Almaguin Highlands

Almaguin Highlands
Inter-region

Port Loring
Nickname(s): Almaguin; the Highlands
Almaguin Highlands
Coordinates: 45°48′N 079°36′W / 45.800°N 79.600°W / 45.800; -79.600Coordinates: 45°48′N 079°36′W / 45.800°N 79.600°W / 45.800; -79.600
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Region Central Ontario
District Parry Sound
Government
  MPs Tony Clement, Jay Aspin
Area
  Total 5,236.58 km2 (2,021.85 sq mi)
Population
  Total 23,570
  Density 4.5/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code FSA P0A 1C0, P0A 1J0, P0A 1L0, P0A 1M0, P0A 1P0, P0A 1X0, P0A 1Y0, P0A 1Z0, P0H 1A0, P0H 1H0, P0H 1J0, P0H 1N0, P0H 1S0, P0H 1W0, P0H 1Z0, P0H 2L0, P0H 2R0
Area code(s) 705

The Almaguin Highlands Region (colloquially known as Almaguin, also referred to as 'the Highlands') in Ontario, Canada, covers approximately 5,200 km2 (2,000 sq mi) comprising the eastern half of Parry Sound District. It is bounded by Muskoka in the south, and by Lake Nipissing and Nipissing District in the north. The eastern edge abuts the western boundary of Algonquin Provincial Park, whereas the western boundary of the Almaguin Highlands is generally regarded to be the mid east-west point of Parry Sound District. Originally derived from the words, Algonquin and Magnetawan,[1] Almaguin is now used to describe the marketing region of East Parry Sound.

Subdivisions

Callander, Ontario
Powassan

The region includes fifteen incorporated municipalities, three local service boards (LSB) across eight unincorporated geographic townships, and one unincorporated geographic township without a local services board, which can be grouped into three subregions.

North Almaguin

Municipal office and library of Magnetawan

Central Almaguin

South Almaguin

Other

  • Township of Pringle, served by the LSB of both Loring and Restoule
  • Township of Patterson

Outlying areas

Demographics

South River

According to the Canada 2011 Census, there are 23,570[23] residents living in the Almaguin Highlands, accounting for approximately 56% of the population of the District of Parry Sound (population 42,162 in 2011). By comparison, the Almaguin Highlands has a larger population than that of Haliburton County (population 17,026 in 2011) by over 6,500 residents, and encompasses an area approximately the same size.

Geography

The Almaguin Highlands are the westerly extension of the Algonquin Highlands of Central Ontario and form part of the Canadian Shield geological formation. Almaguin is situated in the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion, which is predominately mixed woodlands, while the topography is hilly and dotted with crags, and interspersed with hundreds of lakes and rivers.

Lakes

Municipal office of Strong Township

Armour

Ballantyne

Callander

Joly

Sundridge

Kearney

Laurier

Loring, Port Loring, and District

Municipal office of Armour Township

Lount

Machar

Magnetawan

Post Office in Burk's Falls

McMurrich/Monteith

Nipissing

Perry

Powassan

Commanda Lake as seen from Restoule

Restoule

Ryerson

Strong

Rivers

Several rivers flow through the region and they include; Amable du Fond River, Magnetawan River, Mattawa River, Pickerel River and Restoule River

Transportation

Sprucedale in McMurrich/Monteith Township

Highways

Rail

South River-Sundridge District Airport

Air

Economy

The economy of the Almaguin Highlands is centred on its agricultural base and the businesses that are associated with this sector. There exists a small forestry sector, however, like much of the forestry sector in Ontario, it is in decline. Mining and aggregates form part of the local economy as well. The service industry in the region mainly consists of resorts and lodges that focus on family vacationing and fishing. The local economy depends heavily on and is focused on its tourism sector. Some of the largest employers of Almaguinites are construction contractors, as a result of the expansion of Highway 11 through the region starting in the late 1980s and finishing in 2012.

Emsdale in Perry Township

Municipalities in the region have formed economic development associations to promote, attract, and develop business in the region. These include, among others, the Central Almaguin Economic Development Association[24] and the Almaguin Highlands Economic Development Partnership Committee.[25]

Politics

Historically, the entire region was part of the Parry Sound—Muskoka federal electoral district and the Parry Sound—Muskoka provincial riding. With the 1996 readjustments of the federal riding boundaries, and the subsequent pairing of them at the provincial level, Callander (then North Himsworth), the Township of Nipissing, and Powassan (then the Town of Powassan, the Township of South Himsworth, and the Town of Trout Creek) were transferred to the federal riding of Nipissing (now Nipissing—Timiskaming) and provincial riding Nipissing.

Education

Municipal office of Ryerson Township

Public education is administered by the Near North District School Board through ten elementary schools and one secondary school, while separate Catholic education is administered by the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board through two elementary schools.[26][27]

Near North District School Board

Lake Bernard

Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board

Healthcare

Kearney

Family Health Teams are located at health centre's in both Powassan and Burk's Falls, a medical clinic is located in Callander, and a nursing station is located in Loring. There are two ambulance stations, one in Powassan and the other in South River. However, there are no emergency medical facilities in the region. Hospitals in Parry Sound, Huntsville, and North Bay, all of which are located outside of the Almaguin Highlands, are utilized in emergency situations.

Media

Magnetawan River looking downstream from the Highway 11 bridge in Burk's Falls

Print

The region is served by the Almaguin News, a weekly newspaper published in the Highlands.[41]

Tourism

Information Centre

The Almaguin Highlands are serviced by an information centre[42] located near Emsdale along Ontario Highway 11 at the south end of the region.

Activities

Tourism activities include ATVing, camping, fishing, geocaching, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and other outdoor pursuits. There are numerous beaches located in the Highlands, including those found on Doe Lake, Eagle Lake, Lake Bernard, and Restoule Lake, to name a few. In addition to the beaches, there are many trails that can be found in the Almaguin Highlands, including the historic Nipissing-Rosseau Colonization Road, part of the Forgotten Trails.

Nipissing Township Museum

The Almaguin Highlands experiences an increase in population during the summer months as a result of cottagers and other outdoor enthusiasts arriving in the region, and many of the businesses in the area are geared toward the tourism industry. In addition to the summer amenities, the winter getaway industry is growing in the Highlands.

Museums

There are six museums located in the Highlands: Callander Bay Heritage Museum in Callander;[43] Clark House Museum in Powassan;[44] Commanda Heritage Centre (Commanda General Store) in Commanda (Gurd), Nipissing Township;[45] Emsdale Pioneer Museum in Perry Township; Magnetawan Heritage Centre in Magnetawan;[46] and, Nipissing Township Museum in Nipissing Village.[47]

Provincial parks

Restoule River looking north from Hawthorne Drive in Restoule

There are two provincial parks located within the Almaguin Highlands: Mikisew Provincial Park, and Restoule Provincial Park.[48][49] In addition, the Almaguin Highlands acts as a portal to western Algonquin Park at the access points of Kawawaymog (Round) Lake Access; Tim River Access; Magnetawan Lake Access; and Rain Lake Access.

Notable people

Peter Camani is a retired teacher, Almaguin Highlands Secondary School. He is also an artist and sculptor who has created Midlothian Castle, an unusual residence, castle, and sculpture garden on an old farm near Burk's Falls. His artwork can be found at the Vatican and Buckingham Palace and Midlothian Castle has been featured on several television shows.[50]

Hawksley Workman is a rock singer-songwriter who has garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. He was born in Huntsville and attended Almaguin Highlands Secondary School and later moved to Toronto.

References

  1. Almaguin
  2. Municipality of Callander
  3. Township of Nipissing
  4. Municipality of Powassan
  5. Loring and District Local Services Board
  6. Restoule
  7. Township of Joly
  8. Township of Machar
  9. Municipality of Magnetawan
  10. Village of South River
  11. Township of Strong
  12. Village of Sundridge
  13. Laurier
  14. Lount Township
  15. Township of Armour
  16. Village of Burk's Falls
  17. Town of Kearney
  18. Township of McMurrich/Monteith
  19. Township of Perry
  20. Township of Ryerson
  21. Chisholm Township
  22. Municipality of Whitestone
  23. Hooper, Adam. "CensusFile". OpenFile. TheFile Inc. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  24. Central Almaguin Economic Development Association
  25. Almaguin Highlands Economic Development Partnership Committee
  26. Near North District School Board
  27. Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board
  28. Argyle Public School
  29. Evergreen Heights Education Centre
  30. Land of Lakes Public School
  31. M.A. Wittick Public School
  32. M.T. Davidson Public School
  33. Magnetawan Central School
  34. Mapleridge Public School
  35. South River Public School
  36. South Shore Education Centre
  37. Sundridge Centennial Public School
  38. Almaguin Highlands Secondary School
  39. St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School
  40. St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School
  41. Almaguin News
  42. Almaguin Highlands Information Centre
  43. Callander Bay Heritage Museum
  44. Clark House Museum
  45. Commanda Museum
  46. Magnetawan Heritage Centre
  47. Nipissing Township Museum
  48. Mikisew Provincial Park
  49. Restoule Provincial Park
  50. Screaming Heads - Midlothian Castle & Gallery

External links

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