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August 4, 2000
Temagami undergoing economic resurgence |
After visiting Temagami recently and reading reports in
the Nugget, it is evident that the Temagami council under mayor Wayne Adair,
along with other organizations, are dealing with many of the complex local
issues there. After struggling with the loss of jobs when lumber companies and
the Sherman mine left, there are signs of an economic resurgence, primarily
from tourism.
From an historical perspective Temagami has a fascinating
history, and history is being made every day as events unfold.
Amalgamation On January 1st, 1998
amalgamation of the Township of Temagami, including the town of Temagami, with
17 townships covering lake Temagami and Rabbit, Cassels and Snake Island lakes
took place. One of the new council's biggest jobs was to make this marriage
between partners, that were sometimes in conflict, work. A new official plan,
and various other initiatives that the council is directly or indirectly
involved in, are changing the face of Temagami. The number of households under
the former council was about 630, as compared with 1,400 today and the new
budget is close to 4 million dollars.
Fire Tower One exciting new initiative is the
hundred-foot fire tower complex, which opened just last week and which is
stopping many travellers on highway 11. Firefighting and other northern history
is displayed in the tower's interpretation centre, and there is a spectacular
view for forty miles over prime forests, lakes and the town of Temagami. You
are drawn to visit the forest, the beaver ponds and the town. The White Bear
Forest nearby has 6,000 metres of trails. Climbing the tower, walking the woods
and touring the town are all refreshing to the traveller or the
visitor.
Downtown In the town itself be sure to see
the new Welcome Centre housing the town offices, library, Chamber of Commerce
and art gallery. It is fitting that the old town hall is currently being torn
down. There is also a new fire hall, medical centre, co-op grocery store, a new
subdivision and many excellent stores and restaurants. There are also, of
course, opportunities for canoeing, sightseeing and swimming.
The Welcome Centre's information centre at the Chamber of
Commerce provides details on all of the above plus hotels, lodges, cottages,
floatplane services and houseboat rentals. Information on special events such
as the Legion Fish Fry on Saturday August 5th is also
available.
Train Station Another historical initiative
is the restoration of the beautiful stone train station on the main street of
Temagami. A trust has been established and a Heritage Foundation grant has been
received to help with the project. The building will include a small museum and
archives, including hundreds of photos donated by several local families. The
museum is open now.
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The beautiful 1909 stone train
station on the main street of temagami. |
Provincial Parks There are numerous
provincial parks within driving or boating distance from Temagami. Finlayson
Provincial Park, just south of Temagami, has an interesting small museum and a
plaque recognizing the mysterious Grey Owl who lived and worked in the area for
years. The lady Evelyn Smoothwater Wilderness Park as the name implies is
designed for the more ambitious adventurer. It has the Maple Mountain lookout
and Ontario's highest spot, the Ishpatina Ridge.
Temagami First Nation The longest history in
the area is that of the Native people, the Temagami First Nation, whose
residency goes back some five thousand years. Old trails, rock paintings and
archaeological history are in evidence. In spite of this long presence, the
Native people only have a 283 acre reserve on Bear Island. They have been
respected and employed in various capacities, but like First Nations people
across Canada have only recently been able to become active in the pursuit of
their neglected rights. In 1974 they placed a land caution on the area, pending
an agreement on land and compensation. The caution has since been lifted and a
framework agreement has been signed, laying out a thirty month process to
provide a resolution to the current impasse and to strengthen the First Nation
position as a partner in the future of the municipality.
Economy Temagami was in economic trouble when
the Sherman iron ore mine closed in 1990 and when several lumber companies,
especially the Milne Company, disbanded. The previous closing of the
Copperfields copper mine after seventeen years of work in Temagami also had a
negative impact.
Efforts to get pine logging going again met with
resistance from numerous sources, including the Native population, when the Red
Squirrel Road was going to be extended for logging. On a more positive note,
there is the possibility of a hardwood saw mill being established in the near
future, with the hope of some spin-off woodwork activity and new
jobs.
Interest Groups Temagami has a history of
various associations, councils, boards and societies with various legitimate
but sometimes conflicting objectives.
The Temagami Lakes Association, for example, was founded
in the 1930s and has a long record of protecting the future of the 1,259
islands and shorelines on Lake Temagami. They have fought to keep trees along
the shorelines to protect the appearance of the waterways and have fought
against development other than on the islands. Their publication, The Temagami
Times, profiles some of their initiatives, including the provision of privies
in key locations and a co-operative arrangement for the use of water pumps in
case of fire. They have an office at the end of the Temagami Lake Access Road
where they have excellent archival material on the long history of the lake.
They can be visited on the Internet at www.tla-temagami.com. The road is an
improved version of the old Sherman mine road, and is now a major access point
to the lake.
The Temagami Community Foundation Space does
not allow for a look at all of the leadership groups or at all of the history
of the area. I would like to mention a progressive new initiative profiled
recently in The Temagami Times (Fall 1999) by Vicky Grant, the Chair of the new
group The Temagami Community Foundation. The foundation, one of many across
Canada, is the only one with significant Native involvement, including several
Native people on their board. They will establish a perpetual fund of donated
money that they will disperse to create programs and projects that will benefit
Temagami. Donations will be tax deductible. The money will be used for programs
and projects that are not for personal or private benefit, or that are
political in nature. Applications for innovative ideas are now available.
For more information on Temagami call the Chamber of
Commerce Information Centre (1 800 661-7609). A subscription to the Temagami
Talker is highly informative (705 569-2311). You can also contact the
informative township web site at www.twp.temagami.on.ca. The book Temagami by
Michael Barnes (1992) provides a good overview of the history of the area for
those who have an interest in an in-depth look at past history.
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