Temiskaming Shores facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Temiskaming Shores
City (single-tier)
City of Temiskaming Shores
Seal
Temiskaming Shores Location in Ontario
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
District	Timiskaming
Established	January 1, 2004
Area
• Land	178.11 km2 (68.77 sq mi)
Elevation	347.5 m (1,140.1 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	9,634
• Density	55.7/km2 (144/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code	P0J
Area code(s)	705, and 249
Website	www.temiskamingshores.ca

Temiskaming Shores is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Timiskaming District. The city was formed in 2004 when three places joined together: the town of New Liskeard, the town of Haileybury, and the township of Dymond.

In 2021, about 9,634 people lived in Temiskaming Shores. This makes it Ontario's second-smallest city by population, after Dryden. Haileybury is an important place in the Timiskaming District because it is the "seat" or main administrative center.

Before these places joined, people often called New Liskeard, Haileybury, and the nearby town of Cobalt the "Tri-Towns." Cobalt was supposed to join Temiskaming Shores too, but it decided not to.

About Temiskaming Shores

Where is Temiskaming Shores Located?

Riverside Drive in Temiskaming Shores

Temiskaming Shores is in a region called the Clay Belt. It is very close to the border of Quebec, on the shores of Lake Timiskaming's Wabi Bay. Another town, Harris, is located between the city and the Quebec border. The closest town in Quebec is Notre-Dame-du-Nord.

The city is also in a special geological area called the Timiskaming Graben. A large, steep cliff known as Devil's Rock is found near Haileybury.

Communities in the City

Temiskaming Shores includes several smaller communities. These are New Liskeard, Haileybury, Dymond, and North Cobalt.

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  Haileybury

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  New Liskeard

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  North Cobalt

History of Temiskaming Shores

Early Travel and Exploration

The Ottawa River and Lake Timiskaming have been important travel routes for a very long time. Native peoples used these waterways for centuries. French explorers built Fort Temiscamingue in 1695. Later, in 1794, the Hudson's Bay Company set up Abitibi House further north.

In the late 1800s, more settlers started coming to the area. Steamboats were the main way to travel on Lake Timiskaming, bringing new people to live there.

Mapping the Border

Before more towns could be built, the border between Quebec and Ontario north of Lake Timiskaming needed to be mapped correctly. There was a disagreement about where the border was. So, in 1890, the Canadian government sent a survey team led by William Ogilvie. He was known for accurately mapping the Canada-Alaska border. Ogilvie's team used special tools to find the exact positions of the border as they moved north to James Bay. His notes describe what the area was like and the early settlers he met.

Founding New Liskeard and Haileybury

The first European settlers in the New Liskeard area were William Murray and Irvin Heard, who arrived in 1891. They started a successful farming community because the soil in the "Little Claybelt" region was very rich.

New Liskeard was founded soon after settlers arrived in Dymond. New Liskeard became a town in 1903, and Dymond in 1901. New Liskeard was named after a town in England called Liskeard.

Haileybury was founded in 1889 by Charles Cobbold Farr. He named it after his old school in England, the Haileybury and Imperial Service College. Haileybury officially became a town in 1904. Farr wanted more people to move there, so he wrote a pamphlet to encourage settlers.

Haileybury grew a lot after the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway arrived in the early 1900s. Even more growth happened when large amounts of silver were found in nearby Cobalt in 1903. During the Cobalt Silver Rush, Haileybury became a place where many miners, and especially mine owners, lived. These wealthy mine owners built large homes along the waterfront, which people called 'Millionaire's Row.' Many of these homes are still there today.

In 1909, the Haileybury Hockey Club played its only season in the NHA. This club later moved to Montreal and became the famous Montreal Canadiens hockey team. By 1912, Haileybury was chosen as the main legal center for the Temiskaming Region, a role it still has today. In 1971, Haileybury also took in the nearby community of North Cobalt.

Major Events in History

Haileybury after the Great Fire of 1922.

The region faced a huge disaster in 1922 called the Great Fire of 1922. Haileybury was hit the hardest, with about 90% of the town being destroyed. Only Millionaire's Row and a few other areas survived. Strong winds made the fire spread very quickly. About 3,500 people lost their homes.

The area was also affected by an earthquake in 1935. Its center was in Quebec, about halfway between Haileybury/New Liskeard and North Bay.

Temiskaming Shores Today

Today, Dymond is still mainly a farming area. Most of the businesses and industries have moved to what was once New Liskeard. Haileybury remains the legal center and is also home to the new city hall for Temiskaming Shores.

Because of its strong connection to farming, Temiskaming Shores has avoided the ups and downs that many mining or forestry towns face. It has a stable population and a healthy local economy. Temiskaming Shores has also become a popular place for retirement and vacations.

City Government and Buildings

When New Liskeard, Haileybury, and Dymond first joined, their old town halls were not big enough for all the new city staff. So, different city departments were housed in different buildings. A new city hall was finished in 2007. It is located on Farr Drive in Haileybury.

Population and Languages

In 2021, Temiskaming Shores had 9,634 people living in 4,263 homes. The city covers about 176.67 square kilometers.

Most people in Temiskaming Shores speak English as their first language (66.4%). A large number of residents (28.4%) speak French as their first language.

Getting Around Temiskaming Shores

Highway 11 and Highway 65 both go through Temiskaming Shores. There is also a local bus system called Tri-Town Transit, which Temiskaming Shores shares with Cobalt. The Ontario Northland bus service also has stops in New Liskeard, Dymond, and Haileybury.

Shopping and Economy

Temiskaming Shores is an important center for shopping and services for about 32,500 people in the surrounding area. Many businesses and large stores have opened here to serve customers from both Ontario and Quebec.

Timiskaming Square

The city has one indoor shopping mall called Timiskaming Square. It is located in the Dymond area. The mall opened in 1977 and has 21 stores, with Food Basics as a main store. It has a total area of 15,249 square meters. When it first opened, it was very popular and caused some downtown businesses in Haileybury and New Liskeard to decline. Later, larger Walmart and Canadian Tire stores were built nearby, which also affected the mall's business. Many customers at the mall come from Quebec, which is a short drive away.

Learning and Education

Schools in the City

Temiskaming Shores has several schools:

• Catholic Schools: Ecole catholique Sainte-Croix, Ecole catholique St-Michel, Ecole secondaire catholique Sainte-Marie (French-language schools). English Catholic Central School and St. Patrick Catholic School (in nearby Cobalt).
• Public Schools: New Liskeard Public School, Temiskaming District Secondary School (English-language schools). Ecole publique des Navigateurs (French-language school).

Colleges

Haileybury is home to the Haileybury Campus of Northern College. This campus is known for its Veterinary Technology programs. It offers special diplomas in Wildlife Rehabilitation and Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation, which were the first of their kind in Canada.

Media and News

Radio Stations

Newspapers

Local newspapers include The Temiskaming Speaker, Le Reflet, and The Temiskaming Speaker Weekender. There is also a biweekly newspaper called The Voice of the Shores.

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