25.5)
−13.5
(7.7)
0.1
(32.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −24.4
(−11.9)
−23.9
(−11.0)
−18.0
(−0.4)
−8.1
(17.4)
0.1
(32.2)
5.7
(42.3)
9.8
(49.6)
9.4
(48.9)
5.8
(42.4)
0.6
(33.1)
−7.5
(18.5)
−18.2
(−0.8)
−5.7
(21.7)
Record low °C (°F) −48.9
(−56.0)
−47.8
(−54.0)
−44.4
(−47.9)
−33.9
(−29.0)
−17.8
(0.0)
−7.0
(19.4)
−2.2
(28.0)
−3.1
(26.4)
−6.1
(21.0)
−16.7
(1.9)
−34.4
(−29.9)
−44.4
(−47.9)
−48.9
(−56.0)
Record lowwind chill −51.0 −55.6 −49.6 −39.0 −14.4 −8.5 −2.5 −5.0 −8.0 −18.3 −39.9 −50.0 −55.6
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 34.8
(1.37)
31.1
(1.22)
33.0
(1.30)
37.1
(1.46)
65.9
(2.59)
68.1
(2.68)
90.0
(3.54)
80.4
(3.17)
90.5
(3.56)
71.6
(2.82)
53.7
(2.11)
43.6
(1.72)
699.7
(27.55)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 1.0
(0.04)
1.0
(0.04)
3.9
(0.15)
19.6
(0.77)
58.9
(2.32)
67.1
(2.64)
90.3
(3.56)
80.4
(3.17)
89.9
(3.54)
66.2
(2.61)
20.6
(0.81)
3.7
(0.15)
502.8
(19.80)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 35.9
(14.1)
32.7
(12.9)
30.4
(12.0)
15.8
(6.2)
3.4
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.4
(0.2)
6.5
(2.6)
37.9
(14.9)
48.5
(19.1)
211.4
(83.2)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) 13.2 11.0 8.8 9.7 13.2 12.4 16.2 16.2 17.1 16.6 15.4 15.3 165.1
Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) 0.52 0.38 1.4 4.6 12.2 12.4 16.2 16.4 17.1 14.6 5.2 1.2 102.1
Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) 11.9 9.6 7.6 5.7 1.9 0.04 0.0 0.0 0.05 3.1 11.3 13.6 64.7
Averagerelative humidity(%)(at 1500 LST) 71.9 64.9 59.5 59.7 60.7 59.1 61.6 63.6 65.3 69.3 76.1 77.9 65.8
Mean monthlysunshine hours 93.6 128.7 161.6 192.0 221.2 213.5 249.2 219.7 134.8 88.5 52.9 55.2 1,810.7
Percentpossible sunshine 35.8 45.7 44.0 46.3 45.9 43.1 50.0 48.6 35.4 26.6 19.7 22.3 38.6
Source:Environment and Climate Change Canada[29](sun 1981–2010)[26][28][30][31][32]


Transportation

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The town is billed as "a major transportation hub for Ontario’s Far North".[33]

As of 2020, the MVNiska 1ferry was operating between Moosonee and Moose Factory island, carrying passengers and vehicles.[34]

Moosonee station and yard

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ThePolar Bear Expressat Moosonee Station

The main method of access is byOntario Northland Railwaywhich reached the town in 1932 and which provides passenger and freight train service toCochrane.[10]Ontario Northland'sPolar Bear Expresstrain runs fromMoosonee stationtoCochrane stationsix 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 FactoryandTimmins.The train will stop on demand in some locations as part of theflag stopservice.[35]No meal service is available on this train.[36]

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 twomotorailservices in North America.

Airport

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The town is also accessible via theMoosonee Airport,served with scheduled flights byAir Creebec,andThunder Airlines,[5][6]and cargo service throughNorth Star Air.In the summer monthsfloatplanescan land atMoosonee Water Aerodrome

Roads

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Moosonee is inaccessible by road. The nearest road outside of Moosonee ends atOtter Rapidswhich is 148.9 km (92.5 mi) south of Moosonee. During the early months of 2008, a winter road was open between Moosonee and theprovincial road systemat 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 toTimminsfrom Moosonee via Otter Rapids andSmooth Rock Falls.This road was not in service in 2009. In late 2009, members of theMoose Cree First Nationvoted for the construction of a seasonalwinter roadsouth to Otter Rapids.

During the winter,ice roadsare plowed and maintained on the ice across theMoose RivertoMoose Factoryand winter roads are maintained to the coastal First Nations communities ofFort Albany,KashechewanandAttawapiskat.In recent years, much of the traffic heading up north has been destined for theVictor Diamond Mineoperated byDe BeersCanada to the west of Attawapiskat.

In January 2021, the 311 km (193 mi) James Bay Winter Ice Road was under construction, to connect Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany and Moosonee.[37]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".[38]

Feasibility studies have been undertaken on the construction of a permanent all-season road to the communities of Moosonee, Fort Albany, Kashechewan andAttawapiskat River.[39]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 atFraserdale,KapuskasingorHearst.[40]

Communications

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Moosonee has a local radio station,CHMO1450 AM, that is generally operated by volunteers, plus a rebroadcasting facility forCBC Radio OneNorthern Ontario fromCBCS-FMSudburyon 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 localCBC TelevisionandTVOntariorepeaters.

Ontera,formerly Ontario Northland Telecommunications, but now owned by Bell, provides telecommunications service in Moosonee (NPA-NXX705-336).

Attractions and tourism

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Tourism agencies recommend thePolar Bear Expressas a "great rail excursion" in summer, between Cochrane and Moosonee, to view the "hydroelectric dams, isolated homes and perhaps even some wildlife."[41]No meal service is available on this train.[36]

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.[42]

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 ofShipsands Islandand theSouthern James Bay.

TheTidewater Provincial Parkis on nearby Charles Island, adjacent to Moose Factory Island.

Footnotes

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  1. ^Long term climate data for the Moosonee area was recorded inMoose Factoryfrom October 1877 to December 1938, and in Moosonee from October 1932 to present.

References

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  1. ^"Moosonee".Geographical Names Data Base.Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ab"2022 – 2024 Town Council".Retrieved16 September2023.
  3. ^abcde"Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Moosonee, Town Ontario [Census subdivision] & Moosonee Ontario [Population centre]".Statistics Canada.1 February 2023.Retrieved15 September2023.
  4. ^abc"About Ontario: Moosonee".Queen's Printer for Ontario. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-18.Retrieved2010-12-22.
  5. ^ab"Air Creebec Destinations".Retrieved16 September2023.
  6. ^ab"Thunder Airlines Flight Schedule".Retrieved16 September2023.
  7. ^"TOWN OF MOOSONEE".Retrieved15 March2021.
  8. ^"Moosonee Community Profile"(PDF).Wakenagun Community Futures Development Corporation. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2011-07-06.Retrieved2010-12-22.
  9. ^abcdRevillon Frères,The Moosonee Development Area Board, 2002
  10. ^ab"Main Page".Town of Moosonee.Retrieved2009-08-20.
  11. ^James Marsh."Moosonee".The Canadian Encyclopedia.Retrieved2010-12-22.
  12. ^1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions(PDF).Statistics Canada.September 1987. p. 60.ISBN0-660-53450-9.Retrieved15 September2023.
  13. ^91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts(PDF).Statistics Canada.April 1992. p. 62.ISBN0-660-57115-3.Retrieved15 September2023.
  14. ^96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts(PDF).Statistics Canada.April 1997. p. 101.ISBN0-660-59283-5.Retrieved15 September2023.
  15. ^"Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Ontario)".Statistics Canada.15 August 2012. p. 13.Retrieved15 September2023.
  16. ^"Use with caution (revision of 2001 population data".16 December 2008.Retrieved16 September2023.
  17. ^"Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Ontario)".Statistics Canada.20 August 2021.Retrieved15 September2023.
  18. ^"Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Ontario)".Statistics Canada.25 July 2021.Retrieved15 September2023.
  19. ^"Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Ontario)".Statistics Canada.8 February 2017.Retrieved15 September2023.
  20. ^"2021 Community Profiles".2021 Canadian census.Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022.Retrieved2023-10-19.
  21. ^"2016 Community Profiles".2016 Canadian census.Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021.Retrieved2019-06-10.
  22. ^"2011 Community Profiles".2011 Canadian census.Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019.Retrieved2012-02-09.
  23. ^"2006 Community Profiles".2006 Canadian census.Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  24. ^"2001 Community Profiles".2001 Canadian census.Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  25. ^"Moosonee Campus".Retrieved14 March2021.
  26. ^abc"Moosonee UA".Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010.Environment and Climate Change Canada.14 July 2023.Retrieved15 September2023.
  27. ^Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2011-02-09)."Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990 Station Data – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada".climate.weather.gc.ca.Retrieved2020-07-04.
  28. ^ab"Moose Factory".Canadian Climate Data.Environment and Climate Change Canada. 14 July 2023.Retrieved15 September2023.
  29. ^"Moosonee Ontario".Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020.Environment and Climate Change Canada.Archived fromthe originalon 2024-07-11.Retrieved18 Oct2024.
  30. ^"Daily Data Report for November 2020".Canadian Climate Data.Environment and Climate Change Canada. 18 September 2023.Retrieved4 October2023.
  31. ^"Daily Data Report for September 2023".Canadian Climate Data.Environment and Climate Change Canada. 18 September 2023.Retrieved4 October2023.
  32. ^"Daily Data Report for October 2023".Canadian Climate Data.Environment and Climate Change Canada. 18 September 2023.Retrieved9 October2023.
  33. ^"Moosonee Campus".Retrieved14 March2021.
  34. ^"MV Niska".Retrieved15 March2021.
  35. ^"Travelling on the Train".Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2022.Retrieved15 March2021.
  36. ^ab"Travelling on the Train".9 March 2015.Retrieved15 March2021.
  37. ^"Construction of the James Bay Winter Road underway".13 January 2021.Retrieved15 March2021.
  38. ^"The James Bay Winter Road is Open to Heavy Loads up io 50 000 kgs".Retrieved14 March2021.
  39. ^"Ontario's far north one step closer to building all-season road".CBC Sudbury,September 17, 2017.
  40. ^"All Season Road"Archived2018-11-26 at theWayback Machine.Mushkegowuk Council.
  41. ^"EXPLORE & DO".Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2022.Retrieved15 March2021.
  42. ^"Top 5 Kid-Approved Vacations in Ontario That Won't Break the Bank".5 February 2020.Retrieved15 March2021.
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