Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands

Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
Town (single-tier)
Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
Coordinates: 45°58′N 81°56′W / 45.967°N 81.933°W / 45.967; -81.933Coordinates: 45°58′N 81°56′W / 45.967°N 81.933°W / 45.967; -81.933
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
District Manitoulin
Established January 1, 1998
Government
 • Type Town
 • Mayor Alan MacNevin
 • MP Carol Hughes (NDP)
 • MPP Michael Mantha (NDP)
Area
 • Land 495.68 km2 (191.38 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 2,706
 • Density 5.5/km2 (14/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code P0P 1K0
Area code(s) 705
Website www.townofnemi.on.ca

Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands is a municipality with town status in Manitoulin District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Espanola. Its main town is Little Current, located on the northeast side of Manitoulin Island. However, its territory also includes most of the small islands surrounding Manitoulin, even those at the far western end of Manitoulin.

The town was created on January 1, 1998, by amalgamating the Town of Little Current with the Township of Howland and the unorganized small islands in Lake Huron.

It is the administrative headquarters of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nations band government.[1]

Communities

Little Current is the largest community within the town, as well as its administrative centre. Formerly an independent town, Little Current was named variously by different groups for the swift strong currents of water running between the narrow passageway which connects the North Channel and Georgian Bay. Past names for the community included Waebijewung, Le Petit Courant and Shaftsbury.

The town also includes the smaller communities of Cold Springs, Dinner Point Depot, Eads Bush, Green Bay, Honora, Rockville, and Sheguiandah.

Little Current as seen across the North Channel
Water Street in Little Current

Economy

In the late 19th century lake vessels stopped here to take on wood for fuel. A settlement developed, with George Abotossaway, an Anishinaabe man, selling fuel to the steamers. The westbound passengers on board the vessels were usually from Upper Canada. One group included the Turner family which disembarked and, being merchants, set up a general store still in business today.

The lumbering trade was foremost in the region at the time and saw mills were established at nearby Low Island, now a park in the community. Settlers cleared the land for farming.

Today the local economy continues to include farming and lumbering but tourism is a main aspect.

Transportation

Little Current Swing Bridge

Being a safe haven from the ravages of Lake Huron, the community may be found on Canadian Hydrographic Chart #2205. It is well marked from the east by Strawberry Island Lighthouse and from the west by a series of navigational markers.

The only land access to Manitoulin is the Little Current Swing Bridge, located on Highway 6, crossing the North Channel of Lake Huron to the mainland, where the highway continues northward to Espanola. In summer the swing bridge opens to marine traffic on the hour for 15 minutes from sunrise to sunset, delaying road traffic. The Algoma Eastern Railway (Canadian Pacific Little Current subdivision) terminated at Little Current. The railway line was abandoned in the early 1990s.

Climate

Climate data for Temperature Data for Little Current, Ontario
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8
(46)		 10
(50)		 19
(66)		 27
(81)		 29
(84)		 33
(91)		 36
(97)		 36
(97)		 31
(88)		 23
(73)		 18
(64)		 13
(55)		 36
(97)
Average high °C (°F) −5.9
(21.4)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 1.5
(34.7)		 10.3
(50.5)		 17.7
(63.9)		 22.5
(72.5)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.1
(75.4)		 18.7
(65.7)		 11.7
(53.1)		 3.6
(38.5)		 −2.9
(26.8)		 10.22
(50.41)
Average low °C (°F) −16.7
(1.9)		 −15.6
(3.9)		 −10.5
(13.1)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 4.0
(39.2)		 8.9
(48)		 11.9
(53.4)		 11.0
(51.8)		 7.0
(44.6)		 1.9
(35.4)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 −11.9
(10.6)		 −1.3
(29.65)
Record low °C (°F) −41
(−42)		 −41
(−42)		 −32
(−26)		 −15
(5)		 −5
(23)		 −1
(30)		 2
(36)		 0
(32)		 −7
(19)		 −8
(18)		 −29
(−20)		 −38
(−36)		 −41
(−42)
Source: Environment Canada, The Weather Network

Culture

Each year the town hosts "Haweater Weekend," a weeklong celebration which takes its name from the Haweaters, the name given to one who is born on Manitoulin Island. The main celebrations take place on the first weekend of August, and include a fireworks display, a video dance, street vendors, and a parade.

The prominent American sportsman John W. Galbreath (1897-1988), owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball club as well as the Darby Dan Farm thoroughbred horse racing operation, owned a summer retreat here and named one of his horses after the village. Little Current won the 1974 Preakness and Belmont Stakes and was voted that year's United States Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt.

The town has two radio stations, CFRM and CHAW. Some radio stations from Sudbury can also be heard in the area, as can Elliot Lake's CKNR.

Demographics

Canada census – Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands community profile
2011 2006
Population: 2706 (-0.2% from 2006) 2711 (7.1% from 2001)
Land area: 495.68 km2 (191.38 sq mi) 495.04 km2 (191.14 sq mi)
Population density: 5.5/km2 (14/sq mi) 5.5/km2 (14/sq mi)
Median age: 47.4 (M: 46.7, F: 48.0)
Total private dwellings: 2029 2044
Median household income: $44,097
References: 2011[2] 2006[3] earlier[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aundeckomnikaningfn.com/
  2. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  3. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  4. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.


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