“Just North Enough to be Perfect !”

North Bay, “The Gateway of the North ” is Located in Northeastern Ontario, At the crossing of Highways 11 and 17, Just 342 Kilometers North of Toronto( about a 4 hour drive) with a population of 53,966 (2006 Census). Nestled between Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing, this vibrant community is full of Natural attractions: Multi use trails, Forests, Beaches, Streams,the recently saved from destruction Sweetman’s Garden and the North Bay Waterfront to name a few. North Bay takes it’s name from it’s position on the shore of Lake Nipissing and is the Seat of the District of Nipissing.

The surrounding area was first explored by Samuel de Champlain Although the First Nations were here Long before then (The First nations have occupied the area they call N’Biissing (little water) for approximately 9400 years. ) The Arrival of the CPR Railway in Callander in 1882 brought on a wave of activity for the area. In the same year John Ferguson chose the north bay of Lake Nipissing to begin a settlement. and in 1891 North Bay was incorporated as a town. North Bay has been known as a Railway town ever since The Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway Moved in in 1902.And the C.N.R. joined the fray in 1913, after the discovery of Silver in Cobalt.

Back in that day surveys were taken and plans were made for a Canal, The Georgian Bay Canal, But it never came to fruition due to financial constraints and ever changing transportation patterns. North Bay thrived with the three railroads as well as a very strong Lumbering Industry, and industries to support the Mining Sector across Northern Ontario. In 1919 John Ferguson was elected Mayor and in 1925 North Bay was Incorporated as a City.When the Dionne Quintuplets were born in Corbeil on the southern outskirts of North Bay, tourism possibly saved the city from some of the ravages of the depression. North Bay would lean on tourism heavily well into the 1960’s.

In January of 1968 North Bay amalgamated with the townships of Widdifield and West Ferris. From 1961 till 1972 North Bay was host to 26 U.S. Bomarc Nuclear Missiles. The Bomarc base,caused some controversy but the forces necessary for the maintenance As well as the large contingent of staff in the SAGE Complex and 422 wing bolstered North Bays economy.

North Bay’s current economy is a little more diverse, although Tourism is still a large part of it. North Bay is Home to Nipissing University and Canadore College, both very well Ranked Post Secondary Institutions. Also there is a diverse compendium of small to medium sized businesses catering to Markets like the mining or Lumbering Sector with many multinational companies making their headquarters here. Transportation is also a big factor in North Bay’s economy, with 3 railroads, The two Trans Canada Highways intersecting here (11 & 17) and we have the only International size Airport north of Toronto in Ontario.