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Arnprior

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Town of Arnprior
Town
John Street, Arnprior, Ontario
John Street, Arnprior, Ontario
Nickname: 
The 'Prior
Arnprior's location in relation to Ontario.
Arnprior's location in relation to Ontario.
Country Canada
Province Ontario
CountyRenfrew
Established (Timber Industry)1851
Incorporated (Village)1862
Incorporated (Town)1892
Government
 • Terry Gibeaumayor
Area
 • Town13.04 km2 (5.03 sq mi)
 • Urban
18.07 km2 (6.98 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
Population Growth between 2001 to 2006 is -0.5%
 • Town7,158
 • Density549.1/km2 (1,422/sq mi)
 • Urban
9,076
 
From StatsCan
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)

Arnprior (2006 Population 7,158; UA population 9,076) is a town in eastern Renfrew County, in eastern Ontario, Canada at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley. As of the 2006 census, it had a population of 7,158 people.[1]

History

In May 1613 European explorers, lead by Samuel de Champlain, first visited the Ottawa River valley.

The area, a 1200 acre surveyed block, was acquired and initially developed by Archibald McNab and given the eponomous name, NcNab Township in 1823. The town was named by the Buchanan Brothers who, 1831, named the area after his family's ancestral home of Arnprior, Scotland. NcNab had approval from the Family Compact to treat the settlers on his land in the feudal manner practiced in Scotland. The settlers revolted and, after a government investigation, he was forced to vacate the area in 1841. Arnprior, Braeside and NcNab township grew as seperate communities and boomed when it became incorporated into eastern Ontario's massive timber industry.

One of the most successful businessmen of the upper Ottawa was Daniel McLachlin, who built a massive sawmill at the confluence of the Madawaska and Ottawa Rivers, and expanded the community of Arnprior.[2]

Arnprior was incorporated as a village in 1862. Thirty years later (in 1892), it was incorporated as a town.

In 1943 a Castle Class Corvette, K494, was christened "[Arnprior]".

Arnprior became a recognized name in the numismatic trade. This has a special link to a local employer. In 1955 Playtex ordered some silver dollars for their employees. These coins are later found to show only two and one-half water lines instead of four to the right of the canoe. This variety becomes known as the Arnprior dollar.

The history of Arnprior is preserved and documented at the Arnprior and District Museum[3] (located in the former post office building) and the Arnprior and District Archives[4] (located next door in the basement of the public library).

The history of Arnprior was documented in popular form by Leo Lavoie, long-time Arnprior resident, in his book, The Arnprior Story: 1823-1984.

Industry

The lumber trade continued in the form of the Gillies sawmill in nearby McNab Township.

Kenwood Mills was a significant employer in Arnprior and was bought in 1918 by Huyck Corporation.[5]

After the Second World War, companies such as Playtex, Pfizer and Boeing came to Arnprior.

Health Care

Arnprior has been served since 1945 by the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital.[6]

Government

Mayor: Terry Gibeau (first elected in 2003, re-elected November 13, 2006 to a term which expires in 2010) Council[1] consists of Mayor, Reeve and Five Councillors

Schools

Arnprior is served by five schools: three are administered by the Renfrew County District School Board (two elementary schools — Walter Zadow Public School and A. J. Charbonneau Public School — and one regional secondary school, Arnprior District High School). The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board administers two elementary schools: St Joseph's School and John XXIII.

Sport

Hockey plays a large role in life in Arnprior. The highest level of hockey played in Arnprior is Junior B and the town is represented by the Arnprior Packers [2].

Most other sports, football, basketball volleyball and track and field are played by teams from Arnprior District High School[3]

Media

Arnprior is served by the Arnprior Chronicle-Guide and by various media outlets in Ottawa.

Transportation

Arnprior is located on the Trans-Canada Highway system, where Highway 417 to the east becomes the two-lane Highway 17 to the west. The town is served by the Arnprior Airport, elevation 109 metres (358 ft) and a nearby floatplane base for general aviation; scheduled commercial flights leave from the Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, 56 kilometres to the east.

Arnprior has a long history with railroads. The Canada Central Railway first reached Arnprior on December 6, 1864.[7] Arnprior was served by both the Canadian National Railway (CNR) and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) main line through the majority of the 20th century. The CNR tracks were pulled up and the right-of-way is used as a hiking trail, while the CPR continues to operate through the town.

The town is located on the Ottawa River at the confluence of the Ottawa and Madawaska rivers, but is cut off from the lower Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence Seaway by the Chats rapids and now the Chats Falls Power Station. Initially transport was by canoe: the Ottawa River was travelled by explorer Samuel de Champlain.

Tourism

Arnprior, aka "the Prior", is the gateway to tourism in the Upper Ottawa Valley. [4] and the western gateway to Ottawa, Canada's National Capital Region.

Anrprior is the start of the River Road that runs in close proximity along the Ottawa River through Braeside, Sand Point to join with Storyland Road.

Arnprior Also holds an abundance of wildlife in the town's local forest, the Grove.

Of note are the many walking and biking trails in Arnprior. The Millennium and Macnamara Trails [5] provide scenic views of the waterfront, downtown heritage homes, and two nature trails including a walk-through of the Gillies Grove [6], a 45 acre tract of Old Growth Forest, preserving the White Pine which was the foundation of the local lumber industry.

References

  1. ^ Statistics Canada, 2006 Community Profiles: Community highlights for Arnprior. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  2. ^ Library and Archives Canada, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, "McLACHLIN, Daniel (Donhuil)". Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
  3. ^ Virtual Museum of Canada, "Arnprior and District Museum". Last updated July 5, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  4. ^ Ottawa Valley Guide, "Arnprior & District Archives". Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  5. ^ Arnprior and District Archives, The Town and the Mill (Motion Picture Film), description of archival holdings. Most companies are moving out of Arnprior in favour of Mexico. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  6. ^ Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital, About Us. Retrieved on March 9, 2007.
  7. ^ Constituents of Canadian Pacific Railway in Southern Ontario.

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