Dryden, Ontario
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| Dryden, Ontario | |
 |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada  |
| Province | Ontario  |
| District | Kenora District |
| Established | |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Anne Krassilowsky |
| - Governing Body | Dryden Council |
| - MPs | Roger Valley |
| - MPPs | Howard Hampton |
| Area [1] | |
| - Land | 65.2 km² (25.17 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 8,195 |
| - Density | 125.7/km² (325.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | P8N |
| Area code(s) | 807 |
| Website: City of Dryden | |
The City of Dryden (2006 population 8,195) is the second largest city in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada located on Wabigoon Lake.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Pre-History
The Dryden area was part of the Ojibwe nation, which covered a large area from Lake Huron in the east to Lake of the Woods and beyond, disputed by Cree from the north, and Sioux from the south. The Ojibwe was a nomadic culture, groups from family to village size moving over the land with the seasons and the availability of game or the necessities of life, so that permanent or lasting settlements were not made.
It is believed that the Bending Lake/Turtle River area was a meeting place for aboriginal peoples ranging from as far away as the southern US and much of central Canada, for trade and cultural exchange, and there is still evidence of ancient occupancy there in the form of pictographs, artifacts, burial grounds, and one might consider this our prehistoric centre. Bending Lake is in the triangle between Dryden, Ignace, and Atikokan.
[edit] Recent History
The settlement was founded as an agricultural community by John Dryden, then Ontario's Minister of Agriculture in 1896. While his train was stopped at what was then known as Barclay Tank to re-water, he noticed clover growing at the side of the tracks and decided to found an experimental farm the following year. The success of the farm brought settlers from the Uxbridge area of southern Ontario as well as the Bruce Peninsula and the community came to be known as New Prospect. It became a town in 1910 and a city in 1998 after merging with the neighbouring township of Barclay. Dryden's eastern boundary is located near Aaron Provincial Park on Thunder Lake.
Pulp and Paper came to the town in 1910 which today is its main industry though agriculture, tourism and some mining are also important segments of the local economy.
The town came onto the national consciousness in the early 1970's when natives at the community of Grassy Narrows became sick with Minamata disease (mercury poisoning). Investigation determined that an alkaline chlorine plant located at the Dryden mill was the source of the mercury in the Wabigoon and English river systems.
[edit] Politics and Government
Dryden is currently part of the provincial electoral district of Kenora—Rainy River. Kenora—Rainy River's Member of Provincial Parliament, Howard Hampton, is leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party. Federally the city is part of the Kenora riding and is represented by Roger Valley, a Liberal.
Dryden's mayor is Anne Krassilowsky.
[edit] Media
[edit] Radio
- FM 92.7 - CKDR, adult contemporary
- FM 97.3 - CJIV, Christian
- FM 98.5 - CFCD, tourist information
- FM 100.9 - CBQH, CBC Radio One
- FM 102.7 - CKSB-6, La Première Chaîne
- FM 104.5 - Q104, hot adult contemporary, also on FM 103.3
[edit] Television
- CBWFT-9 Channel 6 (Radio-Canada)
- CBWDT Channel 9 (CBC)
[edit] Print
Dryden has one community newspaper, The Dryden Observer and is also serviced by the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, which operates a bureau in Dryden. NWO Update, offers news and information for the region.
[edit] Trivia
Dryden is one of only three cities in Ontario located in the Central Standard Time Zone. The others are Kenora and Fort Frances.
Dryden is known by people passing by as the home of "Max the Moose", Dryden's 5.6m high mascot on the TransCanada highway.
Dryden holds an annual Moosefest, during which The Walleye Masters is held, which is an exciting fishing tournament.
[edit] Notable residents
Dryden is the birthplace of NHL hockey players Chris Pronger and brother Sean Pronger. It is also the birthplace of Division 1 Women's Hockey goaltender Tiffany Thompson.
[edit] External links
