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Thunder Bay

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File:Thunder bay flag.jpg
The official flag of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Thunder Bay (2001 population 109,016; CMA 121,986) is a city at the head of Lake Superior in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Its port forms an important link in the shipping of grain and other products from western Canada through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the east coast. It's located at 48n23, 89w15. Time zone EST.

The city was formed in 1970 by the merger of the smaller cities of Fort William and Port Arthur. Fort William, originally the French Fort Caministogoyan, was the hub of the North West Company's fur trading business in the early 19th century. Port Arthur, a few miles to the north, was first settled in 1870 as the head of construction of the Dawson Road connecting Ontario with Western Canada.

Forestry and manufacturing are the largest industries in Thunder Bay, with Bowater Forest Products and Bombardier Transportation maintaining large operations there.

Thunder Bay is home to two institutions of higher learning: Lakehead University and Confederation College.

Thunder Bay's main tourist attraction is Fort William Historical Park, built in 1973 as a reconstruction of the Fort William fur trade post. Thunder Bay also has other tourist attractions including Kakabeka Falls, Friendship Gardens, Mount McKay Lookout, Ouimet Canyon, Thunder Bay Historical Museum and The Marina. The Marina includes an along-the-lake-walk, playground, Stanton Harbourview Cruises, A children's museum, ice cream shop and Chinese/Canadian cuisine. It also has a beautiful harbour full of local boats and other water craft.

File:Sleeping giant thunder bay.jpg
The Sleeping Giant, as seen from the Thunder Bay Marina, is a symbol of the city.

The city overlooks the Sleeping Giant, a large formation of mesas on a peninsula in Lake Superior that resemble its name when viewed from the city. It has become a symbol of the city.

Thunder Bay has some unique restaurants. The Hoito, a world famous Finnish restaurant is well-known for their plate size finnish pancakes along with other Finnish foods. The Persian Man is a locally owned coffee shop that sells Persians which are somewhat like a large cinnamon bun covered in strawberry icing. You can only find persians in Thunder Bay.

The Fort William Gardens is a recreational centre mainly for Ice Hockey, Curling, and concerts. It seats just under 5000 people and has hosted many events since its 1939 creation. The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium has been recongized as one of the finest auditoriums in North America seating 1500 people and holding various types of entertainment.

In 1981, Thunder Bay hosted the Canada Games. In 1995, Thunder Bay hosted the World Nordic Ski Championships.

Media outlets in Thunder Bay include Thunder Bay Television (CKPR 2/5 and CHFD 4/6) and Shaw Cable 10; Radio Stations Include: CBQ 88.3 FM, Rock 94, Magic 99.9, Country 104, Hot 105, Tourism 97.3FM and 580 CKPR; There is a daily newspaper The Chronicle-Journal weekly newspaper Thunder Bay's Source and monthly newspaper Thunder Bay This Month; and Thunder Bay Independent Media Center.

Donut chain and Tim Horton's competitor Robin's Donuts was founded in the city in 1975.

Famous people

See also

Places of Interest

Workforce

Unemployment in Northwestern Ontario is high; with the declining population and fewer and fewer jobs, and with little funding from the government you can understand why. The main employment in Thunder Bay are of Bowater, Bombardier and the new Health/Sciences Centre. Other major jobs in Thunder Bay include Lakehead University, Confederation College, the Grain Elevators, and City jobs. Thunder Bay has desperately tried to have a multi diverse workforce however Thunder Bay is still mainly a Forestry/Grain/Tourism city.

Transportation

Thunder Bay is the largest city in Northwestern Ontario, serving as a regional commerical and medical centre. Passenger rail service to Thunder Bay ended over a decade ago, with the canellation of VIA Rail Canada's southern transcontinental service. Since that time, local citizens and politicans have been working for the restoration of rail service to the city. Thunder Bay is served by both the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway. The CPR orginally bypassed Port Arthur, building its passenger facilities in Fort William, with the CNR later building its passenger station in Port Arthur. Both stations remail, with the CNR station providing tourism related services in Marina Park.

Thunder Bay is served by the Thunder Bay International Airport, the third busiest airport in Ontario. In 2003 598,000 passengers travelled through the airport. The airport is serviced by Air Canada, Westjet, Bearskin Airlines, Wasaya Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. Greyhound Canada provides coach service to both regional and national destinations. Thunder Bay Transit provides 17 routes across the city's urban area. There are also numerous trails for walking and cycling.

Sports Teams

Thunder Bay is currently home to the following semi-pro sports teams:

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