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The city of Thunder Bay, Ontario was formed on January 1, 1970 with the amalgamation of the cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and the townships of McIntyre and Neebing.[1] Politically, the city's municipal government has designated seven electoral wards—Current River, McIntyre, McKeller, Neebing, Northwood, Red River, and Westfort.[2] Unlike some Canadian cities, Thunder Bay has not defined all of its neighbourhoods so names and boundaries are sometimes ambiguous.
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Fort William or "Thunder Bay South" was first incorporated as a town in 1892, and became a city in 1907. Throughout the Lakehead's history, Fort William was typically the most populous, but only by a slim margin.[11] It is on a relatively flat terrain dominated by rivers, the most notable of which is the Kaministiquia. Most industry in Fort William is located along the Kaministiquia, including Bowater Forest Products, Bombardier's manufacturing plant, numerous grain elevators, rail yards, oil depots, saw mills, and the Thunder Bay Generating Station, a 326 MW power plant. The mouth of the Kaministiquia is a delta with two islands—Mission Island and McKellar Island—which are largely undeveloped.
Fort William's early growth was sandwiched between the Kaministiquia River and the CN mainline. When space ran out in the 1950s, Fort William began developing north and west of the line.[12]
Downtown Fort William | |
---|---|
Cuthburtson Block[13] | |
Population 2,000 |
Ward McKellar and Westfort wards |
Location in Thunder Bay |
Downtown Fort William, also known as Downtown Thunder Bay South or the South Core, is the urban core of the former City of Fort William, Ontario. It is centred on Victoriaville Civic Centre, an indoor shopping mall and civic centre built as part of an urban renewal project in the 1980s.[14] It is separated from the Kaministiquia River by the Canadian Pacific Railway line, and its topography is relatively flat.
Downtown Fort William is the location of Thunder Bay City Hall, and numerous other government offices.
Downtown Fort William is one of the three nodes around which urban growth began in the Lakehead area. In the 1880s the Canadian government transfered responsibility for the Transcontinental railway to the private Canadian Pacific Railway, which then relocated the Lake Superior terminus to this location, seven kilometres downstream from Westfort. Growth began at the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Simpson Street on land that was then owned by the McKellar family. When Fort William was incorporated in 1893, this area was chosen for its seat of government,[15] and due to Port Arthur's lack of a city hall, became the location of Thunder Bay City Hall after the amalgamation of the two cities in 1970.
The downtown area has a population of approximately 1,000 and a median age of approximately 47 years. The south core has a larger aboriginal population than much of the rest of the city, and the lowest average income in Thunder Bay.[16][17] The south core is the location of several apartment buildings aimed to low income individuals and seniors. It also has a relatively large homeless contingent and is the location of the Rotary Shelter House.[18] The John Howard Society, an organization dedicated to assist people who have come into conflict with the law, is located in the old YMCA building.[19]
Crime is recognized to be a problem in the south core, especially near the Brodie Street bus terminal. Thunder Bay Police operates the McKellar Neighbourhood Policing Office across the street from the bus terminal and has cruisers drive by on a regular basis.[20]
Neither of Thunder Bay's downtown cores overshadowed the other, and both are today less important economically than the Intercity area. However, the South Core continues to be an employment centre. Several thousand people work in the core every day. The largest employers in the area include the city government of Thunder Bay, the StarTek Call Centre, and various businesses in the Victoriaville Civic Centre.[21] The core is home to branches of four of Canada's five major banks, and several credit unions.
Several industrial businesses are located in the neighbourhood, primarily on the eastern side of the neighbourhood, and the Canadian Pacific Train Station is located in the southernmost part of the neighbourhood.
Downtown Fort William is the location of many cultural institutions. The Thunder Bay Historical Museum is located inside a renovated police station on Donald Street, one of the core's many historical landmarks. It is operated by the century old Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society and has three floors of galleries, including a jail cell and recreation of a Fort William street from the early 20th century.[22] Also located along Donald Street is the Brodie Street Art Gallery, which showcases local artists and offers watercolour lessons by local painter Peter Humeniuk.[23]
Brodie Resource Library is located on Brodie Street beside city hall, and was the first library in Thunder Bay.[24]
The CBC's Thunder Bay studio is located in the neighbourhood on Miles Streets. It is the broadcasting centre for CBQ and CBQT. A webcam is mounted on top of its broadcasting antenna, and looks out over the Simpson-Ogden neighbourhood.
Several churches are located in the core, the most prominent being St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Brodie and Donald Streets. A city designated heritage property, it was built in 1909 by Stinson and Hood architects in the Gothic Revival style. It features a covered entrance supported by granite columns with floral capitals, a unique feature in Thunder Bay, and its bell tower dominates the area's skyline.[25][26] The seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Thunder Bay is also located in the south core and is housed in St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was built in 1963 at the corner of Donald and Archibald.[27][28] Other prominent churches include St. Paul's Anglican Church at the corner of Ridgeway and Archibald and Wesley United Church across from the Brodie Street bus terminal at the corner of Brodie and Miles.[29][30]
The Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame is located in the south core on May Street, beside city hall.[31] The Fort William Gardens is located at the corner of Vickers and Miles streets, and is a 4,700 seat arena.[32]
There are many parks and parkettes in the south core, the most notable is Paterson Park, located on the former site of the Fort William Central School on May Street between Miles and Leith streets. The park was named after Norman M. Paterson, a Senator and founder of Paterson GlobalFoods. The park features a fountain and benches on an artificial hill.[33] Located along the Kaministiquia River is the Kaministiquia River Heritage Park, which features a Via Rail train display, a restored Tugboat, an boardwalk, and a stainless steel sculpture titled "Animikie", which is Ojibwe for "thunder bird".[34]
Many schools have been located in the downtown area but as the population aged and the amount of families decreased, many were closed. The only school operating in the core today is McKellar Park Central School, which has classes from Kindergarten to grade 8 and was ranked by the Frasier Institute as the worst in Thunder Bay in 2008.[35] St. Stanislaus School was a Catholic school located at the corner of Miles and North streets. It is now an office building.[36] Fort William Central School was located at the corner of Miles and May streets, and was demolished in the 1950s for Paterson Park.[33] Fort William Collegiate Institute was a secondary school located just south of the core which closed in 2005. Plans are underway to convert the building to residential uses.[37] A branch of the Sylvan Learning Centre is located on Victoria Avenue.[38]
The street layout in Downtown Fort William is based on a grid, which is interrupted at several points by Victoriaville Mall, Paterson Park and the former McKellar General Hospital. Thunder Bay Transit operates a bus terminal in the core. Routes that use the terminal include 1 Mainline, 2 Crosstown, 3 Memorial, 4 Neebing, 8 James, and 12 East End. During peak hours, bus frequency in the core is every 15 minutes.[39]
Medical facilities in the core include St. Joseph's Care Group in Victoriaville Civic Centre,[40] the Ridgeway Clinic,[41] the Fort William Clinic,[42] and the Spence Clinic.[43] The Mayo Clinic has an office in Spence Clinic where local residents can receive information about the Mayo Clinic and schedule appointments.[44]
Located northeast of Thunder Bay International Airport, Confederation Park a small neighbourhood where all streets are named with a "confederation" theme.
The east end is a small neighbourhood separated from Fort William by the CP Rail mainline. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Thunder Bay, and one of the poorest. Largely populated by Eastern European immigrants in the late 1800s, it was described by some newspapers as one of the most decrepit slums in the world. The municipal government of Fort William at the time refused to provide basic services such as sewer and water lines to the neighbourhood and its isolation only exacerbated its social ills.
It is surrounded by the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway to the north, the Kaministiquia River to the south, and Lake Superior to the east. It was the original site of Fort Kaministiquia and Magnus Theatre.
Green Acres is located south of Arthur Street, west of Waterloo Street, east of James Street and north of Walsh Street. It is a largely suburban neighbourhood developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s after the area between the CN mainline and Kaministiquia River was filled by development. It was the first neighbourhood in Fort William to deviate from the traditional grid streets and experiment with modern, suburban-style crescents and cul-de-sacs.
The industrial islands are two islands which form the mouth of the Kaministiquia River. The two islands are McKellar Island and Mission Island. They are connected to the city by Island Drive, a causeway from the East End which was built in 2004 to replace the 95 year old Jackknife Bascule Bridge. The two islands are connected over the McKellar River by a similarly aged bascule bridge. Mission Island is the location of OPG's Thunder Bay Generating Station, a coal fired power plant.
McKeller Park is the residential area surrounding downtown Fort William. Most homes in this neighbourhood are on 25-foot lots, typical of the era. It is home to some of Thunder Bay's first duplexes, row homes, and apartment buildings. It got its name from John McKellar, the first mayor of Fort William.
Northwood is one of Thunder Bay's seven municipal wards, represented by Mark Bentz. It was developed between 1965 and 1985. It is bounded by Chapples Park to the east, Arthur Street to the south, the Thunder Bay Expressway to the west and the Harbour Expressway to the north.
Northwood includes many smaller neighbourhoods, such as Edgewater Park, the southernmost third which is located between Arthur Street and the Neebing River; College Park, the part of Northwood generally north of James Street, and Mountview, the area between the two.
Northwood is home to two secondary schools. Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School and Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate & Vocational Institute are located beside each other at the corner of Edward St and Churchill Drive. The neighbourhood is home to Confederation College.
Parks include Chapples Park, the Thunder Bay Soroptimist International Friendship Garden, and the Neebing Watercourse Preserve. Smaller local parks and parkettes are located throughout the ward.
Northwood is home to Northwood Park Plaza, an indoor shopping mall in the heard of the community. Its southern boundary on Arthur Street is the location of several smaller malls and grocery stores.
Parkdale is a new subdivision located north of Arthur Street and west of the Thunder Bay Expressway. Most of the streets are named after animals from the Taiga ecozone. Development in Parkdale began in the late 1990s and it is planned to hold approximately 15,000 people when complete.
Simpson-Ogden is an historic neighbourhood wedged between Simpson Street and May Street. It is home to the Simpson Street Business Improvement Association (BIA). Simpson Street was the original commercial centre for Fort William.
Vickers Park is the area around Vickers Park. It is the location of St. Patrick High School. It is located in Westfort Ward.
Westfort is the original Town Plot, and is the oldest community in Thunder Bay. It is located along the Kaministiquia River, south of the CN Rail mainline. The streets are laid out in long blocks parallel to the river. It's western edge is the location of Bowater Forest Products. It is the location of Westgate Collegiate & Vocational Institute.
The Heart of the Harbour, downtown Port Arthur is centred on Red River Road and Cumberland Street. Downtown Port Arthur is the location of Marina Park.
Downtown Port Arthur is home to Waverly Park and Connaught Square, and the new location of Magnus Theatre. OLG Casino Thunder Bay is located in the southern portion of the neighbourhood at the corner of Park and Cumberland, and area sometimes referred to as "the Entertainment District" due to its many bars and nightclubs.
Harrington Avenue - Ray Court Heritage District is centred along Ray Court and Harrington Avenue. A historically significant neighbourhood.
Academy Heights, so named because of its proximity to Lakehead University, is located south of Oliver Road, east of Balmoral Street, west of Memorial Avenue and north of the "Hillyard Lands". In the southeastern portion of the neighbourhood is a civic area home to the Canada Games Complex, Port Arthur Stadium, and the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. The southern and western parts of the neighbourhood are primarily filled with medium to high density housing aimed at students and families, and the northern and eastern portions are home to single family homes from the 1940s to 1960s.
Bay and Algoma is known for its European community. The neighbourhood is home to large populations from Scandinavia, especially Finland; Italy; and Poland. The Finnish community is most prominent, with the neighbourhood being the location of the Finnish Labour Temple and Hoito Restaurant. The Bay Street Film Festival and is annual film festival held in the neighbourhood in September.
This area is located south of Red River Road, east of High Street, west of Algonquin Avenue and north of John Street. It is made up of several neighbourhoods named after the men who owned the land. Most homes here are from the 1910s to 1940s.
College Heights is located south of River Street, east of High Street, west of Clarkson Avenue and north of Red River Road. It was named because of its proximity to Port Arthur Collegiate Institute.
It is the location of Dougall Media's broadcasting facility, which includes a 300 foot antenna that is visible from much of the city.
Secondary schools include Hillcrest High School and École secondaire catholique de la Vérendrye
Current River is a neighbourhood located north east of Port Arthur in the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is separated from the main urban area of Thunder Bay by the Current River Greenway, a large parkland along the river after which the neighbourhood was named. It is home to approximately 4,780 people and has an ageing and declining population.[62]
Current River is located entirely in Current River Ward and is represented on Thunder Bay City Council by Andrew Foulds.
Development of Current River began after World War II, and many homes in the neighbourhood are "Victory Homes", a post-war building style that allowed fast manufacture of single-family dwellings. Development in the neighbourhood progressed northward, and as one travels further north Victory Homes become less common, being replaced with more contemporary building styles. A small cluster of highrise apartments is located beside an outcrop of the Canadian Shield in the southernmost portion of the residential neighbourhood, and offers its residents a view of the Current River Greenway and Thunder Bay.
Current River is located in the northeast portion of Thunder Bay. It is located east of the Current River and Boulevard Lake and north of Lake Superior. The land inclines as one travels north from the Lake Superior and west from Hodder Avenue.
Along the shores of Lake Superior to the south and east of the neighbourhood is an abundance of industries. Separated from the main neighbourhood by Hodder Avenue and the CP and CN mainlines is the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company (PASCO) drydock and shipyard, which has been operating since 1909,[63] and the Thunder Bay Fine Papers mill, formerly Cascades. Further east is the abandoned Smurfit-Stone factory, and the Bare Point water treatment plant which is the main source of drinking water in Thunder Bay. Grain elevators located south of the Current River dominate the view toward the lake.
Current River is home to a small selection of commercial businesses. Mainly located along Hodder Avenue near Arundel Street, the neighbourhood is home to a strip mall with a pharmacy and grocery store, a convenience store and gas station, a bank, and several restaurants and coffee shops. Most businesses in the neighbourhood are locally owned.
The main roads in the neighbourhood are Arundel Street, an east-west arterial road that bridges the Current River and connects the community to the Shuniah neighbourhood. Hodder Avenue is the main north-south thoroughfare and forms the backbone of the community's small commercial strip. Grenville Avenue, which is separated into two sections by the Current River Playfield, formed the neighbourhood's original business corridor.
Thunder Bay Transit route 1 Mainline-Current River makes a counter-clockwise loop through the neighbourhood and brings residents south to downtown Port Arthur.
Current River is home to two schools. Claude Garton Public School is part of the Lakehead Public Schools system and offers French immersion classes and is located in the southern part of the neighbourhood. St. Paul Catholic School is located in the northern part of Current River, and is part of the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board. Public school students from Current River attend Hillcrest High School, and Catholic students attend St. Ignatius, located on the other side of Boulevard Lake.
Current River is the location of the largest park in Thunder Bay, the Current River Greenway. The 260 hectare (650 acre) park includes Boulevard Lake, one of the Thunder Bay's most popular summer destinations. The Current River Playfield, located in the middle of Current River, includes a community centre, arena, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and seasonal ice rinks.
The municipally operated Strathcona Golf Course is located to the east of Current River, and is an 18-hole, 72-par course.[64] Centennial Park, a recreation of a 20th century logging camp, is located northwest of the neighbourhood. The Terry Fox Memorial and Lookout is northeast of the neighbourhood, located along Highway 11/17. It commemorates Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope and offers panoramic views of the lake.
Faircrest is a triangular neighbourhood located between Academy Heights and Mariday Park. It is bounded by John Street, Oliver Road, and Balmoral Street.
A modern subdivision located along Clarkson Avenue and River Street, and south and east of the Thunder Bay Expressway and west of McVicar Creek. It was mainly developed between 1955 and 1975. Grandview Mall is located in this neighbourhood.
Hillcrest Park is a wealthier neighbourhood located beside Hillcrest Park. Many of the homes in the area are large and offer views of the city.
South of Dawson Road, west of the Thunder Bay Expressway. Mostly suburban, except for Dawson Heights. Dawson Heights is the old part of McIntyre ward. It was developed before World War One and has an interesting mix of homes spanning almost 100 years.
County park is suburban neighbourhood, and includes the Castlegreen Co-operative. County Park is the location of Hilldale Lutheran Church.
River Terrace is a group of subdivisions located in Port Arthur's west end, on either side of the McIntyre River. Most homes in the area were built after the 1970 amalgamation. The southernmost portion of the neighbourhood is the location of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Shuniah is the neighbourhood southwest of Boulevard Lake. St. Joseph's Co-operative is one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods with garden style streets, peculiar due to the proximity of such a layout near the downtown core. The northeastern part of the neighbourhood near Boulevard Lake is the location of St. Ignatius High School.
A group of modern subdivisions located in Port Arthur's west end. It is the location of Hammarskjold High School. It was developed between 1960 and 1990.
The townships of Neebing and McIntyre were the location of several small communities before amalgamation, and today are the location of almost all growth in the city of Thunder Bay.
The area north of Rosslyn Road and south of Arthur Street, between the airport and city limits. Also called Neebing Yards as it is the location of CN's Neebing Yard. The community is very spread out. Bus service is provided by Route 4 Neebing, which goes through the neighbourhood ten times between Monday and Saturday.
Centred on Dawson Road and Government Road, North McIntyre is the location of Five Mile School.
Riverdale is a neighbourhood located south of the Kaministiquia River.
South Neebing is the southernmost neighbourhood in Thunder Bay. Subdivisions include Greengate, Foxborough Place and Rockcliff. Most homes are on large lots. Bus service was once provided by a branch of 4 Neebing, but it was dropped due to low ridership.
Vickers Heights is located along Broadway Avenue, south of the CN Mainline and north of the Kaministiquia River. It is the location of Thunder Bay's most visited tourist attraction, Fort William Historical Park.
Intercity is the area between the built up portions of Port Arthur and Fort William. It was part of Port Arthur at amalgamation. Intercity was prone to flooding and remained largely undeveloped until the construction of the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway in 1986. Intercity Shopping Centre was the first indoor mall to be built in Thunder Bay, and opened in 1954. It has undergone numerous renovations and expansions since then. The main road in Intercity is the Harbour Expressway, a four lane road.
Intercity was largely an industrial area until the 1990s, and now forms the "downtown" of the unified City of Thunder Bay. It is the location of a variety of big box stores, including Wal-Mart, Superstore, Canadian Tire and Home Depot. It is bisected by a CN Rail line.
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