North Bay, Ontario

North Bay is a city in northern Ontario, Canada on the shore of Lake Nipissing. As of 2001, the population was 52,771 people. The area was 314.92 square kilometres.

The area was first explored by Samuel de Champlain.

In 1882, John Ferguson decided that the north bay of Lake Nipissing was a promising spot for settlement. North Bay was incorporated as a town in 1891. The first mayor was John Bourke.

The town began to prosper due to the presence of three railway companies and a strong lumber industry. In 1919, John Ferguson was elected mayor of North Bay and continued to serve as mayor until 1922. North Bay was incorporated as a city in August 1925. The Dionne Quintuplets were born on the outskirts of North Bay in 1934. In January 1968 the City of North Bay amalgamated with West Ferris and Widdifield townships.

North Bay, critically situated at the junctions of Highway 11 and Highway 17, remains a major transportation centre for Northern Ontario. It is the southern terminus of the Ontario Northland Railway, and is served by the Jack Garland Airport. It is also the site of CFB North Bay, a North American Aerospace Defense Command control center and a Canadian version of the famous Cheyenne Mountain base in Colorado. North Bay is economically diverse compared to most other Northern Ontario communities, although a large percentage of the city's jobs are public sector in nature with education and government providing the bulk of the city's top employers. Tourism, services and manufacturing also play a significant role in the city's economy. In recent years the city has gained prominence as the hub of arts and culture in Northern Ontario due to its vibrant community of artists, musicians, actors and writers. North Bay's reputation as a hip university town, desirable retirement community and four season vacation destination continues to grow.

Prominent North Bay natives include comic actor Scott Thompson, entertainer Jaymz Bee, politician Mike Harris (who was raised in nearby Callander), actor Gerry Mendicino, news reporter Susan Hay, inventor Troy Hurtubise, world downhill alpine ski champion Kate Pace-Lindsay, author Giles Blunt, world champion kick-boxer Chantal Nadon, NHL ice hockey player Billy Coutu. Cartoonist Lynn Johnston lives just outside the city in nearby Corbeil.

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet started his empire in North Bay in 1931 with the purchase of an AM radio station, CFCH, and moving it to North Bay. Thomson Park in North Bay is named in his honour.

Looking northwest down Main Street, from a pedestrian overpass near Chippewa Creek

It is the home of Nipissing University, founded in 1992, and of Canadore College, founded in 1967.

Media

A beach on Lake Nipissing in Ferris, a neighbourhood of North Bay.

TV

2 - CFGC-2, Global
4 - CBLT-4, CBC
6 - CICA-6, TVOntario
7 - CBLFT-1, SRC
10 - CKNY, CTV (MCTV)
32 - CHCH-6, CH

Radio

89.5 FM - CJTK-1, Christian music (rebroadcaster of CJTK Greater Sudbury)
92.5 FM - CHIM-1, Christian music (rebroadcaster of CHIM Timmins)
93.5 FM - CFDN, franco-ontarian community
95.1 FM - CBON-17, La Première Chaîne
96.1 FM - CBCN, CBC Radio One
100.5 FM - CHUR, EZRock adult contemporary
101.9 FM - CKFX, The Fox active rock
104.9 FM - CKTR, tourist information

600 AM - CKAT, country music

Newspapers

North Bay's main daily newspaper is the North Bay Nugget, owned by Osprey Media.

Community profile

Population in 2001: 52,771
Land area (square km): 314.92
Median total income of persons 15 years of age and over ($): 20,802
Median family income ($) All census families: 53,668
Average value of dwelling ($): 140,000
% of the population with a university certificate, diploma or degree: 50.7

Based on the Canada 2001 Census.

Racial Demographics

93.2% White
5.5% Aboriginal
0.5% Black

Communities

The Ontario Northland Building in North Bay

	North: Nipissing Unorganized North Part
West: Nipissing 10, Lake Nipissing	North Bay	East: Nipissing Unorganized North Part, East Ferris
	South: Callander

External links