Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario
| Smooth Rock Falls | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Motto: The North's Biggest Little Town | |
 Smooth Rock Falls
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| Coordinates: 49°17′N 81°38′W / 49.283°N 81.633°WCoordinates: 49°17′N 81°38′W / 49.283°N 81.633°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| District | Cochrane |
| Settled | 1916 |
| Incorporated | |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Michel Arsenault |
| • MP | Carol Hughes (NDP) |
| • MPP | Gilles Bisson |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 199.79 km2 (77.14 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,376 |
| • Density | 6.9/km2 (18/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal code | P0L 2B0 |
| Area code(s) | 705 |
| Website | www.townofsmoothrock falls.ca |
Smooth Rock Falls is an incorporated town in the Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada.
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Geography and transportation
The town lies on the Mattagami River and on Highway 11; on Highway 11, the next full-service towns in each direction are Cochrane, about 59 km (37 mi) to the east and slightly south by road, and Kapuskasing, about 65 km (40 mi) to the west and slightly north. Highway 634 connects Smooth Rock Falls northward with the tiny community of Fraserdale, and Highway 655, starting in Driftwood east of Smooth Rock Falls, provides easier access to Timmins, the dominant regional centre, about 102 km (63 mi) south by that route.
The town is served by the Ontario Northland Railway for freight service, and by Ontario Northland passenger buses.
Demographics
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The population reached its peak of 2,208 in the 1986 census. Since then, it has continuously declined, dropping to 1376 in the Canada 2011 Census, or a drop of 6.6% from the Canada 2006 Census.[1]
Population trend:[2][3][4][5]
- 2011: 1376
- 2006: 1473
- 2001: 1830
- 1996: 1982
- 1991: 2043
In 2001, approximately 45 were aboriginal, and approximately ten had been born outside of Canada. 1,530 residents identified their religion as Roman Catholic. Over 1,000 used French or some combination of English and French most often at work. Unemployment was substantially higher and workforce participation lower, but among all persons with income and among workers, annual incomes were higher than Ontario averages.[4]
Economy
The Smooth Rock Falls economy was dominated by the Tembec Malette pulp mill, which was closed on November 5, 2006. Prior to that, the mill had been in a state of indefinite shutdown since July 31, 2006. The closure of the mill meant the loss of about 210 jobs.
The town of Smooth Rock Falls has made a series of announcements regarding community investments since Tembec's departure and the closure of the pulp mill. On July 13, 2007 a joint news conference between the town and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources revealed the former Tembec pulp mill would be converted into a value-added cedar plant.[6] Quebec-based Hardy Cedar Lumber is expected to take control of the mill and will be provided with 50,000 cubic metres of cedar from the province. Operations could begin as early as March 2008. The cedar project could provide the community with as many as 44 full-time jobs.[7]
One month prior to the cedar announcement, the town made public an investor's plan to build a new seniors retirement home, 80-100 room hotel and establish a new Indian restaurant. Nightingale Premier, an investment company based in Great Britain, first met with town officials in November 2006. The British company made its plans for a new seniors home, hotel and restaurant known on June 13, 2007.
NorthernTel, Ontera, and Persona Communications provide telecommunications services.
Politics
Smooth Rock Falls is part of the provincial electoral district of Timmins—James Bay and the federal electoral district of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing. Its Member of Provincial Parliament is Gilles Bisson, a New Democrat, and its Member of Parliament is Carol Hughes. Bisson's constituency office serves Smooth Rock Falls locally with weekly hours at Town Hall.
Health care
The Smooth Rock Falls Hospital includes 14 acute care and 23 long-term care beds, and its Cochrane District Detoxification Centre serves the larger region.
Education
District School Board Ontario North East operates
- Smooth Rock Falls Public School (JK-8)
- Smooth Rock Falls Secondary School
Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières operates
- L'École catholique Georges-Vanier.
For postsecondary education, a Contact North distance education access centre serves the town. The Smooth Rock Falls Resource Centre offers Adult Education for those who want to upgrade or finish their grade 12 secondary school diploma.
Media
CKGN-1, a repeater of CKGN-FM Kapuskasing, provides community radio service for the Franco-Ontarian population.
Attractions
Town attractions include the Reg Lamy Cultural Centre, which includes a hockey arena and Smooth Rock Falls Curling Club; the Smooth Rock Falls Golf Course (9 holes), a public library, and a public swimming pool.
Each year the town hosts the Smooth Truck Fest,[8] a popular festival that features truck pulls and other motorized pull contests alongside children's activities, concerts, canoe races and much more.
Notable people from Smooth Rock Falls
Notable people from Smooth Rock Falls include:
- Jeffrey Buttle, figure skater
- Louise Pitre, singer and actress
- J. P. Parisé, NHL/ Team Canada 1972 hockey left winger, and father of NHL hockey forward Zach Parise
- Charlotte L'Écuyer, Quebec politician and current Member of National Assembly of Pontiac
- Patricia O'Callaghan, singer (born in Dryden, and raised in part here)
- Dick Mattiussi, NHL and AHL hockey player
References
- ^ a b c "Smooth Rock Falls census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3556048&Geo2=CD&Code2=3556&Data=Count&SearchText=Smooth&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ a b "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ a b "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. 2009-02-24. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ a b c "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. 2007-02-01. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ Statistics Canada 1996 Census - Community Highlights for Smooth Rock Falls
- ^ [1]
- ^ Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA
- ^ Smooth Truck Fest
External links
- Town of Smooth Rock Falls
- Community Adjustment Committee final report, September 2005
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