City of Timmins

City of Timmins

the City with a Heart of Gold

Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,455. At a whopping 3,210 sq. km. Timmins was until 1995, the largest city, area-wise, in Canada.

Archaeological and historical studies indicate that the first people to settle in the Timmins area were nomadic tribes like the Ojibwa and Cree dating back to 7,000 BC. During the late 1600s, explorers and fur traders established outposts in the north to capitalize on the fur trade. The Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company later developed several trading posts along major routes in northern Ontario and the Porcupine Trail, a trading route that connected the Abitibi River to the Mattagami River and passed directly through present day Timmins.

In 1907, the region became a popular destination and home to dozens of prospectors eager to explore the areas around Porcupine Lake. After several false starts, in 1909 two prospectors discovered the "Golden Staircase", a rich vein of gold that led to the Dome Mine. Within days the Porcupine Gold Rush began. The rush of 1909 earned Timmins the nickname of the “City with a Heart of Gold”.

The Town of Timmins was founded by Noah Timmins in 1912 after the Hollinger Gold Mine was discovered. Four of Noah Timmins' great-grandchildren are notable entertainers: Margo Timmins, Michael Timmins, Peter Timmins formed a band called Cowboy Junkies in 1986, and Cali Timmins rose to fame as an actress on Ryan's Hope.

The mining of gold was the catalyst (The Big 3, Dome, Hollinger and McIntyre), but during the early 1960s, base metals such as silver, zinc, copper, and nickel were discovered breathing new life into the local economy and to this day mining remains the dominant industry in the area. Forestry is also very important to the local economy.

In 1973, the provincial government of Ontario amalgamated all the municipal jurisdictions of the Town of Timmins, South Porcupine, Schumacher (Tisdale Township), Mountjoy Township, Porcupine (Whitney Township) and the many of the other smaller surrounding communities which created the Corporation of the City of Timmins.

Some of the main tourist attractions within the city include the Shania Twain Centre, Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour, Timmins Museum and National Exhibition Centre, WildExodus Adventure Tours, Cedar Meadows Wildlife Park, Kamiskotia Snow Resort, Porcupine Ski Runners, Hollinger Golf Club, Spruce Needles Golf Club, Sandy Falls Golf Club, the McIntyre Community Building and the Timmins Snowmobile Club

Over 500 lakes are located in and around Timmins, ensuring a wealth of recreational possibilities for the active traveler. WildExodus conducts tours to many regional attractions in Northern Ontario; nature excursions to the polar bear wilderness reserve on the shoreline of the world's largest salt water bay (Hudson Bay), photography safaris to the world's largest Crown game preserve (Chapleau), heritage expeditions immersed in local culture (James Bay), and riveting white water canoeing experiences throughout the Arctic watershed.