Iroquois Falls, Ontario

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iroquois Falls is a small town in Northern Ontario, Canada with a population estimated at 5,217 (2001)^[1].

The town lies just off of Hwy 11 on the banks the Abitibi River, west of Lake Abitibi. Timmins, one of the largest cities in Northern Ontario is approximately 50 kms to the west.

Iroquois Falls is home to the top-producing paper mill of pulp and paper company Abitibi-Consolidated, which is the town's major (only, really) industry. The Monteith Correctional Centre, a provincial prison serving a regional catchement area, is also located in Iroquois Falls.

The background of the town's name varies depending on the source, attributing the name of the falls either to invasions by the Iroquois on Huron or Ojibway villges. It is also unclear who has relayed the tale, settlers or the First Nations people themselves. See Iroquois Falls: History & Legend

Iroquois Falls is home to the Abitibi Eskimos, formerly the Iroquois Falls Junior Eskis, of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Each summer brings the "Search for Moby Pike" fishing derby on Lake Abitibi.

In January 1935, the town set the record low temperature for all of Canada's provinces of −58 °C (−73 °F).

Porquis Junction, a small community 7 km south of the town centre, and within the municipal boundaries of Iroquois Falls, is home to world renowned blues music festival, the Porquis Blues Festival.

Porquis Junction's annual summer festival, Porquis FunDayz, got an unexpected surprise in 1984, when World Wrestling Federation superstar André the Giant showed up to participate in the festivities. During the traditional breakfast at the Porquis Agricultural Hall, André ate a dozen eggs, a whole package of bacon, a loaf of bread for toast (buttered) and an entire 4 gallon pot of coffee.

Low-power radio station CFIF-FM is licensed to Iroquois Falls.